NIR Hunslet prototypical behaviour

[murphaph]

Does anyone know if the radiator fan on the Hunslets ran independently of the prime mover? I would have expected it to be able to run on after the prime mover had switched off to prevent overheating after shutdown. Did the fan operate at varying speeds? How slow did it go?

What would the normal order of operations have been for the lights?

Driver enters cab, switches on cab lights (assuming it's dark), then the marker lights and then the headlight?

If running light engine would the red marker lights come on simultaneously with the white ones or come on a moment later after the white marker lights?

When a driver changed ends, did he have to shut down the loco to take his key with him to the other end, or was it possible to change ends without shutting down the prime mover?

I'm tinkering with the sound settings on my Loksound at the minute, hence the questions. Appreciate any help

[Signal Post]

They are very good questions, I don't know the answer to any of them, however many of them would also be applicable to other diesels of the period such as the CIE A and C classes and the 141/181 and 071s.

Just thinking about your question re the marker lights has set me thinking.....I was fortunate enough to get a cab ride in the baby GM B142 at Whitehead during one of their Diesel Days earlier this year (very much recommend same to any forum members with an interest in such matters) and one of the photos that I took was of the control panel for lights etc as shown below

 

 

The Marker Lights switches are labelled as "White", "Red" and "Shunt" and the "Cab" light switches and Headlight switch (Bright/Off/Dim) are also visible on the panel. As far as I remember this was the No. 1 cab end.

From the above it would seem that the markers would come on more or less simultaneously (assuming he turned both switches on for light engine running together).

As regards shutting down the prime mover during a change of ends I would suspect not, I have heard that it could be quite difficult to get them started again to the extent that they (the A class) would be left running all night in Tralee (the environmentalists among us are probably reaching for their smelling salts at this stage...). I don't know if this was just a difficulty in starting from cold or a general reluctance to start.

Hopefully some of the more knowledgeable folks will be along with more definitive answers.....