Northern Class 156 Internal Screen?

[Crossover]

I was on Northern 156443 the other day and noticed these fittings at various points down the carriage, that look like screens. Are they, or are they something else?

I came back on 156481 but can't actually remember if they had them there as well or not

 

[hacman]

No - these boxes are what used to contain the tungsten hammers for emergency egress.

They've been absent on a few sets for quite some time now (we're talking years).

I can say with certainty that 156443 and 156481 have no equipment or wiring for passenger facing screens.

Hope this helps,

Jon

 

[Starmill]

Similar covered boxes - but with white covers to match the trim - appear in some 350s. Same reason I think?

 

[hacman]

As far as I'm aware the Northern Rail ones are just the old glass covers painted black, presumably to avoid any reports of damaged or missing safety critical hardware.

Was probably done purely for being cheaper than properly removing the case.

I'm guessing the reason for removing these is that they tend to just get stolen, and it has been determined that the chances of the train ending up in a position where both the side and end doors are not available for egress is minimal.

Jon

 

[Eagle]

It's also because breaking the glass of a large train window is now considered a safety risk because of the huge number of glass shards that would create and fill the carriage with.

Very little stock built in the last 10 years has window hammers; in fact toughened fracture-proof glass is now pretty much standard, so that the windows don't break even if the vehicle rolls on its side.

 

[michael769]

It's also because breaking the glass of a large train window is now considered a safety risk because of the huge number of glass shards that would create and fill the carriage with.

Trains use toughened glass so there is no possibility of shards!

 

[ainsworth74]

It's also because breaking the glass of a large train window is now considered a safety risk because of the huge number of glass shards that would create and fill the carriage with.

My understanding was that the main reason was simply that the toughened glass used in emergency windows had the nasty habit of breaking in accidents allowing the occupants of a carriage to be ejected and for outside objects (ballast) to enter the carriage and become shrapnel. Meanwhile on these same trains the laminated glass was fine, a few punctures on the outside layers but little or no complete breakthrough. Couple that with the fact that the vase majority of passengers used the doors and gangways to exit vehicles emergency windows were removed as, in fact, increasing the risk of injury/death in the event of an accident.

Very little stock built in the last 10 years has window hammers; in fact toughened fracture-proof glass is now pretty much standard, so that the windows don't break even if the vehicle rolls on its side.

Laminated And it isn't pretty much standard, it is the standard (see 5.3)

 

[ffm]

Yes laminated it is and many carriages are still fitted, and continue to be built with the fittings, to break the glass panel, for emergency escape. The difference is that these are handles above the windows that cause a fitted glass beaker to operate, the panel then becomes a 'floppy' one and can be pushed out. The glass either side of the plastic being broken, but held in place, just as happens when any laminated panel is hit across its face. The design of the breaking tool is such that it causes a complete cracking of the glass on both sides (which can be four sheets for double glazed unit). Same system fitted to many road coaches too.

 

[umontu]

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought they were screens!

Was too embarrassed to mention it!

 

[Crossover]

No - these boxes are what used to contain the tungsten hammers for emergency egress.

They've been absent on a few sets for quite some time now (we're talking years).

I can say with certainty that 156443 and 156481 have no equipment or wiring for passenger facing screens.

Hope this helps,

Jon

Thanks Jon

The thought of screens on a Northern DMU did seem like a farfetched idea, but I hadn't thought of boxes for the old egress hammers

Similar covered boxes - but with white covers to match the trim - appear in some 350s. Same reason I think?

Yeah, the 350's were white and are still in situ but blanked off. They have also been like that for a few years now too, probably (long before I finished uni, for sure, and that's a couple of years since

 

[hacman]

Thanks Jon

The thought of screens on a Northern DMU did seem like a farfetched idea, but I hadn't thought of boxes for the old egress hammers



Yeah, the 350's were white and are still in situ but blanked off. They have also been like that for a few years now too, probably (long before I finished uni, for sure, and that's a couple of years since

Have to admit, when I first saw them it took me a while to work out too!

It's a shame really that Northern haven't invested in upgrading their Sprinter series stock though, as if they just had a full interior overhaul and a bit of mechanical attention they're actually really nice trains (and probably better built than anything we'll ever see as a replacement).

Well, all except the 153 and 155s - as lets face it they're just posh rail-busses

Jon

 

[Beveridges]

It's a shame really that Northern haven't invested in upgrading their Sprinter series stock though, as if they just had a full interior overhaul and a bit of mechanical attention they're actually really nice trains (and probably better built than anything we'll ever see as a replacement).

Plus a better silencer for that loud, thunderous engine!

 

[Muzer]

Have to admit, when I first saw them it took me a while to work out too!

It's a shame really that Northern haven't invested in upgrading their Sprinter series stock though, as if they just had a full interior overhaul and a bit of mechanical attention they're actually really nice trains (and probably better built than anything we'll ever see as a replacement).

Well, all except the 153 and 155s - as lets face it they're just posh rail-busses

Jon

Yup - after having experiences with various (non-158) sprinters, I was pleasantly surprised on a Northern 156 to Blackpool - although it was rather dirty on the outside and the inside, it seemed like quite a pleasant train.

 

[hacman]

Yup - after having experiences with various (non-158) sprinters, I was pleasantly surprised on a Northern 156 to Blackpool - although it was rather dirty on the outside and the inside, it seemed like quite a pleasant train.

There's probably not all that much required to bring 150s and 156s up to the standard of the 158s (minus the AC perhaps mind you).

They're just solid sets that get the job done. Nice smooth ride, reasonable top speed for the routes they serve, and more importantly not built with bus parts .

Jon

 

[Muzer]

I'm not as keen on 150s - at least the ones I've experienced aren't nearly as comfortable. But they're suitable as suburban type trains IMHO.

 

[hacman]

Very much so, although I'm sure comfort would be greatly improved if the seating was converted to 2+2 with higher backs, similar to that used on the ex-Northern Spirit 156s. (perhaps minus the puke-green fabric though ).

It's a real shame the production batch of 150s were not produced with the 3rd centre car too, as in the places where they are deployed that would make such a difference!

Jon

 

[simon7929]

There's probably not all that much required to bring 150s and 156s up to the standard of the 158s (minus the AC perhaps mind you).

They're just solid sets that get the job done. Nice smooth ride, reasonable top speed for the routes they serve, and more importantly not built with bus parts .

Jon

156438 first ex ATN unit to be refreshed. Looks ok!
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490 has had the refurb done now too!