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Post by christopher125 on Nov 7, 2021 20:54:32 GMT
An impressive first week for the 484s - supposing nothing drastic happens tonight, 004+001 and 003 today seem to have worked all week without any significant issues. Timekeeping needs to be improved as they really struggle to recover any delays, but that's probably as much if not more an infrastructure concern.
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Post by christopher125 on Oct 31, 2021 0:42:57 GMT
Some onboard and cab footage of the 484s in this film about the new trains, thanks to the LTM Hidden London team - Hidden London Hangouts S4E10They really do look good inside, and the ride quality still appears to retain some character...
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Post by christopher125 on Aug 18, 2021 15:40:24 GMT
It is disappointing to hear but it is not known whether it was an engine or a battery fire. DPF overheated apparently which also overheated/melted/singed some surrounding components - seems the fire suppression systems worked as intended, the unit was undamaged and just needed the genset swapping.
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Post by christopher125 on May 11, 2021 0:13:19 GMT
So 484s aren't liking the 3rd rail but SWR need to do some clearance checks, time for Plan B..? Alas if only, but what a great bit of footage!
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Post by christopher125 on Apr 2, 2021 2:22:53 GMT
484002/003 have been filmed completing their first mainline test runs between Eastleigh and Fareham:
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Post by christopher125 on Mar 7, 2021 17:33:57 GMT
I understand that SWR have hired in some p'way wagons and a diesel shunter from the IWSR to help with the track work. Did you hear this recently? Discussions about a temporary connection at Smallbrook to allow this were reported, but a change in their work programme scuppered it.
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Post by christopher125 on Dec 9, 2020 16:30:26 GMT
Better late than never! 007, after 3 years in Ryde Works has finally emerged for a test run - for the next few hours she can be seen on the Ryde Pier webcam, at 15:49 and 16:03:
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Post by christopher125 on Nov 21, 2020 14:25:19 GMT
The platform height still to be sorted? Should all get done in the Jan-March blockade.
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Post by christopher125 on Nov 20, 2020 16:00:47 GMT
Very helpful, thanks! Hopefully that means some daylight running in the coming weeks, the normal service will be going down to hourly presumably to make way.
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Post by christopher125 on Nov 20, 2020 11:58:42 GMT
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Post by christopher125 on Sept 17, 2020 17:26:41 GMT
Given the substantial cost and hassle of bringing this sort of specialist kit over to the island, I suspect it may stay on the island for a prolonged period only returning after the shut-down works starting next January are complete. Tampers are semi-regular visitors to both lines on the Island, I think it returned a week or two later? I doubt there'll be much [if any] further work before the closure tbh, especially with the 484s being tested overnight. The two bridges, both in the Ryde area, known to need work were sorted during August ahead of the first 484 arriving - those around Brading should be fine?
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Post by christopher125 on Aug 16, 2020 10:01:50 GMT
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Post by christopher125 on Aug 5, 2020 10:49:14 GMT
LTM's Sam Mullins has some interesting things to say about this in a recent video Q+A with the Museum Friends, indeed it's the first question:
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Post by christopher125 on Feb 28, 2020 9:17:23 GMT
To complete the work on Sarah’s wheels that was halted last year to allow operation on the RailTour in London. That doesn't surprise me, presumably they are doing some work to the carriages too?
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Post by christopher125 on Feb 28, 2020 1:30:01 GMT
I feel sure that behind the scenes someone will undoubtedly be reviewing the whole project to strip out “would be nice” expenditure to leave just the minimum necessary to get the new rolling stock into operation. Hence I can see the old Class 483 units being left to rust away on a siding somewhere on the Island for a protracted period rather than incur off-island disposal costs. It seems the depth puts this into Network Rail's responsibility under the terms of the lease so it's not exactly clear how this will be solved, but it's perhaps a little easier for NR to find some extra cash than SWR at the moment... As for leaving the 483s here, there isn't really space nor would it save much when they can use the same arrangements bringing the 484s over. 5 units looks pretty generous to be honest, it's hard to see how two 4-car sets could prove insufficient - history suggests extra units or vehicles just end up shoved in a siding, robbed for spares, and quickly deteriorate.
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Post by christopher125 on Feb 28, 2020 0:38:46 GMT
For those interested in Power Generation, visit Gridwatch. Shows daily, weekly &c power usage in the UK by energy type, and what we get from/supply to European mainland.
What amazes me is how much electricity is consumed in the small hours.
If the Frequency is high, that means too much electricity is being generated, and vice-versa. I'd recommend using electricinsights.co.uk - not only is it more user friendly IMO but more representative too, as it includes estimates of non-metered renewables which Gridwatch just measures as a fall in demand IIRC.
