RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted August 17, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 17, 2017 Last I heard the unofficial third-rail speed record on the (former) SR was claimed to be 111mph with a 4Rep+4TC short-formed Weymouth express. As ever these sort of "records" are highly unofficial and there is no sort of corroboration. Even seasoned train timers are very circumspect if they clock something of this order. I personally clocked 102mph with a class 73 + 7 on the 03.20 Victoria - Brighton passenger and news one night, a mix of Mk1 coaches and vans and a few SR vans. That isn't the fastest I have clocked using both stopwatch and intermediate cab speedometers (which agreed) but again I am reluctant to suggest where or when as the person(s) responsible might still be employed. It's not possible now of course with data loggers and TPWS among other fun-prevention safety devices Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted August 17, 2017 Author Share Posted August 17, 2017 108mph seems to be the official record. Though I've seen it mentioned somewhere that 117mph was achieved by a 5-WES (Cl.442) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted August 17, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 17, 2017 I was one of about three passengers once on a very late knocked out all the stops run on a Class 421 3-COP which was run fast from Victoria to Three Bridges, it must have been pulling a ton down the Quarry Line easily especially with the higher power to weight ratio it had with one coach taken out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Remember doing an exciting 105mph down Brentwood bank on a very delayed Class 309. Was not until sometime later that I discovered line speed was 80mph. No wonder we gained back 15 mins between Shenfield and Liverpool Street... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Didn't they achieve some silly (for 3rd rail) speeds between Tonbridge and Ashford with a solo REP when they were seeing what might be worth trying for with Eurostars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Is there a timescale for the 442 re-introduction ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D854_Tiger Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Is there a timescale for the 442 re-introduction ? I'm still waiting for one to turn up at Hereford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted August 22, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 22, 2017 I've got this sneaking suspicion that they will change their minds and use something else instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted August 22, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 22, 2017 I've got this sneaking suspicion that they will change their minds and use something else instead. There would seem to be slack in the 450 diagrams with the 458s now widespread on Reading and Windsor line services and the 456s boosting capacity elsewhere on services which 450s sometimes worked. Whether there is enough capacity for the enhanced service and 12-car trains is another matter. As is the loathing of the Portsmouth line commuters for the outer-suburban style 450s which are the modern-day equivalent of a 4Vep. Hardly the comfort level one would wish for folk paying thousands to travel for 2 - 3 hours a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Maybe refit the 707 interiors into something a bit more outer suburban and use those. Since they're apparently 100mph trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptic Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 (edited) Photo courtesy of Son of Ceptic. 47 812 inside Branksome's Carriage Cleaning Shed, previously having ferried a 5-WES / Cl.442 416 to the 'Main (New) Shed' for light (?) maintenance and on to the 'Paint Shed' for new SWR vinyls. Edited September 7, 2017 by Ceptic 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted September 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2017 47 812 inside Branksome's Carriage Cleaning Shed, previously having ferried a 5-WES / Cl.442 416 to the 'Main (New) Shed' for light (?) maintenance and on to the 'Paint Shed' for new SWR vinyls. ..."welcome home" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 ..."welcome home" Yes, nice to see them back in their natural habitat. Interested to see if they'll get the full livery works or some sort of SWR "lite" Might just be wishful thinking but wonder if they might appear at Weymouth again. Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted September 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2017 (edited) 108mph seems to be the official record. Though I've seen it mentioned somewhere that 117mph was achieved by a 5-WES (Cl.442) A late friend of mine stop-watched one (or possibly two) at 113 on a Network Day (remember them.......) bashing trip. IIRC it was on a Southampton Airport - Waterloo service. John Edited September 7, 2017 by Dunsignalling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 ..."welcome home" Indeed ............. back to where they belong ......... just got to get rid of the "Long Shunt Express Service" livery 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted September 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2017 Might just be wishful thinking but wonder if they might appear at Weymouth again. Stu Pure speculation on my part, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they appear at Weymouth at some point. Particularly if Bournemouth do some of the work now to get them quickly back to working order (even if they don't do the full refurbishment & retractioning work). The line between Bournemouth and Weymouth has been used for testing units in recent years. The early 458 conversions were tested there, as were some regenerative brake tests on the Desiros. I wonder who will be providing the drivers in the short term as I guess no SWR (former SWT drivers) will currently sign them. When some 442s were kept in warm storage at Eastleigh a few years back I seem to recall that rather bizarrely it was Freightliner or GBRf drivers who did the 'warm' shuttle runs from Eastleigh to Basingstoke and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted September 7, 2017 Author Share Posted September 7, 2017 Two more 5-WES arrived at Bournemouth, their spiritual home. Here, late afternoon, we see 47815 arriving in the sidings at Poole with 2404 + 2409 in tow. The Class 47 will run-round (via the up main), before proceeding back to Branksome and into BM Depot. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Great to see them back home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Does this mean the Gatwick Express interior remains in place...for the time being at least? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted September 9, 2017 Author Share Posted September 9, 2017 (edited) There are currently three 5-WES at BM depot:Arrived 5/9/17 = 2416Arrived 7/9/17 = 2404 2409 One is currently in the carriage cleaning shed attached to 73133. I THINK it's 2416 - can anyone confirm please? Edited September 9, 2017 by Peter Kazmierczak 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted September 13, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2017 Looks like another transfer of one or more class 442 from exile in Ely to Bournemouth has taken place, on 12/9. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O26563/2017/09/12/advanced Another forum suggests that the move was for 2411 & 2417, but I've not seen confirmation elsewhere. A further transfer is apparently due to take place on 15/9, although there isn't a path in the schedule yet. 2414 & 2418 are the suggested transferees this time. Bournemouth T&RSMD will be looking like its old self on Friday afternoon with these additional transfers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted September 13, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2017 Another forum suggests that the move was for 2411 & 2417, but I've not seen confirmation elsewhere. I personally watched 2411 and 2417 come through the unlikely (for 5Wes units) location of Gospel oak yesterday. Ironically while I was waiting for a class 172 unit for Barking on the line which is about to be electrified at long last. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 We're coming home We're coming home We're coming 5-WES coming home Yes, at the moment, almost like old times..... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 Over a quarter of the class are now BM depot: 2416 arrived 5/9 2404 + 2409 arrived 7/9 2411 + 2417 arrived 12/9 2414 +2418 arrived 14/9 Here's today's arrivals passing Poole and in the carriage sidings after the loco ran-round, awaiting the road to Branksome and jnto the depot. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Class 47 not smoking quite as badly as when I saw it at Egham at lunchtime. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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