Third-Rail EMU Photos

[John M Upton]

The first South Eastern Networkers were towed off to warm storage just last week.  Can't see them coming back somehow though, need too much doing to them and the accountants won't want their fingers burnt again after the Class 442 debacle....

[Gwiwer]

23 hours ago, Northmoor said:

One spotted in Wimbledon West shed today and another in the new Feltham sidings this evening.

There are quite a few out and about.  At least one does mileage accumulation tests every day though its route varies.  At least one is normally at Wimbledon for training purposes.  And a fair few are stored at Eastleigh and - perhaps remarkably - Worksop.  The latter being a hitherto unknown outpost of the live rail  and a handy location for storage when many other places are full.  

[Northmoor]

28 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

There are quite a few out and about.  At least one does mileage accumulation tests every day though its route varies.  At least one is normally at Wimbledon for training purposes.  And a fair few are stored at Eastleigh and - perhaps remarkably - Worksop.  The latter being a hitherto unknown outpost of the live rail  and a handy location for storage when many other places are full.  

It's been noted in the last couple of years (before the pandemic massively reduced demand for train capacity) that the industry could rapidly run out of space to store all the off-lease stock.  Frustrating then, that some substantial redundant freight facilities have had their track limited recently; in West Wales alone, the former Gulf refinery site at Waterston (which had about 3km of track) has had all track lifted and the sidings at the former RNAD Trecwn, a very secure site for storing high-value assets, have also been lifted.   I guess the Worksop sidings (I once worked in a building looking out on the Up side sidings) aren't exactly full of coal trains these days; hasn't Cottam PS stopped generating now?

[Welly]

13 hours ago, Northmoor said:

 hasn't Cottam PS stopped generating now?

It closed on the 30th September 2019 - I believe it was "de-synchronised" a few days earlier. The last coal train apparently ran there a few months before!

Edited June 27, 2021 by Welly
Typo

[talisman56]

On 25/06/2021 at 17:49, eastwestdivide said:

As last night's selection seemed to go down well, here are some more.

 

Various, and an honorary EMU on the left

 

That's how I remember the approaches to LB - Bulleid-style 4EPBs, and BR-style 2EPBs - looks like another train behind the 2EPB on the right...

Edited June 27, 2021 by talisman56

[John M Upton]

Apparently there is a EPB unit for sale, buyer collects, landlord wants it shifted ASAP or its scrap.  5176 I think.

 

EMU preservation may be about to lose yet another member.

[pete_mcfarlane]

Here's a few Preservation era shots of mine, 

 

First up, the 4-CIG that used to live on the Great Central. Am I right in thinking that this has since been scrapped? This was taken in 2006, when it was working with their 33/1. One old boy on the platform at Loughborough seemed a bit confused, and was asking the p0latofrm staff if they were going to lay 3rd rail to operate it.... 

 

Next is my one and only visit to the Electric railway museum on the outskirts of Coventry, at their open day in September 2010. It's a shame that it closed, as it made a nice afternoon out (along with a visit to the air museum next door, which is still open and really good). There was also an airshow on at the airport, complete with the Vulcan doing aerobatics. 

 

4-SUB

 

 

4-EPB with an interesting paint job - I think that's Tesla. 

 

4-SUB and Tyneside 2-EPB.

 

I also went to the EMU days on the East Kent a couple of times - these are from 2011 when one of the 4-COR moto coaches was in use, along with a 4-BEP, 2-EPB and various MLVs. A good day out. 

 

 

And lastly, a couple of snaps of a 4-BIG buffet car, plus some DEMU vehicles. These were taken in Nottingham when the Hastings DEMU came to visit in 2009. I first found it being refueled at Eastcroft depot. The thing in the background is the incinerator that burns rubbish and helps power the district heating system - the pipes to the North of the city centre use the old GCR tunnels. 

 

 

And heading back down South. Spot the standard width vehicle...

 

[The Lurker]

16 hours ago, pete_mcfarlane said:

Here's a few Preservation era shots of mine, 

 

First up, the 4-CIG that used to live on the Great Central. Am I right in thinking that this has since been scrapped? This was taken in 2006, when it was working with their 33/1. One old boy on the platform at Loughborough seemed a bit confused, and was asking the p0latofrm staff if they were going to lay 3rd rail to operate it.... 

