The need for heritage line speed
THIS year’s diesel galas are in full swing, the first summer without significant restrictions since Covid-19 hit and it’s fair to say we, the punters, have responded magnificently, returning to our heritage lines in our droves, at least when we are able. As mentioned in last month’s Comment, the cost of living crisis has made many who drive to these events think twice, as they weigh up the affordability of fuel. (We feel duty bound to point out that for locations accessible by rail, train fares, in comparison, are very good value, especially when booked in advance.) For those who can afford to get out and about, this summer is particularly rewarding for heritage diesel fans, as a combination of factors mean many scheduled steam services have been temporarily suspended and diesels substituted (see Preservation, p32).
A recent chance discussion with a reader on the subject of heritage diesels crystallised what I had been thinking for some time, and I know many others feel the same way: namely that there is something quite unsatisfying about a main line diesel locomotive restricted to 25mph, the blanket maximum speed on UK heritage lines. The glorious sight and sound of Deltic No. 55019 and its Napier engines at Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s gala at the end of July was tempered for some by the limited power and speed of the former East Coast racehorse. For me, it is like the difference between old-fashioned zoos (with restrictive cages) and modern safari parks (with large enclosures, where animals can roam free).
Is it time for a revision of Light Railway Orders to allow faster speeds on selected lines, such as the Great Central Railway, where higher speeds are already permitted for vehicle testing? These rail equivalents of safari parks would allow us to experience something more akin to how main line locos ran in their heydays. I realise there are issues, including higher track wear and higher fuel consumption, but these aren’t insurmountable obstacles. With several Class 43 power cars already in retirement on heritage lines and possibly more to come, the case for ‘high speed’ heritage rail operations can surely only grow stronger?
Want to know when your next edition of Rail Express is on the shelves?
Scan this QR code for a reminder.