London Underground celebrates 150th anniversary
Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:46:00 GMT
...and the University’s Institute of Railway Research have helped them do it
Pictured above is the oldest surviving Underground carriage, Metropolitan 353 of 1892, restored to its former glory in North Wales. IRR engineers carried out the safety assurance and testing work on this vehicle, which will run special trains on the Circle Line in January 2013
Engineers from the University of Huddersfield’s Institute of Railway Research (IRR) have been working with the London Underground on two contrasting projects.
London has the world’s oldest underground railway, which celebrated its 150th anniversary on the 9th January 2013.
In January, historic trains will run on the Circle line, using an original steam locomotive and wooden carriages from the Victorian era. To form part of the train, the oldest surviving Underground carriage has been rebuilt from derelict condition at the Ffestiniog Railway, on behalf of the London Transport Museum.
IRR Principal Engineer Paul Molyneux-Berry described the Institute’s role: “We have carried out safety assurance and acceptance testing work to demonstrate that the historic carriage can once again carry passengers safely under the streets of London”.
Whilst celebrating its past, the London Underground is also looking to the future, with IRR engineers working on designs for the next generation of tube trains. Train configurations are being developed that offer greater capacity and improved accessibility.
Having studied various train concepts, the IRR is now optimising suspension design and analysing the wheel/rail interaction.
Dr Paul Allen, Assistant Director of IRR explained: “This will help to ensure that the new trains have reduced wheel and rail maintenance costs, as well as improved conditions for passengers.”
The Director of the Institute of Railway Research, Professor Simon Iwnicki, conveyed the difference between the projects: “The contrast between these projects could not be greater. Both present considerable technical challenges whilst also emphasising the developments which have led to the London Underground becoming one of the world’s most intensively used metro systems.”
- The Institute of Railway Research (IRR) provides specialist research and development for the railway industry in many aspects of railway engineering including rail vehicle dynamics and wheel-rail interaction/derailment resistance. The IRR is based in the Faculty of Computing and Engineering at the University of Huddersfield. It supports its research with state-of-the-art computer simulation facilities.
- By conserving and explaining the Capital city's transport heritage, London Transport Museum offers people an understanding of the Capital's past development and engages them in the debate about its future. Further details of the 150th anniversary celebrations can be found on their website.