 

Next is my one and only visit to the Electric railway museum on the outskirts of Coventry, at their open day in September 2010. It's a shame that it closed, as it made a nice afternoon out (along with a visit to the air museum next door, which is still open and really good). There was also an airshow on at the airport, complete with the Vulcan doing aerobatics. 

 

4-SUB

 

 

4-EPB with an interesting paint job - I think that's Tesla. 

 

4-SUB and Tyneside 2-EPB.

 

I also went to the EMU days on the East Kent a couple of times - these are from 2011 when one of the 4-COR moto coaches was in use, along with a 4-BEP, 2-EPB and various MLVs. A good day out. 

 

 

And lastly, a couple of snaps of a 4-BIG buffet car, plus some DEMU vehicles. These were taken in Nottingham when the Hastings DEMU came to visit in 2009. I first found it being refueled at Eastcroft depot. The thing in the background is the incinerator that burns rubbish and helps power the district heating system - the pipes to the North of the city centre use the old GCR tunnels. 

 

 

And heading back down South. Spot the standard width vehicle...

 

it looks like a snake that swallowed a heavy meal a while back and is still digesting it

[eastwestdivide]

A few more Kentish curiosities...

 

Terrible Instamatic shot of 022, a stores unit converted from a 2-HAL(?), heading through Strood in about 1979/80:

 

Those were replaced by newer conversions, this one 019 from an SR-style 2-HAP, here at Strood in October 1983:

 

And a snatched shot on a film that was badly developed (wrong chemicals - long story), a loco which might be 73006 leads an adaptor van and wooden-doored coach S14375S with some more bits of EPB down through Rochester in 1985:

 

The adaptor van was to enable coupling to the centre buffer-fitted ends of detached parts of EPB and similar stock. Somewhere I might have a record of what the actual stock was.

[pete_mcfarlane]

Are those EPBs going off to Horwich works to be refurbished?

[phil-b259]

7 hours ago, The Lurker said:

it looks like a snake that swallowed a heavy meal a while back and is still digesting it

 

I understand it has the nickname of 'Maggot' on account of the fatter mid section and in homage to the 'Tadpole' units (1 standard width EPB trailer and two Hastings gauge DEMU vehicles)

 

 

 

 

[eastwestdivide]

11 hours ago, pete_mcfarlane said:

Are those EPBs going off to Horwich works to be refurbished?

Those were heading coastbound at Rochester, so I'd imagine not to Horwich. Maybe from Slade Green to Gillingham/Ramsgate depots (or even Ashford via a roundabout route) for putting doors back on and general fixing. But I was just linesiding, so I've no further info.

[eastwestdivide]

28 minutes ago, Kubes said:

The Marsh Maggot was the nickname bestowed upon the Brighton-Ashford  service in Connex days. The off-white and pale yellow livery scheme did indeed look particularly "maggoty" when applied to the two car 172 diesel units used on the service.

Kubes

Did you mean the 205/207s? I thought the newer units on that service were 171s in Southern green, post-dating Connex?

[Kubes]

Yes 171s you are right. I was convinced I'd seen them in Connex livery but memory plays tricks. Perhaps they arrived in plain white prior to getting the Southern livery after a period of in service. 

Kubes

[pete_mcfarlane]

11 hours ago, phil-b259 said:

I understand it has the nickname of 'Maggot' on account of the fatter mid section and in homage to the 'Tadpole' units (1 standard width EPB trailer and two Hastings gauge DEMU vehicles)

 

1 hour ago, Kubes said:

The Marsh Maggot was the nickname bestowed upon the Brighton-Ashford  service in Connex days.

I thought the nickname 'maggot' was originally applied to the class 207s with a standard width CEP trailer in the middle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_207#/media/File:207202_at_Hurst_Green.jpg

[talisman56]

On 29/06/2021 at 22:38, pete_mcfarlane said:

Here's a few Preservation era shots of mine, 

 

I also went to the EMU days on the East Kent a couple of times - these are from 2011 when one of the 4-COR moto coaches was in use, along with a 4-BEP, 2-EPB and various MLVs. A good day out. 

