There were two static locomotive test plants (at Rugby and Swindon) where locos could be put through their paces on a 'rolling road' rig. A memory from the 12 year old Rob Blair who visited the plant in 1953:-
"It was whilst staying with a mate in
Rugby I got the chance to see round the test centre. His friend Ken was
sent to work there for a time from Swindon. Diesel loco's were on the horizon
and known by Ken as "Stink Wagons".
My memories are a bit sketchy now, but I remember the detailed analysis during
the run of smoke gasses etc. and draw-bar pull. Coal was carefully weighed by
the men in white coats.
The rollers, which could be set at any distance to suit the loco', were of
course power driven too, I think by hydraulic power. The control room was above
and behind the tender."
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The front cover of the
publicity brochure which was given to visitors to Rugby Locomotive
Testing Station in the early 1950s Courtesy Rob Blair |
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The performance assessment and test work involved monitoring steam engine performance on the rigs and out on the road using the Mobile Test Plant. Various routes were utilised including the Settle - Carlisle line and the Western Region main line.
The reports, known as 'Bulletins' were very comprehensive even detailing the type of coal and the colour of the burnt ash
The following is a taste of the work undertaken on steam locos old and new as well as work on some of the early diesel locomotives. Some pages include a great deal of detail of the tests undertaken, others not so much.