HST hits tree at Lavington today - 10 July 2010

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

i wonder if there are any dvt's spare that can work hith hst's, class 67's have a top speed of 120 but doubt they are compatible with the hst mk 3's electrics, plenty of mk2 stock around but can this do 125?

I do not think the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) rules of the route allow the use of DVT^▸ (Driving Van Trailer (carriage) or Deep Vein Thrombosis, depending on context)'s, also the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s train wire is not compatible with DVT's and 67's (HST Mk3's do not have the BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) conventional lighting control wire system) also HST Mk3's have 415v 3 phase train power (ETH) system 67's will have 850v single phase.

Mk2^▸ (Mark 2 coach)'s top speed is 100 mph

WSP is disabled in an emergency application as far as I can remember

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Not sure about HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) but on most if not all modern stock WSP is disabled when the brakes are in emergency.

It's a while since I was involved with HST's, but I can't recall a train wire which disabled WSP's during emergency braking. Maybe they are disabled if Brake Pipe pressure falls to 0 Bar (ie during an emergency brake application)? Is there an HST electrician out there?

[inspector_blakey]

I was under the impression that the "emergency" brake step on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) didn't involve a train wire but simply opened a hole in the pipe (just like brake valves of old) and dumped all the air out very quickly. But obviously open to correction by those who are more in the know that I am.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I was under the impression that the "emergency" brake step on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) didn't involve a train wire but simply opened a hole in the pipe (just like brake valves of old) and dumped all the air out very quickly. But obviously open to correction by those who are more in the know that I am.

I think you are right, IB.  I'm just questioning the "fact" that the WSP's failed to work because of "damage to a control box" on the leading Power Car.  It is more likely, that during an emergency brake application from high speed, maybe with poor adhesion conditions, the WSP batteries were not able to power repeated brake cylinder air releases and therefore "gave up".  Hence the tread damage.

When HST's were introduced in 1976 we had many initial problems on the trailer cars (of which the toilet door locks were the most infamous, but that's anoither story...). Only 2, the PA^▸ (Public Address) system and the trailer car WSP's, have never been properly resolved. 

[Timmer]

When HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s were introduced in 1976 we had many initial problems on the trailer cars (of which the toilet door locks were the most infamous, but that's anoither story...). Only 2, the PA^▸ (Public Address) system and the trailer car WSP's, have never been properly resolved. 

Can I mention a 3rd? Not that I think it's a problem but some might not like it too much. If the brakes are suddenly applied quite strongly the smell comes through the air con. For me it's part of the charm of a 125 and brings back memories of travelling on them in childhood as you don't smell the brake application much these days, only if the driver has to suddenly apply the brakes when travelling at high speed.

[Chris from Nailsea]

More information on the 'fragrance' produced by HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) brakes is at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3163.msg26867#msg26867 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

some class 73's are compatible with hst mk 3's, but thats gunna be a slow trip :-)

[smithy]

From the Wiltshire Times:

Driver hurt after train hits a tree

Hundreds of rail passengers travelling to Cornwall were left stranded in Wiltshire on Saturday after their train collided with a tree. The incident happened at Crockwood, near West Lavington, at about 2pm. The 13.06 First Great Western train from London Paddington to Penzance was travelling at about 120 mph through Crockwood when it struck a tree that had fallen in front of the train. The train came to a stand still for about two hours while a shunter train pushed the commuter train into Westbury Station at 4mph.

Off-duty station staff returned to work to reopen the cafe to allow the hundreds of stranded passengers to get something to eat and drink.

Passenger Cassandra Nixon, added: ^We certainly felt the tree hit the train. We were very concerned.^

Fellow passenger Marjorie James from Cornwall said she thought the train was going to be derailed.

The train driver, who is from Plymouth, was treated by an ambulance crew at the scene and later taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

speed of impact was 90mph the driver was already slowing before he noticed the tree due to change of line speed ahead.
it could have been so much worse if the driver did not see the tree say at night he would have taken full force of the tree as it was he managed to get out of the way in time.

[devon_metro]

Quoting a knowledgeable source: "The CCB tripped on the leading power car so all the WSPs turned off"


As for the smell of Mk3 brakes, think I prefer the cast iron blocks on mk2s, very nice 

[willc]

Should the need ever arise (and if they could get their hands on the stock anyway) FGW^▸ (First Great Western) already has the right under its track access agreement to use Class 67s (or 57/6s) with up to 10 Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) or Mk3s on pretty much all the main routes on its network, but there is no mention of DVTs^▸ (Driving Van Trailer (carriage) or Deep Vein Thrombosis, depending on context) in the paperwork.

But please forget the idea that a 67 can do 125mph. I think that speed may have been reached once or twice in testing but the maximum in normal service is 110mph (or 80mph for the Scottish sleeper ones fitted with cast iron brake blocks) and I don't think the civil engineers were too thrilled about that, given the 22-tonne axle load. Not exactly gentle on the track.

[eightf48544]

Somebody allegely timed a return Minehead Excursion with 67 and Mark 1s at a max of 120 somewhere between Westbury and Reading. We were going pretty fast but it was in the dark and not sure about accurracy.

[Tim]

I was under the impression that the "emergency" brake step on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) didn't involve a train wire but simply opened a hole in the pipe (just like brake valves of old) and dumped all the air out very quickly. But obviously open to correction by those who are more in the know that I am.

I am not an expert but what you say sounds right.  Wasn't there a BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Cross country "incident" a few years back where the driver lost normal braking on his HST due to an electrical problem but retained "full service" brake availability?  (IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), There was a mixup with the train radio communication meaning that BR control thought the driver had lost all brakes and there was goiing to be a major problem whereas the driver in fact stayed calm used the gradients to his advantage and coasted into Temple Meads to stop at a platform and let the passengers off)

[JayMac]

The Daily Mail have picked up the story. Nothing new to add to the facts save for a rather dramatic picture of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) cab...... damn lucky driver to escape with just a broken wrist, cuts and bruises.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294613/Miracle-escape-train-driver-120mph-express-struck-falling-tree.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[devon_metro]

90mph more like

[JayMac]

Cut the journos some slack d_m. 90mph doesn't have quite the 'impact' as 120mph.