High Capacity Trolley HCT013 at Carstairs OHLM Depot. 1989.
The Permaquip HCT (High Capacity Trolley) was developed from the OLEV (Overhead Line Electrification Vehicle) a prototype being built in 1986 and trialed on the Great Eastern line electrification from Colchester to Norwich. So successful was the prototype BR ordered a further 5 machines which were delivered in 1986-87. They carried their own off track stand so the HCT could be removed from the running line and placed on a stand alongside the line (the red box steel sections carried on the side in this picture being the stand components).
BR followed up its initial order for five with another 23 units delivered between 1988-89. A further 4 were sold abroad for use in Spain being built at the end of the second BR order. A final four were added in 1992-93 and 1993-94 bringing the BR fleet to 33 HCT's. Although designed for overhead line work using the scissor lift they could also be used for bridge and tunnel inspection work. Sadly their days were numbered when advances in Road-Rail technology saw standard lorry chassis fitted with a cherry picker start replacing the HCT's. The road-rail vehicles being much more versatile.
British Rail never deemed them to be proper on track plant reportable on TOPS so no CEPS numbers (Civil Engineers Plant System) were issued. They would have been in the DX 68xxx or DX 98xxx range if they had, instead most were just identified by their Permaquip works number although some received small plant numbers in the 14xxx and 69xxx range.
HCT013 is seen here stabled at Carstairs OHLM Depot which had three of these allocated in 1989 for use on the West Coast mainline and Glasgow Suburban network.
High Capacity Trolley HCT013 at Carstairs OHLM Depot. 1989.
The Permaquip HCT (High Capacity Trolley) was developed from the OLEV (Overhead Line Electrification Vehicle) a prototype being built in 1986 and trialed on the Great Eastern line electrification from Colchester to Norwich. So successful was the prototype BR ordered a further 5 machines which were delivered in 1986-87. They carried their own off track stand so the HCT could be removed from the running line and placed on a stand alongside the line (the red box steel sections carried on the side in this picture being the stand components).
BR followed up its initial order for five with another 23 units delivered between 1988-89. A further 4 were sold abroad for use in Spain being built at the end of the second BR order. A final four were added in 1992-93 and 1993-94 bringing the BR fleet to 33 HCT's. Although designed for overhead line work using the scissor lift they could also be used for bridge and tunnel inspection work. Sadly their days were numbered when advances in Road-Rail technology saw standard lorry chassis fitted with a cherry picker start replacing the HCT's. The road-rail vehicles being much more versatile.
British Rail never deemed them to be proper on track plant reportable on TOPS so no CEPS numbers (Civil Engineers Plant System) were issued. They would have been in the DX 68xxx or DX 98xxx range if they had, instead most were just identified by their Permaquip works number although some received small plant numbers in the 14xxx and 69xxx range.
HCT013 is seen here stabled at Carstairs OHLM Depot which had three of these allocated in 1989 for use on the West Coast mainline and Glasgow Suburban network.