Speed (NOT the drug)

[q8]

Can any of you gents tell me how fast a "D" stock will belt along at with both flags up? Also do you think them unsafe? I personally, having ridden on them sometimes, get very apprehensive while doing so as I think they are too track sensitive and they definetly don't like corners. My theory on that is that the truck wheelbase is too short and the wheel size too small for such long cars.

[Deleted]

I've managed to get one up to just under 55mph with just the coasting flag up! I don't know if it would have went much faster with both up! I didn't really want to try!

It's not so much the train I don't trust at higher speeds, it's the track... Some of the track is in a dubious state out east, especially in what should be our 'fast' sections.

[Deleted]

Dave has a page on his site where he discusses the flag switches, and it states that the design speed of the D stock was 60mph. It certainly went that fast when one was let out onto the Met Main to make a trip to Watford.

[trainopd78]

Q8 said:

Can any of you gents tell me how fast a "D" stock will belt along at with both flags up? Also do you think them unsafe? I personally, having ridden on them sometimes, get very apprehensive while doing so as I think they are too track sensitive and they definetly don't like corners. My theory on that is that the truck wheelbase is too short and the wheel size too small for such long cars.

As Alan say's it's the state of the track that puts me off rather than the design of the D's. I managed 54 between Elm park and Dagenham E with just the coasting up, but I did that 5 years ago. Wouldn't dream of doing it now as since shadow running, the tracks have deteriorated out east and of course speed gunning also takes place so it's line speed of 45 for me.

[Deleted]

trainopd78 said:

I managed 54 between Elm park and Dagenham E with just the coasting up,

Ah funny this thread comes to light today, Dave was telling me earlier about the flags! Today with the coasting control flag up the train got to about 51.5mph up dagenham way, so it can be done, but as others have said the track hampers any higher speed!!!

[Deleted]

good job the dreaded gatso's are not on the track ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Admin Team]

aetearlscourt said:

good job the dreaded gatso's are not on the track ;D ;D ;D ;D

Maybe not GATSO's, but there was a certain DMT lurking at Whitechapel today with a speed gun!

Apparently he jumped out in front of a train, and the driver reported that he'd been threatened with a firearm!!!

The DMT is known for a bit of 'over enthusiasm' in such circumstances - not to mention that he was on his own and therefore it would have been drivers word against his........

[Deleted]

I heard about that, Dave! The thing is, they can't really check the speeds of District Line trains anyway because of the fact we still don't have lit speedo's.

It's reasonably easy to 'guesstimate' 10mph, but I believe the legality of a DMT trying to accuse a driver of speeding without any way of seeing his speedo (without the cab light being on) would make an interesting argument!

[Deleted]

AlanL said:

I heard about that, Dave! The thing is, they can't really check the speeds of District Line trains anyway because of the fact we still don't have lit speedo's.

We had a train today that had a very well lit Main Line air gauge, but the speedo was dark as the underside of a battery loco, which is very dark!

[Deleted]

i was speaking to a new d.m.t (well i belive hes from edgware road) at putney on friday night and he was saying that hes gotto go out on sunday (this coming one) and get the speed gun out and do it somewhere around the turnham green area but he wouldnt say exctually where abouts so be warned chaps