Test Train at Sheffield, 1988

[JDW]

Hi all,

 

I came across this picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackwatch55013/5544230883/ while I was looking for something else.  I've never seen this before, its rather unusual, and the livery is a new one on me too.  Does anyone know anything more about it?

 

Thanks!

JD

[eastwestdivide]

Zooming in to insane levels, you could convince yourself that the coach the opposite end to the loco has "Track Inspection Coach" on the side. The end is labelled for 110mph as well. The Mk1 at the other end seems to have the same treatment to the side windows (grilles over the remaining windows)

I had a quick scan round departmentals.com, but nothing jumped out.

[Catkins]

It could be a Track Recording Train.

The vehicle at the rear would have all the 'sensing' equipment mounted in it, the other vehicles are purely along to provide brake force, as the train would run near line speeds. The way it used to work was that the last vehicle had a sensor mechanism in it that when a 'bad spot' was detected, a spot of white paint was dropped on the track.

I presume the observation windows in the end would be for the staff to see the paint and make a note of the location and line, and then the local plate-layers would come along and do what ever was required to the track.

[Talltim]

If I know the liveries better I could start to find out what it was, but some quite intensive googling hasn't turned up anything yet

[Catkins]

A recent phots search on Departementals.com under the term "Brake Force Runner" produced this -

http://www.departmentals.com/photo/977144a

 

But nothing else has come up.

[eastwestdivide]

A recent phots search on Departementals.com under the term "Brake Force Runner" produced this -

http://www.departmentals.com/photo/977144a

 

But nothing else has come up.

That looks like the one. My 1985 Platform 5 departmentals book has:

QXA DB 977144 as LMR RCE Track Recording Coach, converted 1983 to replace DM 395223. Formerly RBK M1622 converted 1970 from Mk1 RF.

(what's RCE? Regional Civil Engineer I'd guess).

[Flood]

The second vehicle along is a Mk2c (you can tell by the toilet windows), either an FK or an FO. Probably DB977390, a Mobile Track Assessment coach converted from SO M6410 (previously FO M3164).

 

Mk1 and Mk2 Coaching Stock by Hugh Longworth states a conversion date of March 1989 but that may well be to a RCE Barrier coach, the description given in the book.

 

By the way, DB977144 was converted from M1622; a Buffet Restaurant with large Kitchen which was originally Restaurant First M314.

 

edit: beaten to it with 977144 by EWD. Yes RCE was Regional Civil Engineer.

[Flood]

The blue and grey coach could be either DB977388, the barrier coach for DB977144, or DB977389 (a barrier coach for DW139). They were both converted from Mk1 FO coaches, M3071 and M3049 respectively.

 

As DB977390 was also described as a barrier coach for DW139 (1987 Departmental Coaching Stock book) the complete rake appears to be DB977144, DB977390, DB977389 or DB977388, unknown, loco.

[JDW]

Interesting, many thanks for the replies.  What had me wondering the most was the windows in the end, and what look to be lights (?), I wondered if it was some kind of experimental/special project vehicle.  The pictures of it on Departmantals.com were quite interesting too, it seems it carried one or two odd colours during its lifetime!

 

Thanks again

JD

[Edwin_m]

I started working at the RTC about this time and don't remember seeing that, so I suspect it was some form of old-tech LM region initiative rather than one of the inertial systems like the HSTRC.