A 142 unit got to Cornwall - here is an alternative use

[whole diary]

[smokey]

Network rail wouldn't let the 142s go beyond Warminster towards Salisbury .

And none of the traincrews are trained on them either .

At the moment!

Network Rail Southern are a lot more Organised than Network Rail Great Western, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Southern WON^▸ (Weekly Operating Notice )'T Let ANGLE GRINDERS (142s) on their lines.

Could point out that NR Southern enforce Safety Issues better than NR GW^▸ (Great Western).

[vacman]

Got that in writing? has a 143 ever made it to Southampton? Jim?

[devon_metro]

They aren't allowed as they can somehow touch the 3 rd and go ZAPP

142s aren't that bad really, just could do with a refurb!

[Jim]

Got that in writing? has a 143 ever made it to Southampton? Jim?

Nope, sadly. If it did go, I would think twice before doing it!

[smokey]

With repect to Vacman and others who seem to think 142's are alright for Cornwall.

Do you know what a VMFL^▸ (Vehicle Mounted Flange Lubricaters) is (or was)?

Traveling around on 142's on the Devon Braches and it may seem that things are ok, however sound waves travel in straight lines, audible engine and track noise inside a Carriage is only a fraction of the sound heard by persons standing trackside.

Indeed even with all the windows open on a 142 the majority of sound heard inside is reflected sound.

What sounds like a gentle Squeal inside a 142 as it passes over points sounds like someones murdering pigs, the whole sty full to track workers.

Noise indicates track damage and wheel damage, I remember seeing Iron Fillings on the sleepers on bends in Cornwall when 142 were last around, not dull rusty ones but bright new fillings indicating that everywheel was acting like an Angle Grinder.

I remember that a Brand New wheel set on one 142 lasted less than 1500 miles (think it managed 1150 miles) before being worn down to Scrapping size when working in Cornwall.

Worked out what VMFL is yet?

In a last desperate bid to save face after the Fanfare launch of Skippers (142's) BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) fitted VMFL* but this just cause bigger problems with other rolling stock as grease got everywhere causing SDAP's to occur to other trains.

*VFML Vehicle Mounted Flange Lubricaters.

Keep 142 East of Totnes!

[Shazz]

With repect to Vacman and others who seem to think 142's are alright for Cornwall.

Do you know what a VMFL^▸ (Vehicle Mounted Flange Lubricaters) is (or was)?

Traveling around on 142's on the Devon Braches and it may seem that things are ok, however sound waves travel in straight lines, audible engine and track noise inside a Carriage is only a fraction of the sound heard by persons standing trackside.

Indeed even with all the windows open on a 142 the majority of sound heard inside is reflected sound.

What sounds like a gentle Squeal inside a 142 as it passes over points sounds like someones murdering pigs, the whole sty full to track workers.

Noise indicates track damage and wheel damage, I remember seeing Iron Fillings on the sleepers on bends in Cornwall when 142 were last around, not dull rusty ones but bright new fillings indicating that everywheel was acting like an Angle Grinder.

I remember that a Brand New wheel set on one 142 lasted less than 1500 miles (think it managed 1150 miles) before being worn down to Scrapping size when working in Cornwall.

Worked out what VMFL is yet?

In a last desperate bid to save face after the Fanfare launch of Skippers (142's) BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) fitted VMFL* but this just cause bigger problems with other rolling stock as grease got everywhere causing SDAP's to occur to other trains.

*VFML Vehicle Mounted Flange Lubricaters.

Keep 142 East of Totnes!

Do you really have that much spare time on your hands to find petty little reasons to complain about 142's? Get another job,  I hear a little known train company called First Great Western need some more train crew!

[smokey]

With repect to Vacman and others who seem to think 142's are alright for Cornwall.

Do you know what a VMFL^▸ (Vehicle Mounted Flange Lubricaters) is (or was)?

Traveling around on 142's on the Devon Braches and it may seem that things are ok, however sound waves travel in straight lines, audible engine and track noise inside a Carriage is only a fraction of the sound heard by persons standing trackside.

Indeed even with all the windows open on a 142 the majority of sound heard inside is reflected sound.

What sounds like a gentle Squeal inside a 142 as it passes over points sounds like someones murdering pigs, the whole sty full to track workers.

Noise indicates track damage and wheel damage, I remember seeing Iron Fillings on the sleepers on bends in Cornwall when 142 were last around, not dull rusty ones but bright new fillings indicating that everywheel was acting like an Angle Grinder.

I remember that a Brand New wheel set on one 142 lasted less than 1500 miles (think it managed 1150 miles) before being worn down to Scrapping size when working in Cornwall.

Worked out what VMFL is yet?

In a last desperate bid to save face after the Fanfare launch of Skippers (142's) BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) fitted VMFL* but this just cause bigger problems with other rolling stock as grease got everywhere causing SDAP's to occur to other trains.

*VFML Vehicle Mounted Flange Lubricaters.

Keep 142 East of Totnes!

Do you really have that much spare time on your hands to find petty little reasons to complain about 142's? Get another job,  I hear a little known train company called First Great Western need some more train crew!

With respect I would say a Unit needing NEW Wheel Sets after less than ONE WEEKS work is hardly Petty.

It takes an empty HST^▸ (High Speed Train) a minimum 1hour 20minutes to cover the 80 miles from Pymouth to Penzance (non stop).
Why so long?

