class 56 with passenger train

1975 West of England Rover. Somewhere on the Newquay branch, I'm sure someone will give me a more precise location! The train was 1A15 according to the headcode on a previous photo at Newquay! Halcyon days.

The 'science' of hydraulic traction made it perfect for lines like this in pretty much all weather conditions. The tractive effort at the rail was nearly 50% greater in a 'Western' than a 'Deltic'! It's ultimately still down to the skill of the driver, a class 56 being a good example! They were awesome machines (didn't train 'em but I drove several!) that were often let down by poor driving!


Interesting perspective on this was the foreword to a book on Westerns, which could suggest bias! However, it explained the principal of how a diesel electric tends to sit on its haunches when really hauling ass setting off, as it were. As a result the front end lifted and got loss of effort to the point of wheel spin. Couldn't do this with a Whizzo although off hand I am not clear on this, perhaps it was down to the three axles per bogie being linked by cardan shaft preventing it. 
I think it was a John Vaughan book and I am sure someone will have a copy nearer to hand than mine is.
Bottom line was that a Whizzo could outdo any diesel electric and this is borne out by some of the stories such as restarting a stalled train on a gradient by pulling its own as well as propelling the one on front. A Peak on one of the South Devon banks is hazily recalled, which may be harder than being at the head of it all and doing a restart!
Needless to say even a Whizzo could have trouble such as Western Champion on the Newquay branch on wet track trying to get into a tunnel. There is a cracking You Tube entry of this loco doing the skids at North Queensferry incidentally.