What train did I see?

[sherman]

Yesterday I saw a train that was completely yellow. It was like an intercity 125 but was only about 4 carriages long with 1 engine on either end. Also on the nose of the rear engine was a box sticking out from the 45 degree slope of the nose?

[Podie]

NMT - New Measurement Train.

It's used to examine the state of the track and OLE

Edited by Podie on Tuesday 11th October 16:12

[sherman]

Podie said:

NMT - New Measurement Train.

It's used to examine the state of the track.

Thats the beastie.


It would explain why there was no trains for about the 5 mins before it appeared and it was going quite slowly.

It seemed odd to send it along the main Edinburgh - Glasgow line at rush hour . Usually there is a train of 6 carriages hammering along at that time once every minute or 2.

[Podie]

It's quite an impressive bit of kit. Runs on most of the main routes on a regular cycle.

[Nicholas Blair]

The Flying Banana!

[Podie]

Nicholas Blair said:

The Flying Banana!

Given the large number of NWR people I've met, I've never heard it called that... it's just the NMT.

[Nicholas Blair]

A name used on a forum up here that seems to have stuck...

[LilPeteMordino]

As an aside,

I saw a train today in Southampton (Was walking over a bridge as it went under) that was many many 'carriages' long. I say that in comma's because they werent seperated by anything and there were no windows. So just an incredibly long blue train with no markings...

Anyone have any idea?

[Nickyboy]

Sounds like the pic above from Mini to Southampton

[43034]

Podie said:

Given the large number of NWR people I've met, I've never heard it called that... it's just the NMT.

Known as the Flying Banana by some cranks.

[LilPeteMordino]

Clarky Cat said:

Possibly a car train from Southampton Western Docks? The wagons used are blue, with no markings or windows and appear continuous...

Edited by Clarky Cat on Tuesday 11th October 18:04

That does look very similar! Thank you very much!

[Pkh72]

43034 said:

Podie said:

Given the large number of NWR people I've met, I've never heard it called that... it's just the NMT.

Known as the Flying Banana by some cranks.

Some fancy kit on these test trains, I used to work for the company that maintains that and the other Network rail test trains and they are a quite interesting fleet.

Spotters sometimes refer to the NMT as the flying banana but it's proper name is the NMT, as has been said already.

[Ross1988]

They can do all the measurements at full tilt as well, leaving accurate spray marks for the maintenance crews to use.

[Nickyboy]

At full tilt yes, spray marks, no.

Each descrepancy with the track is recorded with gps co-ordinates so it can be accurately found and repaired.

[43034]

Pkh72 said:

Some fancy kit on these test trains, I used to work for the company that maintains that and the other Network rail test trains and they are a quite interesting fleet.

Spotters sometimes refer to the NMT as the flying banana but it's proper name is the NMT, as has been said already.

Indeed, very impressive. Used to make an effort to go out and see it when I had the gen, not so much now down to the MTUs.

For the record, I call it the NMT but was just stating that some cranks call it the Flying Banana or the Yellow Banana.

[MitchT]

43034 said:

Known as the Flying Banana by some cranks.

Or the 'Yellow Peril'

[Pkh72]

Not that good for your health the older locos, especially on colder mornings -

[theironduke]

MitchT said:

43034 said:

Known as the Flying Banana by some cranks.

Or the 'Yellow Peril'

Does this beastie still have its Valenta(s)? or has it been converted too?

[Pkh72]

theironduke said:

MitchT said:

43034 said:

Known as the Flying Banana by some cranks.

Or the 'Yellow Peril'

Does this beastie still have its Valenta(s)? or has it been converted too?

The 3 powers cars all have MTU's now.

[theironduke]

Pkh72 said:

theironduke said:

MitchT said:

43034 said:

Known as the Flying Banana by some cranks.

Or the 'Yellow Peril'

Does this beastie still have its Valenta(s)? or has it been converted too?

The 3 powers cars all have MTU's now.

What configuration or the new power plants? are they still V12s or something all green and friendly?