Freight trains that still use brake vans ?

[sad1e]

Is there any freight in this country that still uses brake vans or are all freight wagons now vacuum/air braked and controlled by the loco.

If there is still freight that runs with a brake van what headcodes do they run as , and if not when was the last one ?

 

[ac6000cw]

See the photo linked in this post - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/did-the-uk-have-cabooses.293325/post-7506309

 

[j37401]

I'm not sure when the last 'proper' freight to use a brake van was. Or when the last unfitted movement was on the network. Since everything is through piped there were lots of occasions such as the example above where a brake van was still being used for long propelling moves. Although how many of these still exist today, if any i'm unsure.
I recall the Ashton - Lindsay Kelbits tanks used to propel out onto the west coast mainline all the way (several miles) back to springs branch. I'm not sure this would be allowed today! They still did this at Shotwick sidings for Shotton Paper mill well into EWS days as there was a long propelling move, too long on foot and with no internal road access so that a shunter/groundsman could go ahead in a van.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

I suppose the closest modern-day equivalent is the DRS escort coaches used on nuclear trains carrying particularly dangerous material.

 

[zwk500]

I suppose the closest modern-day equivalent is the DRS escort coaches used on nuclear trains carrying particularly dangerous material.

Aren't they more to stop other people getting to the train, rather than stopping the train itself?

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Aren't they more to stop other people getting to the train, rather than stopping the train itself?

Yes, but presumably the term 'guard' originally meant that!

 

[furnessvale]

See the photo linked in this post - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/did-the-uk-have-cabooses.293325/post-75063

 

[trainmania100]

I suppose the closest modern-day equivalent is the DRS escort coaches used on nuclear trains carrying particularly dangerous material.

Not seen those, are they not used on nuclear waste? Eg Dungeness

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Not seen those, are they not used on nuclear waste? Eg Dungeness

No, they are only used for the highest risk movements - the submarine fuel flasks (to Devonport, not sure if they go to any other dock locations), and material from Dounreay which has been shipped down the coast to Barrow.

 

[181]

I'm not sure when the last 'proper' freight to use a brake van was. Or when the last unfitted movement was on the network. Since everything is through piped there were lots of occasions such as the example above where a brake van was still being used for long propelling moves.

I seem to remember a 'Railway Magazine' article from the early-ish 1980s describing what was then one of the last regular unfitted freight workings, which had a class 9 headcode. That might suggest a mid-1980s date for the last unfitted trains, but that's only a guess.

 

[furnessvale]

I seem to recall hydrocyanic acid tanks were amongst the last traffics on rail to require a brake van long after the general need for one had gone.

Sadly, like many chemicals, some pen pusher at the DfT decided that such cargoes were safer on the roads!

 

[Port Road]

I seem to remember a 'Railway Magazine' article from the early-ish 1980s describing what was then one of the last regular unfitted freight workings, which had a class 9 headcode. That might suggest a mid-1980s date for the last unfitted trains, but that's only a guess.

I can remember occasionally running the yard pilot and class 9 (unbraked) tanks from Thornton yard in Fife to Markinch in the mid 1990's. Nothing in rear allowed past Thornton north junction - and points set to derail in case it was to split and run back - until it was in clear at the destination. Big margin required!

 

[Oxfordblues]

Propelling moves from East Usk Yard to a steel terminal (Birdport I think) on the Uskmouth branch require a modified wagon for a brake-operator in lieu of a proper brakevan, none of which are still available.

 

[181]

I can remember occasionally running the yard pilot and class 9 (unbraked) tanks from Thornton yard in Fife to Markinch in the mid 1990's. Nothing in rear allowed past Thornton north junction - and points set to derail in case it was to split and run back - until it was in clear at the destination. Big margin required!

I seem to remember reading that the class 9 category was repurposed for Eurostars after it was no longer needed for unfitted freights, but it sounds as if the two usages may have overlapped in time (although not geographically).

 

[Port Road]

I seem to remember reading that the class 9 category was repurposed for Eurostars after it was no longer needed for unfitted freights, but it sounds as if the two usages may have overlapped in time (although not geographically)., and for WCML trains routed via Birmingham.

They may have overlapped here and there by the looks of it. Some WCML via Birmingham became class 9 later as well to assist the signallers at Srafford and Rugby.