Intercity 125 without carriages.
Discussion
Today I was parked near a train line when an East Midlands Intercity 125 went past but without any passenger carriages connected to the engine, a very bizarre sight and something I've never seen before. Are they often moved around like this or is the train driver going to get a shock when he arrives at his destination? 
Eng274 said:
If it’s in the Leeds area, it’ll be a shunt move for maintenance at Neville Hill depot. I don’t know if they ever venture beyond Leeds (e.g. to Derby) as light engine(s) but I can’t think why they’d go anywhere else.
This was heading south through Sheffield so possibly heading to Derby.Seen a few over the years, though never just one power car on its own. Usually both but with no carriages in between, and sometimes two powers cars, back-to-back, attached to the front of a whole HST set, like this... https://youtu.be/YaNa84JHkJs
Chrisgr31 said:
I wonder if the driver has to be careful about how fast they go when not towing the carriages.
The rule book states the speed limit for light engines sans carriages or wagons is 75mph. The brake force generated by coaches (for a IC125 especially) makes a big difference to the braking performance of the whole set. I remember reading somewhere that the shortened Grand central 2+5 HSTs are very different beasts under braking compared to the 2+9s operated by LNER.ETA: there was a serious safety incident a few years back where a class 47 light engine overshot a red signal due to exceeding the 75mph limit and ropey route knowledge, among many other factors. Scope for collision was very likely.
Edited by Eng274 on Friday 4th January 22:11
Eng274 said:
Chrisgr31 said:
I wonder if the driver has to be careful about how fast they go when not towing the carriages.
The rule book states the speed limit for light engines sans carriages or wagons is 75mph. The brake force generated by coaches (for a IC125 especially) makes a big difference to the braking performance of the whole set. I remember reading somewhere that the shortened Grand central 2+5 HSTs are very different beasts under braking compared to the 2+9s operated by LNER.ETA: there was a serious safety incident a few years back where a class 47 light engine overshot a red signal due to exceeding the 75mph limit and ropey route knowledge, among many other factors. Scope for collision was very likely.
Edited by Eng274 on Friday 4th January 22:11
MoggieMinor said:
Certainly an eye opener that one.. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/547...
Just a bit although 58 pages explaining why he went through a red signal!! Imagine having to do that for the roads 
Nickyboy said:
MoggieMinor said:
Certainly an eye opener that one.. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/547...
Just a bit although 58 pages explaining why he went through a red signal!! Imagine having to do that for the roads I drove a single HST powercar with no carriages the other week. First time i've done it, it does happen but very rarely.
We have restrictions to line speed when operating "light loco". With line speeds up to 85 we are limited to 60mph. Line speeds 90 and above we are limited to 75mph. Brakes on full HST's sets take a while to apply and release compared to most passenger trains especially considering the speeds we run at. With the power car on it's own they were faster in applying and releasing naturally, but not as powerful. I was surprised how good they were though.
As far as acceleration it was very nippy off the mark, and still quite fast at higher speeds, but they aren't the most powerful loco's on their own so I assume other light locos would be quicker! Considerably quicker acceleration than a full set either way. 2 power cars back to back would probably be a bit quicker I assume! (same frontal area drag?)
We have restrictions to line speed when operating "light loco". With line speeds up to 85 we are limited to 60mph. Line speeds 90 and above we are limited to 75mph. Brakes on full HST's sets take a while to apply and release compared to most passenger trains especially considering the speeds we run at. With the power car on it's own they were faster in applying and releasing naturally, but not as powerful. I was surprised how good they were though.
As far as acceleration it was very nippy off the mark, and still quite fast at higher speeds, but they aren't the most powerful loco's on their own so I assume other light locos would be quicker! Considerably quicker acceleration than a full set either way. 2 power cars back to back would probably be a bit quicker I assume! (same frontal area drag?)
Edited by bebobebobebo on Sunday 6th January 17:07
MitchT said:
Seen a few over the years, though never just one power car on its own. Usually both but with no carriages in between, and sometimes two powers cars, back-to-back, attached to the front of a whole HST set, like this... https://youtu.be/YaNa84JHkJs
I'm guessing that there is no way to hook up the units without being end to end....Here's a nice little write up of a single HST car working... with passengers!
Was after a derailment on a Cornwall line in 1991.
Looks like a toy!
http://www.luxsoft.demon.co.uk/village/hst.html
Was after a derailment on a Cornwall line in 1991.
Looks like a toy!
http://www.luxsoft.demon.co.uk/village/hst.html
Edited by Parabola on Monday 7th January 18:13
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