Things are getting better, but the workforce in engineering is still very male dominated. And non-sporting, non physical, record breaking efforts tend also to be male dominated.

 

Well, that's becoming a more common problem generally. 

 

No toilets either I gather

 

Just noticed 14 blokes in the publicity picture and no bloke-esses.   Probably not PC to comment.

 

:-) Brought to mind a winter late afternoon return journey from St Erth to Bristol shortly after the IETs had taken over. Train like a fridge and yelled at by frazzled staff for attempting to walk through the kitchen to reach our reserved seats - 2x5 set and that carriage had come to a halt well off the country end of the platform there. First impressions weren't good shall we say though at that time catering *was* still happening west of Plymouth.

Mark

 
I have now updated the headings in this particular topic, to celebrate the event.

CfN. 

 
GWR news release here
https://news.gwr.com/news/great-western-railway-battery-train-sets-new-world-distance-record-of-200-miles-to-celebrate-railway-200-in-style

The notes to editors gives more detail
Conditions

Estimated range

SuperMode – Highest efficiency.   200 miles

All efficiency measures but running at full speed (60 mph).    100-120 miles

Typical branch line operating conditions based on Greenford trial.    50-80 miles

 
While undoubtedly it was an achievement, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact it was achieved with slow speed running and no on-board heating.  A lower range to allow improved speed and conditions would still allow branch line services but we need to be mindful of the practical limitations.

 
Hopefully we will now see battery trains in daily use soon.
There is in my view a lot to be said for electrification of MOST of a route, but with gaps under low bridges, near station canopies and in places prone to extreme conditions such as Dawlish..
A 200 mile range on battery power would also permit of excursions or railtours to non electrified branches or heritage lines.
Also a "get you home" facility when the wires come down.
Electric power from OHLE between Paddington and Taunton, then battery power to Minehead for example. Charging at Minehead could be arranged, but hardly needed with a 200 mile battery range. A slow charge at say 22 kw would supply on board services without depleting the battery during the layover at Minehead.

 

Now there's a phrase you don't hear everyday!

 
GWRs own piece -

https://news.gwr.com/news/great-western-railway-battery-train-sets-new-world-distance-record-of-200-miles-to-celebrate-railway-200-in-style

 
Railway Gazette piece:
https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/battery-train-sets-320-km-distance-record-as-gwr-explores-alternatives-to-diesel-traction/69425.article

 

Excellent news.


Did you get up that early to see it pass through Taplow?  https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V34981/2025-08-20/detailed#allox_id=0

A coincidence, yes.  All 8 ended up being reinstated anyway.

 

Another typo!  It's Andy Roden, Modern Railways

 

Blinkin' flip!

 
I’m an OLE man myself, but congratulations to all involved. Hopefully this will spur the development battery operated trains to speed up the end of diesel operated trains.

 
23.7% of charge to spare!

Congratulations to all involved.

 
200 miles achieved
https://x.com/andyroden1/status/1958034728503681257?s=61&t=VlafMC5gF9tidw36b1Y8JQ
Andy Roden, Modern Railways, posted this screenshot

 



Too late to change the typo now!

 
Poor little moles.

 
Now, back to the record attempt...

The world record was broken at 0410 this morning as the Class 230 BEMU crossed Maidenhead Bridge, on its way back from Oxford to Paddington, having travelled 140 miles on a single charge. The unit is, as I type, heading back from Paddington to Reading Traincare Depot to hopefully do a total of 200 moles.

https://x.com/MrTimDunn/status/1958004803549716643

 

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/

 

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

 
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.

 
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?

 
Dredging up my rather vague memories of O-level physics ... is it some kind of Newton's Cradle? 

 
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)?

 
That rather depends upon the build of the journalists. It's probably better to keep them in the dark, anyway.

 
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?

 

I've added it to our Coffee Shop forum's Abbreviations and Acronyms page, at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/acronyms.html

CfN

 
He confirms tht he will be tweeting during the attempt.

 

But it doesn't say he'll be tweeting from it

 
Did you not read the original article?

 
Tim Dunn has posted that he'll be on the train and will tweet from it:

https://x.com/MrTimDunn/status/1957832431463006675

 

Yes, just follow these realtimetrains links.....

 

All the best of British to them I say.  Anyone got any idea where the results will first be made public?

 
I guessed right and in case anyone else is wondering:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/thunderbirds-are-go/

 
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.

 
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.

 
Wish them well.  Great publicity for the product and perhaps a world record.

 
Class 230 will be trying tonight, according to this article

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly79r3911yo