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Ultra 73s

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sonorguy

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I actually think that's quite a handsome looking thing, with clean lines. Looks almost continental.
 

D365

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What on earth is that "Ultra 73" monologue?! Are they trying to make a doge locomotive or what?! Or did they just stick the press release into Wordle xD
 

455driver

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I can believe the 92's (which have standard ETH capability), but I think the 73's have never had standard ETH (only the 750V SR EMU compatible version, and then possibly only when operating from 3rd rail), so the rebuilds would need standard ETH (from diesel) adding to the spec. (or a revival of the sleeper generator van idea). And you would need a pair of them to match the power of a 67....

Why would they need to match the 67?
The idea behind using the 73 is because the 67 is over powered for the train it is pulling.
 

ac6000cw

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3200hp is rather excessive for an 8? coach train.

Reaching back into the memory banks, I think the Inverness sleeper (north of E/G) went from a pair of 26s/27s to an ETH 47 to a 67, so I don't think it's ever been a single Type 3 duty (the Highland mainline isn't exactly as flat as a pancake).
 

jopsuk

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when did the current arrangements (two sleeper trains, each of two 8-carriage "half trains" splitting at Carstairs or Edinburgh, no mark 1s in the consist) start? Pre or post privatisation?
 

HSTEd

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I just want to confirm.... we have two distinct 'Ultra 73' rebuilds at this point?

One with a 1600hp MTU diesel and one with a pair of QSK-19s?
I assume both will retain ED capability with a similar rated power to before? (~1500hp at rail continuous)?
 

ac6000cw

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I just want to confirm.... we have two distinct 'Ultra 73' rebuilds at this point?

One with a 1600hp MTU diesel and one with a pair of QSK-19s?
I assume both will retain ED capability with a similar rated power to before? (~1500hp at rail continuous)?

That is my understanding - the 'MTU' ones are a GBRf initiated project, the QSK-19 GenSet version seems to be a bit of a joint venture demonstrator, see http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...repowered-class-73-to-roll-out-next-year.html
 
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DarloRich

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Isn't that just Paul Bigland's one that's linked in the first post of this thread, but cropped a bit and without the copyright marking? :s

If not, it's taken from the same angle at the exact same time.

I thought that to!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Looks a but like the Brown Boveri gas turbine loco of the 50's to my eye!

That was my first thought as well!
 

apk55

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Should we be considering spending a consderable sum of money on doing up 50 year locos, rather than looking at a new build design.

My own suggestion for a replacment would be a modified Vossloh class 88, with added 3rd rail caperbility. By modifing the 4 quadrent converter to condition the power I doubt it would add that much to cost. Even if the power on DC had to be limited maybe 2MW it would still be a very usefull loco.

It would offer the advantage of 60% more tractive effort, 100mph top speed as well as being able to operate on AC, (which means it could run electric on many inter regionals runs etc. While the diesel engine fitted is more powerfull than the unmodified class 73, it is not as powerfull as the modified version although it is stage 3b emision complient.

I can well see in the lifetime of these locos (50 years?) the vast majority of lines in the south east (and most of the country) being electrified, with diesel operation being confined to a small number of minor branch lines or industrial sidings. Otherwise diesel will be required to work engineering trains and provide rescue in event of a power failure- and a electro diesel would be ideal for all of these tasks.
 

Chris125

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It would offer the advantage of 60% more tractive effort, 100mph top speed as well as being able to operate on AC, (which means it could run electric on many inter regionals runs etc. While the diesel engine fitted is more powerfull than the unmodified class 73, it is not as powerfull as the modified version although it is stage 3b emision complient.

That isn't really necessary for the kind of work envisaged for these locos, such as Network Rail test trains - these will be relatively cheap, fuel efficient and lightweight to give them wide route availability.

Chris
 

ac6000cw

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Should we be considering spending a consderable sum of money on doing up 50 year locos, rather than looking at a new build design.

These are very extensive rebuilds - most of the power equipment is new e.g. the 3rd rail power control is now DC-chopper, so I suspect that re-use of the original locomotive parts is mostly confined to the structure, bogies and motors (and these will have been extensively refurbished).

The point of them is to create a go-anywhere, medium power, loco for infrastructure maintenance/test train use primarily. DRS is looking at rebuilding 37's with a new power unit because they also see a continuing need for medium power locos.
 
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