Atomic Systems

Im new to this Train lark and my knowledge is lacking (Although I am reading )

I want to create some realistic scenarios, but have a few questions that perhaps you chaps could help me with.

1) Speed limits.

Obviously there is the line limits, but what about limits imposed by the rolling stock? For example 50s or 60s freight, did they go flat out or did the wagons have a maximum running speed? What about MK1 coaches?

2) Lets say I want to create a scenario in the Early 60s on a southwest line. Would it just be GWR ex stock in BR colours or would their be a mix of Engines from the rest of the big four? What about BR classes? did they wander all over or keep to certain areas?

3) Is there anywhere I can find out about maxium loads as far as consists goes? A mainline passenger express for example, how many coaches? what proportion of 1st class?

Im sure Ill think of other stuff as I go along, so hopefully you will bear with me, and thanks for any help

I reckon you might be best off asking some questions about historical operation practices on a general rail forum, not on a forum dedicated to simulation games. I'll answer as best I can, keeping in mind I'm not an expert on UK operations and this is just from what I've gleaned over times.

1. There would be maximum speeds related to the locomotives used, the wagons/coaches and possibly the timetabling of the train, with the most restrictive one to be used. This can only really be done on an honesty basis in creating scenarios (i.e. informing the user at the start they are not to exceed 60mph), and by setting the timetables slow enough to be met without exceeding that speed.

2.You would probably see a small amount of the late GWR stock and mostly BR stock. I gather that the regions still ran as mostly separate operations right through to the end of the steam era.

3. Google is your friend.

There are so many variables that it's hard to know where to start.

1) A lot of wagons were still unbraked or Vacuum braked at best in the early 60's, so they would not be going very quickly. From my documentation from the early 80's, short wheelbase wagons (like the default 16t mineral) were limited to a maximum of 35mph. Mark1 coaches would be good for 90mph.

2)AFAIK the southwest wouldn't have seen much in the way of locos that wasn't GWR built or designed. This does not take into account locations where the GWR & SR met up ( such as Exeter or Plymouth). Diesels would also be making their appearance in the early 60's.

3)Not being that interested in that corner of the country, I can't give you much of an answer other than to echo transadelaide. Photographic research is one way of doing it. If it is a real service you want to replicate, then getting hold of period Working Timetables would be useful, as they tend to give the maximum load that the trains are timed to.

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I wasnt aware that short based freight went so slow Although that could make some opportunities for some intresting activities.

The majority of rolling stock I have is either LMS or GWR so those are the regions I am looking at. (Would love if it some more LNER stuff was availible).

There weren't any blanket speed limits until... 1958? something like that. Certain Mk1s are cleared for 100mph, but there wasn't anything on the WR that would pull them that fast ( officially ). The GWR used to run everything as fast as it would go!. Fully fitted short wheelbase freight could run to 45mph - lots of china clay from Cornwall used vac braked clay hoods. Lots of milk trains too, they were somewhat faster.

There were some BR standard tanks at Exmouth Jct. in the early 60s, otherwise you wouldn't get any BR types anywhere - maybe the very odd Brit passing through.

As for train lengths? 9-14 or so I'd imagine. Can't get too long, platforms are only a certain length. Those were the days of slip coaches and through portions to intermediate destinations, so train lengths are a bit variable anyway.

Milk and other highly perishable goods would run considerably faster than other goods trains, and the wagons involved were fully-fitted and maintained to a much higher standard to permit this - and this is also why milk wagons traditionally had 6 wheels (partly to protect the glass lining of the tank from shocks). I've seen quotes of "express passenger timings", which in the steam era didn't mean anywhere near 100mph, but maybe 60mph was allowed for. Occasionally, even with full braking ability, stopping distances were a problem. Empty milk wagons would, however, be returned in ordinary goods trains, perhaps forming a fitted head.

Other fitted or fitted-head goods trains would be allowed to say 45mph, unfitted wagons in good condition at 35mph, mostly due to a combination of stopping distances and economy - but if any unfitted private-owner wagons were involved, the limit was 25mph because so many of them had worthless grease bearings, which would easily overheat.

Passenger trains could normally be expected to run at full line speed, or as near to it as the haulage could manage. This would also apply to mail trains, which were run using what amounted to modified passenger stock. I think four- and six-wheel carriages should have virtually disappeared by then, or at the very least been relegated to sleepy branch lines, but I would be very shy of running those above 60mph.

Great stuff guys! Very useful.