37717 up the Lickey

[43034]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAT6VtnPNV8

Thought this would be of interest to some cranks that frequent here!

Turn up your speakers!

[kiteless]

Ruddy marvellous.

I've seen clips of the Lickey Incline before. Where is it (I'm assuming Birmingham way)?

[StripeyNick]

It's south west of Birmingham. The incline starts at Bromsgrove and continues for a couple of miles. Its on the Bristol to Birmingham mainline.

[43034]

It's always good to test heritage diesels up there. Most boring in these modern trains, no noise!

Some more if you're interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcBn8LFMX0g - 37416

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxUzQJxPmi4 - 40145

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhSWQp_vWBg&fea... - Pair of 20s

[D4VE 3LL]

I live pretty much on the Lickey, my dads into his trains in a big way, any way of knowing when anything decent's due or not?

[43034]

D4VE 3LL said:

I live pretty much on the Lickey, my dads into his trains in a big way, any way of knowing when anything decent's due or not?

This is probably your best bet for Diesel. http://railtourinfo.co.uk/diesel.html

Most tours from the South that head North (and vice versa!) will use the Lickey, unless they go via Worcester.

[Bish]

Great vids. Love the Lickey.

I thought this was a great video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-JIBH6ClBI

Also a 37 at speed which is always good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsTuSmN0nRw

[GarryA]

Them trains still run in my area, we have the odd 37, usually double header on sandite or weedspraying duties and we also have class 20s working the CWR from Corus.

Used to have 56s on coal duty too but thats died a death, 60s sound ok when pulling tanks.

[Tootles the Taxi]

37906 having a go on the Nene Valley Railway on 2nd October this year.

Turn up the speakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P5B6KhfsiY

[P5Nij]

I signed the route up the Lickey earlier this year... worked my first train up the bank 'solo' soon after, had a 66 with just over a thousand ton on, went through the platform at Bromsgrove nudging 55mph in notch 8.... and went over the top at Blackwell at 20mph!

It's 1-in-37 virtually all the way up and is about two miles long...

N ;o)

Edited by P5Nij on Thursday 21st October 20:01

Edited by P5Nij on Thursday 21st October 20:02

[43034]

Shame you were driving something less entertaining then!! Bescot man then? Not sure who signs the lickey. Bristol? Didcot don't do they?

[P5Nij]

43034 said:

Shame you were driving something less entertaining then!! Bescot man then? Not sure who signs the lickey. Bristol? Didcot don't do they?

I'm based at Rugby with Freightliner, a few of us sign the Lickey but not all. Bescot, Bristol, Saltley and Brum New Street men sign it too, doubt if any of the Didcot lads do though.

;o)

[Bish]

Great stuff. What sort of load does a 66 need to call in the banker for assistance?

Would love to see it from the cab, must be a hell of a challenge.

[P5Nij]

Bish said:

Great stuff. What sort of load does a 66 need to call in the banker for assistance?

Would love to see it from the cab, must be a hell of a challenge.

Max load up the bank for us is 1,150 tonnes, anything more and we have to get on the phone and pray! Not much of a challenge going uphill as far as driving is concerned, more a case of give it the beans approaching Bromsgrove and for gawd sake don't let the deadmans drop out or you're in serious trouble. The thing with 66s is, when under full power the amps will suddenly drop and pick up again at roughly 35mph as the generator 'weakfield' kicks in.... it's a bit un-nerving when it happens half way up the Lickey as you lose about 15mph in the process almost instantly, then it digs in and keeps going, doing about 20mph over the top.

The biggest challenge is taking a loaded train down the bank.... one of our jobs involves taking a 2,000 ton stone train to Worcester with a max speed of 60mph, but even if you get a clear signal at the top you don't go over the top at much more than 30-35... the brake goes in straight away and stays on till you get to the bottom, and if the Gloucester signalman puts you in the loop straight after the platform you're heading towards a red 'un at the bottom anyway. Years ago there were many runaways with un braked wagons pushing locos down the bank, being put into the loop and going straight out the other end through the catch points.... ;O)

Hope that helps!

N ;O)

[Bish]

P5Nij said:

Bish said:

Great stuff. What sort of load does a 66 need to call in the banker for assistance?

Would love to see it from the cab, must be a hell of a challenge.

Max load up the bank for us is 1,150 tonnes, anything more and we have to get on the phone and pray! Not much of a challenge going uphill as far as driving is concerned, more a case of give it the beans approaching Bromsgrove and for gawd sake don't let the deadmans drop out or you're in serious trouble. The thing with 66s is, when under full power the amps will suddenly drop and pick up again at roughly 35mph as the generator 'weakfield' kicks in.... it's a bit un-nerving when it happens half way up the Lickey as you lose about 15mph in the process almost instantly, then it digs in and keeps going, doing about 20mph over the top.

The biggest challenge is taking a loaded train down the bank.... one of our jobs involves taking a 2,000 ton stone train to Worcester with a max speed of 60mph, but even if you get a clear signal at the top you don't go over the top at much more than 30-35... the brake goes in straight away and stays on till you get to the bottom, and if the Gloucester signalman puts you in the loop straight after the platform you're heading towards a red 'un at the bottom anyway. Years ago there were many runaways with un braked wagons pushing locos down the bank, being put into the loop and going straight out the other end through the catch points.... ;O)

Hope that helps!

N ;O)

Jesus, had n ot thought about the field divert kicking in, as you say it must be very unsettling when it does!

[28V6]

Sadly 37717 got withdrawn from service in December 2004 after 44 odd years of mainline action and was cut up at C.F. Booths Scrap Merchants, Rotherham in April 2009.

I remember seeing it at Booths waiting it's fate with other dead 37's and 56's in late February 2009 whilst we were on a spares raid for 37240.

I might have a pic somewhere. I'll try and dig it out.

At least some of the engine bits live on in 37403 or so I'm led to believe...

[useyourdellusion]

I live about 4-5 miles away from it and have driven a few Unimat S&C Tampers up it over the years. They're struggling for breath all the way up really, 30-35mph maximum!

It doesn't help as we're always slotted in behind passenger trains which stop at Bromsgrove station, so it's difficult to get any sort of run up.