Class 458/5

[RobShipway]

Another tough day on the 458/5s,not so much due to the units themselves but due to the fact I was involved in a road traffic accident on the way in.

458511 and 458535 both behaving as good as gold.

Hope you are okay after the accident?

 

[Juniper Driver]

Hope you are okay after the accident?

Yes thanks but it was a bit hairy at the time.I will probably talk about it one day but not at the moment.It can be quite difficult driving trains when major life events happen.

 

[Goldfish62]

I was quite surprised to pass a standard 458/0 still in service on Saturday - Which units are left before their trip to Doncaster? I'll admit that I was equally quite surprised to spot a single 458/5 in service at around 23:30 on Saturday night in Weybridge too.

Hounslow/Weybridge seem to be mostly single 458/5s on Saturdays.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

On Saturday there seemed to be a number of single 458/5 units on the via Hounslow services, along with 450 pairs, plus 450122 covering for a failure of a 458/5. There was also a 455 pair to Reading .

There are still 10 original 458 units left in London, which means we've passed the point where all off peak diagrams cannot be covered by 458s alone (even if assuming all units were in service at the same time). Must admit I thought more were left, although was aware of the second point :P.

The off-peak diagrams haven't been covered fully by 458/0s for about six months now. 14 units are required for the off-peak.

 

[D365]

Yes thanks but it was a bit hairy at the time.I will probably talk about it one day but not at the moment.It can be quite difficult driving trains when major life events happen.

Am sorry too to hear about it, I understand that you wish to not talk about it here but I hope you are able to get time off if today's been a bit much for you?

 

[Juniper Driver]

Am sorry too to hear about it, I understand that you wish to not talk about it here but I hope you are able to get time off if today's been a bit much for you?

No time off.As I say not every day is perfect but you have to go on.When I had my fatality I just had to go back driving ASAP,today is no different.

 

[Bigfoot]

More diagram changes from Monday. Not quite sure what exactly but there's a few changes. Plus more 450s moving to the Reading road.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

What did they do with the old pan well on the ones that have always been SWTs units?

Would the construction of the units allow a pan well to be retrofitted in the future or would that compromise the crash structure?

 

[D365]

What did they do with the old pan well on the ones that have always been SWTs units?

Would the construction of the units allow a pan well to be retrofitted in the future or would that compromise the crash structure?

The 30 458/5s which were originally Class 458/0s retain their pantograph wells so in theory can be converted to AC electrics. The 6 new 458/5s converted from the remaining Class 460 vehicles (458531-36) do not have a well, and as you say, retrofitting one would compromise the structure.

 

[Emblematic]

The 30 458/5s which were originally Class 458/0s retain their pantograph wells so in theory can be converted to AC electrics. The 6 new 458/5s converted from the remaining Class 460 vehicles (458531-36) do not have a well, and as you say, retrofitting one would compromise the structure.

It's very much in theory too, as there are so many other DC units which are either already AC equipped or for which conversion is very straightforward - all of the Electrostar classes, closely followed by the Desiros. Even if wholesale conversion of 3rd rail to OLE was to start this year, there would be work for the 458s, and all* the other DC-only units, until they are life-expired. Frankly I'll be surprised if any 3rd rail is converted to OLE this decade.
* 442s excepted, naturally

 

[swt_passenger]

Back in the days when the 458/0s were proposed to be going off lease from SWT, around 2006, I'm sure Modern Railways ran an article that basically said all attempts to find a home for them by using their supposed AC conversion capability had failed, because no design work had ever been done to turn them into AC units, apart from the constructional feature of a pan well.

Others may have the back issues in question, but I'm sure Roger Ford explained that they were most likely to have been scrapped. Of course plans changed and they were used to provide for the internal cascades that saw the end of the 442s on the SWML.

 

[MCR247]

Back in the days when the 458/0s were proposed to be going off lease from SWT, around 2006, I'm sure Modern Railways ran an article that basically said all attempts to find a home for them by using their supposed AC conversion capability had failed, because no design work had ever been done to turn them into AC units, apart from the constructional feature of a pan well.

Others may have the back issues in question, but I'm sure Roger Ford explained that they were most likely to have been scrapped. Of course plans changed and they were used to provide for the internal cascades that saw the end of the 442s on the SWML.

I remember reading something about SPT being a potential home for them at one point, was probably around a similar time

 

[swt_passenger]

I remember reading something about SPT being a potential home for them at one point, was probably around a similar time

Yes that rings a bell. Despite them having common features with the 334s it seemed even that wasn't considered a suitable destination for them.

 

[D365]

Yes that rings a bell. Despite them having common features with the 334s it seemed even that wasn't considered a suitable destination for them.

Imagine the current 5-car conversion, but for London Overground's East London Line instead!

 

[Goldfish62]

Imagine the current 5-car conversion, but for London Overground's East London Line instead!

Actually looks OK. What might have been.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

More diagram changes from Monday. Not quite sure what exactly but there's a few changes. Plus more 450s moving to the Reading road.

Yesterday (Saturday) Reading appeared to be 100% 450.

 

[455driver]

Back in the days when the 458/0s were proposed to be going off lease from SWT, around 2006, I'm sure Modern Railways ran an article that basically said all attempts to find a home for them by using their supposed AC conversion capability had failed, because no design work had ever been done to turn them into AC units, apart from the constructional feature of a pan well.

