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47
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: FGW HSTs vs Arriva XC Voyagers
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on: December 11, 2009, 11:56:02
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All I ask is that someone goes down the train every so often with a bin bag to pick up some of the rubbish, it's a sad day when you have to clear the seats of junk before you can sit on them. In addition, it would be helpful if they could replace the bin bags in the actual bins, as they are often overflowing. They manage it on Vietnam Railways, but not Worst Late Western.
The rubbish is only there becuase your fellow 'customers' (morons) leave it there in the first place instead of using the Bins provided........... In experiance, the bin bags are changed usually unless time is not availiable to do so..... |
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49
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: DMU cascades - latest news
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on: November 18, 2009, 16:42:48
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But as I've been said before, they struggle to get up gradients. They are already banned from the Licky (whatever the spelling) Incline.
Some can go no faster than 50 mph. The driver said, "she'll only go as fast as she'll go"!
If that equates to "good mechanical condition", what is bad condition?
 The 150s are hardly the most powerful units. Seriously though, the Lickey is a very notorious & challanging incline even for most of the rolling stock that uses it. Voyagers arnt officially allowed to attempt it if they have more than 1 engine out and they are kicking out 750HP per car. I'm not going to be drawn into an argument with you about the maintenance standards of units! There are always going to be good'uns and bad'uns in any fleet and it is on a very individual basis. You appear to be looking at things on a very 2D basis. In the bigger picture, the vehicles major components like Engines, Transmissions, Bogies, Wheelsets etc. the LM▸ 150s are well maintained with good remaining component lifes on alot of the fleet. This is the sort of thing that is looked at when assessing a fleet of trains, not if the seat covers are stained/lighting is dingy etc. The fleet has also recieved numerous reliabilty Mods to systems and components that ensure the fleet is up to current standards with DfT» /group standards etc. If you want an example of Bad condition, take a look at some of Northern's DMU▸ fleet or think back a few years to when FGW▸ (and SPM▸ !) first took on the ex-Wessex DMUs from the clutches of Arriva Cardiff Canton.  My last post on the subject  |
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50
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: DMU cascades - latest news
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on: November 18, 2009, 16:02:07
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Sprog - I've been away, so sorry if this info has already been posted, but can you tell me how many 2-car 150/1s you are expecting?
Have been told 30 vehicles, equating to 15 units. To say they are in a good condition, from a passenger's point of view, is just wrong!
They will receve an internal re-fresh when or shortly after they transfer to FGW▸ . A unit could be a right bag of spanners mechanically but nicely maintained in the passenger saloon. Alternatively, it could be an absolute dump "upstairs" but mechanically completely sound...
Indeed. Nail + Head. Well folks, shock horror, btline and I are in agreement on this one. The LM▸ 150s are some of the sorriest DMUs▸ out there at the moment. FGW's Turbos may be tired internally, but they don't try to shake themselves to bits accelerating away from a stop, which the LM sets I seem to encounter whenever I travel between Stratford and Birmingham do.
And most of the 150s coming FGW's way will still be coming from LM - there are only six sets left in London since FGW acquired two of the eight Silverlink used to operate. The LO sets are a small fleet looked after by the same people on the same depot every night - rather like Exeter's efforts with 142s and 143s. The LM sets don't get the same degree of tlc, just enough work to keep them running until the 172s turn up - and it shows.
The LM DMUs, whilst looking shabby & dated internally, are in pretty good conditon in terms of overall mechanical conditon (including reliabilty Modifications/Upgrades they have recieved), remaining Component life (eg.Bogies/Wheelsets, Engines, Transmissions etc.) and the standard of maintenance the vehicles have recieved over time. Unless im being strung a pack of lies of course!! The LOROL▸ sets are also tired interanlly, but less advanced in terms of Mods etc., but as pointed out by Will, they have had the advantage of being part of a small fleet that is maintained by a sole depot, formerly Bletchley & now Willesden. |
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51
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: DMU cascades - latest news
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on: November 16, 2009, 19:51:13
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Sorry to divert the subject, but it is back to original topic: Just to clarify, i was informed several weeks back that we are only getting 2-car 150/1s from LORL/ LM▸ , no 3-car hybrid 150/1/2s are planned to come to FGW▸ land and they will presumbly be sent elsewhere or split up somehow. Been told that for a fleet that most people expected to have been run into the ground, the LM 150 fleet are actually in quite a good state overall. Interesting times ahead, we always like a new Challenge at the wests premier Bus depot!  |
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52
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Class 150s - Flashing tail lights
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on: November 14, 2009, 21:03:14
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However, even with a 'good' set of batteries, as the engine is idling as opposed to running at high-revs when out in traffic, it is really only trickle-charging the Batteries. And sometimes in rare cases, no matter how much you attempt to charge the batteries, if they are so far gone that they are not taking charge, then it is a futile fuel-wasting exercise anyway!
