SWR outgoing Metro fleet withdrawals (complete)

[Juniper Driver]

Withdrawn units at WImbledon.

 

[pompeyfan]

Not too much longer to wait. A week or so all being well. Get those red pens ready!

I think I’m missing something here? What’s the significance?

 

[Juniper Driver]

I think I’m missing something here? What’s the significance?

Back in traffic I guess.

 

[Pep and co]

Back in traffic I guess.

Been out of service and in bits around WD. Many thanks to warrenTmanager and everyone else for the updates.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Been out of service and in bits around WD. Many thanks to warrenTmanager and everyone else for the updates.

Wasn't this one ( 458 504 ) the one that derailed at Clapham Junction?

 

[Juniper Driver]

Wasn't this one ( 458 504 ) the one that derailed at Clapham Junction?

When did that happen?

 

[Siemens Staines]

When did that happen?

30th November 2020.

I do not know what unit 458504 was paired with at the time of the derailment, but when I last travelled on it a couple of weeks prior to the derailment it was with 458506 and I have not seen any reports of 458506 in passenger service since that date either. Of course a lockdown soon followed, and this was pre SWR joining Know Your Train, so my observations were very restricted and 458506 may have worked after this.

 

[WarrenTManager]

30th November 2020.

I do not know what unit 458504 was paired with at the time of the derailment, but when I last travelled on it a couple of weeks prior to the derailment it was with 458506 and I have not seen any reports of 458506 in passenger service since that date either. Of course a lockdown soon followed, and this was pre SWR joining Know Your Train, so my observations were very restricted and 458506 may have worked after this.

8506 wasn't the unit with 8504. At the time it was stopped following a vandalism attack where multiple windows were smashed with another couple of units.

 

[Juniper Driver]

8506 wasn't the unit with 8504. At the time it was stopped following a vandalism attack where multiple windows were smashed with another couple of units.

Ah, thanks.

 

[fgwrich]

Withdrawn units at WImbledon.

8506 wasn't the unit with 8504. At the time it was stopped following a vandalism attack where multiple windows were smashed with another couple of units.

Was 5740 included in that lot? I did notice last night that, as well as the lights removed, it had something blanking over various windows (mostly door windows)?

 

[WarrenTManager]

Was 5740 included in that lot? I did notice last night that, as well as the lights removed, it had something blanking over various windows (mostly door windows)?

5740 is a Christmas Tree. They are Haz bags over the door windows, the ones that service exchange toilet units are returned to the supplier in or roadkill is disposed of, where various windows and glass has been robbed.

8512 and 8522 were the others from memory. I think someone trespassed at Staines Sidings got in and trashed the units.

 

[Siemens Staines]

8506 wasn't the unit with 8504. At the time it was stopped following a vandalism attack where multiple windows were smashed with another couple of units.

Thank you for that update. At the time of the derailment I did not think that the other unit was affected, so its details did not seem to be of any relevance. It was only very many months later when 458506 has also disappeared from the scene, that I looked back to see when I last travelled on it, and it was with 458504 in November 2020. But clearly this was just a coincidence, so thank you for clearing that up.

 

[boiledbeans2]

5740 is a Christmas Tree. [...]

Off topic, but why is it called a Christmas tree? I would imagine it if was full of colourful lights, but based on the photo in the previous page, this train now has a lack of lights.

 

[43096]

Off topic, but why is it called a Christmas tree? I would imagine it if was full of colourful lights, but based on the photo in the previous page, this train now has a lack of lights.

Perhaps because they give presents to other members of the fleet?

 

[fgwrich]

5740 is a Christmas Tree. They are Haz bags over the door windows, the ones that service exchange toilet units are returned to the supplier in or roadkill is disposed of, where various windows and glass has been robbed.

8512 and 8522 were the others from memory. I think someone trespassed at Staines Sidings got in and trashed the units.

Ah, I thought they were yellow bags (or cardboard under yellow-ish depot lighting). Thanks for the update.

Off topic, but why is it called a Christmas tree? I would imagine it if was full of colourful lights, but based on the photo in the previous page, this train now has a lack of lights.

It's a rather well known term for years - though I can't remember it's origins. Used in both the Railway and Bus industry (and probably others too) as a term for a spares donor. I.e, items get taken on and off it like a Christmas tree, gradually relinquishing it's parts for other items of stock - just like you would decorate a Christmas Tree (the building of the stock) then take bit's off of it until you dispose of it (after Christmas / in January). In this case, the 455 is acting as a Christmas Tree by yielding it's parts for other units, until it eventually is disposed of.

