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Driving Van Trailer
A Driving Van Trailer (DVT) is a British purpose-built control car railway vehicle that allows the driver to operate with a locomotive in push-pull formation from the opposite end of a train. A key benefit of operating trains with DVTs is the requirement for fewer locomotives; for example, a second locomotive would otherwise have to join at the other end of the train after arrival at terminal stations to lead the train's onward journey.
The Mark 3 DVT was originally designed and produced by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike many other control cars, such as the Mark 2 DBSO, the DVT visually resembles a locomotive, specifically Class 90 for the 82/1 Mark 3 series and Class 91 for the 82/2 Mark 4 series; thus when the train is operating in push mode, it does not appear to be travelling backwards. The vehicles do not have any passenger accommodation due to health and safety rules in place at the time of construction that prohibited passengers in the leading carriages of trains that run faster than 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).[citation needed]
The later-built Mark 4 DVT was specifically developed to work with the new Mark 4 carriages of the InterCity 225 on the East Coast Mainline while the Mark 3 DVT was built to work with the Mark 2 and Mark 3 carriages which then comprised the InterCity rolling stock on the West Coast Main Line. A planned Mark 5 DVT was never produced. Following the Privatisation of British Rail, various private sector train operators have opted to use DVTs in their services. In some cases, such as Wrexham & Shropshire's services between London Marylebone and Wrexham General using Mark 3s and Class 67 diesel locomotives, the DVTs required modification to work with new types of locomotives. Other operators have opted to have their DVTs outfitted with diesel generators or even traction apparatus, the latter case resulting in the experimental Class 19 locomotive.
The DVT concept is similar to the Mark 2 DBSO but, unlike its predecessor which was rebuilt from existing stock, it was a new build vehicle manufactured specifically for this purpose. The first design of DVT was designed to match Mark 2 and Mark 3 coaches. The second design has a narrower profile, similar to Mark 4 coaches, which would enable it to be converted to tilting operation if required in the future.[citation needed] The nose of the vehicle was styled to closely resemble the Class 90 and 91 locomotives that they were paired with.
The original Mark 3 DVTs, which operated on the West Coast Main Line, used the RCH jumpers to carry the signals, therefore allowing the same cables to be used for lighting and the public address system, as well as driver-guard signalling. The Class 86 and Class 87 locomotives had to be retrofitted with RCH cables, replacing the older multiple working jumpers that some of them had been fitted with.
The InterCity 225 sets operate on the East Coast Main Line; the Mark 4 DVTs and locomotives operate in push-pull formation utilising a time-division multiplexer to send control signals along specially screened cables which run the length of the train. The locomotives usually face north, away from London, only being changed occasionally in rare circumstances; this is because the Class 91 depots (formerly Bounds Green and now Neville Hill) are situated at the north end of King's Cross and Leeds stations respectively, allowing easy changeover.[citation needed]
When a train is operated by a DVT, the control signals are encoded and multiplexed onto the cables by the TDM equipment in the DVT. At the locomotive, these signals are demultiplexed by the TDM equipment and the signals are used to control the locomotive. The air braking system is operated directly from whichever cab the driver is driving from. If the TDM fails and cannot be reconfigured, the train may still operate; however, if the DVT is leading, it will be necessary to uncouple the locomotive and attach it to the front of the train.[citation needed]
In addition to the driver's cab, some DVTs have luggage and cycle storage space and a guard's office. One DVT was fitted with a traction gel applicator. A number of Mark 3 DVTs have been fitted with generators to provide power to on-train equipment. One has been fitted with traction equipment, becoming the experimental Class 19 locomotive.
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Driving Van Trailer AI simulator
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Driving Van Trailer
A Driving Van Trailer (DVT) is a British purpose-built control car railway vehicle that allows the driver to operate with a locomotive in push-pull formation from the opposite end of a train. A key benefit of operating trains with DVTs is the requirement for fewer locomotives; for example, a second locomotive would otherwise have to join at the other end of the train after arrival at terminal stations to lead the train's onward journey.
The Mark 3 DVT was originally designed and produced by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike many other control cars, such as the Mark 2 DBSO, the DVT visually resembles a locomotive, specifically Class 90 for the 82/1 Mark 3 series and Class 91 for the 82/2 Mark 4 series; thus when the train is operating in push mode, it does not appear to be travelling backwards. The vehicles do not have any passenger accommodation due to health and safety rules in place at the time of construction that prohibited passengers in the leading carriages of trains that run faster than 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).[citation needed]
The later-built Mark 4 DVT was specifically developed to work with the new Mark 4 carriages of the InterCity 225 on the East Coast Mainline while the Mark 3 DVT was built to work with the Mark 2 and Mark 3 carriages which then comprised the InterCity rolling stock on the West Coast Main Line. A planned Mark 5 DVT was never produced. Following the Privatisation of British Rail, various private sector train operators have opted to use DVTs in their services. In some cases, such as Wrexham & Shropshire's services between London Marylebone and Wrexham General using Mark 3s and Class 67 diesel locomotives, the DVTs required modification to work with new types of locomotives. Other operators have opted to have their DVTs outfitted with diesel generators or even traction apparatus, the latter case resulting in the experimental Class 19 locomotive.
The DVT concept is similar to the Mark 2 DBSO but, unlike its predecessor which was rebuilt from existing stock, it was a new build vehicle manufactured specifically for this purpose. The first design of DVT was designed to match Mark 2 and Mark 3 coaches. The second design has a narrower profile, similar to Mark 4 coaches, which would enable it to be converted to tilting operation if required in the future.[citation needed] The nose of the vehicle was styled to closely resemble the Class 90 and 91 locomotives that they were paired with.
The original Mark 3 DVTs, which operated on the West Coast Main Line, used the RCH jumpers to carry the signals, therefore allowing the same cables to be used for lighting and the public address system, as well as driver-guard signalling. The Class 86 and Class 87 locomotives had to be retrofitted with RCH cables, replacing the older multiple working jumpers that some of them had been fitted with.
The InterCity 225 sets operate on the East Coast Main Line; the Mark 4 DVTs and locomotives operate in push-pull formation utilising a time-division multiplexer to send control signals along specially screened cables which run the length of the train. The locomotives usually face north, away from London, only being changed occasionally in rare circumstances; this is because the Class 91 depots (formerly Bounds Green and now Neville Hill) are situated at the north end of King's Cross and Leeds stations respectively, allowing easy changeover.[citation needed]
When a train is operated by a DVT, the control signals are encoded and multiplexed onto the cables by the TDM equipment in the DVT. At the locomotive, these signals are demultiplexed by the TDM equipment and the signals are used to control the locomotive. The air braking system is operated directly from whichever cab the driver is driving from. If the TDM fails and cannot be reconfigured, the train may still operate; however, if the DVT is leading, it will be necessary to uncouple the locomotive and attach it to the front of the train.[citation needed]
In addition to the driver's cab, some DVTs have luggage and cycle storage space and a guard's office. One DVT was fitted with a traction gel applicator. A number of Mark 3 DVTs have been fitted with generators to provide power to on-train equipment. One has been fitted with traction equipment, becoming the experimental Class 19 locomotive.