Heritage Traction
 

I'm aware of the 75mph restriction for main-line steam, but does any such blanket limit exist for heritage diesel traction, or is each class judged on its own?

What I'm getting at, is that is there any reason why no-one's running Deltics at over 100mph on the ECML for our enjoyment :D

Just before I retired in 2006,the speed limit for "heritage" traction depended on the loco class,for instance a class 50 was limited to 75mph under power but 90mph coasting,that was for 50031 & 50149,whether it applied to all 50's I can't say.If I remember right 46072 was limited to 75 mph.

I believe that the some of AC Group's Electric Locos, including Sir William Stanier, are allowed to do 100mph.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

86259 "Les Ross" is passed for 100 MPH too.

According to my book 55022(D9000) is Max. Speed 100 MPH.
D1015 Western Champion is Max. Speed 90 MPH.
50031 & 50049 are both Max.Speed 90 MPH.
45112 is Max. Speed 90 MPH.
D7628 is Max. Speed 60 MPH.
40145 is Max. Speed 90 MPH.

If this is wrong blame Platform 5 Publications, not me!:eek:

Regards, 62440.:D

Why at the type 50 restriced to 90mph? I always thought that they were capable of 100mph. Does anyone know the maximum speed of the Type 44's D1 -D10 I just missed working on them but I recall that an old hand told me that they had a huge tractive effort but were restristriced to 75mph. D2 was regeared to 100mph for some high speed runs on the LMR prior to electrification in the early 60's.

D1-D10 were all rated at 2300hp, D2 was uprated to 2500hp for tests which led to this rating being adopted for the later members of the class. They were at first allocated to Camden (1B) for use between Euston and Glasgow, from September 1959 they were transferred to the Midland Main Line and worked St. Pancras-Manchester, with the ongoing delivery of class 45 the class 44's gravitated to Toton in 1962 and were frequently found hauling coal trains.
My book gives max speed as 90 MPH for all class 44, 45 & 46.
Class 44 tractive effort was originally given in the Ian Allan books as 70.000 lbs, the preserved locos books say 50.000 lbs.

Regards, 62440.

You cant expect to get top end speed out of such old locos - it just aint safe!!

Got some photos of 44s at toton, will put them on gallery soon

Thanks for the info I didn't get to Willesden (1A)untill 1962 so I must have missed them by a few years. Whilst I was at Willesden all the Type 4's (40) were at Camden and we only had Sulzer Tpe 2's (24) and EE Type 1's (20) and the older electricains and fitters used to tell stories of the early Peaks and Deltic. Although I did manage to work on 10000/1, 10201/2/3 so I didn't miss all of the fun. DP2 came on the shed once but we didn't get a look.

Any loco on Network Rail must be deemed safe to run at there max speed.

Most heritage traction can run at there max speed. The class 31's used on Network Rail test trains are 50 year old and regular run at 90mph. Some owners may make restrictions to avoid damage to loco's. Class 50's were prone to generator flash overs when under load, so even in BR days at the end of class 50's speed restrictions were imposed.
Rule book speed restrictions apply for light loco, short formation trains and trains with 2 or more locos and therefore it may seem at times that the heritage loco is restricted.

75MPH? Sensible for all parties concerned IMHO, makes the journey behind the traction longer too!

Well I saw what I belive to be a WCR Class 37 pass through Warrington BAnk Quay last week and it was doing I would say in excess of 75mph.

I would Imagine that Hertiage Locos maximum speed allowed can depend upon wether or not it is carrying passengers or not.

There is also the paths to consider on which route it is taking as rember Tornado on Top Gear was only allowed to do 75mph for pathing reasons Iam led to belive.

I know tornado is steam loco but I was using it as an example...

I think you will find that All steam locomotives allowed to run on NR (at present) are restricted to a maximum speed of 75 mph.
Certainly not due to "pathing".

[QUOTE=John_142;43155]Well I saw what I belive to be a WCR Class 37 pass through Warrington BAnk Quay last week and it was doing I would say in excess of 75mph.

If it was light engine then it is a max of 75mph IF the line speed is 90mph or above, anything else is 60 or below.

At Warrington, the driver can be doing 75mph if heading south, or should be starting tp brake down to 60mph. It is very hard to judge speed from off a platform as most speeds seem fast as the train goes past.

[QUOTE=scotrail;43240]It was hauling a Set of Cariages Empty I assume..

A class 31 at 100mph, is what nightmares are made of.
The ride at that speed would be like all the roll coasters in one go, some thing to avoid at all costs.
At 45mph these engines bounced about , so much so that it would make your tea splash out of the cup when it was just damp.
The only other bad riders was a Shark Ballast Brakevan coming down to Huddersfield from Standage Tunnel at 35mph.
It was so rough you had to wedge yourself into the seat and think of england.

I think you will find that the class 31's were limited to a maximum speed of 90mph and the very early numbered ones to 80mph.Although I agree that they were very "bouncy" machines at speeds above about 50mph.At Saltley we used to work class 1 trains with them on a regular basis,usually Birmingham to Norwich and Norwich to Birmingham trains.

Good news on the Class 47 front from Mangapps - its working again!!!
There was a poor contact end which meant the relays werent making when they should have. Hence plenty of TLC required to make sure they stay clean!! Its amazing how much dusty crud mixed with moisture can work its way into the smallest of places where you just cant see it properly. But how do you keep that sort of environment spotlessly clean as it must have been when manufactured. Still it is 50 years old so we all need cleaning behind the ears at some stage. It was great to feel it accelerating way if only for a moment on the short stretches where that is possible. Now the blue paint comes out so that a new coat can be applied ready for the summer season. Marvellous!!!