Freight Trains on Gradients

[Legolash2o]

Hopefully a simple question for any freight train drivers out there.

If you're on a decline at 30mph but the speed limit is 70mph. Would you stick to 30 or let yourself go to close as 70 as possible? Assuming there's no decrease in speed limit ahead.

Same as the first question but there's an incline ahead of you after the current decline?

I'm trying to think how a driver would react in those scenarios. An example would be heading west from Leamington Spa with the two 1 in 82 and 84 inclines towards Birmingham.

EDIT: Corrected an error about direction. It is going towards Birmingham and not Coventry.

 

[FOCTOC]

Hopefully a simple question for any freight train drivers out there.

If you're on a decline at 30mph but the speed limit is 70mph. Would you stick to 30 or let yourself go to close as 70 as possible? Assuming there's no decrease in speed limit ahead.

Same as the first question but there's an incline ahead of you after the current decline?

I'm trying to think how a driver would react in those secenarios. An example would be heading north from Leamington Spa with the two 1 in 82 and 84 inclines).

You stick to the speed limits. North through Leamington on the through lines it's 35mph max on the down, 40mph on the up. You brake for that approaching from Harbury and then (depending on signals being clear) you have to get stuck into Hatton bank.

 

[Legolash2o]

Hi FOCTOC, thanks for the reply.

So it's safe to assume it's ok to speed up on a decline as long as you're within the limit and wont go over? Once you're at speed, you then maintain it (unless there's a speed reduction ahead).

Thanks again.

 

[berwicksfinest]

You have several speeds to contend with, Line speed, Train speed, and if you have any train restrictions (structure limitations etc). Basically assuming no train restictions, generally your limit is the train speed, except when line speed is lower than train speed, gradients come in with your route knowledge.
But exceeding your limit is usually a receipe for a please explain

 

[furnessvale]

You have several speeds to contend with, Line speed, Train speed, and if you have any train restrictions (structure limitations etc). Basically assuming no train restictions, generally your limit is the train speed, except when line speed is lower than train speed, gradients come in with your route knowledge.
But exceeding your limit is usually a receipe for a please explain

My brother was a driver in the days of steam and unfitted goods. We often talked about "slack action" (USA term) over lines like the Whelley "alps" around Wigan. Is that still a problem or have modern buckeyes, screw couplings and instanters, combined with fully fitted, eliminated that?

 

[berwicksfinest]

My brother was a driver in the days of steam and unfitted goods. We often talked about "slack action" (USA term) over lines like the Whelley "alps" around Wigan. Is that still a problem or have modern buckeyes, screw couplings and instanters, combined with fully fitted, eliminated that?

Us geriatric old Drivers call it snatching

Buckeyes or as we call them autos not so much

But yes with screw and instanters you can get a right tug, if you get the braking and accelaration slightly late or early !!! Route knowledge is crucial here