PPM - Should it be in here or in the main forum ?

[Mutant Lemming]

Limited to 20mph and with only a handful of seats should Class 139's be classed as light rail or not ?

 

[Mike395]

It's designed to run on heavy rail tracks, so I'd say no

 

[Eagle]

Simpler answer: it's used by National Rail, so it belongs on the National Rail board.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

It's designed to run on heavy rail tracks, so I'd say no

..but could it really run on the national rail network ? It is restricted to 20mph on the Stourbridge branch and even then it's a fairly rough ride. I wouldn't fancy it's chances out on the proper rail network.
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Simpler answer: it's used by National Rail, so it belongs on the National Rail board.

..but British Railways used to run the Grimsby-Immingham tramway and Vale of Rheidol line.

 

[Schnellzug]

i think it should be put under "Modelling", if you ask me.

 

[starrymarkb]

"Contraptions"

 

[Crossover]

..but could it really run on the national rail network ? It is restricted to 20mph on the Stourbridge branch and even then it's a fairly rough ride. I wouldn't fancy it's chances out on the proper rail network.

I'd actually love to see it out on the main line

I think part of the reason why they are so shaky is the jointed track of the branch line rather than entirely being the fault of the traction

 

[Yew]

..but could it really run on the national rail network ? It is restricted to 20mph on the Stourbridge branch and even then it's a fairly rough ride. I wouldn't fancy it's chances out on the proper rail network.

I'd actually love to see it out on the main line

I think part of the reason why they are so shaky is the jointed track of the branch line rather than entirely being the fault of the traction

Maybe we could hook it with some pacers to the back of a 91 and see what happens at 125?

 

[yorksrob]

..but could it really run on the national rail network ? It is restricted to 20mph on the Stourbridge branch and even then it's a fairly rough ride. I wouldn't fancy it's chances out on the proper rail

The Stourbridge Branch is a part of the National network, so by definition it can

 

[WatcherZero]

It passed NR's tests for mainline certification, and they were more thorough with it since it wasnt from an experienced manufacturer...

 

[Temple Meads]

I'll give you my verdict after I've ridden on it on Wednesday

I'm strangely really looking forward to it!

 

[185]

Deformed Ford transit with a lawnmower engine.

Still better than a 142 though

 

[Eagle]

Still better than a 142 though

Well let's have a like-for-like replacement of Pacers with PPMs then...

 

[Badger]

The Stourbridge line runs 153s and is as much a part of the NR network as anywhere else.

For anyone interested this is a one-up Parry People Mover:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=58242

 

[sprinterguy]

The Parry People Movers definitely count as light rail IMO. The Tyne and Wear Metrocars run over heavy rail tracks between Pelaw and Sunderland, but are still light rail vehicles.

As far as the PPMs are concerned, I'd also suggest that they are light rail vehicles in the traditional sense of the days of Colonel Stevens, rather than the ultra-modern supertrams that the term has come to describe in the present day. Quaint little contraptions that they are. They're the minibus equivalent of a Pacer!

 

[WatcherZero]

I tend to think of the PPM's like a more modest version of the Class 121 bubblecars.

Even more so this version....
http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/pdf/2011-04-01-tram-train-brochure.pdf

Oh and the Class 139 has a top speed of 40mph not 20mph, its limited because on the quality of track it would be bouncing all over the place

 

[Schnellzug]

The Parry People Movers definitely count as light rail IMO. The Tyne and Wear Metrocars run over heavy rail tracks between Pelaw and Sunderland, but are still light rail vehicles.

As far as the PPMs are concerned, I'd also suggest that they are light rail vehicles in the traditional sense of the days of Colonel Stevens, rather than the ultra-modern supertrams that the term has come to describe in the present day. Quaint little contraptions that they are. They're the minibus equivalent of a Pacer!

Although to be fair, a Model T Ford on rails would like a TGV in comparison.
Yes, maybe that's it; they a sort of rail breadvan.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The Stourbridge line runs 153s

Not since the 139s arrived it doesn't...

 

[Lrd]

Not since the 139s arrived it doesn't...

They do if the 139s fail.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Has it ever happened yet ( that both 139s were failed at the same time and a 153 was drafted back in )?

 

[WatcherZero]

Far as i know the only time the 153 returned was just after the trial when there was only one as the second hadnt arrived to provide cover in case of failure/maintenence. They are averaging 96% reliability and only on one occasion (to my knowledge) have both failed at the same time, second was sent out to recover the first after it failed and it failed too.

 

[Crossover]

I don't think there are any spare 153's to cover the diagram now, are there?

 

[sprite]

All this talk of them looking like transit vans etc, am I the only one that sees them as a railborn Fiat Multipla?

 

[HSTEd]

If it wasnt for the engine using LPG I would be wholeheartedly in support of them to enable more hybrid light/heavy rail projects to occur.
But the LPG thing puts me off.

 

[WatcherZero]

Their putting a normal diesel engine in the next attempt of their latest trial service, the first attempt the lpg engine didnt have enough oompth for the gradients and the flywheel ran out of power between stations. Also locals were concerned with LPG storage risks. I think they mainly trumpet the LPG to lower the emmisions compared to a normal diesel railcar.

 

[Schnellzug]

Has it ever happened yet ( that both 139s were failed at the same time and a 153 was drafted back in )?

I hear that one failed the other week, but it was fixed after an elite London Midland flying squad of fitters went out and bought a new elastic band.

 

[Crossover]

I hear that one failed the other week, but it was fixed after an elite London Midland flying squad of fitters went out and bought a new elastic band.

Technology these days, eh? :P

 

[150222]

They do if the 139s fail.

No they don't! The crews do not sign them anymore. I don't think they are even employed by London Midland. Also they have/are planning to segregate the branch from the rest of the network by lifting the junction to platform 1 at Stourbridge Junction.
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All this talk of them looking like transit vans etc, am I the only one that sees them as a railborn Fiat Multipla?

I hope your on about the older one!

 

[dooton]

No they don't! The crews do not sign them anymore. I don't think they are even employed by London Midland. Also they have/are planning to segregate the branch from the rest of the network by lifting the junction to platform 1 at Stourbridge Junction.
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I hope your on about the older one!

I don't think so, they are looking at running them on the line to Brierley Hill which means they would be running on the same tracks for a short distance as the 172's. They would have to go into platform 1 as I cannot see there would be free paths into the main platforms. Perhaps this would mean a slight reduction in the shuttle to every 15mins?

 

[WatcherZero]

The connection has already been lifted, the branch line is now physically isolated.