Features

Last updated on 15 November 2004

Contents

• Motor Coach 60116: Mountfield
• DRA (Driver Reminder Appliance)
• TPWS (Train Protection and Warning System)

Motor Coach 60116: Mountfield

Our third power car, 60016, was named Mountfield in the early years of HDL and, following general overhaul and painting in green livery, was used on two preserved lines in the south: the Kent & East Sussex Railway, and the Swanage Railway in Dorset. On return from these it lay dormant for several years, with attention focussed on our major projects of unit 1001 and the BIG buffet car.

Having since then been fully rebuilt, overhauled and restored, Mountfield had its engine recommissioned, tuned and load-tested in-house at St. Leonards. Its wheels were taken to Eastleigh for overhaul, receiving new bearings and tyres; DRA was also fitted. The vehicle has emerged from the workshop with a different appearance to the existing pair of motor coaches, sporting Southern Region green bodysides (like the others) but a full yellow front. This livery variant was only seen on a few units (notably 1037) and then only for a short period of time; full yellow cab ends were introduced in early 1967 and the "Inter-City" blue-and-grey livery was applied to most main-line stock between then and 1971.

During Spring 2002 each end was lifted onto its own reconditioned bogies with new wheelsets. In August the final touches included the application of the lion-and-wheel crests to the bodysides and the fitting of new curtains in the saloon.

At 1500 on Friday 18 October 2002, HDL received the paperwork declaring that Mountfield could at last begin her main-line preservation career! She duly did so, with a test run from Hastings to Eastbourne and back in the afternoon of Sunday 17 November 2002; this was followed by her return to traffic in HDL's festive Cambridge Cracker railtour on Saturday 7 December 2002, in which she performed faultlessly. During December and January 2002/3, TPWS was fitted; on Tuesday 28 January 2003 Mountfield became the first DEMU to run with TPWS when it went on a test run. It went on to carry out duties in the Railtrack de-icing train, before carrying its first fare-paying members of the public since preservation, between Ashford and Hastings on Tuesday 11 March 2003.

Mountfield has also been renumbered as 60116, because to Railtrack's computers 60016 is a Class 60 locomotive; the same process was applied to motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells upon certification in 1996.

Article updated 22 Mar 2003

DRA

Driver Reminder Apparatus is a driver-operated reminder switch intended to reduce the possibility of "starting against" red signals when leaving stations. DRA was fitted to Mountfield prior to certification because, in effect, a new vehicle was being introduced to the railway. The other two of our three operational motor coaches, Hastings and Tunbridge Wells, have also been equipped with DRA.

Article correct to 30 May 2003

TPWS

Train Protection and Warning System is an enhanced version of the long-established Automatic Warning System (AWS). TPWS applies the brakes if a train approaches a red signal too quickly or attempts to pass it, and cannot be "cancelled" in the manner of AWS.

Engineering design consultants generated a design for the installation and operation of TPWS both for our own DEMU driving motor coaches and for those belonging to Railtrack. This design was formally approved, and TPWS was fitted to Mountfield in January 2003; at the time it was the only DEMU vehicle (preserved or otherwise) to be so equipped. In April 2003, TPWS was fitted to our other two motor-coaches, 60000 Hastings and 60118 Tunbridge Wells.

Article correct to 4 May 2003