Questions on UK train operations...

[salopiangrowler]

Oh, and 1 thing, trains in Britain are uncommonly hauled by two engines, and as-good-as-never (not since the 80's? steel trains?) are trains hauled by 3 loco's.

Apart from DRS who seem to run their locos in pairs, especially the 20's and 33's

Obviously no one remembers the time DRS helped Freightliners 4S81 Margam - Coatbridge 4V04 return we had the following formations

20 + 20
20 + 37
37 + 37
20 + 20 + 20
20 + 20 + 37
20 + 37 + 20
20 + 37 + 37
20 + 20 + 20 + 20

and the best and noisiest monstrosiy was

20 + 37 + 37 + 20 one night only when i was waiting for the last train home they came storming through with a fully laden typical length freightliner, Set a few car alarms off.

the above turns are no longer running and i only know the coatbridge wentloog os 4V08

[yorkie2k]

The HST is basically a high speed DMU.

The HST is not a DMU.
As it consists of 2 locos and between 7 and 9 Mk 3 coaches. A class 43 is no less a loco than a class 91, the only difference is that an HST has a loco at each end rather than a loco at one end and DVT at the other.

An HST can't run in multiple unless it's been fitted with buffers anyway (and very few have been), and even then I have never heard of that occuring.

A DMU would not have a dedicated loco, instead the diesel motors are located within the passenger cars.

I much prefer HSTs to the new Virgin Voyager DMUs, the big downside to DMUs is the unavoidable noise you get in every coach.

[salopiangrowler]

The HST is basically a high speed DMU.

The HST is not a DMU.
quote]

between 1976 and 1988 the HST's were referred to by there Original class number 253's 254's

effectivley designating them DMU's they were also in the ian allen and ABC of trainspotting DMU books.

also HST's are more or less permanently coupled unless for power car swaps. Similar to the DMU of today.

[yorkie2k]

I know they were incorrectly designated DMUs originally, but they aren't DMUs for the reasons stated above.