Bulletin No:6

The Bulletin concerned the 'performance and efficiency testing' of a BR Standard  Class 5 2-cylinder 4-6-0 Mixed Traffic Locomotive number 73008.  This loco had been built by BR in 1951 and had run only 880 miles before undergoing the tests. The loco completed over 9000 miles on the Rugby test plant and about 3000 miles on the road tests.

The tests which took place between August 1951 and March 1952 were undertaken to establish the following:

bulletThe price in terms of coal and water of hauling different train loads and different speeds over given routes
bulletAn indication of the level of efficiency of the locomotive
bulletMeans of comparing one locomotive with another on a common basis

Testing was undertaken on the static test plant at Rugby and on the line between Settle and Carlisle the actual tests being monitored between Appleby and Dent, a distance of approx 25 miles. The amount of coal and water used was carefully monitored, the special tender being divided in two such that weighed bags of coal for the test were carried on one side and ordinary loose coal for transit and shunting moves on the other.

Here are a few pictures of the tests and a summary graph.

Pictures are BR official except where credited

No:73008 is put through its paces on the static test plant at Rugby

John B C McCann

 No:73008 leaving Carlisle with LMS No:1 dynamometer car in the train

Peter Baker
Kirkby Stephen No:73008 passing Kirkby Stephen box The BR loco diagram for the Standard class 5's
One of the many test results shows the maximum speed and HP of the loco amongst other things  - note the maximum power of over 1000HP

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