It doesn't alway help on some of the sets the engine idling speed appears to be too low. There one 143 running around idling at about 600rpm (instead of the usual 775 - 800rpm) on one car. Funnily enough the lights seem to hold up ok on that one. Having seen whats involved in resetting the idle revs in the VOMI, it doesnt appear to be the easiest job in the world to do. Very awkward (risk, amoungst other things of pressurised fuel spraying in your face during the process!!!) & we are technically not allowed to do it under the warranty conditions of the Engines. |
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53
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Class 150s - Flashing tail lights
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on: November 13, 2009, 00:53:36
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Possibly yes. Depends on the circumstances.
For example, during the 'Winter' period, as part of the additional Winterisation maintenance procedures, stabled units must be started and ran every few hours to keep sufficient air, heat & battery charge (as the batteries take a hammering during the cold weather).
The unit may be a known duffer and, as you suggested, could have been started to ensure that the batteries do not run totally flat & cause problems tomorrow. The units are fitted with timer relays, so when none of the Drivers desks in the unit(s) is 'open' - ie. A drivers key inserted & D.S.S.W. (Direction Selector Switch) away from the OFF position - the units(s) engines will shut down after 15minutes. So to allow the unit to carry on running past this point, a desk would have to be deliberately left open (which is a common practice) providing the Unit & its driving cabs are secured & locked (A requirement during train stabling anyway).
If this is the case, this will only be a short term/temporary 'fix' and the unit will be scheduled in for repair/maintenance ASAP. It may be that Maintenance are aware of the fault, but the unit is very near to a planned Exam, so the problem (which whilst being an inconvenience having to run the unit/monitor the battery charge, is not a safety issue) can be endured until the unit is stopped for Exam.
However, even with a 'good' set of batteries, as the engine is idling as opposed to running at high-revs when out in traffic, it is really only trickle-charging the Batteries. And sometimes in rare cases, no matter how much you attempt to charge the batteries, if they are so far gone that they are not taking charge, then it is a futile fuel-wasting exercise anyway!
If a vehicles Start batteries have run totally flat aswell as the Auxs, then a 'last resort' option is to use a 24V portable 'boost pack' that supplies a short burst of external power to enable the engine to be cranked & hopefully started. (Unfortunately we cant just use a set of jump leads!!). Often, if a vehicle is sat around at a maintenance depot awaiting components/resources, the batteries can run flat and will require topping (de-ionised water) and a decent sustained charge from a Static depot battery charger before they maintain a good charge.
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54
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Class 150s - Flashing tail lights
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on: November 12, 2009, 23:52:51
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This 'flashing' is not an intentional thing but instead is due to the A.S.C. (Auxilary Supply Contactor) on the vehicle dropping in and out repeatidly, thus cutting the supply to the units Auxilary systems (interior lighting, tail/marker/headlights, heating etc.). The A.S.C. is controlled by the L.V.R. (Low Voltage Relay) which via a L.V.P.U. (Low Voltage Protection Unit) detects if the Voltage of the batteries drops below a specified level. If you are somewhere quiet, you can usually hear the 'clunking' of the A.S.C. opening and closing repeatedly. This usually occurs due to the Auxilary batteries on the unit having low charge due to either defective/degraded batteries or a fault with the charging system on the unit. All DMUs▸ have two sets of 24V batteries, Start & Auxilary, the Start Batteries being responsible for all of the vehicles primary systems & as the name suggests, Engine Starting, hence why the Unit presumably started up OK. As soon as the units engines are running and the deisel engine has been sped-up from idle speed using the 'Compressor Speed Up' switch (to build up Air pressure), the shaft-driven Alterntors (Hydostatically-driven on a Class 158) that supply the charging system will be electrically excited and hence supply the vehicles auxilary batteries, thus provding suffcient voltage (Usually 24V +/- approx 2V) not to trip the L.V.R. and hence keep the A.S.C. closed. Hope i havent gone to 'technical' for you! |
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Class 150 in Reading depot
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on: November 11, 2009, 20:42:27
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Was that the 17.54 Swindon - Cheltenham Service last Thursday? ( 2G89 I think )
As I was on this service then and this train hit a cow and I must say the impact was very abrupt and substancial. It was quite a scary few seconds.
