About 500 steam trains cross the United Kingdom each year, from Penzance to the South in Inverness in the North, transport of tens of thousands of passengers at a revolting eraBringing joy to the faces of enthusiasts and deploring shuttlers.
But the future of main line vapor operations could be threatened unless traditional fireflage machines can be equipped with modern pioneer technology.
The United Kingdom railways undergo a major change in their signaling systems in the years to come. Network network plans to remove traditional online color light signals in favor of signaling systems in the cabinet along key routes. No steam locomotive in the world had never been executed with digital signaling in the cabin – so far.
One Monday evening this month this month, the new technology was tested for the first time as part of a “pathfinder” project aimed at securing the future of steam locomotives in the United Kingdom.
The tornado “A1” n ° 60163 – The first British steam locomotive to build in 50 years and who appeared in the Paddington 2 movie and on TOP. – has been equipped with European trains control system (etc.) as part of a network initiative led by the network which was launched in 2021. The adaptation of the new technology costs around 9 million pounds sterling.
Etcs must be deployed across the country in the coming years and some trains will operate in digital mode only from the end of this year.
It is already widely used in Europe and is considered to be the standard industry signaling system for high -speed lines. Since 2011, the Cambrian coast has operated exclusively using the system as part of a different pilot program.
The tornado run west of Shrewsbury in Newtown and Welshpool during the night to test technology for the first time.
“It is existential for the sector if Steam cannot work with etc … The team has done a brilliant job to bring us to this point,” said a spokesperson for the project carried out in the project Observer. “The pathfinder (project) is to say” it will be really difficult, is it technically viable? “No one has ever done it with a heritage vehicle.”
Since the privatization of railways, the steam trains have been free to browse the national network subject to a “white space” in the schedules of service trains.
“We had a lot of challenges in systems,” said Rob Morland, an electrician engineer at the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the Tornado owner group. Observer. “It is a very hard environment: we have heat, coal, coal dust, shocks and vibrations and they highlight all systems.”
A second steam turbo, an alternator focused on the axle and a dedicated battery bank had to be installed in order to feed the equipment: “The cabin was returned in bare metal due to the number of new pipes, boxes and equipment and it was the only practical way to do so,” added Morland.
Amy Clouston, the main specialist in human factors, at the Atkinsrelis engineering advice, which designed the assembly of the systems, “said:” We had to test if you can even use a touch screen while you rush to 75 MPH. We had to think of vibrations, lighting, noise, coal dust, water and steam and Grubby fingers. “
Clouston said that his team should also take into account the placement of the screens to avoid being struck by a firefighter swinging a shovel, while being in a position where the driver can still see the critical security information displayed.
“Drivers have various positions: some drivers drag in the cabin, others stand. It is not a conception “I sit at an office” of a modern diesel or an electric locomotive, “she said.
Keeping the computers that feed the cool systems have also turned out to be a headache: “The design team has had the challenge of sealing them (against) coal dust and heat. Electronics in a sealed environment that is already hot does not do well (for longevity), “she added.
“Tornado’s renovation with our etc is a first world project that has tested our technology in one of the most complex and difficult operational environments, proving that heritage and digital systems can coexist without compromise,” said Tank Porteous, director of the main line signaling program at Hitachi Rail UK, a project partner.
The tornado has so far been the only steam locomotive to have been equipped with the system. Last year, Network Rail published a call for tender of 40 million pounds sterling for companies in order to adapt 24 diesel locomotives to steam and main heritage.
“The price of future adjustments will be much cheaper, there is no doubt about it, but we do not yet know exactly what it could be,” said the NR spokesman.
“We must determine how viable it will be. This will be part of the place where we are going in the future. ”
The spokesman said to Observer The team has “learned more in the extremes with the tornado that we will not do it elsewhere” and the results will influence the design of the equipment that will be installed.
Atkinsrealis clouston said that the project was vital for the future of the main line vapor sector: “Steam is part of the country’s engineering heritage, so it would be so shame that it is only contained in private railways.