Monday, July 30, 2007

Coal Tug


By chance I caught this "Tug", loco 60056, at the head of modern Merry-Go-Round coal hoppers at Daw End this afternoon, this being quite unusual to see nowadays, as these trains are almost always "66" hauled. This was 6V17 1632 Bescot-Portbury.

2 comments:

BEN CRUACHAN said...

Very interesting that. I was always under the impression that these wagons had 'swinghead' couplers and could only be hauled by 66s with the couplers. Only 66201 to 66250 had them for starters but I think they all have them now. Never ever heard of a Doughnut pulling these hoppers unless some sort of adapter is used, or I am just waffling....

Regan said...

Quite correct, only CL66 (and presumably 67) locos can couple to HTA coal wagons, as these vehicles were built without buffers and conventional couplings, only the EWS auto couplers were fitted. However, I believe some HTAs are being fitted with buffers and screw couplings to allow drivers to carry out run-round moves without a shunter present.