I also concur. During my time on the South Western Division (1975-79) I wasn't aware of any instance when a 73 or 74 worked to or from Weymouth. In fact I very much doubt that a 600 bhp (73) or 650 bhp (74) diesel generator set would have been capable of lifting an 8 car - sometimes more in Summer - boat train up the 1 in 53 (?) gradient from Weymouth to Bincombe Tunnel.... especially on a damp morning.
The 0215 was vans only, which gives a clue as to why I remembered the 0245 (with the 3 Set)!
Regarding 73's to Weymouth Quay and 74's to Weymouth -
Thank you for the tip off's. Never got to ride shotgun on any 74's but did so a number of 73's back in the distant all blue past. Slightly cramped cab once one took account of the dual controls, so 'one' had to be mindful of same if standing in the second man's position!
They look like the original Mk2 variant; the toplights seem to be of four-segment, not (Mk2a-c) three.
I said the locos were changed at Tramway Junction.
Those are the very ones in my mind, too
Have ridden shot gun on a Brush 4 out of Weymouth on a summer Saturday train back in the distant past, to take a few pics around the site of Upwey Wishing Well Halt as was during the pre electrification work. My point here being that by that point in the climb of Bincombe bank we were down to roundabout 40 mph at most. One of those banks, not extremely steep, but very long, a bit like the climb from Seaton Junction up to Honiton tunnel - very taxing after any initial rush at same with a heavy train, so for an ED to tackle same on diesel, even with one x 4 TC would have been a challenge in today's jargen!
Why would you be standing in the second mans position? there was a perfectly good seat?Thank you for the tip off's. Never got to ride shotgun on any 74's but did so a number of 73's back in the distant all blue past. Slightly cramped cab once one took account of the dual controls, so 'one' had to be mindful of same if standing in the second man's position!
Thank you. Your first post I see. Welcome to the forum.
Not everyone wished to sit, for reasons personal in many cases! How many drivers of 4 SUB's chose to stand as an example!
Never heard that one, in my experience on 33 & 73's Drivers & Secondmen only stood up when sticking their head out of the window whilst shunting.
Thank you!
A Class 74 was a regular performer on what I think was the 7.17 from Eastleigh to Waterloo. Usually the74 was at the head of the 11TC formation, but occasionally at the rear. On at least one occasion it was sandwiched between 8TC and 3TC! There was also the occasional substitution of a Class 73.
Domestic camcorders weren't available until the early-mid 1980s, several years after the last cl. 74 was withdrawn in 1977, but there might possibly be amateur or professional film footage somewhere if you're very lucky?
This worked a railtour from Waterloo down to Bournemouth and back icw an open day at Bournemouth depot on Sunday 13th September that year, with a small ED (73) in tow just in case!
Presumably some of this related to the issue of the body strength. When the first (E5016) was stripped down it was realised that the loco body wasn't capable of accommodating the planned changes The project then had to be reconsidered, including considerations of lengthening. In the end they managed to beef up the body strength by fitting a truss.