Sarah Siddons heritage train - 7 & 8 September

It says that the train will be pulled by SS {Sarah Siddons} and another loco. How does that work with something like SS, that was presumably never designed to work 'in tandem'?

As I understand it, there are three ways of operating two or more locomotives in the same train. Simplest is for only one of them to be actually powering the train, the other either being "dead", or with the engine running but not powering the wheels. That is how top and tailing is usually done, the engine at the rear being there for a number of reasons: as a backup; to allow the train to run in both directions; to provide heating aircon etc when the lead loco is not capable of doing so. The rear loco will, of course, be connected to the continuous brake working throughout the train.
"Tandem" operation is used when both locos are under power and driven separately, but the brakes for the whole train, including the second loco, are under the control of the driver in the lead loco.
"Multiple" operation is when the second loco is completely under the control of the driver in the lead one, and is essentially the same system as for a "multiple unit" train.

I would expect that Sarah and a class 20 could be operated in tandem, but because of the need to reverse, top and tail is preferred.

By the way, can the electric heating in the TC set be powered by Sarah Siddons? (Class 20s never had train heating fitted). What heating was provided in Metropolitan Railway loco hauled trains in the steam/electric era (up to 1960)

Are these 4TC coaches the ones that were used on the, I think it was, Bournemouth line, powered by a 4REP {Expansion Unknown} unit?

Back when these were extant we had a few vaguely 'rail enthusiast' types in the office, and we believed thet:

4CEP -> Corridor Electropneumatic Braked.
4VEP -> Vestibule Electropneumatic Braked.
4EPB -> Electro-Pneumatic Braked.
4TC -> Trailer Car.

I did suggest that since a 4REP pulled itself and 8 coaches worth of 4TC, perhaps REP stood for 'Really Exceptionally Powerful'. That idea never gained traction (sorry), but I would love to have experienced a 4REP operating by itself as the acceleration should have been pretty good.

"Costumed characters" - personally, i am not a fan. Not sure others are either. One 38 stock run had the stewards really having to persuade anyone to come and take pictures of the be-costumed. What are they felt to add?

Don’t think it will cold in the first week of September to need heating on the train.

For the rest of us it's not too great either......😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

If you are interested here is a link to the history of the 1966 Bournemouth stock www.bloodandcustard.com/bournemouth1966.html

Will Florence (the recently restored saloon) be making an appearance?

Train heating can work with most voltages from 650 up to 1000. The ETH power jumpers are UIC standard. I would presume either Sarah is fitted with them at the moment or the TC is fitted with the LT twin jumper. Maybe they don't bother with ETH anyway?

LT used a twin cable jumper as the running rails can't be used for the return current.

Hardly typical, although Sarah was in normal passenger use throughout that decade, and the vehicles that form the TC unit, as well as most of the Class 20s (although not this one) were built in the 1950s.

My info has it this coming weekend the train(s) are formed 20 + SS + TC + 20.

It's a shame that the train has turned into a BR Type 1 enthusiasts special.

Train formed and performed a test run in preperation for tomorrows run. Sarah north end - 4TC - 20142 south end

To be fair, this weekend was priced to attract families as much as it was for the enthusiasts. Plenty of families travelled with us today and I think a good time was had by all which is what it is all about :-)