Atomic Systems

Greetings gents,

I would like to know, seeing that I'm very far away from where these trains operate, what is the basic formation of a passenger service Class 67 hauled train? How many passenger coaches normally tug behind the unit, not mentioning the Sleeper set, but normal daily trips? And which of the routes current available to RW, would one find the 67 on in real life? Oxford-Paddington? B-E? E-G? WCML-N?

Also, when running a set with 2 units attached(leading and trailing), the rear unit is on idle, or is it shut off, basically making it added pulling weight for the main unit upfront?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just not having seen these train sets in the metal is kind of hard when creating scenarios to run, as I would like to use prototypical train sets and routes...

67s were designed primarily to replace 47s on mail trains, but as that traffic is now very limited and in the hands of 325 units, their only routine functions are on the portions of London to Inverness / Aberdeen / Fort William Sleepers north of Edinburgh. It would be accurate to use them at Edinburgh on EG and Carstairs on WCML North, but that's about it.

Their other main function is charter trains, the Royal Train, and occasional rostering on lighter freight turns vice the usual 66. You could therefore use them anywhere! They were used on DMU replacements for FGW last year on a temporary basis, and I think there is a Scenario for Bristol - Exeter on such a turn.

I have also seen then on the ECS of the sleepers into Euston instead of the usual 90.

When top and tailed, the rear 67 is switched off - only the late Wrexham & Shropshire and the EWS corporate train has had a safety case for push - pull working with 67s AFAIK.

Plenty of threads on sleeper formations if you search - it has been discussed many times in recent years.

Hope that helps

Ben

Thanks for the reply,

It's interesting to see a wonderful locomotive not having much of a home outside the Sleeper industry... I guess it's basically up to the scenario editor which stock or scenario type he wishes to use, as it won't seem that out of place.... I guess I'll have to look and see how others place their consist order, to see how I can place mine.... it's a pity there aren't much scenarios available...yet....

Hi

67s were used on Royal Mail trains between Low Fell (on Newcastle-York Modern) and Plymouth (Exeter to Bristol) until about 2003, when the traffic was handed back to road. It's only recently that they've reinstated the Royal Mail trains using 325s.
67s are also Thunderbird locos on the ECML, but their principal role is the sleeper service from Edinburgh to Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness. You could easily do a scenario based on the Fort William portion as that utilises a great deal of the Edinburgh to Glasgow route (from Waverley to Ashfield Down Portal to be precise. )

Hope this helps with whatever you decide to do with the information.

There's the one working the Fife Circle passenger extra, which you would see on E-G. When I saw it (only a brief glimpse), I thought it was 1 loco in EWS livery + 6 Mk2 carriages in maroon WCRC livery.

When top and tailing specials, I've noticed that the rear one is frequently left running to provide the train supply, but does not do any work. I don't know if you can reasonably simulate this in RW. They would be quite realistic assisting steam specials in this respect.

Another good use for them would be on N-Y Modern, where 67s are stationed at strategic locations as thunderbirds - there's definitely one at Newcastle. So they could be sent out to fetch a broken down train. However, the only time I've been hauled by a thunderbird on the ECML, they sent a second 91 out of Bounds Green and double headed

AN

Many videos had left me with the impression, that just about anything goes i liveries as long as the coach types match consist requirements. It could be that the unusual is more likely to be uploaded, than the common standard combinations.

Edit: Consist combinations at least for major trains used be retrievable on the operators web site.

We used to use 67s on up to 13 Mk2Fs on charters, also up to 13 Mk1s were known.

Going anywhere really!

If they leave the rear 67 running (an excellent idea if the other loco is Steam or non ETH diesel) then it will need to be crewed. If kept in the consist as back-up it probably would be anyway.

It might be possible to set the loco up as a wagon and have a constant idle sound, but it would need some major work on blueprints.

B

when top and tailed, the rear loco is dead on the back

Just for the record, the formations would be:

Aberdeen/Inverness sleeper: 4-6xsleepers, lounge, seating car (lounge and seating cars are converted Mk2f FO and BSOs respectively)
Ft. William sleeper: 2 sleepers, lounge, seating car (lounge and seating cars as above, although as opposed to the Aberdeen/Inverness portions which carries the seating cars all the way from London, the Ft. William portion gets them added at Edinburgh).

There is one that runs through cardiff i saw a few months ago. It still had the old inter city coaches and colours on it. It looked cool.

They're also used sometimes on "Footex" trains; I remember seeing a photo in the RM of a 67 at Euston getting ready to take Chelsea supporters to Blackburn.

Until a few months ago they were used on the Wrexham & shropshire service to Marylebone running in the formation 67/4x Mk 3 carriage/Mk 3 DVT

67 passenger services were common on Bristol- Exeter route running the Cardiff to Taunton services and I think services to Paignton?

These comprised of 2 EWS 67's (top and tailed) with 1 Mk2e BSO and 3 mk2e's TSO's usually in cargo D intercity livery or a turquoisey colour

Though this service has been replaced by Class 150's now I believe


http://www.railwayherald.org/imaging.ce ... age=165893


Tom

Hi Tom, they still use the 67s on occasions, and it's not too rare either