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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > Across the West > Burning smell pulling into Reading
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Author Topic: Burning smell pulling into Reading  (Read 3187 times)
scoop
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« on: June 18, 2009, 13:16:53 »
Quite often on my journey from Bristol to Paddington, the carriage will fill with an acrid burning smell just outside of Reading. Sometimes, it happens just outside of Paddington.

This happens on maybe 1-in-5 journeys. Does anyone know what this smell is?
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Anthony W
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« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2009, 13:34:47 »
I think I know the smell you mean, I think it's the brakes !

Cheers
Anthony
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Tim
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« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2009, 14:27:25 »
One of the design faults of the HST▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) was that the intakes for the air conditioning are near the breaks. 

BR▸ (British Rail(ways)) modifie dteh design to correct this fault, almost, but not completely, sucessfully
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super tm
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« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2009, 17:19:42 »
If the driver puts the brake into step 1 (least brake force) for about 20 seconds then the vents will close to stop the brake smell coming into the train. 

If she/he decides to brake more quickly then the system does not have time to close the vents and the smell will come into the train.

Hence you get the smell sometimes but not all the time.
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The SprinterMeister
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« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2009, 22:25:57 »
Quote from: Tim on June 18, 2009, 14:27:25
One of the design faults of the HST▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) was that the intakes for the air conditioning are near the brakes. 

BR▸ (British Rail(ways)) modified the design to correct this fault, almost, but not completely, sucessfully.

Thought they used Brake pads of different composition to cure that problem these days? That said slowing 410 tons down from 125mph rapidly is going to create a load of heat in a short space of time, probably why the smell is most prominent at the Reading stop.
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12hoursunday
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« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2009, 12:23:57 »
Quote from: super tm on June 18, 2009, 17:19:42
If the driver puts the brake into step 1 (least brake force) for about 20 seconds then the vents will close to stop the brake smell coming into the train. 

If she/he decides to brake more quickly then the system does not have time to close the vents and the smell will come into the train.

Hence you get the smell sometimes but not all the time.

5 to 10 seconds is enough but sometimes as in the approach to Reading after Tilehurst a driver may 'get hold of the brake' if the signal is showing a double yellow!
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eightf48544
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« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2009, 16:56:27 »
Does the up Main siganl at the end of Tilehurst platform still flash if  platform 5 road is clear.

Used love coming into Reading from the West 125 at Tilehurst 50 at platform end then  stop all in one continous smooth steady deceleration. Magic!
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