378s on WCML

[YorkshireBear]

Seen a picture on railway herald of some 378s at rugby, caption then goes on to say that ti terminated at crewe but gave no reason. Anyone any ideas?

 

[swt_passenger]

Seen a picture on railway herald of some 378s at rugby, caption then goes on to say that ti terminated at crewe but gave no reason. Anyone any ideas?

AC mileage accumulation for the first unit of the last batch of three, 378255 is the new one, 378214 is there for insurance. Supposedly based on Crewe for the duration of tests, so terminating there wouldn't be that unusual... IIRC previous AC testing was done on the southern WCML.

 

[Crossover]

Yep, Crewe has been the Northern terminus for the 378 testing. How far South they were going now escapes me

 

[Eagle]

Not to sound naïve, but why are 378s being tested on the WCML? I thought they were optimized for Overground, and it's not as if London Midland need any more long-distance EMUs with the new 350 order...

 

[Lampshade]

Not to sound naïve, but why are 378s being tested on the WCML? I thought they were optimized for Overground, and it's not as if London Midland need any more long-distance EMUs with the new 350 order...

Where better for AC mileage accumulation? An ECS path to Crewe would give it more mileage than running around the LOROL network for days on end.

 

[causton]

Plus, the WCML might actually have some free paths - whereas I think the NLL is quite full with freight and normal 378 workings!

 

[Harlesden]

Aside from the 378's is there any other stock used exclusively in or from London that has never seen service north of Watford

 

[Lampshade]

Aside from the 378's is there any other stock used exclusively in or from London that has never seen service north of Watford

442/450/455/458/460/465/466 - bit difficult for these to get moving away from the juice

357s and 376s haven't moved away from London either.

159s, while operating away from London, have never been north of Watford, nor have 171s.

 

[MCR247]

159s, while operating away from London, have never been north of Watford,

They were converted in Scotland so how does that work?

 

[jopsuk]

They didn't go into service there, did they? Did they even go to Scotland under their own power?

 

[MCR247]

They went under their own power IIRC

And I thought we were talking about London based stock venturing north, as the 378s were OOS?

 

[Crossover]

The WCML will also likely offer plenty of opportunity for sustained runs at high speed.

Also, in my half awakeness last night, I got classes muddled up and it is 379's that I have heard of being tested on the WCML, not the 378's. Seems like it is the 378's as well now then possibly

 

[whhistle]

The rugby twitter feed says it was 214 and 255.

 

[bnsf734]

378255 is the first of the last batch for London Overground (378255-257) ordered for the Clapham Junction extension I believe. Makes sense to test it on the WCML as paths are already there from the 379 testing and presumably the train crew knowledge from the 379 testing will also apply to 378s.

 

[33056]

The 378s were tested on the WCML (between Euston and Bletchley) when the first ones came out; plenty of paths overnight.

 

[davelew99]

Last night around 22:10 i saw two 378's coupled together, in full London Overground livery at Crewe!

Was a bit disconcerting to see that go past the window!

 

[swt_passenger]

Last night around 22:10 i saw two 378's coupled together, in full London Overground livery at Crewe!

Was a bit disconcerting to see that go past the window!

Hardly a surprise though, if you'd actually read through this thread...