to the specialist of BR

[ll22012]

Good morning
I would like to have a realistic drive with all my trains......but I don't know the regular speed of the train on BR Railways.....for example,what is the maximum speed permitted with ?
-1-Class 20 with freight or passengers
-2-Class 24,25,26 with freight or passengers
-3-Class 31,33 with freight or passengers
-4-Class 40,42 with freight or passengers
-5-Class 47 with freight or passengers
-6-Class 50 with freight or passengers
-7-Class 56 with freight or passengers
-8-Class 66 with freight or passengers
Does-it exist a particulary notice board for that ? sorry with my questions,i hope that it is not an inconvenience for you to answer me .....
On the french railways,for exemple,all diesel machines rune at the maximum speed permitted on the ligne with passengers traffic 140 or 160 km/h..and a few number of CC72000 can run no more than 160 KM/h with 8 carriages maximun..and for the electric machines it is the same and a particulary for the:
BB8500,BB25000 no more than 140km/h
BB16000,BB15000,BB7300,BB22000,BB26000 no more than 160 KM/h
a few number of BB26000 can run no more than 200 KM/h with only 10 carriages
and for the freight,it is very simple,it is usually 90 or 100 or 120 KM/h
Well I wish you a pleasant day.
Regards
jean-pierre

[Kariban]

-1-Class 20 with freight or passengers
-2-Class 24,25,26 with freight or passengers
-3-Class 31,33 with freight or passengers
-4-Class 40,42 with freight or passengers
-5-Class 47 with freight or passengers
-6-Class 50 with freight or passengers
-7-Class 56 with freight or passengers
-8-Class 66 with freight or passengers

Well to clear a few simple things up first: class 20, 56 and 66 are primarily freight engines and other than some regular specials for class 20, not likely to turn up on passenger services unless it's an emergency. Of the others on passenger, the upper limit is whatever is lowest out of the engine max speed limit, the stock max speed limit or the line speed; you can find max speeds for engines on Wikipedia.

Freight is a different story; that will mostly depend on the max speed of the freight stock which other than a Class 60, is always going to be the same or lower than the engine.

[ll22012]

Ok,
many thanks for your answer and I wish you a pleasant afternoon
Regards.
jean-pierre

[bdy26]

As Kariban says, it is more down to the freight consist than the locomotive - the braking power of the train and its weight dictating which class of freight train and its maximum speed.

BR mk1 and 2 coaching stock is generally limited to 100mph, Mk3s to 125 mph (but until the Class 67 there were no deisel locomotives capable of more than 100mph)

20, 56 and 66 were generally freight only.

Top speeds of the locomotives vary:

Class 20 - 75
Classes 24/5/7 - 90
Class 26 - 80
Class 40 - 90
Class 42 - 90
Class 47 - 95
Class 50 - 100
Class 56 - 75
Class 66 - 75

From Wiki:

Train classes

For operational reasons, certain trains have priority in running. To help operating staff, they are grouped into classes:
1.Express passenger train, nominated postal or parcels train, breakdown or overhead line equipment train going to clear the line or returning from there 2.Ordinary passenger train, breakdown or overhead line equipment train not going to clear the line (2Z99), or an Officers’ special train (2Z01)
3.Freight train which can run at more than 75 mph, parcels train, or empty coaching stock train if specially authorised
4.Freight train limited to 75 mph
5.Empty coaching stock train
6.Freight train limited to 60 mph
7.Freight train limited to 45 mph
8.Freight train limited to, or timed to run at, 35 mph or less
9.Eurostar train.
Class 0 is used for light locomotives. Newspaper and postal trains are consigned to history. The classes' definitions have changed several times since being introduced: Class 3 was formerly used for parcels trains, and Class 9 for freight trains without fitted brakes.

[USRailFan]

BR mk1 and 2 coaching stock is generally limited to 100mph

Weren't Mk1s mostly, at least from they were new, limited to 90 mph?

[Kariban]

I don't think stock had a limit when Mk1s turned up! but the original bogie design ones were limited to 90 eventually, the following ones 100.

Class 9 unfitted freight was limited to 25 except on Woodhead, where apparently you could run a totally unfitted freight as a Class 8.

