Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by JayMac at 05:53, 20th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I seem to remember reading something about there being a green powered dumper truck in Switzerland or somewhere which is charged by way of regeneration when it's in use.
Correct.
It's a huge 45t dump truck that can haul 65t (for a combined mass of 110t) of lime and marl off the side of a mountain in Switzerland and take it downhill to a cement factory. The regenerative braking going down provides enough energy to charge the batteries for the climb back up empty.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a28748306/worlds-largest-electric-vehicle-dump-truck/
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by TaplowGreen at 04:35, 20th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Whoops! All cancelled due to staff shortage - isn't this the route that's operated by the milk float when it isn't out breaking records? Coincidence?
10:30 West Ealing to Greenford due 10:42
10:55 Greenford to West Ealing due 11:06
11:10 West Ealing to Greenford due 11:22
11:25 Greenford to West Ealing due 11:36
11:40 West Ealing to Greenford due 11:52
11:55 Greenford to West Ealing due 12:06
12:10 West Ealing to Greenford due 12:22
12:30 Greenford to West Ealing due 12:41
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by Western Pathfinder at 01:13, 20th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I seem to remember reading something about there being a green powered dumper truck in Switzerland or somewhere which is charged by way of regeneration when it's in use.
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by johnneyw at 00:10, 20th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
There's something called saline gradient power where electricity it generated by the mixed of salt and fresh water. Could it be an estuary based vessel?
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:27, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Dredging up my rather vague memories of O-level physics ... is it some kind of Newton's Cradle?

Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by JayMac at 23:19, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
On a similar theme. A little quiz question...
There's a battery electric vehicle in regular use somewhere in the world that never needs charging, is not connected to the mains in any way, nor does it 'collect' energy from solar or wind. It doesn't have an onboard diesel/petrol/LPG generator, and it is in daily use. It arrived at its location, was fully charged once and has never needed to be charged or powered from mains electricity since.
How is that done (without resorting to Google)?
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:15, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
That rather depends upon the build of the journalists. It's probably better to keep them in the dark, anyway.

Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by JayMac at 23:07, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Cooler night time temperatures may help eke out a few more miles.
I wonder if interior features such as lighting will be kept to a minimum. Also, will carting around too many journalists affect range?

Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:33, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
... within range of a thunderbird.
I guessed right 
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/thunderbirds-are-go/
I've added it to our Coffee Shop forum's Abbreviations and Acronyms page, at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/acronyms.html
CfN

Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by bradshaw at 20:35, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
He confirms tht he will be tweeting during the attempt.
an overnight attempt to travel 200 miles on a battery ex-Underground train between London & Oxford! It’s going to be a long (max 40mph
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by BBM at 19:59, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Did you not read the original article? 

Class 230 will be trying tonight, according to this article
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly79r3911yo
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly79r3911yo
But it doesn't say he'll be tweeting from it

Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by ChrisB at 19:44, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Did you not read the original article?

Class 230 will be trying tonight, according to this article
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly79r3911yo
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly79r3911yo
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by BBM at 19:41, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tim Dunn has posted that he'll be on the train and will tweet from it:
https://x.com/MrTimDunn/status/1957832431463006675
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by PhilWakely at 18:42, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
All the best of British to them I say. Anyone got any idea where the results will first be made public?
Yes, just follow these realtimetrains links.....
I had a look for this run on realtimetrains.
It appears to be https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34983/2025-08-20/detailed on the first leg, then https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34982/2025-08-20/detailed from Paddington, pathed as 30mph!
It then runs as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34981/2025-08-20/detailed, finally running as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34980/2025-08-20/detailed to get back to the depot.
I hope this goes well tonight - it would be lovely for the UK to be a world leader in any form of rail technology again.
It appears to be https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34983/2025-08-20/detailed on the first leg, then https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34982/2025-08-20/detailed from Paddington, pathed as 30mph!
It then runs as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34981/2025-08-20/detailed, finally running as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34980/2025-08-20/detailed to get back to the depot.
I hope this goes well tonight - it would be lovely for the UK to be a world leader in any form of rail technology again.
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by johnneyw at 18:09, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I hope this goes well tonight - it would be lovely for the UK to be a world leader in any form of rail technology again.
All the best of British to them I say. Anyone got any idea where the results will first be made public?
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by matth1j at 13:53, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
... within range of a thunderbird.
I guessed right 
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/thunderbirds-are-go/
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by grahame at 12:26, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
It is logical to path it a most efficient speed (which may be 30 m.p.h.) along lines that are as flat as a snooker table to maximise distance covered, and to be within range of a thunderbird.
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by nickswift99 at 12:17, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I had a look for this run on realtimetrains.
It appears to be https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34983/2025-08-20/detailed on the first leg, then https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34982/2025-08-20/detailed from Paddington, pathed as 30mph!
It then runs as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34981/2025-08-20/detailed, finally running as https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34980/2025-08-20/detailed to get back to the depot.
I hope this goes well tonight - it would be lovely for the UK to be a world leader in any form of rail technology again.
Re: Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by IndustryInsider at 11:16, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Wish them well. Great publicity for the product and perhaps a world record.
Battery-powered train to attempt distance record - August 2025 Posted by lbraine at 08:46, 19th August 2025 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Class 230 will be trying tonight, according to this article
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly79r3911yo