Collision between two trains at Plymouth Station - 3 April 2016 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

I suspect you might have fallen foul of the forum's broken "Show unread posts since last visit" function.

Although it occasionally breaks - I find it works most of the time and it is certainly working for me thi evening. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Agreed: it's rather less broken than the nose of Sir Moir Lockhead (the named power car involved in that collision). 

[JayMac]

Here's hoping they can find a new nose for Mr Lockhead. I understand they are in rather short supply. A replacement shnozz may have to be manufactured specially. I've read elsewhere that the original BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) moulds have long since been disposed of.

And no jokes about my own olfactory appendage, thanks. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

A case of BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) cutting off the nose to spite the face, then - with the benefit of hindsight? 

[TaplowGreen]

http://m.plymouthherald.co.uk/Plymouth-train-crash-extremely-unusual-says-Great/story-29043920-detail/story.html        latest update......."extremely unusual"....One would certainly hope so!

[Chris from Nailsea]

As an aside, another HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power car (43041) had some fairly drastic alterations made to the cab, in an incident at West Lavington in July 2010.  From the Daily Mail:

The driver walked away with only a fractured wrist and a few cuts and bruises after the tree crashed through the windscreen of the train.

It must be possible to rebuild the noses of power cars, then. 

[JayMac]

I may be wrong but I believe that 43041 got the last 'off the shelf' replacement cab.

And just to show there's nothing new under the sun, here's an image of a collision at Newton Abbot in 1994 (I am in no way comparing the specifics of the incidents though):


Picture credit: Colin J. Marsden

[a-driver]

There have been several cab replacements since, not because of accident damage but because they were becoming life expired and for corrosion work on the frame.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I may be wrong but I believe that 43041 got the last 'off the shelf' replacement cab.

What??  You mean Hornby have sold out of them?? 

And just to show there's nothing new under the sun, here's an image of a collision at Newton Abbot in 1994 (I am in no way comparing the specifics of the incidents though)

Good find - and, as you suggest, some remarkably similar damage there. 

[JayMac]

There have been several cab replacements since, not because of accident damage but because they were becoming life expired and for corrosion work on the frame.

Are they still 'off the shelf' from the original moulds or specially manufactured these days? I'm reading conflicting information about what's left in the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) parts bins.

[Tim]

the temptation to not repair must be bigger than usual this time??

[Timmer]

the temptation to not repair must be bigger than usual this time??

With no spare HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), I'm sure this one will be repaired.

[grahame]

the temptation to not repair must be bigger than usual this time??

With no spare HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), I'm sure this one will be repaired.

These comments reminded me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_52

4 October 1976 (Stoke Canon, Exeter). No. 1001 Western Pathfinder was working an overnight parcels train from London Paddington to Penzance when the train was in collision with a workers van at a level crossing. One workman in the van died in the accident. The locomotive was removed to Exeter St Davids depot. Despite sustaining relatively minor damage, the imminent demise of the entire fleet of Class 52's resulted in condemnation of the locomotive. Up to this point, Western Pathfinder had been a serious contender for preservation.

But I rather suspect we will see both 43160 and 150219 back in full service; a 2017 or 2018 incident may have been a different story.

[Western Pathfinder]

I thought the same as you when I read the report that was a sad day I saw D1001 later on at Swindon Works and thought that she was only lightly damaged.

[Tim]

the temptation to not repair must be bigger than usual this time??

With no spare HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), I'm sure this one will be repaired.

What will the temporary solution to having a powercar out of action be?  And would that solution be acceptable for a little bit longer until the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) come onto stream?