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
Available from Amazon and eBay
Dave Bower talks to Rail Express about Test Car 2 and slip/brake testing,
Take a look at the December Issue - out now !
Copies of the Rail Vehicle Testing Book also on sale at the following shows, alongside West Hill Wagon Works.
Signed copies available on request.
Click on the event banner below for more details of each event.
Find out why and how trains were tested in the 1980s and 90s
Full details of test trains and train formations based out of the Railway Technical Centre in Derby
Accounts and photographs of testing Wagons, Passenger Coaches, Locomotives,
On-Track Plant, and Road-Rail vehicles
The RAIL VEHICLE TESTING book is available to purchase NEW direct from the author.
£25.00 + £3.75 p&p. [ UK shipping only ].
Books are sent using a tracked insured courier service.
Payment method is PayPal, details will be sent following receipt of your order.
Please click on the Contact link below to ask an questions or to order a copy.
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BRUFF Recovery Truck Testing - Mickleover
Class 59 - 59201 Type Tests - Cricklewood
Container Wagon Torsional Stiffness Test - Derby
MkIV Coach Testing - East Coast Main Line
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.
Photo courtesy of Matt Baker
After months of work by the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group, the restoration of Test Car 2 (ADB975397) has progressed significantly; resplendent in its 1980s DM&EE livery, the coach now has a home at Quorn & Woodhouse on the Great Central Railway.
The progress we have made with Test Car 2 this year at the Great Central Railway has been recognised in the railway press, the December issue of Rail Express magazine has a 4-page feature I helped prepare, describing the work resurrecting the Test Car and a bit about it's history.
Click the logo to visit Quorn Wagon & Wagon
Readers Reviews
" This is a superb product just what I was looking for, in-depth and informative " [Amazon]
" Fantastic book on a unusual subject "
" 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 title, great author many hours of reading and expands your interest within railway testing throughout British rail, would highly recommend, worth the asking price " [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)
West Hill Wagon Works - Model Railway Layout (Facebook)
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