Could this GWR train really improve the Cotswold Line?

Thu 5 Feb, 22:07

A great talk by Tim this evening.  Some super illustrations as well.

Thu 5 Feb, 20:22

To go along with Father Clive,  what about the type 50 'Hoover' with great names of Royal Navy battleships and carriers.

Thu 5 Feb, 19:39

 Bring back the 37s.

Thu 5 Feb, 18:57

These units have a maximum speed of 60 mph so would not be permitted on the GW Main Line nor our line as they would hog too much in the way of timetabled paths. The current 800 series trains run at 125mph on the GWML and I think up to 100 mph on our line. As an aside, some of Mr Brunel's Broad Gauge trains of the 1850s were recorded doing 70 mph!   

Thu 5 Feb, 14:24

Salt water batteries are a great idea! Though that train is as aerodynamic as a house brick, a little streamlining might improve the efficiency still.  Presumably this is a slowpoke stopping train and won’t do CBY>PAD at the same lick as a more pointy diesel powered loco?

Thu 5 Feb, 13:04 (last edited on Thu 5 Feb, 14:13)

Trains not running  on fossil fuel or ordinary electricity. Like tubes, running flush with the platform. 

More comfortable than tubes.

Batteries powered by salt: about the Earth's most abundant resource.

Last Saturday (Jan 30) GWR announced the start of a regular trial between West Ealing and Greenford, with batteries allowing over 200 miles travel between recharges. Some trials elsewhere now allow up to 600 miles between recharges, or speeds up to 100 mph.

The trial could transform the Cotswold Line. With today’s technology you could go from Paddington to Moreton on a single charge, park the train in special recharging areas for 3-4 minutes, then return to Paddington or carry on to Hereford. With the faster technology at Paddington, there’d be no midway recharging

The Charlbury Society has a Zoom presentation about the history of the Line, Brunel and the Great Western Railway tonight at 7.30, by Tim Bryan, Brunel Curator at Bristol’s SS Great Britain Trust

Not already a member? You can get a one-visit pass for £3 by contacting memsec.charlsoc@gmail.com