185's 110MPH Upgrade - Practical?

[matacaster]

The 185's are excellent (in my opinion) if a touch on the heavy side. They have not deteriorated like many similar types of stock and are reliable. They are thirsty, but have oodles of power, but some are looking for a home. I for one think that they would be far preferable to the horrible narrow tilting cross-country jobs - main snag is no gangway between two connected sets.

What would be required to give them 110MPH capability?
Where could that be exploited?

One guesses regearing, plus uprated brakes, but what else, can the transmission system take the additional strain (or could it be replaced)

OR
is this a very bad idea??

 

[Starmill]

The trains are already far from a paragon of energy efficiency. I dread to think what the effect on this would be from increasing their top speed.

 

[bastien]

Don't think the track people would like this much. They're heavy!

 

[gazthomas]

Go West, very wes

 

[hexagon789]

The 185's are excellent (in my opinion) if a touch on the heavy side. They have not deteriorated like many similar types of stock and are reliable. They are thirsty, but have oodles of power, but some are looking for a home. I for one think that they would be far preferable to the horrible narrow tilting cross-country jobs - main snag is no gangway between two connected sets.

What would be required to give them 110MPH capability?
Where could that be exploited?

One guesses regearing, plus uprated brakes, but what else, can the transmission system take the additional strain (or could it be replaced)

OR
is this a very bad idea??

I think the brakes could handle it, the transmission would need adjustment I imagine. Though they'll have been tested to 110mph for overspeed, so it should be possible.

However, as is well known - they are heavy, and rather fuel hungry, I imagine 110mph would significantly increase fuel consumption and costs. Though they are certainly powerful enough!

 

[hooverboy]

I think the brakes could handle it, the transmission would need adjustment I imagine. Though they'll have been tested to 110mph for overspeed, so it should be possible.

However, as is well known - they are heavy, and rather fuel hungry, I imagine 110mph would significantly increase fuel consumption and costs. Though they are certainly powerful enough!

I'm inclined to agree with a previous post..the track guys would have nightmares!
they maybe powerful enough, but the combination of that amount of weight and increased speed would be pretty harsh on the tracks,

I think they would either:
1)need to go on a diet and shed 5 tonnes

or
2) be designated to less bendy routes.

they are very nice trains,but a bit bulky.

 

[Hadders]

Why would you want to replace a 4 car Voyager with a 3 car 185?

 

[matacaster]

Why would you want to replace a 4 car Voyager with a 3 car 185?

I'd prefer 2x185 to a voyager.

 

[delt1c]

Why would you want to replace a 4 car Voyager with a 3 car 185?

not a 3 car but a 6 car would be nice

 

[Hadders]

An 8 car Voyager would be better still.

Voyagers aren’t bad trains, the issue with them is there far too short for the services they operate.

 

[delt1c]

An 8 car Voyager would be better still.

Voyagers aren’t bad trains, the issue with them is there far too short for the services they operate.

Can't argue with that

 

[hexagon789]

I'm inclined to agree with a previous post..the track guys would have nightmares!
they maybe powerful enough, but the combination of that amount of weight and increased speed would be pretty harsh on the tracks,

I think they would either:
1)need to go on a diet and shed 5 tonnes

or
2) be designated to less bendy routes.

they are very nice trains,but a bit bulky.

One way they could shed weight would be to change the bogies for lightweight ones but whether that is doable and/or saves weight I've no idea.

Why would you want to replace a 4 car Voyager with a 3 car 185?

Slower for a start.

Voyagers aren’t bad trains, the issue with them is there far too short for the services they operate.

Agreed, though the interiors could be improved.

 

[cactustwirly]

An 8 car Voyager would be better still.

Voyagers aren’t bad trains, the issue with them is there far too short for the services they operate.

Have a stupidly low seating capacity for their length, stupidly shallow overhead luggage racks, very poor ride quality and sound/vibration proofing...
I'd take a 185 any day of the week

 

[Spartacus]

stupidly shallow overhead luggage racks,

The racks are actually very deep, but the ceiling profile makes it impossible to make use of it with anything of a good size and shape. Humans fit quite well, though the depth makes them hard to get out of

 

[LOL The Irony]

I think the brakes could handle it, the transmission would need adjustment I imagine. Though they'll have been tested to 110mph for overspeed, so it should be possible.

However, as is well known - they are heavy, and rather fuel hungry, I imagine 110mph would significantly increase fuel consumption and costs. Though they are certainly powerful enough!

Rumors are that one reached 125 at Wildenrath...

 

[hexagon789]

Rumors are that one reached 125 at Wildenrath...

Wouldn't surprise me, they've got enough grunt, but I think they'd have to retune the transmission.

 

[37057]

Wouldn't surprise me, they've got enough grunt, but I think they'd have to retune the transmission.

That doesn't make much sense, retune the transmission? It's the same as what's fitted to a 180. It's the final drive gearboxes / powered wheelset's that would require the modification if anything.

 

[hexagon789]

That doesn't make much sense, retune the transmission? It's the same as what's fitted to a 180. It's the final drive gearboxes / powered wheelset's that would require the modification if anything.

But won't it be set for 100mph running not 125mph?

Surely it's not set to max out the revs at 125 on a 185?

 

[37057]

All I'm saying is that if anything on the driveline would need modifying it would be the powered wheelsets, not the transmission. The transmission is the same internally between 180 / 185. Possibly some external differences such as mountings and heat exchanger if I recall correctly.

Having checked my Voith docs, the final drives fitted to the 185s are already at their input speed limit when travelling at 100 MPH. Guess they wanted the torque over speed at the design stage...