Atomic Systems

In readiness for next weeks open day (SR) No.20002 has been rolled out into the yard (presumably to let the fresh coat of paint dry!).

I have a 3/4 completed model of 20003 which should be finished in the next couple of weeks.

Tim

Wasn't there only three of these made?

They used to do the Eastbourne to Manchester services back in the 1950's. I have a black and white photo of 20002.

yes, I have some pics of number 3 after refurbishment on the Newhaven boat trains, apparrently they spent most of their working lives running the boat trains and I think 2 of them even survived into the Blue era.

When new they were unique in the fact that they had this large flywheel on board which was used to maintain momentum over area's with large gaps between pickup rails.

something like that anyway.

Didnt know any of these survived.

southcoasttrains wrote:They used to do the Eastbourne to Manchester services back in the 1950's.

So how did they do that? I assume they're third rail/panto electric yes? (guess from the piccies and Tim C's comments) but there was no way to get all the way up to Manchester in the 50's on an electric loco? Some one put me right please?

The black and white photo I posted is from a Book of mine, it is taken as it was passing Glynde which is near Lewes on the (then) Brighton - Hastings mainline. The writing to go with the photo says it was the Eastbourne - Manchester service 26th August 1950.

I guess it went up through Kenny O and through Willesden onto the West Coast Mainline. I guess it used overhead power onto Manchester as the loco have panto's, but I don't know exactly what happened to the service, it could of gone into Brighton and a kettle took it the rest of the way.

I'll put money on it being kettle drawn - electrics around manchester (bury line excepted) in the 50's were of course confined to 1500VDC out to Altrincham and Sheffield Victoria

LOL! Is it 1st April?

They were fitted with a pantograph for shunting in yards: it was the Southern Railway's and then Region's intention to electrify many shunting yards at the 600V voltage but it was felt that third rail all around the place would be more than a bit dodgy. Instead, the plan was to install lightweight overhead at these locations. However the plan was never really carried through and few yards received overhead: and the pantographs remained almost unused although the class 71s and 73s were also fitted with pantographs. Bear in mind that even had the WCML been electrified in the 1950s, touching the 25,000V AC overhead with 600V DC equipment would have led to smoke coming out of the driver's ears!

The route was indeed via Kensington Olympia, where the Southern Region loco (steam or electric) would come off and an LMR engine attached - probably a Scot, Patriot or Jubilee at this period.

None survive. Lovely piccie though!

Timcourt1 wrote:Didnt know any of these survived.

Look at the very first post...

Like I said - I DIDN't know any of these survived

I have not seen any references on the web for any of these escaping the cutters torch so I was a bit surprised at the post anyway

Please take the hint - 20002 was withdrawn in December 1968 (allocated to Brighton) and cut up at J Cashmore's scrapyard, Newport in September 1969. I do believe Zackybong1 was having a larff...

PS a great site for diesel/electric disposal details is http://www.wnxx.com, where I got that nugget from - it also told me that 20001-3 were TOPS class 70 (factoid of the day!).

jp4712 wrote:I do believe Zackybong1 was having a larff.

The coach behind 20002 in the first pic is a clue as well, there are none that colour on the network now, if it was a rpeserved line the coach would be clean and if it was Notwork Rail area it would have a yellow end and the yellow live wire signs.

It wouldn't be a GWR coach or something in green and white/cream? Dosn't look southern at all, the coach behind that looks Maunsell, or what a 2BIL was based on. As for the front coach, is it because it has a guards van or luggage compartment?

Figured as much- Knew they had all been scrapped but that did throw me a bit, anyway some good cam out of it since its prompted me to work on my version again so should be ready in a few weeks after I have finished the 82's