The LOW line speed, why a LOW line speed, the Sharp bends in Cornwall, (and as a by the way, branch line bends are even worse).

When the Railway where built, many on low budgets followed River Valley's, like in Wales with easement's made to the sharper bends.

In Cornwall Rivers flow North or South (in Very General terms) to the Coast whilst the Main Line Cuts though East to West hence there are some very winding parts to the Main Line.

Something People also forgot about Fixed Wheel stock Like 142s, is that being on Single Axles they have a much greater chance of Flange mounting Rail Head than bogie stock, and whilst the 2nd axle of a Bogie is very likely to rerail the other Axle before problems get worse that doesn't happen on railbuses.

The Victorians did away with 4 wheel passenger stock about 1855 (well stopped building it), foolish to bring it back, now had the 142 been 6 wheelers it would be different.

PS The Cardiff Valleys must have shallower bends than Cornwall as VMFL are not required on the South Wales fleet.

[vacman]

The Fal branch would be fine for 142/143's along with the St Ives, where do you think these trains have been for the last 20 years? the moon? (probably the best place for them admittedly), no, they've strangely enough being working trains all across the north of England. no we don't want these units down here BUT if it means more trains and more capacity then i'm up for it! Oh, as for smokey working for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?? He wouldn't last 5 minutes in a passenger facing role!

[devon_metro]

Keep 142 East of Totnes!

When did Plymouth become part of Cornwall? Or is Plymouth simply too special for these delightful rust buckets?

[smokey]

The Fal branch would be fine for 142/143's along with the St Ives, where do you think these trains have been for the last 20 years? the moon? (probably the best place for them admittedly), no, they've strangely enough being working trains all across the north of England. no we don't want these units down here BUT if it means more trains and more capacity then i'm up for it! Oh, as for smokey working for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?? He wouldn't last 5 minutes in a passenger facing role!

Might surprise Vacman that I've worked in a Customer Facing Role for many years without trouble, the only trouble was when I went to the assitance of a young Lady having problems with a drunk boyfriend who was to free with his punches, and as the Lady Backed up her boyfriend later, I ended up in Jail, only thing as other witnesses backed me up I was totally discharged.

And as for 142, 143, 144, they should never have been built, and whilst FGW are using 142's then I hope they do try to keep then from operating West from Newton Abbot because Track damage Will occur on the Devon Main Line to PLymouth.
Last time I looked 142 were banned from Looe and Gunnislake, able to reach Bere Alston.

[smokey]

Keep 142 East of Totnes!

When did Plymouth become part of Cornwall? Or is Plymouth simply too special for these delightful rust buckets?

Plymouth has always been considered part of Cornwall, Railway wise, remember before the Joint Devon and Cornwall Railcard, Plymouth was in both Devons and Cornwall's Railcard areas. Bit like holding Joint Nationality Passports from 2 Countrys.

[vacman]

The Fal branch would be fine for 142/143's along with the St Ives, where do you think these trains have been for the last 20 years? the moon? (probably the best place for them admittedly), no, they've strangely enough being working trains all across the north of England. no we don't want these units down here BUT if it means more trains and more capacity then i'm up for it! Oh, as for smokey working for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?? He wouldn't last 5 minutes in a passenger facing role!

Might surprise Vacman that I've worked in a Customer Facing Role for many years without trouble, the only trouble was when I went to the assitance of a young Lady having problems with a drunk boyfriend who was to free with his punches, and as the Lady Backed up her boyfriend later, I ended up in Jail, only thing as other witnesses backed me up I was totally discharged.

And as for 142, 143, 144, they should never have been built, and whilst FGW are using 142's then I hope they do try to keep then from operating West from Newton Abbot because Track damage Will occur on the Devon Main Line to PLymouth.
Last time I looked 142 were banned from Looe and Gunnislake, able to reach Bere Alston.

You want to look at the sectional appendix, 14x unit's aren't banned from any part of Cornwall, they are restricted to a max of 15mph between Bere Alston and Gunni.

[Shazz]

I was commenting on you complaining about the noise being reflected inwards than anything else

[devon_metro]

The Fal branch would be fine for 142/143's along with the St Ives, where do you think these trains have been for the last 20 years? the moon? (probably the best place for them admittedly), no, they've strangely enough being working trains all across the north of England. no we don't want these units down here BUT if it means more trains and more capacity then i'm up for it! Oh, as for smokey working for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)?? He wouldn't last 5 minutes in a passenger facing role!

Might surprise Vacman that I've worked in a Customer Facing Role for many years without trouble, the only trouble was when I went to the assitance of a young Lady having problems with a drunk boyfriend who was to free with his punches, and as the Lady Backed up her boyfriend later, I ended up in Jail, only thing as other witnesses backed me up I was totally discharged.

And as for 142, 143, 144, they should never have been built, and whilst FGW are using 142's then I hope they do try to keep then from operating West from Newton Abbot because Track damage Will occur on the Devon Main Line to PLymouth.
Last time I looked 142 were banned from Looe and Gunnislake, able to reach Bere Alston.

If the 14xs weren't built many lines in this country would have had to close. 14xs are cheap and saved many rural lines!

[smokey]

I was commenting on you complaining about the noise being reflected inwards than anything else

Might not have written that very well, but trains are a lot noiser Trackside than inside the Vehicle even with the Windows open.