Lab 6 Prometheus

Lab 6 'Prometheus'

In 1975 a Mk1 SK coach W34875 was converted into an electrical systems test car at Swindon and was known as Lab Coach 6 RDB975442. It was utilised for main line OHLE tests by the R&DD Electrical Engineers Section and originally based at Rugby but was eventually transferred to RTC Derby.

It was designed such that it could carry a pantograph under 25kV OHLE and was fitted with insulators on the roof and earth brushes on the axles and was initially based at Rugby.

The vehicle was equipped with a conference area and kitchen (below the flat roof area) a large instrumentation area, a generator compartment and a separate workshop. It had a vertical internal ladder situated between the kitchen and the instrumentation area which accessed the flat roof. This was via a hatchway which was locked and the key was only available via a safety control procedure for use under 25kV OHLE.

The main instrumentation area has a raised dias from which any pantograph fitted to the flat roof area could be observed. Instrumentation including a large speedometer were also fitted on a facia below the window which was fitted with strengthened glass.

The vehicle was also equipped with Mk3 bogies and was capable of being hauled at up to 125 mile/h

The vehicle has now been scrapped.

Click on the picture for a bigger image - All pictures are the author's unless otherwise credited

	Lab Coach 6 in its early days when allocated to the R&DD Electrical Engineers Section then located at Rugby BR official
	On July 30th 1979 Laboratory 6 'Prometheus' is pictured at Euston on the rear of the 09.00 service to Carlisle. This was during the series of main line tests with the BR/Brecknell Willis high speed pantograph.
	Lab 6 pictured on the back of the 09.00 passing Winwick Junction later that day - note the lettering ' Lab.Coach 6' Brian Watkins
	The pantograph viewing window and instrumentation area during in what looks like a staged picture. Note the soldering iron hanging up and the amplifier on the desk top. The door on the left lead through to the kitchen area and the roof access ladder Colin Marsden
	A view of the main instrumentation area of Prometheus looking in the opposite direction to the picture above BR official
	HST super power on a test train pictured between Selby Station and Shaftholme Junction on the old ECML alignment, before the ECML was electrified. The picture shows a Faiveley pantograph under test in September 1979 mounted on Lab 6 'Prometheus' and restrained at 'high wire height' by cables. Richard Billinge
	Lab 6 pictured unusually in the stabling sidings at the south end of the EDU on 1st February 1983 - note the traverser in the background. Note the lettering now amended to 'Laboratory 6' Colin Marsden
	'Prometheus' at Old Dalby with the class 89 during pantograph aerodynamic tests in April 1987. The vehicle was carrying the instrumentation which monitored the performance of the class 89's pantograph Unknown
	Prometheus behind 89001 heads south through Stafford on 24th April 1987 during the locos acceptance tests Steve Jones
	Prometheus in its new livery circa 1988 D Bower
	Prometheus in its second coming as the DM&EE's second Test Car 5 Unknown
	Test Car 5 (ex-Prometheus) in its Serco livery at Stafford - it was only used as a test car on rare occasions and eventually fell into very poor internal condition. Such a shame as it was originally a 125 mile/h vehicle. Steve Jones
	Lab 6 pictured leaving RTC and going for scrap on 21st February 2007. From the left was the engine room, workshop, instrumentation area with roof window (and wipers still in situ), the roof access compartment (with hatch visible on roof) and then the kitchen/conference area with two seats visible. Steve Hempsall

Another picture has come to light on Neale Harrison's Fotopic site of Prometheus in the RTC sidings in the late 1980's here. Look under '35mm slide scans' at the bottom of the first page.

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