Trains with Disused Gangways

[Kite159]

I've been on a couple pair of 450s on the Waterloo - Reading services where the gangway between units has been locked out of use by the non commercial guard.

 

[swt_passenger]

I've been on a couple pair of 450s on the Waterloo - Reading services where the gangway between units has been locked out of use by the non commercial guard.

But as keeps getting pointed out, it is only individual guards who are doing this. As far as SWT and now SWR are concerned the class operates with the gangways in use.

 

[D365]

The 507/508 when doubled up remain locked off to the public, presumably as there is no shroud fitted, although these were only intended for emergency escape use in tunnels, I believe. Is this similar to the 319's?

Gangway connectors were not fitted to any of those types of unit. As you state, the doors are for emergency use only.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The solution presumably would have been fitting a door that allowed the non driving side of the cab to be closed off when the gangway was in use, similar to 15x units of the same era. Little point doing it now with the units due for withdrawal in the next few years. A 455 cab and gangway is basically the same as 150, so I see no technical reason it couldn't have been done.

They had such a door when new; it was removed after about 10 - 15 years in traffic. Those with a long memory may recall the 455s having a purple covering visible over the gangway door when new. That was a panel which folded out to cover the non-driving side. In those days the gangways were most certainly in use; I walked through between 455s on an almost daily basis.

The cover is clearly visible on this picture of 455 901 at the Stewart's Lane open day, fresh from delivery.

 

[Llama]

Those covers are often known as 'fly screens'.

 

[Helvellyn]

Those covers are often known as 'fly screens'.

Correct.

They had such a door when new; it was removed after about 10 - 15 years in traffic. Those with a long memory may recall the 455s having a purple covering visible over the gangway door when new. That was a panel which folded out to cover the non-driving side. In those days the gangways were most certainly in use; I walked through between 455s on an almost daily basis.

The cover is clearly visible on this picture of 455 901 at the Stewart's Lane open day, fresh from delivery.View attachment 58205

Still in use on 158/159 units but these days a metal as opposed to plastic panel.
I think one of the reasons SWT ditched them was that with the retention of Guards the intermediate cab vestibules were where the Guard worked from and it would have been cramped to try get in/out of cabs with passengers in there. Plus risk of delays. If the South Western suburban routes had gone DOO it might have been a different story with even the passenger door controls remaining in place on those cab doors (like on 150/2s).

 

[leo knight]

On the LNER service from KX to Skipton the coach B of the intercity 225/mk4 coach is locked out of use between Leeds and Skipton due to short platforms at Skipton.

 

[nat67]

They had such a door when new; it was removed after about 10 - 15 years in traffic. Those with a long memory may recall the 455s having a purple covering visible over the gangway door when new. That was a panel which folded out to cover the non-driving side. In those days the gangways were most certainly in use; I walked through between 455s on an almost daily basis.

The cover is clearly visible on this picture of 455 901 at the Stewart's Lane open day, fresh from delivery.View attachment 58205

A HST on Stewarts Lane, Hellfire!