steel and wooden stock

[Dylan Knott]

How do you marshal your steel and wooden stock? Do they steel coaches always have to be at the rear or how does it work?

[John Ashworth]

Exactly the opposite, Dylan. Steel coaches go at the front, wooden coaches at the rear. We used to marshal the wooden coach either as last vehicle or second-last, but I believe the new Access Agreement gives us a little more latitude - can't remember exactly how much. Currently we only have one wooden passenger vehicle, the Regional Manager's Saloon.

A couple of years ago Peter Stow gave a presentation on SAR/SAS accidents at one of the FOTR monthly meetings, and showed many slides of the aftermath of accidents. It was amazing to see that in some fairly low-speed collisions where the locos and steel coaches were barely damaged, a wooden vehicle between two steel coaches would be splintered into matchwood. That presentation, as much as the rules in the Access Agreement, convinced us that it is not a good idea to have a wooden vehicle marshalled with lots of steel coaches on each side.

Incidentally, you posted this twice. I've deleted the other one.

[Luca Lategan]

And what about if the whole train is made up of wooden stock? How safe is that?

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Ride carefully!!

[Steve Appleton]

Luca, perfectly safe until one has an accident, which is one of the reasons why the heritage rail operators have severe speed restrictions imposed on them. Of course all the low speed limits in the world would not help in a situation where another train involved is travelling at full line-speed.
Coach frame over-riding and subsequent telescoping has been one of the biggest killers in passenger rail accidents which is why many European and US rail authorities require that all passenger stock be equipped with anti-climb couplers, such as the Scharfenberg type becomming common in Europe and elsewhere, and a modified version of the Janney knuckle-coupler in use in the USA. In addition all the latest, modern stock is also equipped with safety, energy absorbing vestibles and a strengthened passenger "compartment" (similar to modern cars). The result has been demonstrable improvements in survivability in some pretty spectacular crashes (like the Virgin Pendolino derailment in the UK Lake District).
I have often wondered how FOTR's 4M coaches would fare, given that their steel superstructure appears to be not particularly substantial when compared with the more modern SAR/Spoornet main-line passenger stock. The Blue Train apart, SA coaches do not have anti-climb couplers either, they use a standard Janney knuckle-coupler that can easily disengage vertically.

[Dylan Knott]

So its better to have a dedicated wooden set and not combine it with steel coaches?

As it is our max speed is restricted to 30km/h anyway.

[Luca Lategan]

Thanks for the insight, Steve. 30km/h??? That's rediculous!

[Dylan Knott]

Actually 30km/h is the max speed for freight on the Caledon line as well. At this rate we get away with running tender first with box tender.

[Luca Lategan]

Or what about using an elephant as the locomotive and reach higher speeds?

[Dylan Knott]

Bridges are the problem, not the line.

Have no issues with slow speed.

[Steve Appleton]

FOTR is limited to 60 km/h in terms of its access agreements with TFR and PRASA. The limit on the Rayton to Cullinan/Zonderwater branch is 30 km/h.

3.1.5 A maximum speed limit of 60 km per hour for the entire route will apply, subject to lower section speed limits on the line being adhered to. Speed monitoring will be done from time-to-time by Metrorail.
3.1.6 FRIENDS OF THE RAIL steam locomotives shall only operate tender first in unavoidable circumstances. Classes 15F and 19D will be limited to a maximum of 30 km per hour tender first and class 24 and 25NC to 40 km per hour tender first.
3.1.7 FRIENDS OF THE RAIL steam trains will operate during between 05:00 and 23:30, but should evening or night operation be a risk by operational factors beyond the control of the FRIENDS OF THE RAIL, such operation may not be permitted. Such permission can only be granted by the Metrorail Regional Office.
3.1.8 Wooden-bodied coaching stock may be utilized on trains for special occasions only. In such an event the train will be subject to a speed restriction of 50 km per hour. Wooden-bodied coaching stock shall not be placed between steel rolling stock and shall be marshalled to the rear of the train. Such operation may be permitted in exceptional circumstances only, and provided appropriate safety precautions are observed by the FRIENDS OF THE RAIL. Permission can only be granted by the Metrorail Regional Office.