Are the Trains ready for the Snow?

[northernrail2009]

As we know Londona nd the South east will get Heavy Snow overnight tonight but are the Trains ready for it?

Will we see what happened in Feb again?

 

[adc82140]

Better be ready- I've got an 8am start at work tomorrow, 06:55 out of Twyford

 

[GNERman]

well I read that modern emu's like the 375's, 376's, 377's and 450's are not good in the snow because of the technology they have, it tends to freeze up, "dumb" units like the 411's, 421's and 423's were absolutely fine though...

 

[devon_metro]

How does technology freeze up?

 

[GNERman]

How does technology freeze up?

computers, shoe gear, anything...

 

[ralphchadkirk]

computers, shoe gear, anything...

Didn't the 421s and other slammers have shoe gear?

 

[Pumbaa]

The biggest problem last time was lines not being clear. Trains couldn't get out of the depot.

For a fact, Desiro trains are "cold tested" at Wildenrath, to absolutely ridiculously low temps.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Didn't the 421s and other slammers have shoe gear?

Most 4XX units had one if I am correct.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Most 4XX units had one if I am correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humour

 

[Drsatan]

I'm going home from Exeter on Saturday morning so I hope FGW haven't ****ed up! No reason for the trains to stop running round here since there's no OHL/3rd rail to freeze over.

 

[royaloak]

its to do with the collection of the lektric, slammers didnt care about the voltage/ current they got, but modern EMUs are very fussy and the voltage spikes cause all sorts of problems for the compooters on board (do you have a surge protecter on your computer at home) and when the compooters get upset they stop the train coz they is mizerabul and dont wunt to play no more.

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I'm going home from Exeter on Saturday morning so I hope FGW haven't ****ed up! No reason for the trains to stop running round here since there's no OHL/3rd rail to freeze over.

just points, crossings, diesel fuel etc etc.

 

[thefab444]

For a fact, Desiro trains are "cold tested" at Wildenrath, to absolutely ridiculously low temps.

Indeed, I thought it was mainly 377s and their ilk which have serious problems in icy conditions?

 

[87015]

Indeed, I thought it was mainly 377s and their ilk which have serious problems in icy conditions?

350s didn't do too smartly earlier in the year either. But then LMs utter incompetence meant that any problems with the trains themselves were fairly well masked.

Anglia not looking too pretty this evening before the snow even arrives. The GE is not having a good month so far........

 

[Z12XE]

Norwich - London, GE Metro, Stansted Express services to be thinned out tomorrow because of the snow.

 

[starrymarkb]

You say the slammers coped? You'll find they didn't and while they'd keep going at the time, you'd get short formations for a while afterwards while the electrical gear is unwelded. Modern Stock shuts off power to protect itself

 

[MrC]

You say the slammers coped? You'll find they didn't and while they'd keep going at the time, you'd get short formations for a while afterwards while the electrical gear is unwelded. Modern Stock shuts off power to protect itself

Too right. I've fond memories of a 442 blowing it's line switches clean off the side of the MBLS one icy day, and watching a VEP trying to struggle into Dorchester on a frozen juice rail only to fail in flames just at the end of the single line.

Plus some old stock didn't have air dryers on the compressors so in /really/ cold conditions you could get frozen brake chests/pipes.

Modern stock ain't perfect by any means but then what is?

 

[GNERman]

Didn't the 421s and other slammers have shoe gear?

I'm not saying they don't, cos they obviously do, but what I am saying is that they run better in the snow than modern untis do, so people using the lymmy slammers will be ok then...

 

[466.networkers]

Networkers have been having trouble on the Sheerness Line when it's wet, and surprisngly when it's been dry recently, so much so that 466s are banned, 4 car units - 2 x 466s and 465s only.

So God only knows what's gonna happen when 4 inches of the snowy stuff falls overnight!

 

[37401]

i'm not saying they don't, cos they obviously do, but what i am saying is that they run better in the snow than modern untis do, so people using the lymmy slammers will be ok then...

cough!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/humour

 

[Pumbaa]

350s didn't do too smartly earlier in the year either. But then LMs utter incompetence meant that any problems with the trains themselves were fairly well masked.

Anglia not looking too pretty this evening before the snow even arrives. The GE is not having a good month so far........

They were too busy thinking up more ways to be incompetent to notice their toys weren't working

Boy don't I miss WCML south... I moved 190 miles further up north, and I still have LM. What a joke (yes, LM in all manners).

 

[Mojo]

Should be; my first week at work last February snowed really heavily and there were no cancellations and hardly any delays. No 3rd rail up here though! I hope they've got the bags to go over the couplers ready!

 

[Aictos]

Indeed, I thought it was mainly 377s and their ilk which have serious problems in icy conditions?

This isn't the case though, Classes 313s, 317s, 319s, 321s and 365s etc...all have problems in said conditions when the wrong kind of snow gets into the motors and buggers up the units.

When I refer to wrong kind of snow, I refer to the dry and powdery kind which can find it's way into the traction motors and burn them out like NSE found out in 1991, unlike the wet snow we usually get which doesn't usually present a issue.

Not only do you need to think about the motors but also the doors, no good putting a unit into service if the doors are knackered.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Trains have already been cancelled in the KGX area because of snow.

 

[jon0844]

Indeed, I thought it was mainly 377s and their ilk which have serious problems in icy conditions?

Bombardier have worked extra hard to ensure that 377s won't work in any conditions!

Also, does anyone know what happened to the 2136 FCC service to Letchworth? Got off at Hatfield (platform 2, so no need to walk back miles) then noticed when crossing the footbridge that it had stopped one and a bit cars off the platform - having looked like it had passed a red signal (but that might have changed as it passed).

Was sitting there for some 15 minutes or so! Quite relieved that we managed to get off a train before it failed though.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

What time was it scheduled to arrive in Letchworth? I shall try to find out.

 

[jon0844]

2223.

 

[turbo mick]

fgw 165/166 fleet no probs would have engines running all night same with hsts.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Sorry, can't find anything.

 

[Edvid]

According to National Rail the following TOCs are having problems today:
CrossCountry
First Capital Connect
London Overground
National Express East Anglia (inc. Stansted Express)
Southern
Southeastern

 

[Pumbaa]

Add London Midland to that as well. Almost gone to complete farce there already.