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Diesel on the back for shunting

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by MellishR, Aug 23, 2013.

  1. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    (On the 45699 Galatea thread)
    Whilst there are sometimes other reasons as well (notably in recent weeks) shunting at the destination is often the only apparent reason. And yet sometimes the shunting is done with the steam loco propelling and nothing on the other end (e.g. on the Weymouth Seaside Express). Why is this sometimes OK and other times apparently not?
     
    MellishR, Aug 23, 2013
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  2. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    The only way to get the answer would be direct from a TOC, anything else is, as always, speculation.
     
    RalphW, Aug 23, 2013
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  3. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    As here, taken from elsewhere on the forum.
    5029 does all it's own shunting before it goes for servicing & turning.



    So not exactly an impossible task.
     
    buseng, Aug 23, 2013
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  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It's hard to generalise on this one and I suspect will be partly to do with local circumstances, as dictated by NR, and partly what the TOC is prepared to do. In the case of WCR who don't have diesels sitting around the country, for them it's often because of the need to take their shunter with them or pay for an extra path (as with the GB Tours). In the case of DBS they sometimes have something nearby. For example, with the Swanage trip (that in the event ran with a DL) there was a separate path for a DL to go from Eastleigh to Swanage, pull the train back to Soton and then detach and return to base. Ironically it is DBS who has more potential flexibility with such things. In practice no steam crew relishes having the equivalent of 3 or 4 extra coaches in the consist. And depending on the engine up front, when the shunter has to be added, it may mean that the shunter just cannot be silent at starts in particular.
     
    Big Al, Aug 23, 2013
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  5. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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    If I recall, Bob Meanley gave some explanation about this from an operational aspect a while back. Relating to VT obviously, but could very well generally apply to others.
     
    Stu in Torbay, Aug 27, 2013
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