Rail Vehicle Testing
Bringing to Life My Experiences of Railway Vehicle Testing During the 1980s & 1990s
by Dave Bower
ISBN - 978-1-9999356-0-3
Published by Salient Books
A unique insight into why and how trains were tested in the 1980s and 90s
Full details of DM&EE test trains and train formations based out of the Railway Technical Centre in Derby
First hand accounts and photographs of testing Wagons, Passenger Coaches, Locomotives, On-Track Plant, and Road-Rail vehicles
Test Car 2 Booklet
by Dave Bower
All profits from purchases of this booklet go towards helping Quorn Wagon & Wagon restoring and maintaining a unique part of UK railway history that is Test Car 2.
Test Car 2 – ADB975397 was used for over 40 years by British Rail and Serco based out of the RTC at Derby. Thankfully this unique coach is now in preservation under the care of the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group at the Great Central Railway.
This 26 page softback booklet provides an insight into how this coach was modified for its role as a Test Car, and gives a detailed account of the slip/brake testing process for which the Test Car was mainly used by British Rail.
Quorn Wagon & Wagon
Pocket Stockbook
Support Quorn Wagon & Wagon in restoring and maintaining their ageing collection of rolling stock in operational condition, for the enjoyment of visitors to the Great Central Railway.
Softback ring-bound booklet for easy reference.
This 112-page booklet provides pictures and details of the groups' rolling stock fleet including box vans, open wagons, hoppers, tanks and departmental vehicles, as well as period road vehicles, comprising of a Scammell Scarab, three trailers and a Road Parcels van.
Books by Dave Bower available to purchase direct from the author, or through eBay, Amazon and West Hill Wagon Works
The RAIL VEHICLE TESTING book and TEST CAR 2 Booklet available NEW direct from the author.
Rail Vehicle Testing - £25 + £3.75 p&p. [ UK shipping only ].
Test Car 2 Booklet - £4.50 + £1.50 p&p. [ UK shipping only ].
Pocket Stockbook - £TBA + £2.50 p&p. [ UK shipping only ].
Payment method is PayPal, details will be sent following receipt of your order.
Please click on the Contact link below to ask any questions or to place an order.
Also now available from West Hill Wagon Works
Slip / Brake Testing - RH Roadstone Wagon
RAIL VEHICLE TESTING
Read about why and how Slip / Brake Testing was carried out.
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BRUFF Recovery Truck Testing - Mickleover
Class 59/2 Type Testing - Cricklewood
RAIL VEHICLE TESTING
Read about Road-Rail vehicle type testing, the acceptance of new locomotives such as the Class 59 for National Power, MkIV coach testing using High Speed Trains with Test Car 10, and wagon testing to ensure safety against derailment.
Container Wagon Torsional Stiffness Test - Derby
MkIV Coach Testing - East Coast Main Line
HST Test Train - World Speed Record
Read more in
RAIL VEHICLE TESTING about the
World Speed Record
for Diesel Traction
attained during testing with an HST on the
ECML
1st Nov 1987
Test Car 2 (ADB975397) Slip/Brake Testing - East Coast Main Line in June 1985
Test Car 2 is now preserved at the Great Central Railway.
The Quorn Wagon & Wagon group have restored Test Car 2 (ADB975397); resplendent in its 1980s DM&EE livery, the coach now has a home at Quorn & Woodhouse on the Great Central Railway.
Click the logo to visit Quorn Wagon & Wagon
Test Car 2 was used for over 40 years by British Rail and Serco based out of the RTC at Derby.
This 26 page booklet provides an insight into how this coach was modified for its role as a Test Car, and gives a detailed account of the slip/brake testing process for which the Test Car was mainly used by British Rail.
Test Car 2 BOOKLET now available. £4.50+£1.50 p&p [UK only]
All profits from purchases of this booklet go towards helping Quorn Wagon & Wagon restoring and maintaining a unique part of UK railway history that is Test Car 2.
