GCR 4-CIG & 33 Push/Pull Weekend 19th & 20th August

tigermon · Post by **tigermon** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:48 am

The Great Central Railway has announced another impromptu Gala weekend, this time with a dash of 1970's BR Southern Region!

Recently the resident 4-CIG EMU and Class 33 Locomotive operated succesfully in Push/Pull mode for the War Weekend, now the railway has decided to give over an entire weekend to the duo to slot in between timetabled trains, to give over 50 miles of haulage, or propellage each day.

The event will take place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th of August, and if succesful, it's very likely that a similar weekend may take place again!

Locomotives/Units:

D6535 (33116) - Class 33/1
Built: 1961
Current Livery: BR Blue (Rather faded)

1393 (7397/1297/2256) - Class 421 4-CIG
Built: 1972
Current Livery: South West Trains

Up two two other Steam Locomotives, and one Diesel, and possibly a DMU will also be running.

More information will be posted nearer the time.

chuxn2005 · Post by **chuxn2005** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:03 pm

Just to add to what tigermon said, the website is http://www.gcrailway.co.uk and details can eventually be found here.
For anyone looking for more pictures of the 4-cig and 33 there some on the GCR section on my site http://www.ah-trains.fotopic.net.

Cheers
Andy

Keelar001 · Post by **Keelar001** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:51 pm

Oooooooo.... shall I bring my EP key with me? Or indeed just show up in full uniform?!

tigermon · Post by **tigermon** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:29 pm

"Look ma! No 3rd rail!".

Nah, EP doesnt work when she's not got juice, though oddly enough she was charging up the batteries on Saturday and they were getting an EP brake in the cab. Yet were were getting no power to any systems (other than the Loudaphone) in the Guards Van.

Which is a shame, cause I really wanna play with the PA System!

Keelar001 · Post by **Keelar001** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:38 pm

Oh, I'll still need the EP - odd that, I was under the impression the 110 Volt crossfeed would give you EP brakes. Oh well, Auto it is.

NB: Owing to being used to working with EDs, forgot that Cromptons won't give you EP. . . .. Haven't driven on Auto for about a year, so that should be interesting. Pick any platform mark and you'll still be wrong.

Mind you, I gather you lot have gopt a nice shiny JA sat about; 600 hp is enough and then we get proper brakes!!

arabiandisco · Post by **arabiandisco** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:45 pm

would that be the same EP key that you stick in the drivers desk of the 33?

I think EP key and EP Brakes are different animals... (The EP key is also necessary to run a 45, which doesnt have EP Brakes)

Keelar001 · Post by **Keelar001** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:51 pm

arabiandisco wrote:would that be the same EP key that you stick in the drivers desk of the 33?

I think EP key and EP Brakes are different animals... (The EP key is also necessary to run a 45, which doesnt have EP Brakes)

*Puffing up* Excuse me? Excuse me?! I know the difference twixt EP keys and EP brakes. What you evil Midlands-types call a Master Control Key is what us civilised southern types call an EP key.

arabiandisco · Post by **arabiandisco** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:05 pm

I'm sure you know the difference - not so sure tigermon does.

I'm a shandy-drinking-soft-southern-pansy as it happens. Well, southern anyhow.

And the "master control key" is known to me as an EP key, though I knon not what the EP actually stands for in a big crompton context.

From what I've heard (from an ex WD driver, not a current one such as yourself...) is that Auto is much like Vac...

Keelar001 · Post by **Keelar001** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:16 pm

arabiandisco wrote:I'm sure you know the difference - not so sure tigermon does.

I'm a shandy-drinking-soft-southern-pansy as it happens. Well, southern anyhow.

And the "master control key" is known to me as an EP key, though I knon not what the EP actually stands for in a big crompton context.

From what I've heard (from an ex WD driver, not a current one such as yourself...) is that Auto is much like Vac...

I've only ever driven on Vac once - oddly enough that was a Crompton, but that was before I was a nearly-proper driver, so I'm afraid I couldn't give you a full answer to that mate. I know that when I drove on Auto I was always very respectful of it. EP is the easy one to use, Auto takes skill.

tigermon · Post by **tigermon** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:46 pm

Nope, dont know the difference between an EP Key and EP Brakes, indeed I dont really have any understanding of EP brakes at all, I'm just Air and Vacuum here, give me 21/25 inches or 72.5psi and I'm happy!

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:59 pm

tigermon wrote:Nope, dont know the difference between an EP Key and EP Brakes, indeed I dont really have any understanding of EP brakes at all, I'm just Air and Vacuum here, give me 21/25 inches or 72.5psi and I'm happy!

EP = Electro Pnumatic (,soz about the spelling) braking system ie the 4EPB's as they were named after there brakes.

basically Friction braking a disk spins opposite the disk on the wheel causing friction an very accurate breaking rather than a jolting effect.

tigermon · Post by **tigermon** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:14 am

http://www.railway-technical.com/ep-brakes.html - That's more detailed so I'll see what that says, thanks anyway.

Keelar001 · Post by **Keelar001** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:23 pm

I have spoken to those that know at Wombledon and the CIG should be able to be driven on EP with the Crompton on the back....

Keelar001 · Post by **Keelar001** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:25 pm

To anyone who put up with the contingent from SWT on the GCR today:

I hope you had as much of a laugh as we did.

All the best!
Steve

chuxn2005 · Post by **chuxn2005** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 1:29 pm

Some pics been Uploaded at

http://www.ah-trains.fotopic.net

Didnt actaully go on the 4-CIg although I've been on it before, very nice