A Thousand Train Coaches are to be Scrapped

[tbtc]

To clarify, he is suggesting taking 50 year old electric trains which are wider than ANY mainline train, and putting them onto diesel routes.

I'm finding it hard to take the suggestion seriously.

Likewise.

If there was one sensible suggestion for a line that these could work on, then I'm listening. Otherwise, I really can't see the need...

Oh, hold on, I've had a thought. Could we dump on on the Lymington branch and save a 158 for service at FGW/ ATW/ EMT/ Northern? Yes, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel, but are there any other realistic suggestions?

 

[tom1649]

Likewise.

If there was one sensible suggestion for a line that these could work on, then I'm listening. Otherwise, I really can't see the need...

Oh, hold on, I've had a thought. Could we dump on on the Lymington branch and save a 158 for service at FGW/ ATW/ EMT/ Northern? Yes, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel, but are there any other realistic suggestions?

One of the stored 508s is the most realistic option for the Lymington branch. At least they are standard third rail electrics with clearance to work on the main line.

 

[tbtc]

One of the stored 508s is the most realistic option for the Lymington branch. At least they are standard third rail electrics with clearance to work on the main line.

I agree, and I've argued that elsewhere, it seems daft to use a 158 on a "third rail" line when there are 508s that are going to be unused and people unable to board short 158s on FGW/ EMT routes.

But Lymington is about the only stand alone "third rail" I can think of, that these Underground trains have a chance of serving. Any idea of "loco hauled" underground stock in "the north" is going to need two Locs to carry it around, and if we are going to do that then there are spare BR coaches that they could use for that.

I'm really struggling to find any other use for third rail stock like these old Underground ones.

 

[jopsuk]

Anyway, remember, they're not actually 3rd rail- they'd need modification to work without a 4th rail. Not impossible (see: Island Line) but yet another expense.