15:09

Welcome to Railway Forum!
Welcome!

Thank you for finding your way to Railway Forum, a dedicated community for railway and train enthusiasts. There's a variety of forums, a wonderful gallery, and what's more, we are absolutely FREE. You are very welcome to join, take part in the discussion, and post your pictures!

Click here to go to the forums home page and find out more.
Click here to join.


Go Back   Railway Forum > Diesel & Electric > Diesel & Electric Discussion

Newbie

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 27th January 2021, 12:25
alecras234 alecras234 is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Caernarfon
Posts: 15
Newbie

Hi my names Ash and im from north wales. I watch live streams of trains going in and out of stations and look at them on realtime trains for times and codes. In the chatroom people say, oh there's a 56 passing or there's a 37 in at p11, how do they know it's a 56 or a 66 or a 37? How do you tell?


Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 27th January 2021, 13:52
Master Cutler's Avatar
Master Cutler Master Cutler is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mansfield Notts
Posts: 511
Hi Ash, your location sounds like you have access to both the Chester Holyhead line and the Cambrian.
Locomotive recognition is initially down to body shell design, but to add to the confusion many class upgrades use the same body shells.
You mention 37s, these are quite recognisable from both shape and engine sound but may be confused with the 40s.
However it's all down to experience when it comes to locomotive identification.
Enjoy the forum and feel free to ask any other railway questions.

Last edited by Master Cutler; 27th January 2021 at 13:55.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 27th January 2021, 15:17
alecras234 alecras234 is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Caernarfon
Posts: 15
Can you give me tips on recognising locos please?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 27th January 2021, 15:26
boilersuit's Avatar
boilersuit boilersuit is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Moved again! Back in Kent!!
Posts: 1,213
Images: 99
Your best bet is to look at the loco number. All the diesel or electric locos in this country have a five-figure number, and the first two digits tell you what type it is. After you've noticed a few you'll begin to recognise the distinctive features of each type.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 27th January 2021, 18:24
pre65's Avatar
pre65 pre65 is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ashen-North Essex/Suffolk borders.
Posts: 3,557
Images: 93
Hi, type in Google (as an example) "class 37 locomotive" , and read the Wikipedia entry.

Do that for other classes you see (first two digits of loco number for locomotives and first three for multiple units) and before long you will be an expert.

Also use YouTube for videos of different classes.
__________________
Philip.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29th January 2021, 12:20
alecras234 alecras234 is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Caernarfon
Posts: 15
Hi yes i've been watching videos on youtube of 66 locos and 56 locos and i noticed that the 66 locos have a pointed roof whereas the 56 have a curved rounded roof.

I watch the Crewe webcam on youtube and in the chat people talk about what's coming in and their numbers, how do they know the numbers when you can't see the number on the train and before it comes in they know what number it is. For instance a colas was due in so i tuned in to watch it, this guy in the chat said oh a colas 56 is coming in, im thinking how do you know it's a 56? I asked him but he didn't answer.
So frustrating.

This morning i was watching the Crewe webcam and a yellow loco passed, i saw in the chat that someone said that was a 37 and another person said no it was a 97. To add to my frustration, all these train numbers i don't understand. What can i do to learn all these trains and numbers so that when i go on the Crewe webcam i'll know what they're talking about?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 29th January 2021, 15:47
tonyharker tonyharker is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Blandford Forum
Posts: 122
Ian Allen ABC http://www.crecy.co.uk/abc-locomotiv...6f547043679969
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 29th January 2021, 18:11
alecras234 alecras234 is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Caernarfon
Posts: 15
What book would be good for a beginner?

Last edited by alecras234; 29th January 2021 at 18:53.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 29th January 2021, 21:01
TRP's Avatar
TRP TRP is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Hastings & St Leonards
Posts: 5,069
Images: 2865
Yes, that looks a good book to me. This one is purely the locomotives (so is probably the best place to start) - the one I was going to suggest (in the same series) covers all locomotives, multiple units, coaches, wagons and on-track plant:
http://www.crecy.co.uk/abc-rail-guide-2020

Depends how much you want to look into - up to you!

Quote:
Originally Posted by alecras234 View Post
Hi yes i've been watching videos on youtube of 66 locos and 56 locos and i noticed that the 66 locos have a pointed roof whereas the 56 have a curved rounded roof.

I watch the Crewe webcam on youtube and in the chat people talk about what's coming in and their numbers, how do they know the numbers when you can't see the number on the train and before it comes in they know what number it is. For instance a colas was due in so i tuned in to watch it, this guy in the chat said oh a colas 56 is coming in, im thinking how do you know it's a 56? I asked him but he didn't answer.
So frustrating.

This morning i was watching the Crewe webcam and a yellow loco passed, i saw in the chat that someone said that was a 37 and another person said no it was a 97. To add to my frustration, all these train numbers i don't understand. What can i do to learn all these trains and numbers so that when i go on the Crewe webcam i'll know what they're talking about?
With regard to this, it is largely down to experience I'm afraid - you just get used to want you see all the time (and one of these books would probably help).
And the yellow loco - to add to the confusion, they were both right in some respects. Officially, these are Network Rail class 97s, but were originally built as class 37s and they were re-classified as class 97 when they were transferred into departmental service and refurbished for Network Rail use.

Tony

Last edited by TRP; 30th January 2021 at 10:12.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 30th January 2021, 11:16
alecras234 alecras234 is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Caernarfon
Posts: 15
is there a rail guide available as an e book? Thanks

Ash
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:09.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.