Others may have the back issues in question, but I'm sure Roger Ford explained that they were most likely to have been scrapped. Of course plans changed and they were used to provide for the internal cascades that saw the end of the 442s on the SWML.

Something about them only having 2 of something (auxiliary converters?) and the new spec requiring them to have 3 and there being nowhere where they could be reasonably fitted rings a bell!

 

[RobShipway]

Actually looks OK. What might have been.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Yesterday (Saturday) Reading appeared to be 100% 450.

There was a two class 458/0's yesterday morning on the 07:17am service from Martins Heron to Reading.

 

[swt_passenger]

Anyone know if this was another 458/5 delivery, overnight Fri/Sat just gone:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97078/2015/07/17/advanced

 

[hassaanhc]

There was a two class 458/0's yesterday morning on the 07:17am service from Martins Heron to Reading.

Also 455 pair on 1620 Waterloo to Reading, plus another pair out. Today also has two pairs of 455s in use. And with the usual single 455 units on stoppers via Hounslow loop.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Anyone know if this was another 458/5 delivery, overnight Fri/Sat just gone:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97078/2015/07/17/advanced

Funny that because I saw the 47 hiding in the normal place (today),couldn't make out if the barrier wagons were there.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Funny that because I saw the 47 hiding in the normal place (today),couldn't make out if the barrier wagons were there.

8509 came Saturday
8022 split for lorries. Presume half tonight half tomorrow night.

 

[WWTownEnth]

458501 Out of service - fire damaged
458502 In service
458503 In service
458504 In service
458505 In service 21/04/15
458508 Doncaster 24/06/15
458509 Wimbledon testing 18/07/15
458510 In service 28/04/15
458511 In service 04/05/15
458515 Doncaster 05/07/15
458518 Wimbledon testing 26/06/15
458019 Doncaster 26/05/15
458520 In service
458022 Doncaster 20/07/15
458523 Doncaster 12/05/15
458524 In service 26/05/15
458525 In service 09/06/15
458526 Wimbledon testing 04/07/15
458527 Wimbledon testing 28/05/15
458529 Doncaster 08/06/15
458530 In service
458531 In service
458532 In service
458533 In service
458534 In service
458535 In service
458536 In service

In summary:

9 458s remaining
11 458/5s in conversion/testing/repair process
16 458/5s in service

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

I noticed that the 8:41 Feltham to Waterloo via Hounslow was a 5 car 458 this morning rather than the usual 4 car 450

 

[Goldfish62]

458501 Out of service - fire damaged
458502 In service
458503 In service
458504 In service
458505 In service 21/04/15
458508 Doncaster 24/06/15
458509 Wimbledon testing 18/07/15
458510 In service 28/04/15
458511 In service 04/05/15
458515 Doncaster 05/07/15
458518 Wimbledon testing 26/06/15
458019 Doncaster 26/05/15
458520 In service
458022 Doncaster 20/07/15
458523 Doncaster 12/05/15
458524 In service 26/05/15
458525 In service 09/06/15
458526 Wimbledon testing 04/07/15
458527 Wimbledon testing 28/05/15
458529 Doncaster 08/06/15
458530 In service
458531 In service
458532 In service
458533 In service
458534 In service
458535 In service
458536 In service

In summary:

9 458s remaining
11 458/5s in conversion/testing/repair process
16 458/5s in service

So nothing into service for about 6 weeks, and one, 458827, in testing for nearly two months.

 

[158722]

So nothing into service for about 6 weeks, and one, 458827, in testing for nearly two months.

518 & 527 both reported in pax service today.

 

[WWTownEnth]

458501 Out of service - fire damaged
458502 In service
458503 In service
458504 In service
458505 In service 21/04/15
458508 Doncaster 24/06/15
458509 Wimbledon testing 18/07/15
458510 In service 28/04/15
458511 In service 04/05/15
458515 Doncaster 05/07/15
458518 In service 20/07/15
458019 Doncaster 26/05/15
458520 In service
458022 Doncaster 20/07/15
458523 Doncaster 12/05/15
458524 In service 26/05/15
458525 In service 09/06/15
458526 Wimbledon testing 04/07/15
458527 In service 20/07/15
458529 Doncaster 08/06/15
458530 In service
458531 In service
458532 In service
458533 In service
458534 In service
458535 In service
458536 In service

In summary:

9 458s remaining
9 458/5s in conversion/testing/repair process
18 458/5s in service
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

518 & 527 both reported in pax service today.

Thank you.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Once they're all converted is it possible on a very rare occasion that one might substitute for a service down to Poole or Weymouth in place of a 450?

 

[swt_passenger]

Once they're all converted is it possible on a very rare occasion that one might substitute for a service down to Poole or Weymouth in place of a 450?

Shouldn't be likely at all, as the /5 is only a 75 mph unit without first class. Probably about as likely a substitute as a 455?

 

[Juniper Driver]

Shouldn't be likely at all, as the /5 is only a 75 mph unit without first class. Probably about as likely a substitute as a 455?

Very much doubt Weymouth as there must be very few drivers that sign the 5s and go that far either.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Very much doubt Weymouth as there must be very few drivers that sign the 5s and go that far either.

There will be Wimbledon Park drivers that sign them and do Bournemouth runs for 455/456/458 overhauls. Branksome is as far as they might go I would say

 

[SpacePhoenix]

There must be some drivers somewhere that sign 458s west of Poole as I've seen clips on Youtube of them west of Poole, would they likely be based at Bournemouth depot?