RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 24, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2021 On 22/01/2021 at 20:47, Nearholmer said: If you believe the Hastings Line electrification was "gold plated", you are quite wide of the mark. Anyway, it had (may still have) a very "thin" high voltage supply, with a tapped transformer mid-way to compensate for voltage drop in the event of the need to feed to whole line from one end, and the substation spacings are only just about on the 'OK' side of the fine line that separates a reliable service from a constant embarrassment. It was designed to tolerate the failure or planned outage of one HV feeder at a time, and I think (going from old memories here) could run the off-peak, but not the peak, service with any single rectifier out for maintenance. I could check details with the designer, because he is still providing consultancy services on a very part time basis with the firm that I work with, many years post-retirement, or the then Chief Electrical, who is still a bright spark well into his nineties. If you recall the opening "free travel" day on the Grinstead Electrification, that nearly went horribly wrong because an "above design" service was put on, and breaker trippings started to occur early in the day. A colleague of mine was scrambled to site to "wind the protection up out of the way" (equivalent of putting a bigger fuse in the plug) to save the day, then to wind it back down at close of traffic - it was just about a safe thing to do, because the CR was not yet worn, whereas the design calculations assumed that it was worn to I think 75% of allowable. I think similar breaker trippings on the Hastings-line day, with trains everywhere and fully loaded - truly F&S - are rather what might have been expected, hence my suspicion that some resilience was built-in. My assumption is that the design was done under Don Pearce, but by the time of commissioning Bob Care was in charge, 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 (edited) The design was largely the work Henry Puntis, who worked for each in turn, and is still working now. Bob Care I haven't seen for a very long time - he must have retired from BR in the early/mid 1990s , and he was certainly working as a consultant by the late 1990s, because in a weird inversion he came and covered my job for me for several months, long after I'd moved LU, while I was seconded into another role. It was Don Ball I was thinking of when I mentioned a bright spark. Don Pearse went from SR to become HoElectrification at Marylebone IIRC, I certainly remember him being in charge when I was there for a couple of years at the very end of the 1980s. Some very good memories of that period - very enjoyable, and nearly all great people to work for and with. Edited January 24, 2021 by Nearholmer 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jonny777 Posted January 24, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 24, 2021 Back to an earlier EMU age up The Junction, and 4-SUB 4656 is working route 21 circa 1970. 27 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 On 22/01/2021 at 19:47, Nearholmer said: If you recall the opening "free travel" day on the Grinstead Electrification, I was living in East Grinstead at the time but I don't recall travel being free on that day. IIRC it was 50p for an all day 'rover, that was a special large souvenir ticket. All the stations were decorated with bunting and there was some rolling stock on display at various locations. At Oxted I had a cab ride in a class 33 and was allowed to drive (under supervision) class 08 'Ivor' up and down the siding from the bay platform. 6 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post astropsidings Posted January 25, 2021 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted January 25, 2021 Banbury, 31 March 1991. 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Metr0Land Posted January 30, 2021 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted January 30, 2021 A BIG+CIG combination heads west at Galley Hill Bexhill Oct86. A year later in the October Gales of '87 all this would be swept away. I believe they've been replaced by a smaller number of more uniform huts though doubt they're hurricane proof. The area behind the train has long since been developed into a retail park. 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 (edited) Here's a few at Strood, although perhaps they're more about the before-and-after on the station, where there's now a new building on the down side and a lift/footbridge in addition to the dank and smelly underpass. The CLASP-type shelter on the up platform remains in place. From early 2020, Javelin for London and a rail replacement bus I think in the forecourt: and a nearly-equivalent shot from 2011, Networker for Charing Cross, and another on the Maidstone West line shuttle: Then down on platform 1, from early 2020, Thameslink to Rainham: And the best I could do for an equivalent "before" shot, an honorary third-rail EMU on a railtour in the 1980s: Edited January 30, 2021 by eastwestdivide 18 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post eastwestdivide Posted January 30, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 30, 2021 (edited) Back on Jaffa Cakes, here's a closer view of the '1066' branding, taken in 1986: And one (1601) arriving at Strood from Paddock Wood in 1985: Edited January 30, 2021 by eastwestdivide extra photo 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post eastwestdivide Posted January 30, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 30, 2021 (edited) A few more from the early/mid 80s, showing varying numbering styles on the refurbished 4-CEPs. In Strood, just starting the climb to Sole Street, this shows the 6-digit number applied to the first few refurbished 4-CEPs, here on 411516 at the head of what appears to be a Dover-Victoria boat train (headcode 46), off its normal Ashford-Tonbridge route. At Halling, 1508 (411508) has an offset number, where the 41 had been removed by 1984: Units refurbished later in the programme had the 4 digits centrally-placed over the cab windows, as here. Also in Strood, at the foot of the climb to Sole Street, 1541 is off-route for the 62 headcode denoting a train via Strood/Dartford to Charing Cross, so it may have been diverted due to the weather. This was taken from the footbridge visible in the first photo in this post: Edited January 30, 2021 by eastwestdivide 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted February 17, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 17, 2021 4 VEP 7813 turns round at Lymington Harbour July 1986 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Gwiwer Posted February 17, 2021 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2021 As the sign says: “Welcome to Clapham Junction”. An unidentified class 455 unit calls under a spectacular early morning sky. 26 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bert Cheese Posted March 11, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 11, 2021 A couple of shots of VEP's at rest on Barton Mill Sidings (Basingstoke) The third photo shows the distance from the station, not a pleasant walk in bad weather. 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Bournemouth T&RSMD. 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpb56125 Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 (edited) SWR 701005 at Runcorn on 12th April 2021. On route to Alstom Depot at Ditton. Mark Edited April 12, 2021 by mpb56125 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Waiting for the scrapman... 8 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ncarter2 Posted April 12, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 12, 2021 38 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said: Waiting for the scrapman... After all the effort it is a shame and a huge waste, but what use is a fleet when there is no work for it. I do wonder if the traction package will be recovered from them or the 455’s for that matter. Hey, at least we get to keep the FABULOUS and FANTASTIC 458’s, every cloud! I wonder if they will be returned to 100mph units, especially if they are being moved away from the Windsor’s. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 4 hours ago, mpb56125 said: SWR 701005 at Runcorn on 12th April 2021. On route to Alstom Depot at Ditton. Mark I like the Metcalf/Superquick housing. Looks quite real! 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 Unwanted Class 442s at Bournemouth this afternoon. Photo taken from a position of safety. 16 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium iands Posted April 14, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 14, 2021 2 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said: Unwanted Class 442s at Bournemouth this afternoon. Photo taken from a position of safety. Fantastic shot, especially the effect of the "uneven" track! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 That was the down main into Bournemouth West at one point. Still used by stock using the carriage washer. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 Around 60% of the Class 444s are now in SWR livery, so catch the ones still in SWT colours while you can. Bournemouth station this morning. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 On 14/04/2021 at 20:19, Peter Kazmierczak said: Unwanted Class 442s at Bournemouth this afternoon. Photo taken from a position of safety. Free to preservation group one well constructed unit. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 A complete 5-car set would just fit along one side of our school field, though the adventure playground would have to move. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold adb968008 Posted April 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 16, 2021 31 minutes ago, lmsforever said: Free to preservation group one well constructed unit. Perfect for LSL to take on, 2 units for service and a spare. indeed forget the HST this summer, remove the shoes from these and drag the S&C. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted April 18, 2021 Share Posted April 18, 2021 Full house at Bournemouth. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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