Readers Reviews
" There is nothing like a book by somebody who was actually there to get the real inside story on something, and this is what we have here. It is a fascinating look at perhaps an overlooked side of railway operations. We all take for granted that trains work, but that is only because of the thorough testing that has gone on in the background. It gets quite technical in places, but that is a positive as you cannot get information like this readily elsewhere, making this very good value for money " [Rail Express Magazine]
" This is a superb product just what I was looking for, in-depth and informative " [Amazon]
" Great, very technical read for those who are interested in the area. Very detailed and comprehensive "
" Book is well printed with good reproduction of colour and BW images and the information is well laid out "
" Covers a huge amount of testing through the period and really shows what the railways were developing at the time " [eBay]
" Great book on a fantastic and unusual subject, well worth the asking price " [eBay]
" A fascinating read incorporating both a chronological journal and technical treatise on the subject during a transitional period of British Railways history. Should appeal to those interested in railway history or the technical aspects of railway vehicles and operation as well as the lay reader "
" A smorgasborg of info about British Rail RTC at Derby. The book covers the period of the mid 1980's -end 1990's at the DM&EE section, which covers wagon, loco, and coach testing. It explains the types of tests carried out & results. A good enjoyable read with more than enough info to keep me enthralled. " [eBay]
" A good enjoyable read with more than enough info to keep me enthralled "
" Excellent Book Great Detail! "
" Very interesting subject, Well written and a good technical book. Authors knowledge of subject very in depth. " [eBay]
" Book delivered on time. Highly informative book. " [eBay]
About the Rail Vehicle Testing Book
RAIL VEHICLE TESTING
Bringing to Life My Experiences of Railway Vehicle Testing During the 1980s & 1990s
by Dave Bower
ISBN-9781999935603 - Published by Salient Books
358 pages Hardback book with case laminate cover
Over 250, mostly colour photographs and diagrams
This book explores many different areas of testing on all types of traction and rolling stock in the 1980s and 1990s; providing readers with an in depth insight into the different aspects of testing, supported by photos of the tests and test trains.
Detailed descriptions are provided of the test coaches and locomotives used to facilitate the on-track testing, and the reasons why testing was undertaken; investigating the static and dynamic tests associated with freight vehicle running characteristics, braking systems and the structural integrity of freight vehicles. On-track plant vehicle testing, passenger rolling stock and locomotive tests are also covered; as well as special investigations and modification tests.
The appendices detail dynamic test runs totalling nearly 700 tests between 1983 and 1999.
All in all this book takes an in depth look at an area of the railway industry that is not often written about, bringing to life the subject for those with an interest in the technical background as well as the enthusiast looking back at the history of test train workings in the 1980s and 1990s.
Available from Amazon
and eBay
Links relevant to Rail Vehicle Testing
Link to Dave Bower's Test Train Pictures on Flickr
Link to the departmentals.com website
Link to the ontrackplant.com website
ADW150375 in preservation (W233)
ADB975397 in preservation Quorn Wagon&Wagon at GCR
Train Resistance Testing to Taunton - 1986
Rob Armstrong's Rail Industry Info Pages
Dave Coxon's Traintesting website
The Old Dalby Test Track website
National Preservation.com - Forums
Railforums.co.uk - Forums
Modelling the Railway Technical Centre (FB Group)
Model Railway - Development of Damson Park Layout
West Hill Wagon Works - Model Railways
150002 Sprinter Preservation Society (154001 Testing)
For all your printing requirements - Mugs, T-Shirts, Canvas
Model Railway Backscenes, Banners, Transfers, Etching
Model Railway Stockist / Specialist - Ilkeston Derbys. UK
Salient Books - Publishers website
Rail Express – Essential reading for today's rail enthusiast
Bob Pearman - the specialist for music and transportation.
Douglas Blades, Ardrossan - Transport Books