 

[75D]

Christmas tree is a term used by engineers and mechanics meaning that the vehicle in question train/aircraft etc is robbed of parts to keep the rest of the fleet operating, should new spare parts be unavailable

 

[GW43125]

Noticed on my way home this evening that 5740 is dumped out the front of the shed and has gained a portable tail lamp, could this be heading off soon?
Presumably the 47 in Woking isn't related (failed with a 701 drag last week)

 

[Juniper Driver]

Saw that 47 at Woking the other day struck by the City of Truro nameplate.Sounds familiar.
5740 is being robbed for spares AFAIK.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Noticed on my way home this evening that 5740 is dumped out the front of the shed and has gained a portable tail lamp, could this be heading off soon?
Presumably the 47 in Woking isn't related (failed with a 701 drag last week)

Anything incapable of providing its own light either as dead or no lamps (or both) must have a supplementary lamp fitted. If 5740 goes anywhere I would suspect it will be by road as it failed with traction motor/wheelset/bogie height issues and I doubt it is capable of being hauled as a class 5 reliably notwithstanding anything that has been removed from it that precludes it passing a safety exam for haulage.

The 47 is a GB locomotive, ROG have the contract for hauling the Porterbrook units away from Wimbledon.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Anything incapable of providing its own light either as dead or no lamps (or both) must have a supplementary lamp fitted. If 5740 goes anywhere I would suspect it will be by road as it failed with traction motor/wheelset/bogie height issues and I doubt it is capable of being hauled as a class 5 reliably notwithstanding anything that has been removed from it that precludes it passing a safety exam for haulage.

The 47 is a GB locomotive, ROG have the contract for hauling the Porterbrook units away from Wimbledon.

Is that the same with 5855?
Thanks for the info.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Is that the same with 5855?
Thanks for the info.

5855 has a lamp country end the other end being a buffer stop, 5740 has lamps either end as 6rd New sidings is bi-directional.

 

[Juniper Driver]

5855 has a lamp country end the other end being a buffer stop, 5740 has lamps either end as 6rd New sidings is bi-directional.

Sorry I was unclear, although I hadn't seen the country end of 5855 or really noticed as I was driving a train nearby down to the blocks.

I meant 5855 is going to be transported away by lorry due to its issues?

I noticed door stuff was missing but was unsure what else was wrong with it.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Sorry I was unclear, although I hadn't seen the country end of 5855 or really noticed as I was driving a train nearby down to the blocks.

I meant 5855 is going to be transported away by lorry due to its issues?

I noticed door stuff was missing but was unsure what else was wrong with it.

I’m not au fait with whats completely up with 5855, whereas I was the one that reported the issue on 5740 in the first place that led to its demise, so to be honest I don’t know how that will leave yet.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I’m not au fait with whats completely up with 5855, whereas I was the one that reported the issue on 5740 in the first place that led to its demise, so to be honest I don’t know how that will leave yet.

Thanks guv.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’m not au fait with whats completely up with 5855, whereas I was the one that reported the issue on 5740 in the first place that led to its demise, so to be honest I don’t know how that will leave yet.

Are you able to reveal what the issue with 740 is?

 

[Juniper Driver]

Are you able to reveal what the issue with 740 is?

WarrenTManager said:
If 5740 goes anywhere I would suspect it will be by road as it failed with traction motor/wheelset/bogie height issues and I doubt it is capable of being hauled as a class 5 reliably notwithstanding anything that has been removed from it that precludes it passing a safety exam for haulage.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Christmas tree is a term used by engineers and mechanics meaning that the vehicle in question train/aircraft etc is robbed of parts to keep the rest of the fleet operating, should new spare parts be unavailable

Presumably it's what in the past was called cannibalisation.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Withdrawn units at WImbledon.

Seeing as I mistakenly quoted your good self a while ago, here's something I took (whilst on company business I will add) back in April 83, before the item on No. 1 road had turned a wheel in anger! The EPB on 4 road is 5107, but afraid I can't identify the 508 on 2. Had I been a better photographer I would have stood a bit closer to Durnsford Road bridge perhaps!

 

[Juniper Driver]

Seeing as I mistakenly quoted your good self a while ago, here's something I took (whilst on company business I will add) back in April 83, before the item on No. 1 road had turned a wheel in anger! The EPB on 4 road is 5107, but afraid I can't identify the 508 on 2. Had I been a better photographer I would have stood a bit closer to Durnsford Road bridge perhaps!

That's interesting.I did wonder about these units and thought they were on the SW side at one time.At least I think so.I wonder when they transferred to the dark side.
The 508's were gone when I transferred to the South Western.

 

[fgwrich]

That's interesting.I did wonder about these units and thought they were on the SW side at one time.At least I think so.I wonder when they transferred to the dark side.
The 508's were gone when I transferred to the South Western.

Of course, I hadn't clocked It was one of the now Selhurst based /8s until you mentioned it! I wonder how it got over there - the route now occupied by the Tramlink or Sutton loop perhaps?