Design
The Blue Pullmans had a maximum speed of 90 mph (140 km/h). The fixed couplings reduced much of the jerky movement experienced by conventionally-buffered carriages and allowed smooth acceleration and stable running. The bogies featured hydraulically-damped helical springs, and the axles were pneumatically braked in a two-stage system, allowing highly controlled stopping.
The entire train was air-conditioned with automatic humidity control. Motor cars contained a large primary diesel engine and generator for motive power. A secondary diesel engine and auxiliary generator provided electrical power for the air-conditioning, fridges and ancillary equipment. A single auxiliary was sufficient to power the train systems normally. An onboard technician monitored the supply of services.
The passenger areas had armchair-type table seating in a 2+1 formation, each with a table lamp and steward call button. The saloons were protected from track noise by extra insulation in the bodywork and double-glazed windows with Venetian blinds between the panes.
Read more about this topic: British Rail Classes 251 And 261
Famous quotes containing the word design:
“Humility is often only the putting on of a submissiveness by which men hope to bring other people to submit to them; it is a more calculated sort of pride, which debases itself with a design of being exalted; and though this vice transform itself into a thousand several shapes, yet the disguise is never more effectual nor more capable of deceiving the world than when concealed under a form of humility.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“Westerners inherit
A design for living
Deeper into matter—
Not without due patter
Of a great misgiving.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“We find that Good and Evil happen alike to all Men on this Side of the Grave; and as the principle Design of Tragedy is to raise Commiseration and Terror in the Minds of the Audience, we shall defeat this great End, if we always make Virtue and Innocence happy and successful.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719)