Happy days indeed. After last years trial trains proved a success the go ahead was given for Direct Rail Services to help certain passenger operators by suplying locos and coaches to substitute for the existing DMUs. This would increase comfort and capacity. The stock and locos were already deployed on the 'Fife Circle' in Scotland assisiting Scotrail around Edinburgh and Monday the 17th of April saw certain Cumbrian Coast passenger workings switched over to 'loco hauled'. As some of you are aware I work for DRS so have an insider view of the operation and as the line is fairly compact I have been busy filming it for a while. Basic stock is a Class 37/4 with four MK II Coaches. The ultimate plan is to have a DBSO at one end (basically a driving coach so the train can work push-pull)but for now the trains are running top and tailed with two 37s Above. a typical set accelerates away from Barrow past Sowerby Lodge on Saturday the 23rd.The 37s were built between 1960 and 1966 by English Electric and the 37/4s have been modified by the substitution of the replacement of the main generator by an alternator and the fitting of ETS (Electric Train Supply) to power the coaches. When working top and tailed the loco at the other end can be a 37/6 as train supply is already covered. The down first down service of the day (Barrow to Carlisle) stands at Askam in Furness station ready for the sprint north.37609 on the point 37 423 'Spirit of the Lakes' is idling at the rear providding train supply. Sadly 37 611 is not quite as clean and still has the older style livery as it stands at Dalton in Furness ready for the assault on Lindal bank on the Carlisle to Lancaster train More in a mo Kev
Back at the single line section north of Barrow the first southbound working gathers pace after the speed restriction at Sandscale crossing. Video here at [video=youtube;_vFxWqLX5jY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vFxWqLX5jY&feature=youtu.be[/video] I'm going to be pretty busy this summer if the weather stays as nice as this. The line is so scenic with so many great places to film I can amuse myself for ages! In the next section I'll feature the trains we ran leading up to this for crew training with a more varied selection of motive power on view cheers Kev
Oh how I wish we had such services. Over here, our idiot government just cut funding for Amtrak. :angry:
Public transport subsidies are a way of life over here in Europe but sadly the U.S government still seems to be hooked on cars and roads. personally looking at the financial mess some of the EU countries are geting in to I could see some devastating consequences for rail transport particularly the countries around the Med. Greece in particular is just about to go broke. Anway, back to the life rural in North West England, leading up to the service going live we ran numerous trains to sort out things like stopping points on platforms (A sprayed blue line) wheelchair access and the CDL on the coaches (Central door locking). 37/4s were not always available so a couple of our 57s were pressed into service 57 305 is one of the ones finished in 'Northern Belle' Umber and cream to match the pullman stock it hauls on luxury excursion trains, see here passing Sellafield on a return working The following day it drifts down the bank through Askam station In standard DRS livery this 57 heads through Ravenglass and onto Ravenglass viaduct First video of the test trains is at [video=youtube;qnwsR5fXDKA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnwsR5fXDKA&feature=youtu.be[/video] more in a min Kev
Part two of the test trains takes in some nice locations like St Bees and Green Road where the Cumbrian fells make a lovely backdrop and features an introduction by yours truly. Green Road near Millom is an isolated halt on the west side of the Duddon estuary with fantastic views all around On a still day you can hear the train approaching all the way around the estuary. As we did not have all the coaches done in the standard livery some of the trains were a real mish mash of colour schemes on these trips. This 37 is chugging up the bank at Lindal after exiting the tunnel at Crooklands and has another 3/4 mile to go before the track levels off. The colour schemes of the coaches are DRS, Virgin and Riviera Now one of the disadvantages of filming around here is the wind noise and I've now started to experiment with fluffy covers on the built in microphones on the camcorders in an attempt to minimise it. I have done some test this afternoon and it looks promising but this second part of the test trains footage still suffers in places as the wind howls in off the Irish sea [video=youtube;7GP4tyxzdbw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GP4tyxzdbw&feature=youtu.be[/video] I'll keep you posted on how it gets on. The worst areas for wind are around Dunnerholme and Kirkby and if I can crack it there is should work anywhere! This shot is at Kirkby where the line turns sharply west as it gets to the top of the estuary and heads for Foxfield Cheers Kev
Well, that kept me busy for a few minutes! Interesting to hear the sounds, and see equipment which has not been vandalized by human waste. I noted a couple of steam era water columns still in place. If still functional, handy for any steam excursions? A quick note here- Your videos were not embedding. The reason is that provided link is the abbreviated version YouTube provides. Once a full length version is edited in, they show as originally desired.
Wonderful thread so far, have to say (again) I love the 37's. And the grab-bag of coaches is somehow reminiscent of Amtrak's beginnings.
Sadly not functional anymore. When the steam specials were still allowed onto Sellafield for turning and watering there was no need for them and most watering of steam specials is done by road tanker or using hydrants near the track now. There are still Furness railway water tanks surviving at Sellafield and Foxfield. All being well we should have steam down here next Saturday with 'Scots Guardsman' in action Thanks for the tip about the Video cheers Kev (getting ready for a pint and doing a bit more on the Z gauge EMD FT bodyshell)
Awesome diesel sound, these English Electrics! Just missing belching smoke and we could think these are ALCOs... And fun to see a pair of these Class 20 that once ran in my home area of Burgondy, France... One question however about these 37s: when taking off their train from the depot they seem to have a discontinuous pull at first: vrom-vrom-vrom-vrooooooooooommmmmmmm.............. What's the reason for that? Dom
The engine revs 'hunt' like this until the governer settles down and the turbo kicks in. They are even worse when you start one up in the winter when they have been stood all weekend in cold weather! Kev
No, Its just a quirk of these types of engines. I have improved a video I put on youtube about 5 years ago of a 37 being started from cold in the depths of winter at Carnforth. We have this quite a lot at work during the winter and can smoke out the yard for about ten minutes until the loco warms up [video=youtube;Fe88Yml0rtE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe88Yml0rtE&feature=youtu.be[/video] Kev
Too bad it can't smoke as well in summer, to help control insects..... Sounded like a nasty flat spotted wheel at the end.
Just caught up with this thread Kev. Fantastic videos of the best sounding locomotives around. The trains sure are more luxurious than any DMU! Nice to see working semaphores also.
Hi Alan. Don't forget we still have single working with tokens as well up here! I was looking out of my office window yesterday and 15 trainspotters got off 2C41 and ran up onto the footbridge to take pictures. looks like we are going to 'railfan central' this summer! Kev