 

 

 

 

"Err... driver, we have an issue coupling these two together..."

[talisman56]

14 hours ago, eastwestdivide said:

A few more Kentish curiosities...

 

Terrible Instamatic shot of 022, a stores unit converted from a 2-HAL(?), heading through Strood in about 1979/80:

 

Those were replaced by newer conversions, this one 019 from an SR-style 2-HAP, here at Strood in October 1983:

 

And a snatched shot on a film that was badly developed (wrong chemicals - long story), a loco which might be 73006 leads an adaptor van and wooden-doored coach S14375S with some more bits of EPB down through Rochester in 1985:

 

The adaptor van was to enable coupling to the centre buffer-fitted ends of detached parts of EPB and similar stock. Somewhere I might have a record of what the actual stock was.

 

1) 022 was formed from the power cars of 2HAL units 2613/69 (10731/87)

2) 019 was converted from Bulleid-style 2HAP unit 5629

3) The 'adaptor vehicle' looks like an old SR 'BY' van

[Hroth]

8 minutes ago, talisman56 said:

 

"Err... driver, we have an issue coupling these two together..."

By jove you're right, that style of coupling didn't come in until 30 years later!

 

(Apologies to Titfield Thunderbolt fans...)

[eastwestdivide]

End of the line - Ramsgate during about 1980-85... I used to visit a fair bit as my grandparents lived there.

Mostly taken from the Dover end of the station.

 

4-CEP in original form, displaying a very odd headcode:

 

Freshly-refurbished 4-CEP in the sunshine:

 

Weekend engineering, and a lot of units stabled, 4-CEPs, 2-HAPs, and a 4-VEP on the far right:

 

Shot snatched from a train window of deicer unit 004 at the Margate end. MLV in the background far left:

 

4-VEP leaving for London (practically all trains from Ramsgate go to London eventually via one route or another). Grand station entrance hall in the background:

 

4-VEP on a shunt move, with refurbished 4-CEP and two 2-HAPs visible on shed:

 

Seem to recall that the original Ramsgate allocation of VEPs was the late 78xx series, but there was a reshuffle around 1982ish(?) which brought in a batch in the 77xx series. That would probably help to date the last two photos, which I have as 1982 and "1980ish" respectively.

Edited July 1, 2021 by eastwestdivide

[Southernman46]

On 25/06/2021 at 22:20, grahame said:

 

The two Wren-style towers, designed by sir John Hawkshaw, are still there (at least when I last looked).

ISTR when the station was re-furbished a number of years ago - BR/RT/NR - can't remember which - took the time and trouble to find and fish the missing weathervane out of the Thames and put it back.

[Southernman46]

On 01/07/2021 at 11:02, talisman56 said:

 

"Err... driver, we have an issue coupling these two together..."

Simple ................... Just drop the buckeye of the 4-CEP and put the screw coupling on .....................................

[jbqfc]

a couple from Ifield Crawley today can anyone tell what the box is for on the lamp bracket on 462 looks like some sort of camera 

 

 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Around the back of Bournemouth depot last evening. Photo taken from a position of safety.

[St. Simon]

22 minutes ago, jbqfc said:

a couple from Ifield Crawley today can anyone tell what the box is for on the lamp bracket on 462 looks like some sort of camera 

Hi,

 

That looks like one of Network Rail's 'Tail Lamp Cameras' (yes, I know it is on the front, but the camera is designed to fit into a tail lamp housing sized box) for recording footage for our Position Video Frame Software to allow us to drawing signalling plans.

 

Simon

[Gwiwer]

26 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

Around the back of Bournemouth depot last evening. Photo taken from a position of safety.

442413, I believe, off to meet the baked-bean tin maker   

 

In other news the recent major power supply problem at Clapham Junction yard caused by a series of power surges has resulted in unusual workings.  Yesterday several Waterloo - Cobham - Guildford "New Line" trains were formed of a 5-car class 444; today several trips to Chessington South were formed of a pair of 450s.  I'm sure there were others as well.  Any photos appreciated.