HST hits tree at Lavington today - 10 July 2010

[whole diary]

[smithy]

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

do you mean at more than 120mph?

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

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

So who was this knowledgeable source?  Reprofiling 32 wheelsets (ie 8 trailers X 4 wheelsets/ vehicle) will cost FGW^▸ (First Great Western) a fair bit - I'm sure they would like to know exactly why this damage occurred.  And If I was MD of FGW I would like a bit more of an explanation than a "CCB tripped".

[smithy]

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

So who was this knowledgeable source?  Reprofiling 32 wheelsets (ie 8 trailers X 4 wheelsets/ vehicle) will cost FGW^▸ (First Great Western) a fair bit - I'm sure they would like to know exactly why this damage occurred.  And If I was MD of FGW I would like a bit more of an explanation than a "CCB tripped".

if you saw the state of the wiring in and around desk then you would understand why the MCB^▸ (Miniature Circuit Breaker) tripped,dont forget the 4 wheelsets per power car also need turning.
as for MD of FGW needing more of an explanation than CCb tripped believe me they will get more than that,it will not be the sort of info that should be in public domain though.
I would also hazard a guess FGW will claim costs back from somewhere else probably NR^» (Network Rail - home page) in first instance???

[Chris from Nailsea]

I would also hazard a guess FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will claim costs back from somewhere else probably NR^» (Network Rail - home page) in first instance???

From The (Plymouth) Herald (13/07/2010):

Network Rail, which said the tree belonged to a local landowner, said it was "taking this matter seriously".

[Sprog]

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

X

This situation is not possible, as each vehicle has an individual WSP system and whilst on 'other' forums, it has been claimed that the CCB tripped in the leading power car which (as has already been commented upon) is not surprising considering that the desk has been destroyed inevitably causing electrical shorts, this would have only disabled the WSP system in the leading powercar, not throughout the train.

The flats (Burns is probably a more appropriate word) were caused by...how can i put it...a slight operational error when the set was being rescued, but considering the unusual circumstances and the pressure to recover the stricken set, it is understandable.

[Sprog]

BTW^▸ (by the way), sorry for double post, for the benefit of the 'norms' here who like their acronyms to be explained, CCB = Control Circuit Breaker, which is part of the large bank of breakers fitted to the Electrical Control Cubicle inside a power car.

As the name suggests, the CCB protects the 110V supply to the various control systems within the powercar, such as the WSP system, Control Modules & Control circuits.

For future reference, excuse any typos this is all from memory!!

CCB - Control Circuit Breaker
CMCB - Compressor Circuit Breaker
FCB - Fire system Circuit Breaker
BMCB1 - Blower Motor Circuit Breaker (For #1 & #2 Traction Motors)
BMCB2 - Blower Motor Circuit Breaker (For #3 & #4 Tracion Motors)
FPCB - Fuel Pump Circuit Breaker
LCB1 - Lighting Circuit Breaker (1)
LCB2 - Lighting Circuit Breaker (2)
EFCB - Extractor Fan Circuit Breaker
BCB - Battery Charger Circuit Breaker
BCCB - Brake Control Circuit Breaker
PACB - Public Address Circuit Breaker
HCB1 - Heating Circuit Breaker (1)
HCB2 - Heating Circuit Breaker (2)
TPWSCB - Train Protection & Warning System Circuit Breaker
TSCB - Train Supply Circuit Breaker
PHCB - Pre-Heater Circuit Breaker (Replaced the NRNCB - National Radio Circuit Braker)

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks very much for that helpful explanation, Sprog!

I won't add all of these to our 'acronyms and abbreviations' page, as hopefully we won't see too many of them being 'tripped' in future?

C. 

[JayMac]

Thanks for that insight into the 'gubbins' on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) power car, Sprog.

I take it 43041 is in St Phillips Marsh at the moment. Will repairs and fitting of a replacement cab be undertaken there or is the PC likely to be removed to another TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot)?

[The SprinterMeister]

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

So who was this knowledgeable source?  Reprofiling 32 wheelsets (ie 8 trailers X 4 wheelsets/ vehicle) will cost FGW^▸ (First Great Western) a fair bit - I'm sure they would like to know exactly why this damage occurred.  And If I was MD of FGW I would like a bit more of an explanation than a "CCB tripped".

When the Control Circuit Breaker trips in the leading cab this has a simalar effect to shutting down the cab and removing the master key from the F&R switch. As there is no requirement for the Wheel Slip / Slide system to be operative when the desk is switched out and the set stationary WSP's on all vehicles is disabled by removal of the feed from one of the train lines fed from the driving cab via the Control Circuit Breaker.

Although Rail conditions were good on Saturday it is likely that leaves displaced from the tree initiated wheelslide which by virtue of the damage to the front cab and CCB tripping couldn't be avoided.

The informed source (I see a quote from '50031' on WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) has been used) maintains them for a living so should have some knowledge of what he is talking about.....
 

[The SprinterMeister]

I would also hazard a guess FGW^▸ (First Great Western) will claim costs back from somewhere else probably NR^» (Network Rail - home page) in first instance???

As I understand things the tree was situated in private land outside of the railway boundary line. Examination of some of the photographs reveal that parts of the tree found in the cab appear to be dead / rotten and I understand the landowner has already been interviewed by BTP^▸ (British Transport Police).

http://tomcurtisrailgallery.fotopic.net/p65868283.html

[The SprinterMeister]

Thanks for that insight into the 'gubbins' on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) power car, Sprog.

I take it 43041 is in St Phillips Marsh at the moment. Will repairs and fitting of a replacement cab be undertaken there or is the PC likely to be removed to another TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot)?

Finding another serviceable cab to put on it will probably be more of an issue. From what I gather from elsewhere there is only one cab not attached to a powercar (which is itself damaged) and the moulds used to manufacture the cabs are not currently useable.

[LiskeardRich]

Thanks for that insight into the 'gubbins' on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) power car, Sprog.

I take it 43041 is in St Phillips Marsh at the moment. Will repairs and fitting of a replacement cab be undertaken there or is the PC likely to be removed to another TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot)?

Finding another serviceable cab to put on it will probably be more of an issue. From what I gather from elsewhere there is only one cab not attached to a powercar (which is itself damaged) and the moulds used to manufacture the cabs are not currently useable.

there is currently 2 cabs in DML in Plymouth for refurbishment i believe!

[The SprinterMeister]

there is currently 2 cabs in DML in Plymouth for refurbishment i believe!

Correct. Those two cabs are off / for Grand Central power cars which are currently in Brush for fitting of MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) engines. The cabs are being refurbished under subcontract by Babcock Marine (the former DML).

[LiskeardRich]

there is currently 2 cabs in DML in Plymouth for refurbishment i believe!

Correct. Those two cabs are off / for Grand Central power cars which are currently in Brush for fitting of MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) engines. The cabs are being refurbished under subcontract by Babcock Marine (the former DML).

would this mean there are cabs available spare when these refurbishments are complete, or are they not available being Grand Central cabs?

[The SprinterMeister]

would this mean there are cabs available spare when these refurbishments are complete, or are they not available being Grand Central cabs?

What it means is that there are two power cars (43068 & 43080 I believe) standing in Brush Loughborough without cabs on them awaiting return of the two cabs from Babcock Marine.

http://staceys-fots.fotopic.net/p65434734.html

The two power cars are buffer fitted examples but this has no practical difference as far as the cab module itself is concerned.