Drove a locomotive!

[Dieselman 63]

Yesterday I did something I never thought I’d do, and drove a 108t railway locomotive - slowly, in notch one, in a non-interlocked yard. It’s pretty awesome to have 4000hp in your control.

The locomotive is a Chinese built DL.

As part of my apprenticeship I am learning how to move locomotives around the depot as we need to.

Management took the photo and I was accompanied by a trainer. I was concentrating super hard trying not to crash or kill anyone!

 

[Craig-SM]

Pretty cool. Now go watch Unstoppable and never be like them.

 

[Robotstar5]

Try not to crash, this happened to a tram driver on their final assessment run on the Isle of Man, car driver at fault.

Oddly enough, we hardly felt it inside, just a bump like a wheel had gone over a pebble.

 

[Erie Fred]

And remember...All 4000 hp is being held back by a qty (1) electron thick layer of P & N junction.
My electronics engineer friend came up with that one.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Try not to crash, this happened to a tram driver on their final assessment run on the Isle of Man, car driver at fault.

View attachment 403958View attachment 403959

Oddly enough, we hardly felt it inside, just a bump like a wheel had gone over a pebble.

Amazing isn’t it. The power of trains is not to be messed with!

 

[Puglet1]

Nice!

 

[plewlandsbob]

That Is a pretty cool day at work

 

[Erie Fred]

Amazing isn’t it. The power of trains is not to be messed with!

and a 3 engine consist of 4400 hp each is even better !

 

[brightspark]

you can get a day experience driving a deltic diesel on the north yorks railway about a 5 mile run for about 150 quid . was on the station platform next to my house talking to the engine driver waiting for the signal to go fully loaded 35 tesco containers and 3 food tankers .they do about 8 trips each way from tees port up to scotland each day the power is incredible when they set off and real soon get up to full speed

 

[Tangledfeet]

And remember...All 4000 hp is being held back by a qty (1) electron thick layer of P & N junction.
My electronics engineer friend came up with that one.

Interesting one!

I'd be inclined to think that the prime mover would be set to fail (stop) in the event of signal loss..?

 

[Pete.]

If you look around you should also be able to find a steam driving experience. Definitely a worthwhile experience.

 

[brightspark]

If you look around you should also be able to find a steam driving experience. Definitely a worthwhile experience.

yep nyr do that as well think its over a few hundred quid

 

[Barking Mat]

Fair play mate.

 

[Dieselman 63]

you can get a day experience driving a deltic diesel on the north yorks railway about a 5 mile run for about 150 quid . was on the station platform next to my house talking to the engine driver waiting for the signal to go fully loaded 35 tesco containers and 3 food tankers .they do about 8 trips each way from tees port up to scotland each day the power is incredible when they set off and real soon get up to full speed

It is, you actually have more control over the train with a longer train as you have more brake blocks.

It’s weird driving the train because you can notch up the engine then stick it into idle and you’re still moving quite fast. Apply the brakes and release them and whilst you’re moving forward the brakes are still coming off and on at the end of the train. You can’t tell you’re dragging wagons because of the power, sadly this is how flats appear on the tyres (and we have to turn them true again!)

 

[Tinbasherdan]

If you look around you should also be able to find a steam driving experience. Definitely a worthwhile experience.

Mate drives (and owns!) a steam loco. They’re all a bit odd. My favourite sport is to call the loco a train and watch their heads pop……..

“It’s not a train, it’s a bloody loco”

 

[brightspark]

Mate drives (and owns!) a steam loco. They’re all a bit odd. My favourite sport is to call the loco a train and watch their heads pop……..

“It’s not a train, it’s a bloody loco”

2 rite the loco pulls the train its as bad as folk saying a plug top its a socket and a plug

 

[Tinbasherdan]

2 rite the loco pulls the train its as bad as folk saying a plug top its a socket and a plug

Oh I know that very well, but I make sure to wind the train boys up whenever I can there’s a strange kind of elitism that exists at preserved railways- mates looked down on as he only has a little 040, vs some of the big boys stuff. Odd really as they’re all restricted to the same speed and the same 2 mile stretch of track

 

[Dieselman 63]

Oh I know that very well, but I make sure to wind the train boys up whenever I can there’s a strange kind of elitism that exists at preserved railways- mates looked down on as he only has a little 040, vs some of the big boys stuff. Odd really as they’re all restricted to the same speed and the same 2 mile stretch of track

Preserved railways are cancerous and I hate talking to people who work there, that elitism is true, you’re right there! Worst is when they try and explain your trade to you and you ask them what they did their time in and they tell you they’re a bloody accountant

 

[gaz1]

steam trains had more power to them and took some stopping as well

Early wood-burning 440s had 400–500 horsepower. The last big articulated steam engines had 6000–7500 horsepower. The early boxcab diesels had 200 horsepower.

 

[sparkysy]

Used to love the sound of those Deltic diesel loco's awesome!
In my younger days me and a couple of mates used to sit under one of the footpath bridges above the siding at Rugby station and feel them going past!

@Dieselman 63
Fair play that is an amazing day, looks like a very interesting job!

My grandfather and mum used to build model steam trains when I was very young, I forgot what gauge they were now but big enough to get on and drive. Use to love his workshop!
Unfortunately he passed away when I was about 6 and most of his engineering kit and current build was sold. I would love to have the time, skills and funds to build one!
Sy