Recent content by bgstrowger

There's a reference in Mac Hawkins' book on the Great Central about a bridge at Wolfhampcote being rebuilt in the 50s with OHLE brackets fitted. Suggests there may have been plans to extend the electrification down the GCML?

Mk2/2a I'd say. If the doors wrap round the end of the carriages, they'll be Mk2b/2c, the latter have smaller toilet windows and smoother roofs.

When the SR refurbished that Class 205, it was rewired in such a way to be compatible with their EMUs. I think the Class 210s were designed to be compatible with an EMU too for beyond the wires running.

Nova is an interesting choice of name for this Spanish built stock. "No va" in Spanish means does not go...

It was all part of BR's dual sourcing policy, so that they were beholden to any one manufacturer and the 400hp one were built for a specific route (Welsh Marches I believe) but ended up being common user. With regards to swapping engines, I don't think this is done but imagine they're allocated...

So are the Class 387s and the shoes are retractable, so that shouldn't be an issue. More likely paperwork issues and Southeastern not wanting to be a unit short.

The Class 175/180 bodyshell bares some similarities to the Nightstar stock, which in turn is based on the Mk4 but with a non-tilt profile. For the electric Coradias, I think their lineage is based more on the GEC Networkers.

Vivarail are going to put a Mercedes F1 engine underneath it to create a cut price 125mph commuter train ??????

The T4 bogies were designed to be used on the Mk4s but BREL couldn't guarantee their ride quality at 140mph, so the SIG bogie was chosen instead.

Is a Class 163 a single car version of a Class 165 :D

Maybe I'm just getting a bit politically cynical in my old age :)

Isn't this is the first major order for trains since the EU referendum last year? Hardly a good idea to be ordering trains from Germany I would imagine :wink:

I'd have thought that 6-cars would be quite right for SE suburban services if the infrastructure is now based around 12-car working. How many motored vehicles does a 12-car Class 700 have out of interest?

Interesting that First have gone with Bombardier for this order; thought Siemens were usually a shoe-in for their train orders. Or has the DfT thrown them an almight load of cash to keep the factory at Derby busy?

The Desiro city platform is supposed to be modular isn't it, so could an additional order of trailer cars be put in to make the Class 707s 6 cars? Much better fit for the Southeastern suburban services I would've thought.