Adrian Wintle

If I understand Brian's post above, the 140mph limit for the Mk4/IC225 would have been primarily from having an extra block between trains (5-aspect signals). Presumably they would also have had the double control of the brakes like the HSTs (to give 125mph on 4-aspect signalling?), but the acceleration from 125mph to 140mph would have been from adding an extra block of headway between trains. Adrian

Do these things have provision for a knuckle coupler? If all they have is the screw-link then that might be the reason that they were moved by flatcar rather than a dead tow in the US. It looks like the handrails are only to provide a 'porch' to stand on while opening the cab door, no walking the length of the loco while in motion (that would probably give HSE fits). A shot I saw of one at the factory had a temporary walkway the length of the hood, with high-tech handrails (looked like 1"x3" lumber), but it would likely have been out of gauge for UK operations. Adrian