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bobm
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« Reply #555 on: January 03, 2015, 21:48:53 » |
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I am sure someone can explain this better than me, but the basic issue is the electrical supply provided by HST▸ power cars is incompatible with the sleeper stock. How difficult it would be to convert I have no idea.
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ellendune
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« Reply #556 on: January 03, 2015, 22:02:34 » |
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I am sure someone can explain this better than me, but the basic issue is the electrical supply provided by HST▸ power cars is incompatible with the sleeper stock. How difficult it would be to convert I have no idea.
They would need a complete rewire to include the wiring for the control system that links the two power cars apart from anything else. But conversion has been done before some HST coaches are adapted from old WCML▸ Mk3 Coaches I believe. It would be best done as part of a major refurbishment programme. |
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Kernow Otter
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« Reply #557 on: January 03, 2015, 22:35:12 » |
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Such as the forthcoming refurbishment.....
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JayMac
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« Reply #558 on: January 03, 2015, 22:45:52 » |
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Current refurbishment is too soon to be rewiring Mk3 SLE/SLEPs for Class 43 compatibility. No spare Class 43s yet.
A more workable option at the moment would, I think, be to hire-in Class 67s or 68s to haul the Sleepers. I can't imagine the costs of doing that would be much greater than the cost of constant patching up of the bag of bits that are the Class 57s.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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broadgage
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« Reply #559 on: January 03, 2015, 23:11:12 » |
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............I can't think of anything worse than waking up in Swindon full stop!  I wake up most mornings in Swindon and I'm a normal well rounded individual (quiet CfN).  I can confirm, having met him more than once, that my colleague bobm is indeed a well rounded individual.  Indeed, but I must claim to be even more well rounded than the honourable member, I have found the sleeping berths a bit tight since I am tall AND well rounded  |
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #560 on: January 04, 2015, 08:09:24 » |
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Isn't on-train heating supply a reason for the 57s?
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Rhydgaled
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« Reply #561 on: January 04, 2015, 09:11:06 » |
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Isn't on-train heating supply a reason for the 57s? Yes, as bobm said above: I am sure someone can explain this better than me, but the basic issue is the electrical supply provided by HST▸ power cars is incompatible with the sleeper stock. How difficult it would be to convert I have no idea. Class 43 can provide electricity (for on-train heating and lights) to IC125s, but not general Mrk3 coaches. I'm not sure on the next bit, but I think the IC125 uses 3-phase electricity, whereas general Mrk3 (and Mrk2s, Mrk4s and electricly-heated Mrk1s) stock is single-phase, I think. A more workable option at the moment would, I think, be to hire-in Class 67s or 68s to haul the Sleepers. I can't imagine the costs of doing that would be much greater than the cost of constant patching up of the bag of bits that are the Class 57s. Not just the cost of patching up the 57s, they also seem to be leasing at least two locos from DRS▸ in addition to their original 4 57s. Presumably if the 68s are sufficiently reliable they would only need to lease 4 locos, cheaper than leasing 6. Not sure how reliable 67s are though, the Chiltern silver trains are bottom of the Intercity table in the 'Golden Spanner' contest this year, perhaps that's why Chiltern are switching to 68s. |
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« Last Edit: January 04, 2015, 09:19:04 by Rhydgaled »
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Don't DOO▸ it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
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ChrisB
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« Reply #562 on: January 04, 2015, 10:44:09 » |
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67s aren't very reliable, hence Chiltern finding the extra cost vs reliability an acceptable case for 68s. DRS▸ has additional 68s on order for hiring out, but all those here in UK▸ are already spoken for, so it'll be a while yet
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #563 on: January 04, 2015, 12:07:52 » |
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DRS▸ has additional 68s on order for hiring out, but all those here in UK▸ are already spoken for, so it'll be a while yet
There's a total of 15 here with 10 more to come. Chiltern has five of them from DRS (plus another two fitted with equipment to allow them to be used if needed), but are the other 10 really all unavailable if FGW▸ wanted to explore the possibility of using them with DRS? |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #564 on: January 04, 2015, 19:23:45 » |
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I believe they are all spoken for currently, yes
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thetrout
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« Reply #565 on: January 05, 2015, 07:55:20 » |
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Split a full HST▸ set for MK3's and place said MK3's in HST 2+7 Sets making them 2+8
Then adapt the HSTs to work with Locomotives such as the Class 57 or 67 for push-pull?
Yes a stupid Idea I know... But I recall that Class 91s ran with Class 43s on the trailing end when the supply of Class 82 DVT‡ Units were less than limited.
Or stick another Class 57 on the end of both sets? That way it saves having to drag sets around or needing to run around the Carriages at the destination ends - neither of which you can do at Paddington and Penzance...
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bobm
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« Reply #566 on: January 05, 2015, 17:54:26 » |
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Tonight's down sleeper is going via Yeovil, not calling at Taunton, due to a broken rail near Whiteball Tunnel.
Passengers to and from Taunton will be offered taxis to/from Exeter St Davids.
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bobm
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« Reply #567 on: January 05, 2015, 20:37:17 » |
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The latest issue of RAIL has an article which suggests Serco are considering using Class 47s for the Caledonian Sleeper when they take over in April. They would be used for the Highland sleeper portions from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness. On the same page is a photo of the back to back HSTs▸ hauling the Night Riviera on the 15th December when the hired in 57310 failed.
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The Tall Controller
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« Reply #568 on: January 06, 2015, 20:30:44 » |
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For the sake of completeness, I should add that yesterday's up sleeper failed at Plymouth last night. All customers were subsequently HST▸ 'd up to London where it arrived more or less on time after being nearly 2 hours late leaving Plymouth.
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bobm
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« Reply #569 on: January 06, 2015, 20:31:59 » |
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Also meant the 05:09 Plymouth to London Paddington was cancelled as the set was used to replace the sleeper.
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