A 2-car West Cumberland set 79018/79612 went into departmental use as the Ultrasonic test train, numbered 975007/975008. This set is now preserved. One of the single cars 79900 went into departmental use first as a route learner then based at Derby RTC. It became 975010, "Test Car Iris".
Eric Stuart recalls one experience about the Ultrasonic Test Train - Almost immediately, the following 115 to Aylesbury arrived. At that time, the service was hourly and the 'box at Gt Missenden was switched out except in peak-hours. As far as I know, the 115 had to wait over half-an-hour for the test unit to clear the section to Aylesbury or probably to the IB signals somewhere near Wendover. When I got back to Ricky depot, the SM had been talking to the Controller. It seems the test unit was supposed to have travelled at normal speed to Amersham and then do its test run (15mph or whatever) to Aylesbury. Some wires had been crossed, with lack of amusement all 'round. " M79649 was a DTC that was converted to an inspection saloon for the LMR soon after being built. By June '67 it was at Shields electric traction depot, no doubt for use in conjunction with the South Clyde electrification, and renumbered DB999510. |
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