I do know this unit had BSI▸ coupling problems which were identified at turnaround at Gloucester.
Yes thats the one. I bet it was!!! Watched the forward facing CCTV▸ footage from the unit but it was dissapointing. Cow in the distance, Cow getting closer, Closer, Closer, Cow not moooooooooooving, Cow dissapears out of shot, Massive jolt! Not so much coupler problems, but destruction. The Electrical Conecton box was torn off but for the Flexible Cable conduits holding it on. |
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56
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: Class 150 in Reading depot
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on: November 11, 2009, 19:15:54
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Just to clarify, despite being in the wheel lathe, it was not there for tyre turning. It was indeed there for heavy UFC after a fatality but of the Bovine kind. Hit a (very large, by the looks of it) Cow near Kemble over the weekend. Has made a real mess & the unit has since been sent to SPM▸ and will be out of service for a week plus with the reapirs running into thousands. Obstacle deflector/Snow plough & brakcets took the brunt of the impact along with the BSI▸ coupler and it is generally thought that if the 150s wernt fitted with ploughs, then it may have actually come off the road.....  |
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59
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: DMU cascades - latest news
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on: October 27, 2009, 00:42:29
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I recall when the orginal Central Trains hybrid 158/9s were split up. Absolute nightmare.
Wessex Trains 158/9's surely? The drivers were expected to check over the cabs in the middle of the sets during prep and test the equipment in it in the same way as they did with the cabs at the ends of the sets. In practice the Wessex 158/9's never ran as three car sets for more than a few days as the extra coach was usually massively out of step in its maintainance programme compared with the other two. The inner cabs therefore never got a prolonged period of disuse. Nah, in about 2004 or so, Central Trains made up some 3-car Hybrid 158s, i think they were classified 1589xxs but i could be mistaken. They had huge relaibilty problems with the units when they were split up again, as the 'boxed' cab equipment & systems had not been used or maintained for such a long period. |
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60
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All across the Great Western territory / Across the West / Re: DMU cascades - latest news
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on: October 26, 2009, 00:39:26
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The speedos are simply out of calibration, which just requires simple physical & electrical adjustments to correct.
From what i understand, the 'centre' cabs of the LM▸ Hybrid 150/1-2 formations were in a bad state, but this has slowly been rectified over time and msot of the cabs are now pretty much in a servieable state. Regradless of if they are boxed in, the cabs of these vehciles will still be covered under the vehicle/units exam scheduale (as we still do on the FGW▸ Hybrid 158/9s) and so should be kept in a 'hot' (ish) conditon, ready for use. [Often as a quick fix, components from the middle cab may be swapped out or robbed to keep the unit running, but every effot is made to restore/replace these components ASAP]. This is also a requirement under the vehicles lease contract that it is handed back in a fully serviceable conditon to its owners before being re-leased to FGW. If this is not carried out/possible, then the ROSCO» will usualy take steps to recover the costs from the offending TOC▸ , although prior agreements/exemptions could be in place.
I have also heard that there are plans to split the 3-car units down into their respective 2-car formations again. If this happens i think this will effectivley be a two steps forward, one step back situation for the West, as 3-cars would be a nice capcity boost to current peak services, and amongst many other things would potentially be a technical nightmare in terms of reliabilty of the 'boxed' cabs. I recall when the orginal Central Trains hybrid 158/9s were split up. Absolute nightmare.
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