DR 89111 mounted on wagon DB 979611 YEA. Tonbridge West Yard. 1990.
BR modernised its capability to deal with CWR (Continuously Welded Rail) with the advent in 1983-84 of four dedicated LWRT (Long Welded Rail Train) sets. These were soon supplemented by an order for another 12 sets delivered by two suppliers in 1985 thus making 16 in all. The complete train sets comprised 11 vehicles and unlike previous efforts to deal with CWR these new sets could be self propelled once on site as one vehicle was a power wagon so no need to rely on a diesel locomotive for propulsion. This could be coupled off to stand clear while rails were either dropped or recovered.
At one end was the staff vehicle where the operator controlled the power wagon from and this was also the chute wagon while the other end had the mobile Gantry Crane (as above). The Gantry Crane was deemed to be on OTP (On Track Plant) so they got track machine numbers despite the fact the track it ran on was on the outer edge of the wagon decks with bridging sections between vehicles. They were numbered DR 89100 to DR 89115 and were mounted on wagons DB 979600 to DB 979615 respectfully. Here DR 89111 is seen in Tonbridge West Yard mounted on DB 979611 YEA. With the exception of the Power Wagon the vehicles within the set were designated 'Perch' by the BR Civil Engineers Department while the chute and control wagon were 'Porpoise'. DR 89111 was built by Plasser & Theurer Ltd as wks no. 0636 of 1985. The wagon was built by BREL Doncaster Works to lot no. 4052 also in 1985 (covering wagons DB 979610 to DB 979615). The other 10 LWRT sets were built by Cowans Boyd Ltd using wagons manufactured at BREL Shildon Works.
DR 89111 mounted on wagon DB 979611 YEA. Tonbridge West Yard. 1990.
BR modernised its capability to deal with CWR (Continuously Welded Rail) with the advent in 1983-84 of four dedicated LWRT (Long Welded Rail Train) sets. These were soon supplemented by an order for another 12 sets delivered by two suppliers in 1985 thus making 16 in all. The complete train sets comprised 11 vehicles and unlike previous efforts to deal with CWR these new sets could be self propelled once on site as one vehicle was a power wagon so no need to rely on a diesel locomotive for propulsion. This could be coupled off to stand clear while rails were either dropped or recovered.
At one end was the staff vehicle where the operator controlled the power wagon from and this was also the chute wagon while the other end had the mobile Gantry Crane (as above). The Gantry Crane was deemed to be on OTP (On Track Plant) so they got track machine numbers despite the fact the track it ran on was on the outer edge of the wagon decks with bridging sections between vehicles. They were numbered DR 89100 to DR 89115 and were mounted on wagons DB 979600 to DB 979615 respectfully. Here DR 89111 is seen in Tonbridge West Yard mounted on DB 979611 YEA. With the exception of the Power Wagon the vehicles within the set were designated 'Perch' by the BR Civil Engineers Department while the chute and control wagon were 'Porpoise'. DR 89111 was built by Plasser & Theurer Ltd as wks no. 0636 of 1985. The wagon was built by BREL Doncaster Works to lot no. 4052 also in 1985 (covering wagons DB 979610 to DB 979615). The other 10 LWRT sets were built by Cowans Boyd Ltd using wagons manufactured at BREL Shildon Works.