What became of BR's gondola coach?

[Grumbleweed]

Used to monitor pantograph wear from a window on the roof - presumably rendered obsolete by video recording? And was it ever used on 1500v dc overhead equipment, as well as the 25 kv?

[big jim]

What era are we talking about, the only OHLE inspection coach that springs to mind is mentor which is still running or are we talking before that

[Grumbleweed]

Thanks - I looked up Mentor, but it appears to date from 1973. I'm sure I saw a film of a very similar coach being used on the wcml earlier than that. I could be wrong!

[Titan]

Are you thinking of Prometheus?

 

[giz]

What about ADM395316, an ex-LMS BG?

 

http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/395316

 

[keefer]

There was an ex-LMS coach DM395580 which was used in the 60s, presumably before the introduction of MENTOR

http://www.traintesting.com/LMS_OHLE_pantograph_coach.htm

http://www.departmentals.com/photo/dm395580-1

 

page about MENTOR: http://www.traintesting.com/Mentor.htm

 

Various other Test/Lab cars had pantographs at some point, but I think these were used for specific testing purposes e.g. speed tests, pantographs etc

From what I've read, MENTOR could be used for these but primarily was used for surveying the whole OLE network on a programmed basis (like the High-Speed Track Recording Coach)

 

Edited February 14, 2019 by keefer
post link to departmental.com

[The Johnster]

3 hours ago, giz said:

What about ADM395316, an ex-LMS BG?

 

http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/395316

 

I like the 'vistadome'!