[USRailFan]

That's how I thought it was too.
And of course some Mk1-type cars (BGs and RBRs, at least) got clearance for 110 mph for use with Class 87s and Mk3 rakes (before the advent of the Mk3 RMBs, Mk3 DVTs and Class 90s).

[malkymackay]

Class 9 unfitted freight was limited to 25 except on Woodhead, where apparently you could run a totally unfitted freight as a Class 8.

It's a bit more confusing than that. The speed limits for freights in my Working Timetables that cover the end of the Woodhead line were as follows:
Class 4 - max 75; Class 6 - max 45, unless noted otherwise; Class 7 - max 45; Class 8 - max 35 & Class 9 - max 25.
It was not unkown for a service to have it's classification altered to reflect the wagons in the consist on the day, or even for it to have a booked change of classification.

[Kariban]

I found an anecdote from a Woodhead guard the other day talking about "fast" unfitted freights, relying on the way 76s "braking characteristics" which I assume is the dyna brake. I can't see how that would bring you up in a hurry, mind...

[holzroller]

BR Vacuum braked passenger trains were limited to 90 mph, mainly due to not be able to stop quickly enough for signal spacing above that. Air braked was generally 100 mph, unless BR MK! bogies were fitted, then it was generally 90mph. But certain air braked coaches were later passed for 110mp. Mk1 Sleepers were 80 mph, as was some other mk1 stock in the 80's, but were allowed to got to 90mph in the event of late running. During my time instructions for MK3 sleeper trains were to keep to a max of 80 mph for passenger comfort, unless of course there was a need to make up time. Freight as above is dependent on train class and era. The speed of some wagons changed during their lives, generally lower. Also loco max speeds changed, some locos had their max speed reduced to try and reduce maintenance, class 20's for instance were reduced to 60mph in the 80's, although no physical changes were made. Other examples were departmental 40's 45mph, & class 50's 60mph. so unfortunately the true answer is very much, It depends. Add in another variable, driver with a late running train with a loco with a reduced speed on his run home, and you could bet 9 times out of 10 that the original max speed would be the one he kept to, and not the reduced one.

[ll22012]

Good evening everybody,
It is very kind of all of you......It will take a few moment,that I arrive to understand all explanation,but it will be clear after reading many times.
I can read:
Class 4....max75
Class 6....max45
Class 8....max35
Is it due to a dangerous freight or only due to limit of speed about the rolling stock.
These questions are only for my personnaly knowledges.
Best Regards.
Jean-pierre

[Kariban]

It's to do with the type of stock. Class 4 would be freight stock that's almost built to passenger standards, like freightliners. Class 6 I believe is 60mph now, that is most freight nowadays and would be a fully fitted train. Class 8 would be a train with only some of the vehicles having train brakes ( which we don't do anymore ), and the old Class 9 only has brakes on the engine & guards van, which we also don't do anymore.

I also think class 4 needs brakes to be using passenger timings, but don't quote me on that.

[USRailFan]

These days class 6 would be 60 mph and Class 7 45

[holzroller]

At least in the 80's and 90's class 8 was fully fitted up to 35 mph, our Oxwellmains to Craiginches cement train being an example. Loose coupled (unbraked) and part fitted were class 9a & b, can't remember which was which, off the top of my head

[dp123]

It's to do with the type of stock. Class 4 would be freight stock that's almost built to passenger standards, like freightliners. Class 6 I believe is 60mph now, that is most freight nowadays and would be a fully fitted train. Class 8 would be a train with only some of the vehicles having train brakes ( which we don't do anymore ), and the old Class 9 only has brakes on the engine & guards van, which we also don't do anymore.

I also think class 4 needs brakes to be using passenger timings, but don't quote me on that.

Class 8 is normally now used for specialist movements, like MPV's running RHTT, snowplough workings or LUL stock movements. Class 6 is, and always has been, max 60mph. The Woodhead connection seems to be a discrepancy, possibly historic/local. Class 7's still run (see 7Cxx/7Axx stone trains to and from Wiltshire mainly - usually the "jumbos").

Mk3 HST trailers only can do 125, Mk3A LHCS is 110mph.