>>> Top speed ? About 75 mph.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>101s could go 75mph.

Signature
Andy Breen ~ Speaking for myself, not the University of Wales
"your suggestion rates at four monkeys for six weeks"
(Peter D. Rieden)
I've seen 90 on the speedo of a Swindon 120 with the rev counter in the red.
And it was a lively trip.
I was sitting behind the driver - I miss that about the newer DMUs
> >>> Top speed ? About 75 mph.
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Eventually...
Many moons ago I travelled regularly from Stockport to Westbury.
During a "work to rule" the diesel that took over from New Street to
Bristol was unavailable, so the train was replaced by a 9 car DMU
(3 x 3). Expecting a very slow trip, we actually lost very little
time (10, 20 mins or something) - the unit took some winding up
but didn't half go when given some welly!
Much later I was on a delayed unit from Reading to Paddinton
travelling on the cushions with my driver and commented to him
that the unit driver was giving it some welly. "Isn't he just"
came from the next row of seats - from a Traction Inspector, who
set off forward for a little chat. I'd assumed that units had
semi-automatic clutch tied into a speed limiter determining where
gear changes should happen, but my driver explained that you can
actually delay the change if you like, but it's a Bad Thing, and
the gain is not as good as it sounds (like driving a diesel car).
Cheers
Richard

Signature
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk
I have become... comfortably numb
Martin - 18 Aug 2008 12:10 GMT
>>Many moons ago I travelled regularly from Stockport to Westbury.
>>During a "work to rule" the diesel that took over from New Street to
>>Bristol was unavailable, so the train was replaced by a 9 car DMU
>>(3 x 3). Expecting a very slow trip, we actually lost very little
>>time (10, 20 mins or something) - the unit took some winding up
>>but didn't half go when given some welly!
Chatting with a driver - gear changes take about 7 seconds 3 off power
change wait 4 then go - or 4 then 3 anyway it was a 7 second change.
Go on a few years and returning from a car delivery a DMU was being
thrashed - gear change - just move the gear lever to the next gear!
That driver was power shifting it! Apart from autos I haven't been near
powershifting since my first bike when I accidentally knocked from 3rd to
4th at full RPM full throttle and it changed up OK.
MartinS - 18 Aug 2008 23:45 GMT
>>>Many moons ago I travelled regularly from Stockport to Westbury.
>>>During a "work to rule" the diesel that took over from New Street to
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> near powershifting since my first bike when I accidentally knocked
> from 3rd to 4th at full RPM full throttle and it changed up OK.
My memory of early DMUs was that the tachometer had two marks. When the
needle reached the upper mark, the driver would cut power; when it fell to
the lower mark he would shift up a gear, wait a bit then reapply power. I
suppose that took in the order of 7 seconds. If a downshift was required,
I guess there was a similar procedure.

Signature
Martin S.