Wrong kind of hill

Jonathan H

Full Member

Posts: 55

Wrong kind of hill

« on: January 13, 2009, 23:37:08 »

Travelling on the 2223 Gatwick to Reading service (166214) tonight I find that it is cancelled at the two stations in Dorking. A sluggish departure from Betchworth tells me that an engine is out. So we go through Dorking non stop and there are some bemused faces of people who didn't hear the announcement. I have been on turbos before with a failed engine and they have managed the climb out of Dorking albeit slowly. So it seems a bit drastic to run it non stop through Dorking tonight.

Jonathan


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eightf48544

Transport Scholar
Hero Member

Posts: 4574

Re: Wrong kind of hill

« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2009, 09:40:29 »

As Turbos only drive on one bogie per coach maybe it was the coach with the forward sanders that was out and rail conditions were considered to be poor. Normally with all engines working a Turbo puts out around 10 hp per ton and even with one engine out it still has 7 hp per tonne.

What happened to the passengers who were overcarried? I don't suppose Gomshall at 23:00 is full of taxis!


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Jonathan H

Full Member

Posts: 55

Re: Wrong kind of hill

« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2009, 12:48:06 »

The engine on the rear carriage had been turned off but the rail conditions seemed fine. As I noted before, I'm sure I've been on other services with reduced power which haven't missed out the stations in Dorking. It is usually the pulling away that is an issue on reduced power.

I went into the rear carriage on approach to Reading - with no heating it was a little cold and there was emergency lighting only but it was interesting to hear the rail noise of a turbo without power.

The passengers who wanted Dorking spoke to the driver at Gomshall who suggested that they went to Guildford for a train back. In practice, our delay meant that we would not make the first connection back so they got off at Shalford (half an hour in the cold at Gomshall would be a bit unreasonable) and travelled back to Dorking from there.

Jonathan


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Jonathan H

Full Member

Posts: 55

Re: Wrong kind of hill

« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2009, 21:51:38 »

Another engine failure tonight. 165118 on 2004 Reading to Redhill swapped with 166201 on 2034 Redhill to Reading at Guildford to avoid taking the 165 onto the north downs. Work for Reading TMD^▸ to do tonight. 165 broadly keeping time along the Blackwater valley. Emergency light setting just kicked in.


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