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Freight trains length

You are here: Home > Forum > General > General questions, comments, and issues > Freight trains length

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Freight trains length 14/09/2022 at 12:55 #148002
jean_gagne_555
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In the 1979-80 timetable for Carlisle PSB, most class 6, 7 and 8 freight trains are about 300 to 400 meters long. But, in the 1977 timetable for Warrington PSB, they are mostly about 200 meters long.

Was there a change of practice between 1977 and 1979 that increased the length of freight trains ? Or is it something related to the region that would require shorter trains.

Class 4 Freightliner trains are about the same length in both timetables.

Jean

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Freight trains length 14/09/2022 at 15:58 #148004
jc92
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3631 posts
Length of trains (and the weight) is defined by the length limit on its given route and traction used, listed in a freight train loads book.

The trains in Carlisle 1979 were worked out based on the longest/heaviest train possible within these limits set out in the appropriate book, giving you the longest train you might have go deal with.

I cant speak for warrington but they've likely just been put in as average estimated consists rather than maximum ones.

Of course on a given day the train length would vary for a wagonload train depending in what traffic there was anyway.

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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Freight trains length 15/09/2022 at 10:41 #148018
58050
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jc92 in post 148004 said:
Length of trains (and the weight) is defined by the length limit on its given route and traction used, listed in a freight train loads book.

The trains in Carlisle 1979 were worked out based on the longest/heaviest train possible within these limits set out in the appropriate book, giving you the longest train you might have go deal with.

I cant speak for warrington but they've likely just been put in as average estimated consists rather than maximum ones.

Of course on a given day the train length would vary for a wagonload train depending in what traffic there was anyway.

Further to that I did use the LMR May 1979 & May 1980 freight train loads books too.

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Freight trains length 15/09/2022 at 10:48 #148019
58050
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jean_gagne_555 in post 148002 said:
In the 1979-80 timetable for Carlisle PSB, most class 6, 7 and 8 freight trains are about 300 to 400 meters long. But, in the 1977 timetable for Warrington PSB, they are mostly about 200 meters long.

Was there a change of practice between 1977 and 1979 that increased the length of freight trains ? Or is it something related to the region that would require shorter trains.

Class 4 Freightliner trains are about the same length in both timetables.

Jean
Questions is was the actual freight loads book used whilst creating that timetable(which I doubt very much). I've gota May 1975, May 1976, May 1977 & May 1978 freight train loads book in my collection. Those 2 sims share the WCML, but thats about it as on Carlisle trains could run towards the ECML & Newcastle, or over the S&C towards Leeds. The other thing you need to realised that me personally I calculate the length of each train to the nearest metre. Not every TT writer does that & they just create generic lengths which is the case in your example of Warrington.

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The following user said thank you: jean_gagne_555
Freight trains length 27/09/2022 at 16:52 #148169
kbarber
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1712 posts
jc92 in post 148004 said:
<snip>
Of course on a given day the train length would vary for a wagonload train depending in what traffic there was anyway.
Some trains would (almost) always run at full length. An example when I was in Willesden Brent was 6P85 to Workington. Others could vary enormously, such as 6M94 to Bescot; sometimes we'd be asking Control to allow overlength (up to 80SLU where the standard limit was 60), other days it would go out with just a dozen wagons.

SLU was Standard Length Unit, equal to about 21 feet (the length of an old-fashioned short-wheelbase 4-wheeler). The length was applied to the revenue wagons and, in addition, you were allowed a brake van and up to 2 locos (but you couldn't get away with substituting 3 SLU of wagons for a loco if you weren't double-heading).

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