Odd set-up

[dickdarlington]

Yesterday, I was parking the car up and an odd train setup went past.

It was a class 67 (EWS) pulling two HST power cars (East Cost livery) with a single black/navy blue mk1 carriage (possibly a mail wagon?) sandwiched in between the power cars.

It was travelling North, through Darlington, at about 16:15 (give or take).

Can anyone shed any light on this please.

 

[DarloRich]

sounds like a stock move with a barrier vehicle - couldnt tell you where it was going

 

[sprinterguy]

Yeah definitely a stock move for the power cars: The carriage between the power cars is one of East Coast's HST barrier coaches, which have been converted from mark 1 passenger vehicles and are painted in GNERs' dark blue base colour.

The train will have been returning the power cars to Craigentinny from either Leeds Neville Hill or Brush Loughborough. These workings occur sporadically, sometimes hauled by a 67 and other times the HST power cars do it under their own power.

 

[WillPS]

Why do they need a barrier vehicle?

 

[Oracle]

Barrier vehicles are traditionally used for conversion of couplings (or because of the height of couplings, as with Underground stock) and also for brake force. And of course to provide a barrier between loco and wagons in the case of nuclear flasks. I too would be interested why barriers are required in this case therefore.

 

[sprinterguy]

Barrier vehicles are traditionally used for conversion of couplings (or because of the height of couplings, as with Underground stock) and also for brake force. And of course to provide a barrier between loco and wagons in the case of nuclear flasks. I too would be interested why barriers are required in this case therefore.

In this case, probably brakeforce. Or a balancing move to ensure there are enough barrier carriages at Craigentinny for future stock movements south.

 

[dickdarlington]

Thanks for clearing this up.

 

[E&W Lucas]

In this case, probably brakeforce.

Not in this case.

Your second suggestion is probably closer to the mark.