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Title: Long "engineerng" train passing thought Thatcham 13/11/2014 about 759 Post by: BerkshireBugsy on November 14, 2014, 06:34:52 Whilst waiting for my taxi home last night what I believe was an engineering train headed eastbound through Thatcham. It appeared to comprise of a diesel at either end and then about 30 units most which appeared to be either ballast hoppers and feeders. - is this some sort of track maintanence set?
Just curious Title: Re: Long "engineerng" train passing thought Thatcham 13/11/2014 about 759 Post by: a-driver on November 14, 2014, 09:01:42 The only thing I can think of is the HOBC, or High Output Ballast Cleaner
http://youtu.be/9PUlsWQQJ9U Title: Re: Long "engineerng" train passing thought Thatcham 13/11/2014 about 759 Post by: paul7575 on November 14, 2014, 09:54:25 The HOBC is interesting in that just 'cleaning' is quite an oversimplification. The business end of the machine is in the middle, and what it does is to remove the existing ballast, and sort out the reusable stuff from the damaged, worn and undersized pieces, then top the remainder up with new and then lay it under the track again. So at its start of work half the hoppers are empty to take spoil, and half are full of the top up material that replaces the spoil.
There's a video here of it working between Basingstoke and Salisbury: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI_iDUQ4_-A Paul Title: Re: Long "engineerng" train passing thought Thatcham 13/11/2014 about 759 Post by: Electric train on November 14, 2014, 11:59:18 There is a "virtual quarry" at Westbury one of principle ones in south of the country. PW trains often have to take a scenic route to get to the worksite, partly to ensure they arrive at site in the right configuration and partly so they enter the site from the end the engineer wants it too and they may be operations reasons as well
Title: Re: Long "engineerng" train passing thought Thatcham 13/11/2014 about 759 Post by: BerkshireBugsy on November 14, 2014, 13:04:00 Thanks guys - that was definately what I saw last night - it was a very impressive sight!
Title: Re: Long "engineerng" train passing thought Thatcham 13/11/2014 about 759 Post by: stuving on November 15, 2014, 19:49:51 As noted before, HOBC is very long - or at least can be (depending on what "maximum" means) - this is from the Western Route Sectional Appendix:
Quote High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC) and Track Relaying System (TRS) Trains These trains are authorised to transit between their operating bases and engineering possessions in excess of the normal route length limits on Western Route provided that a suitable train path has been identified. The train identification used and maximum lengths (including locomotives) are as follows: HOBC 6Y11 127 SLUs 811 metres 887 yards 2659 feet TRS 6Y33 117 SLUs 744 metres 813 yards 2439 feet The HOBC and TRS may also exceed the maximum permitted single engine load between the locations listed below on Western Route. In these circumstances the train concerned must operate with a locomotive at each end. The rear loco is authorised to apply power as directed by the lead driver to assist as required in the negotiation of inclines between the mileages shown. In these cases both locomotives must be manned as per Train Company manning agreements and equipped with back to back radios. The list of track sections where two locomotives are mandatory include a lot more than the usual very steep gradients, and several stretches of main line, so I think it will always have two in practice. Realtime trains shows no freight working with HOBC's customary ID of 6Y11 through Thatcham on the 13th, and only routine pathed runs with other IDs. The only "heavy" that evening passed at about 19:15. This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |