Why we have diesel assistance today
NICK Hodges raises a very valid point in his letter in issue 237.
Diesel locomotives have to be attached to steam-hauled trains for the following purposes:
1: To provide electric heating to the train.
2: When the train is vacuum braked, to provide assistance in the event of the steam locomotive becoming a failure en route.
3: To provide assistance at difficult locations when trains are heavily loaded and are likely to lose time or to stall and thereby delay timetabled services.
Prior to privatisation in 1994, BR solved these problems by donating to the movement a 100mph Mk.1 dual-braked BSK No. 35469 and providing the design and testing expertise to convert the
