MTU Power Cars

[whole diary]

[smokey]

Just a Question, I'd love SOMEONE to defend FGW^▸ (First Great Western) on this one.

It's claimed that the Re-engined HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s (fitted with MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) power units) are much much cleaner than the Older engines that have been replaced, indeed when Idleing I understsnd that the MTU go over to ONE Bank firing.

So why ARE FGW HST's still left outside the Train shed at Penzance?

FGW need permission from RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board) or someother body to send HST's to the blocks at PNZ?.

After all, all other trains go right up to the Blocks at PNZ.

I expect the answer is FGW HAVEN'T done there Homework and ASKED.

[Ollie]

I'm no expert on the layout at Penzance, but what is signal sighting like there? Trains need to be at certain points so driver has a clear view of the either signal or a banner repeater. (This is a similar issue at Paddington - HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s on Platform 8 for example don't come right to the blocks)

[Louis94]

Could be because of the noise of which the power cars make, MTUs^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) idle much louder than the Paxman Valenta engine. My understanding is that people from the hotels above were complaining.

[smokey]

It's not a Signal sighting Issue, and as for noise, can't see Noise being an issue as the High Wall above Platform One deflects Noise away from the Hotels on the Road above.

Note: When HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s use Platform Three they do work right up to the blocks.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

i hesitate to say this as it.... well its me thinking it .... but do hst's not fuel up at long rock?

[inspector_blakey]

It's claimed that the Re-engined HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s (fitted with MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) power units) are much much cleaner than the Older engines that have been replaced, indeed when Idleing I understsnd that the MTU go over to ONE Bank firing.

I don't think there's any doubt at all that they are hugely cleaner...I well remember the smoke screens that the Valenta-powered HSTs could create when they pulled out of Temple Meads heading towards London after idling for a while in the platform.

I don't know PNZ station at all - how long is the trainshed? Is it possible that a single 2250 hp engine is still considered too large to have idling under the roof, whereas a few (much smaller) DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) engines aren't considered a problem?

MTUs idle much louder than the Paxman Valenta engine.

Really...? I have no idea of the numbers, but I'd be amazed if that was actually true - the MTUs have always sounded somewhat quieter at idle than the Valentas to me. The first time I caught an HST that had a re-engined powercar on the front it seemed so quiet as it coasted into the station I thought the engine in it was shut down for a moment or two until the penny dropped.

[12hoursunday]

e, MTUs^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) idle much louder than the Paxman Valenta engine

From a person who spends his working day sat in front of one of these engines I can confidently say NO WAY

[Louis94]

e, MTUs^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) idle much louder than the Paxman Valenta engine

From a person who spends his working day sat in front of one of these engines I can confidently say NO WAY

Fair enough, would you say it could be something to do with the fact they seem to idle at a lower pitch compared to Valentas?

[eightf48544]

Fair enough, would you say it could be something to do with the fact they seem to idle at a lower pitch compared to Valentas?

Probably you tend to feel rather than hear an MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) when in the Manor and one stops on Platform 2 at Slough.

[devon_metro]

e, MTUs^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) idle much louder than the Paxman Valenta engine

From a person who spends his working day sat in front of one of these engines I can confidently say NO WAY

MTUs are far better sound proofed, particularly in the cab. I understand that originally there was too much soundproofing and drivers were complaining that they couldn't hear the engine!

[12hoursunday]

Nothing has been done on the soundproofing of the cab.

except

The fitting of new outer cab doors and door seals in an attempt to eliminate wind noise.

The engines are quieter end of!

[dog box]

There are a number of instructions relating to Penzance Station and the positioning of HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) there , these are contained in The Network Rail Western Region Sectional Appendix and are quite detailed and appear to be in place with regards to noise abatement

[The SprinterMeister]

There are a number of instructions relating to Penzance Station and the positioning of HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) there , these are contained in The Network Rail Western Region Sectional Appendix and are quite detailed and appear to be in place with regards to noise abatement

The roof cladding at Penzance was replaced some time ago, around 1991 I think. For a few years the roof cladding was missing with only the framework remaining in place. When Regional Railways replaced the roof the vents in the top of it were made somewhat smaller than before. Therefore the fumes from loco's / Valenta engined HST's couldn't escape through the vents as readily as before. The current instructions were based on this and haven't been updated as a result of MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) engines although simply because there less visible clag that doesn't mean that there aren't nasties in the air that need to be dissipated.

The requirement to leave Penzance in notch one, take notch two somewhere around Slopers and then notch up normally approching Long Rock has been removed from the instructions though.

[smokey]

And yet XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s are worked to the blocks at Penzance, well the last one I saw at Penzance was at the blocks.

I'll agree with dog box about Penzance station Roof but when it was rebuilt (1991 would be about right) some IDIOT sealed one side of the roof vortex the WHOLE length of the roof, hence there is NO Vortex, a very simple and easy way to ensure Natural ventilation.

The Vortex works thus: Air Passing over the Roof is at a lower pressure than air within the train shed so having BOTH sides of the High level top box OPEN causes the Air passing through to act as a Vacuum cleaner, keeping the train shed ventilated.

Sealed one side NO VORTEX:

[Sprog]

Just a Question, I'd love SOMEONE to defend FGW^▸ (First Great Western) on this one.

It's claimed that the Re-engined HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s (fitted with MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) power units) are much much cleaner than the Older engines that have been replaced, indeed when Idleing I understsnd that the MTU go over to ONE Bank firing.

Just another point, the MTU engines actually go into a 'split bank' mode when idling or on Train Supply, where by two halves of each bank ie. 6 and 6 fire only and it changes over every 10mins or so, making a sound like the engine 'coughs' briefly!