Diesel railcar project

A new railcar project for the Launceston Steam Railway was revealed publically a few days ago - further details are on the news page of the LSR website, including photos of the test rig which started trials a few weeks ago.

 

Cooooooooooooooool! I thought of designing a narrow gauge psuedo-DMU, never did though!

Could be a future transport solution, narrow gauge DMUs!?

 

English Electric built some electric railcars for the Ramsgate Tunnel railway which used power bogies very similar to the Post Office Railway ones. Presumably there are "off the shelf" lightweight generator sets available now which would ease the technical problems somewhat although bodywork less basic than the Ramsgate stock would be needed.

Perhaps someone can correct me but I think the only railcar certificated for public use at present on a "real" narrow gauge line (pace R. & E. R and R.H.D.R. fans) is "The Wasp" on the W.& L.L.R. It was, of course, originally built to standard gauge. I gather the vehicle had been thought of as potentially suitable for the W.H.R. but the additional work to render her suitable for 2ft. gauge would have been major.

The Austrians got things right in selecting 76cm as their "standard" narrow gauge!

Paul

 

Apart from the Donegal railcars on the IoM, of course.

Richard

 

And the Donegal railcar on the Fintown line in Ireland

 

The EHLR at the old line in the Mill Rithe holiday camp tried making a railcar in the late 90s. It was made using milk float parts for the control gear, motor and cab ends. It was never a great success and it had a braking capacity of a bar of soap!

It was then converted into an ordinary bogie carriage ( No.8 ), and further converted into a mobile ticket office for the new line on the seafront at Eastoke Corner Station. When it was found to be impractical and a on board clippie a better idea, it was sold off for preservation and can now be found at the Old Kiln Light Railway in Farnham

If the Launceston Steam Railway can get their railcar to work successfully, it will be a useful off-peak vehicle. Also it will be allot quicker to put to bed when the weather is horrible, and everybody wants to go home early!

 

The web site says "... being developed in conjunction with two other 2' gauge railways ...".

Which two might they be, I wonder....?

 

..Ooooh, that's a difficult one. Can we go fifty-fifty?

 

'Phone a friend..

 

Or 'ask the audience!'

 

West Lancs and Teifi Valley -
no, I don't actually know, but you said ask the audience ......

 

Didn't the Snowdon Mountain Railway have a 3 car dmu; maybe still has? I vaguely remember seeing it on one of my visits in the 1990s, but I think I saved my film for the steam as I can't find any photographic evidence in my collection.

John

 

Yes it did (?does) but I don't think it was very successful. Sub metric railways seem to present particular problwms for the railcar designer.

The Crochat company in France built a few 50cm gauge petrol electric 4W and bogie vehicles post WW1 of which a couple still survive but there was never a second generation. Presumably Crochat realised that beyond the Calvados, Pithiviers and Royan systems there were few potential customers.

There was a rather fearsome petrol railcar on the system in German South West Africa but this was more an inspection vehicle for V.I.P.s rather than for general services. Did the 60c.m. systems in Germany (e.g. Mecklenburg) have any railcars?

One thing the Crochat and the African railcars had in common apart from their track gauge, is that they were single ended. Any railcar for W.H.R. use would have to be double ended (like "The Wasp") to avoid difficulties and expense in providing turning facilities at the termini or at trip working destinations.

Paul H

 

There is a selection of pics of the SMR railcars at http://benfisher.fotopic.net/c1680046.html Last I heard they were for sale.

 

Why were the Snowdon railcars so unsuccessful?

 

Looking at the snowdon rail cars in a different light would it be possible to convert these to conventional carriages as either spare stock for snowdon moutain railway or modified for the WHR. I know this defeats there intended use somewhat but if they could be modified for WHR they could be useful way of aquiring extra carriages and would find a use for them..

Anyway just a thought.

Regards

Duncan

 

WHR could do with a DMU I reckon...well, I think I reckon

 

Thanks for the interesting snippets regarding the Ramsgate tunnel & East Hayling railcars - will pass the info onto the LSR "CME" as I am sure he will be interested.

As for the other railways involved - if they wish to reveal themselves I am sure they will.

With reference to the idea that a railcar may suit the Welsh Highland - one Mike Schumann has been seen riding behind the test rig.

Incidentally planning permission has been granted for the first section of cycle trail which is tied up with the potential Egloskerry extension.

 

pwered bogies

Has Nigel thought of talking to the Seaton Tramway - they have plenty of experience of building (from scratch) simple DC power bogies of both conventional and maximum traction (tramcar) types.

Originally in the very eraly days at Seaton they ran without OLE with a battery pack on a trailer. I have always thought that the most sensible hybrid type is a straight genset (which can be optimesed to teh load rather than the variable load / charge modes favoured of our japanese friends) charging a battery pack, which then drives the traction package, add simple re-gen braking and you could be really eco.

if Nigel would like to discuss this further i have lots of contacts in that field, which i would be pleased to introduce him to

Regards

Chris P
07740 541 946

 

I'm surprised that nobody seems to have mentioned this yet...
http://ratty.fotopic.net/p28873303.html
1977 vintage narrow gauge DMU.