Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 18:15 28 Mar 2024
- How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
- Passengers pleaded with knifeman during attack
* Family anger at sentence on fatal crash driver, 19
- Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1988)
Woman found murdered on Orpington to London train (*)

Train RunningCancelled
16:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:48 Reading to Gatwick Airport
17:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street
18:04 Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood
18:04 Bedwyn to Newbury
18:08 London Paddington to Frome
18:26 Newbury to Bedwyn
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
18:51 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
18:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
19:24 Newbury to Bedwyn
19:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
19:33 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill
19:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
20:16 Frome to Westbury
20:49 Newbury to Bedwyn
20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington
21:16 Bedwyn to Newbury
Short Run
14:49 Plymouth to Cardiff Central
15:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
15:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:19 Carmarthen to London Paddington
16:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:20 Reading to Gatwick Airport
17:30 London Paddington to Taunton
17:30 Warminster to Bristol Temple Meads
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:18 Newbury to London Paddington
18:19 Reading to Gatwick Airport
18:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading
19:06 London Paddington to Bedwyn
20:42 Bedwyn to London Paddington
Delayed
13:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance
Additional 17:17 Exeter St Davids to Penzance
Additional 17:26 Castle Cary to Penzance
17:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
17:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 18:25 Shalford to Reading
etc
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 18:20:09 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[133] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[132] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[53] Return of the BRUTE?
[44] If not HS2 to Manchester, how will traffic be carried?
[41] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[32] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2 3 4
  Print  
Author Topic: Marlow line electrification  (Read 37938 times)
hertzsprung
Jr. Member
**
Posts: 26


View Profile
« on: May 31, 2016, 13:32:48 »

I noticed that electric masts have been erected over a short section of the branch line at Maidenhead over the weekend.  Why is this needed?  I thought that the branch line wasn't going to be electrified, is that still the case?
« Last Edit: May 31, 2016, 19:07:17 by hertzsprung » Logged
paul7575
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5316


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2016, 17:32:07 »

It's a safety measure needed so that if the signallers accidentally route an electric train onto the branch, and the driver fails to notice and doesn't stop in time, then it doesn't wreck the OHLE as the pantograph runs off the side of the contact wire and rises up.  It is quite common to have short stubs of OHLE at junctions for this reason.   

I expect that before the current alterations started the OHLE continued along the main lines at Stockley flyover where the Heathrow lines had already branched off.

Installing the first contact wire length would also have the advantage that if a workable solution to operating AC EMUs (Electric Multiple Unit) on the branch is found then they wouldn't have to come back and re-wire the junction.

Paul
Logged
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 9809



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2016, 17:51:22 »

The same principle wasn't applied with the third rail at Wokingham.  On the rare occasion a Waterloo line train is routed towards Crowthorne rather than Bracknell it can take quite a time to get the electric train dragged back on the juice.
Logged
Adelante_CCT
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1314



View Profile
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2016, 19:06:23 »

I believe this has happened west of Basingstoke as well when a Southampton service fancied a trip towards Salisbury instead.
Logged
patch38
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 653


View Profile
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2016, 19:35:31 »

They should have kept those Southern Region Motorized Luggage Vans that could run or 3rd rail or battery!
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2016, 19:47:25 »

They should have kept those Southern Region Motorized Luggage Vans that could run or 3rd rail or battery!

I think you'll find that they all still exist in preservation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_419
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
BBM
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 633


View Profile
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2016, 22:13:52 »

I remember back in the 1980s there was an occasion one morning when the driver of a Southern EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) accepted the wrong route at Reading Spur Jct which resulted in the train being completely stranded on the non-electrified line running up to the GWML (Great Western Main Line) at Reading New Jct. After about an hour or so it was pushed back onto the juice by the 08 shunter which used to be stabled at Reading Depot.
Logged
patch38
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 653


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2016, 22:16:15 »

My tongue was fairly firmly in my cheek when I typed that (I should have added an emoticon), but that's interesting to know. That must represent one of the highest percentages of preservation for any type of loco or DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit)/EMU (Electric Multiple Unit)?
Logged
paul7575
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5316


View Profile
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2016, 22:59:24 »

I believe this has happened west of Basingstoke as well when a Southampton service fancied a trip towards Salisbury instead.

That junction used to have a third rail that went quite some way towards Battledown flyover, I think drivers would have to be fairly determined to get off the juice back then, but it seems to have been shortened in recent years.  The current signalling has flashing yellows for the Salisbury route, which can be seen from the country end of Basingstoke's platforms, so EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) drivers ought to get ample warning of a wrong route.

Of course while running off the end of the third rail will cause embarrassment and delays, at least it shouldn't cause any damage...

Paul
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2016, 07:00:27 »

My tongue was fairly firmly in my cheek when I typed that (I should have added an emoticon), but that's interesting to know. That must represent one of the highest percentages of preservation for any type of loco or DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit)/EMU (Electric Multiple Unit)?

Can't exceed 100%  Wink ... statistically, preserved unique locomotives such as Duke of Gloucester, or the battery multiple unit (BEMU) are also 100%.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2016, 06:59:06 »

"Funny" business these battery units we're talking about ... I came across some German units from 1955 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_ETA_150 - hundreds were built; lasted 30 years.  I grant you that the GWR (Great Western Railway) network probably has few suitable lines (Marlow shuttle might be one; always change at Bourne End, nice flat run to Marlow) and a special type of stock is really not desirable ...
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
patch38
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 653


View Profile
« Reply #11 on: June 16, 2016, 09:40:32 »

Whatever happened to the IPEMU (Independely Powered Electic Multiple Unit (train running on batteries)) - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16320.0 - that was being tested in Essex? I'm not sure there was ever any post-trial discussion here?

Edit: answering my own question with my friend Google: http://www.railmagazine.com/trains/new-trains/batteries-included
Logged
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4355


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: June 16, 2016, 18:12:40 »

"Funny" business these battery units we're talking about ... I came across some German units from 1955 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_ETA_150 - hundreds were built; lasted 30 years.  I grant you that the GWR (Great Western Railway) network probably has few suitable lines (Marlow shuttle might be one; always change at Bourne End, nice flat run to Marlow) and a special type of stock is really not desirable ...

Except the aspiration of GWR and the local authority to run a half hourly service Maidenhead - Marlow (needs 2 units)
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Noggin
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 514


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: June 17, 2016, 11:44:21 »

Can you fit a 387 in the platform at Bourne End?

Have read a suggestion that there isn't really enough dwell time at Maidenhead (or under the wires) to recharge effectively, but counter-intuitively there might be enough time on the juice to make the North Downs line work.

Of course there's perhaps a half-way house whereby you wire to Cookham (and Wargrave on the Henley Branch), then drop the pan. But of course that's would not be cheap - lots of trees to cut back and possibly a couple of bridges to rebuild and it becomes far more attractive to just leave the Turbos in place and make it the problem of the next franchisee. 
Logged
paul7575
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5316


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: June 17, 2016, 13:06:32 »

A four car unit cannot get onto the Bourne End to Marlow branch via platform 1, the distance from points to buffers is too short.   

The problem isn't really difficulty in electrifying the route, it is that there are no suitably short EMUs (Electric Multiple Unit) that can fit the existing track layout, and a bespoke rolling stock solution is highly unlikely.   

If there was a short AC EMU, then they'd surely electrify.  An AC/battery EMU possibly couldn't fit all the equipment needed in a short train, so doesn't help.

So it is easier to carry on with short DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit), and kick the rolling stock problem into the long grass.

Paul
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2 3 4
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page