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Post by Patrick on Sept 3, 2008 16:42:42 GMT
Many years ago a friend's Father had a (bad) habit of regularly cutting the engine on the car whilst travelling downhill to "save fuel" - He'd been a bus and lorry driver in the past so you'd think he was experienced - but this can be very dangerous as the engine power is needed to keep control of the car as well as steering, brakes etc. However - on the railways, it's becoming normal practice! A train company running services over the Pennines has told its drivers to shut off engines on downhill sections to save money.Of course, knowing Trans-Pennine as I do - they do have a reputation for overcrowding, so I have this vision of a driver being unaware of this and cutting an engine only to have the train stop dead 'cos it's so full of passengers! |
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Post by markindurham on Sept 26, 2008 17:54:39 GMT
OK, I'll bite  That analogy with cars doesn't work, as these trains don't use the engines for braking - they have air brakes. (Or steering, of course  ) However, there IS a car analogy... Some larger engines now have some cylinders cut off if large power demands aren't being made - all computer controlled, natch, so if the 'magic box' craps out then you're knackered, but I think that's true of most modern cars... |
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Post by Patrick on Sept 26, 2008 21:09:48 GMT
Just my little joke, of course. Must be easy to do it with the new Desiros, I wonder if a Sprinter could do it?
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Post by markindurham on Sept 27, 2008 11:11:34 GMT
I suspect not without a major upgrade of the control systems.
There should be more regenerative braking used as well on electric trains - I think (again) that the electric Desiros have that, but the last ones that I know of in the UK were the Woodhead d.c. electrics (Classes 76 & 77). All long gone, of course...
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Post by Patrick on Sept 27, 2008 11:33:44 GMT
I'm on the mailing list of the Woodhead tunnelers - I have no idea how it happened! They are making Herculean efforts to try and stop the place being turned into a giant power cable route for British Energy!
Having suffered the slow stopping service on the "other" line from Manchester to Sheffield - I cannot understand why this isn't being looked at - Manchester is constantly complaining (justifiably so) about it's need for better transport links! and let's be honest - Virgin could do with a kick in the competitive nuts! - So for East Midland Trains to be able to offer High Speed Services to Manchester via Sheffield from St Pancras would be a great alternative! (Not to mention being able to go to London and avoid those godawful Pendolinos!
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Post by markindurham on Sept 27, 2008 14:18:47 GMT
Yes, it beggars belief that the tunnel could be used for these ruddy cables, thus removing the possibility of reopening...  I've said for years that the Great Central Main Line from Sheffield to London should not have been closed, especially after the opening of the Channel Tunnel & the new high speed CTRL. (The line was built to Berne Gauge - a great piece of foresight on the part of the Chairman, (Sir) Edward Watkin). From Sheffield you route over Woodhead to Manchester/Liverpool, & north to Leeds. After Leeds, the S & C to Carlisle, from whence the GSWR line through Dumfries to Glasgow would be the obvious way. The Waverley route to Edinburgh would be the last piece of the jigsaw. This would minimise any disruption to existing, busy main lines when constructing/converting the new lines. Of course, this would require major expenditure and commitment by government... |
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