Don't recall that in my time, but may well be mistaken. Usually kept at Wimbledon depot, being better placed for access to the main line(s), as per this I took of 013 back in the (ice) age.....late '70's at any rate.
Indeed, the 701s are turning the suburban lines into much more of a metro, as they are metro trains unlike the legacy fleet. If the post-COVID SWR timetable ambitions had gone ahead, it really would’ve been a metro service, even including autonomous systems to speed up timings like ABDO.
Yes that is correct, same reason why the 701 cabs are different to other Aventras, so the 5 car coupled units would have the same door position as the 10 cars.
IIRC ABDO was only going to be used in the timetable critical corridors, Raynes Park inwards on the main line and (failed memory ?) possibly Barnes inwards on the Windsor side. Out with these locations drivers would resume full control of braking.
Not on today's 1U48 1534 Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo, as both toilets were out of use on 701001.
I believe some beacons were laid as far as Richmond?
Testing beacons were laid on the Windsor side Putney/Wandsworth Town to (I think) almost reaching Richmond. They've been there that long I've stopped noticing them.
Yes, Deicing units were always based at Wimbledon - that is where the deicing fluid was kept (!): I think there is confusion here with the reserch sections test units (051 052 053 501 etc., ) which were indeed based at Strawberry Hill and did indeed roam far and wide.Don't recall that in my time, but may well be mistaken. Usually kept at Wimbledon depot, being better placed for access to the main line(s), as per this I took of 013 back in the (ice) age.....late '70's at any rate.
Anyway, going OT again....
Discussed in the 701 thread, the waste tanks have capacity to be emptied at depot, but the issue is adding more locations where the water tanks can be topped up.
I remember in the mid 70s going to Strawberry Hill to get my last few odd units.Don't recall that in my time, but may well be mistaken. Usually kept at Wimbledon depot, being better placed for access to the main line(s), as per this I took of 013 back in the (ice) age.....late '70's at any rate.
Anyway, going OT again....
Makes sense that they might have just been departmental units rather than specifically de-icing units,
Guess now de icing is done by NR Multiple-purpose Vehicles?
Has been for donkeys years, similar to sandite operations. I was lucky to get a first hand glimpse in my early career of some of the older generation of units that I missed in my diagramming days, 013 being one in point, formed (as per my image) of DS 70092/3, formerly S8463/4 from 3 SUB 4349, originally 1519. The history of the SR EMU through the years is a minefield mix of new build and converted loco hauled stock through the years as many will know.
As Invincible has mentioned the issue of locked out WCs is more often that not due to a lack of fresh water, not necessarily a full waste tank. This was often the case even with Desiro's (IIRC at some point in the past), although the 458 waste tanks were of necessity a tad on the small side IIRC as well, which didn't help. It all amounts to physical space available within the under floor and roof space of each design of unit.
Given that thought had been given to the type of toilets that only require emptying every few weeks, thus getting around the issue of limited toilet drop facilities you would expect that the same thought would have been given to how they were going to be kept topped up with water. But this is SWR so probably not!
Post 16,892 says they have:
www.railforums.co.uk
Very few of the outer turn-round stations have water tanking facillities (perhaps Guildford and Reading do) but NONE have the staff to do it during the day anyway !
Apart from 507 and 511 that moved to Derby last week seems there’s no movement of the 701/5s this week
A path has been published today for Thursday from Bicester to Derby. Would guess another pair of 701/5s.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Looks like nothing from further afield towards London for this week and last week ?.A path has been published today for Thursday from Bicester to Derby. Would guess another pair of 701/5s.
Realtime Trains | 0V71 0544 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 30/04/2026
Real-time train running information for 0V71 0544 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 30/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 30/04/2026
Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 30/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
A few VSTs have appeared for 701s from/to Farnham though the one this evening doesn't look to be running.
strange those 701/5 stored at Long Marston went straight to Wimbledon
Same 2 paths have now appeared for today - and the Derby to Bicester leg is runningA path has been published today for Thursday from Bicester to Derby. Would guess another pair of 701/5s.
Realtime Trains | 0V71 0544 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf | 30/04/2026
Real-time train running information for 0V71 0544 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Bicester Mod Gbrf on 30/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1147 Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane | 30/04/2026
Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1147 departure from Bicester Mod Gbrf to Derby Litchurch Lane on 30/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
A few VSTs have appeared for 701s from/to Farnham though the one this evening doesn't look to be running.
Reported as 37884 and 93001 on 0Q71
wondering would this be the locos for 5Q57
Now cancelled
There’s another 5Q57 tomorrow from Bicester to Derby, let’s see would this be operating then
Almost definitely 5Q57 tomorrow. I have noticed a path appearing two days in a row on previous occasions. Even though todays 5Q57 appeared on systems later than tomorrows did. I suspect the assumption is made that getting the 701/5s and locos to work together properly is fraught and so an optimistic/normal path is put in and a back up path the following day. The second days path of course ties up resources (crew and loco) as I assume if all went as well as possible the same crew would be doing Bicester to Wimbledon as brought the locos from Derby earlier the same day.
