| Tribometer Train The 'Trib Train' was used to investigate the age-old problem of low friction between wheel and rail known as adhesion. First entering service in 1972 its purpose was to verify laboratory tests on surface contaminants on the railhead. It consisted of Laboratory 11 RDB975046, COV-AB RDB999900 and an auto-trailer RDB975076 usually operated with one of R&DD's own locos (e.g. the Baby Deltic or later the class 24 'Experiment' and class 31). The COV-AB was one of a batch of ten fitted with experimental 'Taperlite' suspension and housed the instrumentation and hydraulic packs, with special brake actuator units above each axle as well as tanks for laying fluid during the experiments. It had no conventional brakes and was fitted with end gangways for access. A year-long general survey of adhesions levels was undertaken initially and numerous special tests were performed. The train was a common site about the railway in the 70s and 80s. It was also used to assess the effectiveness of rail head treatment of the time such as water cannons. It usually had motive power from the Research Division's own pool of locos including, the Metrovick Co-Bo 5705, the Baby Deltic D5901, class 24 'Experiment', the original class 31 which was unfortunately destroyed by fire and then whatever was available was used. The last extensive use of the Tribometer Train to measure naturally occurring adhesion was in the early 1990s when a significant amount of measurements were taken to survey typical adhesion profiles on a number of BR routes. The final use of the Tribometer Train was in 1996 to compare the performance of portable tribometers with a full-scale tribometer to calibrate the former. The Tribology Train was not used after this and was eventually disposed of by AEA Technology Rail in 2004 - another victim of privatisation. All three vehicles went to the Nottingham Heritage Centre where they remain awaiting restoration. Photographs are BR official unless credited |
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Metrovick Co-Bo 5705 at the head
of the Trib Train with Laboratory 11
RDB975046 behind the loco pictured near Etwall on the Mickleover test track in 1972 Gerald Anthony |
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COV-AB RDB999900 and the
auto-trailer RDB975076 making up the Trib Train on
the Mickleover test track in 1972 Gerald Anthony |
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Metrovick Co-Bo 5705 with the Trib
Train at Derby in 1972 Author |
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Baby Deltic 5901 with the Trib
Train at Derby David Hills |
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Class 24 'Experiment' 97201 with the Trib Train outside the Control Centre at Old Dalby Colin Marsden |
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The other end of Trib train at Old Dalby
showing the auto-trailer
Colin Marsden |
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A close up of the recording
vehicle RDB999900
Colin Marsden |
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Lab 11 RDB975046 in the RTC sidings - now preserved and restored at Dartmoor Railway |
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Auto Trailer RDB975076 in the
RTC sidings
The Trib Train vehicles were preserved at the Nottingham Heritage Centre Ruddington - It later moved to Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway in August 2009 but in October 2017 it went to the West Somerset Railway for overhaul. |
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The Trib Train vehicles were
preserved at the Nottingham Heritage Centre Ruddington - COV-AB RDB999900 was scrapped at Booths of Rotherham in August 2009 Vince |
