Thanks for your interest again. A locomotive pushing (or "propelling") a whole train backwards is not an acceptable method of operation. The driver would have no way of seeing the line ahead of his train with 4 or 5 coaches between him and what would be the front. Where you might have seen something like this happening is in a push-pull operation but then there are special controls in the rear (or front) coach so that the loco can in effect be "driven" from that cab in the coach.
At present the Spa Valley Railway do not have run-round loop at Eridge. The method of operation therefore is either to Top and Tail our trains, or more recently to use shunt release with the Diesel or Steam locos taking turns to wait in the Bay platform.
There is a mention of 'Birchden Junction' in the video, but this isn't a station on the route, it is where the two lines meet. The first and last trains of the day will briefly stop here to open/close the boundary gate.
well done spa valley,looking forward to the run round at eridge,big pat on the back
loftypowell 7 months ago
Thanks for your interest again. A locomotive pushing (or "propelling") a whole train backwards is not an acceptable method of operation. The driver would have no way of seeing the line ahead of his train with 4 or 5 coaches between him and what would be the front. Where you might have seen something like this happening is in a push-pull operation but then there are special controls in the rear (or front) coach so that the loco can in effect be "driven" from that cab in the coach.
lindenbeeches 9 months ago
why doesn't the steam engine just reverse [i.e. push the train backwards instead] of relying on the diesel to tow it back instead ?
rechargeableman 9 months ago
At present the Spa Valley Railway do not have run-round loop at Eridge. The method of operation therefore is either to Top and Tail our trains, or more recently to use shunt release with the Diesel or Steam locos taking turns to wait in the Bay platform.
Please visit us to see it in operation.
lindenbeeches 9 months ago
at the end of the video why is the steam train towing a diesel loco ?
rechargeableman 9 months ago
There is a mention of 'Birchden Junction' in the video, but this isn't a station on the route, it is where the two lines meet. The first and last trains of the day will briefly stop here to open/close the boundary gate.
BaruClose 11 months ago