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Post by christopher125 on Feb 27, 2020 20:59:25 GMT
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Post by christopher125 on Nov 1, 2019 13:21:36 GMT
Hi christopher125 The 38ts had its running height raised slightly during conversion for use on the IOW. If you compare the given height for 1938 tube stock to that recorded by BR for class 483 [https://www.networksoutheast.net/dc.html], the values are ~2.883m and 2.946m respectively*. Incidentally, some comments about the suspension appear in this report: www.railfuture.org.uk/DL1236That's incredibly helpful Ben, thanks - more evidence too that NSE were going to fit modern light clusters.
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Post by christopher125 on Nov 1, 2019 0:14:40 GMT
The 38TS that runs for events came back from the Isle of Wight so I doubt if it was lifted as you put it. You must be getting confused with the Standard Stock train that returned, the museum's 38TS has never been to the Island.
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Post by christopher125 on Oct 31, 2019 23:54:18 GMT
It's a bit niche, but I'm intrigued by the apparent difference in floor height between the Standard Stock and the 38TS/483s. Was the original floor height of the Standard Stock and 38TS more-or-less the same? Photos of the two in the museum depot don't suggest any obvious difference... ...however photos of two types on the Isle of Wight clearly suggest a change, perhaps most obviously below: Island Line Class 483 by EUPARO, on Flickr 485 043 - Ryde Pier Head c1987-88 by Dave Rowland, on Flickr Presumably the 483s were lifted during their conversion but I've never seen this mentioned in any book - does anyone know more, such as the actual change (1 inch has been suggested but it looks like more) and the reason for it?
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Post by christopher125 on Sept 20, 2019 0:56:14 GMT
The clearances for the use of former D stock on the Island have already been discussed elsewhere. From memory there will be some lowering and realignment on the approaches to and in Ryde tunnel, asw ell as platform lowering, possibly layout alteration at St.John's Road to allow IWSR access, and the reinstatement of the loop at Brading to allow even interval working. In theory Ryde Tunnel is fine as it is - in 1984 they squeezed 03079 through with it's original cab - though the track under Rink Road and Smallbrook Lane may need adjusting: Gareth Dennis on TwitterPlatform heights won't be so easy to solve - the track was raised at Pier Head and St Johns, platforms lowered at Esplanade, Lake and Smallbrook were built for tube stock while Brading, Sandown and Shanklin retain their original 1860s low height platforms. [/a] Despite being physically larger units - the D Stock Driving motor cars weigh much the same as the current 38 stock, so hopefully the pier will not collapse the moment a Class 484 ventures onto it. Given the inevitable decay of coastal structures it seems likely that at the very least Network Rail will need to carry out a careful assessment of the pier to determine what if any additional work will be needed. Network Rail have committed to sorting out the pier in CP6, £25m according to the minister.
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Post by christopher125 on Jun 12, 2019 12:54:45 GMT
It seems they will be manufactured in Wales. Has that been confirmed anywhere?
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Post by christopher125 on Nov 1, 2018 2:47:03 GMT
Where on Bouverie Street does this break the surface? I think it's the tower you can see projecting from the top of the grey office block between Temple Lane and Bouverie Street: Google Maps
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Post by christopher125 on Oct 31, 2018 21:46:32 GMT
As someone fascinated by unfinished railway infrastructure, this is amazing - a video has been uploaded to youtube showing a LIDAR survey of the Bouverie Street Ventilation Shaft, on the Fleet Line extension east of Charing Cross. Any idea how this was done, and what those things are presumably floating at the bottom?
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Post by christopher125 on Oct 15, 2018 21:53:33 GMT
Onboard footage:
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Post by christopher125 on Jun 25, 2018 23:27:26 GMT
This is the current plan for the Q stock to run it at heritage railways Is that in addition to LU running, or instead of?
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Post by christopher125 on May 18, 2018 17:36:33 GMT
All told I think the most likely options for replacement stock on the island are D trains if they fit (there are many claims they do, but their reliability is unproven) or trains not previously used in Great Britain. A couple of weeks back Adrian Shooter himself confirmed that they fit in the Q+A that followed his talk to the LTM Friends - everything would appear to suggest that they are SWR's preferred option that they'll be submitting to the DfT:
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Post by christopher125 on Apr 13, 2018 19:49:23 GMT
They even replaced the chimneys with plastic replicas! Whoever suggested that has quite an imagination! In reality the chimneys were replaced like-for-like: "Since the process began in May 2015 some 680 tonnes of concrete have been lifted in a hoist to the tops of the chimneys, where up to eight men work exposed to wind and rain. Last to be finished was the north-west tower.
Battersea’s chief construction officer Mike Grice said builders replicated the original labour-intensive method of erecting the chimneys, both for authenticity and because it was more efficient and precise than pumping concrete up from ground level in a hose."
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Post by christopher125 on Apr 13, 2018 17:12:31 GMT
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Post by christopher125 on Mar 21, 2018 16:11:11 GMT
Rail's Nigel Harris: "I understand a laser survey has indicated a D Train would fit - just..."
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