Paxman Valenta
Encyclopedia
The Paxman Valenta was an engine that was made by Paxman diesels for the HST (British Rail Class 43 (HST)
), and is still in use in various marine applications, such as the Upholder/Victoria class submarine
.
The engine as originally fitted to the HSTs was designated 12RP200L and was a V12
four-stroke turbo-charged & intercooled
diesel
unit of 79 litres which develops 2,250 bhp at 1,500 rpm. The design of the Valenta was based on the Ventura which was fitted to the British Railways Class 14
diesel locomotives, amongst others.
Since 2005, Paxman Valenta-engined HST power cars have been refurbished with MTU
16V4000 and Paxman VP185 engines.
43084 suffered major engine failure after it blew a piston, and 43123 '1972-2010 Valenta', the final Paxman Valenta-engined powercar to be in service was taken out of traffic on the 22nd December 2010, after 4 farewell tours between York and Sunderland. As of January 2011 there are no operational Paxman Valenta engined-powercars.
In May 2011, it was announced that the 125 Group would return prototype HST powercar 41001 to service. The powercar, currently on static display in the York National Railway Museum
, will receive a full overhaul subject to technical assessment on both the vehicle and component parts. The overhaul is expected to pay particular attention to cooler group, bogies and electrical and electronic components. The powercar will also receive installation of production Paxman Valenta RP200L engine Number S508 (installed new into 43153 in 2001 under Virgin CrossCountry, before re-installation to 43143 of First Great Western
after a spell in storage), donated to the NRM from the MTU re-power programme. This will mark a sooner return to traffic of a Paxman Valenta powercar than previously expected.
of New South Wales
, which was based on the HST power car design. 22 of these were ordered, and built in Australia, of which 19 remain in service. Like the HST, these power cars have since been re-engined with the VP185.
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
), and is still in use in various marine applications, such as the Upholder/Victoria class submarine
Upholder/Victoria class submarine
The Upholder/Victoria-class submarines, also known as the Type 2400 , are diesel-electric Fleet submarines designed in the UK in the late 1970s to supplement the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine force....
.
The engine as originally fitted to the HSTs was designated 12RP200L and was a V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
four-stroke turbo-charged & intercooled
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
unit of 79 litres which develops 2,250 bhp at 1,500 rpm. The design of the Valenta was based on the Ventura which was fitted to the British Railways Class 14
British Rail Class 14
The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
diesel locomotives, amongst others.
Future
MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909...
16V4000 and Paxman VP185 engines.
43084 suffered major engine failure after it blew a piston, and 43123 '1972-2010 Valenta', the final Paxman Valenta-engined powercar to be in service was taken out of traffic on the 22nd December 2010, after 4 farewell tours between York and Sunderland. As of January 2011 there are no operational Paxman Valenta engined-powercars.
In May 2011, it was announced that the 125 Group would return prototype HST powercar 41001 to service. The powercar, currently on static display in the York National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
, will receive a full overhaul subject to technical assessment on both the vehicle and component parts. The overhaul is expected to pay particular attention to cooler group, bogies and electrical and electronic components. The powercar will also receive installation of production Paxman Valenta RP200L engine Number S508 (installed new into 43153 in 2001 under Virgin CrossCountry, before re-installation to 43143 of First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
after a spell in storage), donated to the NRM from the MTU re-power programme. This will mark a sooner return to traffic of a Paxman Valenta powercar than previously expected.
Australian XPT
The engine was also fitted to the XPTCountryLink XPT
The XPT is the main long-distance passenger train used in regional New South Wales, Australia. It operates on key eastern seaboard routes including the Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Brisbane services...
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, which was based on the HST power car design. 22 of these were ordered, and built in Australia, of which 19 remain in service. Like the HST, these power cars have since been re-engined with the VP185.