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08 April 2014

Testing times

British Rail and its descendants have run test and monitoring trains at regular intervals. Some of the vehicles used are specially constructed and others are converted from revenue stock. This is a small survey of some of the vehicles that are depicted in the RailPicsGB archives.


47975 berthed with a test train at Colchester
1a. 47975 'The Institute of Civil Engineers in Dutch livery is at the head of a test train berthed in sidings at Colchester. Formerly 47540, this loco was renumbered 47975 when it became part of the dedicated Derby Technical Centre fleet in August 1990. Numbering reverted to 47540 in December 1995. 47972 'Robin Hood' is at the other end of the formation. As far as I can make out the formation is:
  1. 47975
  2. Test Car 5 975422
  3. Test Car 6 975290
  4. Test Car Mentor 975091
  5. A Mark 2 Brake still in blue and grey, probably just brake force and a place for the guard to keep warm
  6. 47972

1b. Test coach Mentor, 975091 at Colchester at the same time as the previous image. Mentor stands for
 'Mobile Electrical Network Testing, Observation and Recording'. This car was converted from  MK1 BSK 34616 in 1974 at Swindon.
DS22 at Stewart's Lane
2. Gauging Coach DS22 was converted from an ex South Eastern and Chatham Railway 'Birdcage' brake in 1954 after withdrawal from revenue. Its main purpose was the measurement of bridges and tunnels using wooden pegs that protruded from the body. Happily after finishing in departmental service in 1978 the vehicle was preserved, Initially at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, then on the Bluebell Railway where it has been fully restored as Southern Railway 3363. Seen here at Stewart's Lane Depot at an unknown date.
73138 with a test train at Sompting
3a. Network Rail class 73 Electro-Diesel 73138 at the head of a typical track recording train in February 2013 at Sompting.
The formation included 977983, 999550, a MK1 coach and a MK2 brake with 73107 at the tail end.

Test coach 977983 at Sompting February 2013
3b. A more detailed view of 977983. This vehicle started life as MK2 FO 3407 before being converted to Gatwick Express TFOLH 72503. It's initial departmental use was as a brake force runner for test trains, but has since been converted to the Electrification Measurement Vehicle with a pan well added to one end of the vehicle. Apparently this is a contactless system and no pan is actually fitted.
999550 at Sompting in February 2013
3c. 999550 is a significant vehicle as it was the last MK2 bodyshell to be built, at Derby in 1975 and was purpose built as a recording car. Sompting February 2013

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