Lucie and Vulcaine photographed stabled in the Up Siding at Singlewell, Kent. Lucie (passenger car) is a test instrument vehicle used to measure the CSEE UM71 TVM track circuit transmission strengths and electrical aprameters. Vulcaine (boxcar) is the overhead measurement vehicle. Sorry about the fence - it was late afternoon and the sun was in an awkward position. Standing on the otrher side would have had me too close to the cars.
Thanks Gary. Looks like they are both French vehicles. Are these the only such vehicles for this work, or are there more?
As far as I know, Alan, these are the only cars. They were sandwiched between two 66 class EWS units (66013 and 66122), both fitted with TVM pick-ups and hard-wired to Lucie, earlier in the day. There is supposed to be some test runs with a Eurostar in the next week or two. I'll check up on that next Tuesday.
Just seen a piece with a photo about these cars in "Rail" magazine. Your pics are much better, though
Thanks Alan I was told there were a few fans peppered along the route when these first arrived a week and a half ago (or so). Could be seen on just about every overpass. Beat me where they got the heads up, though.
Is there a "KentGen", "SoutheastGen" or something similar on Yahoogroups, locally we have SWRG (SouthWest RailGen) there which gives heads-up with times of specials or unusual happennings. There are a handful of industry insiders there who give advanced notice of some things, or various trainwatchers who post updates and the like, some even by mobile phone!
Thanks, Martyn, I'll check it out. There may even be something of interest happening. Oh, whilst I think of it, the test train is supposed to be out this coming weekend.
The VSOE Pullman set is down our way on Saturday (some friends are having a trip) so weather permitting I'll be out to photograph that one, I'm considering modelling the train in OO, Hornby's new Pullman's are rather stunning models!
Caught one of the Eurostars out in daylight last week at Ashford West where the Paris-bound trains branch off from the CTRL main to enter Ashford International station being hauled between locos and idlers. A 66 class leading the haul in the wrong-road direction along the main; Followed by a pair of 37 class;
Just been reading about them, Gary. IIRC they are going to be using two NOL sets for testing. When they get to high speed tests, the UK rail speed record will be massacred!
Alan, I believe they have already done a session of 220km/h tests so far. Maybe they don't count test trips? What is the speed record presently?
220kph is just under 140mph isn't it? I *think* we still hold the world speed record for diesel traction with 148mph? (short HST set) and I think one of the APT prototypes got up to 160mph or thereabouts back in the 70's, not sure wether that was the gas turbine version or the electric though. The ECML class 91's have a design speed of 140mph, so I would think they would have tried that out in test even though they have only done 125mph in service. The Virgin Pendolino's are meant to be 140mph as well IIRC. Top speed in service though has remained 125mph since the HST's were brought in, late 1970's! But with the line speed presumably being to TGV standards, (186mph, 300kph) those records will go out of date pretty fast, and they will happen all day every day. It's a real jump forwards for the UK.
A touch under 137 mph, Martyn. The testing due to be done in the next couple of months includes a 10% over speed (330 km/h) to stop test where they hit an absolute marker at speed and an emergency brake application will be automatically applied. I hear they may be looking for volunteers amongst the staff to be on board... yeah, right! The TGV has the (European) speed record at 515 km/h when all governors were removed but the reason they don't travel faster than 300 km/h is it's too expensive electricity-wise. I figure the Eurostar could equal or better that figure as it is more powerful (12,600 hp).
Well, the word's finally down - test Eurostars running as of !st July at 330 kph! That's just over 200 mph in the old language. Of course we have to be totally off track during these runs but it may give me a chance to get a shot of the beasty ripping across the Medway Viaduct (the Big Dipper) at speed. Mind, I'll probably only get one shot at it!
I reckon it's a matter of cycle time with the digital. It will have been and gone by the time it's ready for the next shot! Imagine having to wait for the return journey if you miss it the first time... hehe I may have to break out the Pentax camera, you know, the one that uses fillum?
Funny how you have to go back to old technology to get the speed you need At least with fillum you can fire a few frames per second
