OK You're now in the
driving seat of a British Railways diesel mechanical multiple unit.
You have read the page about
stopping trains first havn't you???
To start your engines, first check that your gear lever (5) is
in neutral and throttle (9) in the "engine idling " position.
Press the engine starter buttons (1) the lamps alongside these
buttons will prove that all your engines have kicked into life and
are correctly engaged to the final drive to the road wheels.
The guard's given you the " right away " on the inter-com.
bell.
Take off the brake (4) the vacuum brakegauge (3) is just above
it
Push the gear lever into first and gently open the throttle.
Now watch the engine r.p.m. gauge (8). When its needle enters
a sector marked " change up ", shut the throttle to "engine
idling".
Change to second gear, pause briefly to let the self-change
gearbox mechanism engage the new gear, then gently reopen the
throttle. A glance at your rail speed indicator (6) shows that all
this has happened at about 15 m.p.h.
You'll find you have to make your next gear-change at 25-30
m.p.h. and the last, from third to top, at about 40 m.p.h. your
engine speed indicator needle will also tell you just when to
change down during deceleration.
Always keep a grip on your throttle, for a " dead man's
handle " is built into it; if you let go for more than five
seconds the brakes will automatically go on, after the engines
have shut down. This is a protection against any sudden illness
attacking the driver, and don't forget to keep an eye on the
signals and the track ahead will you.
Other items marked in the photograph are the Electro-pneumatic
control air pressure dial (2) and the train lighting switches (7).
incidentally, you're driving a train like the Birmingham R.C.
& W. set seen below leaving York for Leeds in 1968.
