'Assistance' Test Trip 755/745

[LAX54]

Tonight they have run a test trip, with a 4(5) car 755, hauling a 'dead' 745, left Liverpool Street at 0018, arrived Colchester DGL at 0147, seemed to go fine this will then form 5Q32 0408 Colchester DGL to Crown Point train length 302 metres.

 

[Rhoobarb]

Tonight they have run a test trip, with a 4(5) car 755, hauling a 'dead' 745, left Liverpool Street at 0018, arrived Colchester DGL at 0147, seemed to go fine this will then form 5Q32 0408 Colchester DGL to Crown Point train length 302 metres.

755330 acted as the 'tractor' for 745108. There are a couple of videos posted on FB groups from chaps that were working in the wee small hours.

 

[LAX54]

755330 acted as the 'tractor' for 745108. There are a couple of videos posted on FB groups from chaps that were working in the wee small hours.

Indeed, the night shift, they were concerned that the 755/3 may not be able to handle it, and there were arrangements made, to split the train at Stratford if required and run back, as 2 trains, but when it left Colchester, it seemed to have no problems at all, so maybe one step closer tohaving Stadlers assisting Stadlers, and not kept to 5mph

 

[Taylorgb19]

I thought the 745s don’t have the electrical connector

 

[Roast Veg]

Indeed not, the test was to see if it could be hauled dead in train.

 

[Class 170101]

Its probably an attempt to stop a repeat of the shambles at Forest Gate a month or so ago when the Class 745 was there for several hours.

 

[GarethC]

755330 acted as the 'tractor' for 745108. There are a couple of videos posted on FB groups from chaps that were working in the wee small hours.

Was the 755/3 in diesel or electric mode? Presumably testing in diesel would be helpful to cover if the overheads lost power rather than just unit faults.

Thanks,
Gareth

 

[JonathanH]

Is the idea that if a 745 failed near London, the unit on the Sudbury line (which is the nearest Stadler diesel unit) would be sent to rescue it?

 

[LAX54]

Was the 755/3 in diesel or electric mode? Presumably testing in diesel would be helpful to cover if the overheads lost power rather than just unit faults.

Thanks,
Gareth

The 755 was in 'pan up' mode

 

[LAX54]

Is the idea that if a 745 failed near London, the unit on the Sudbury line (which is the nearest Stadler diesel unit) would be sent to rescue it?

No, think it was just a general test, the furthest a 745 would need hauling back, would be London back to Norwich, and the 755 seemed to cope well.

 

[rebmcr]

Was the 755/3 in diesel or electric mode? Presumably testing in diesel would be helpful to cover if the overheads lost power rather than just unit faults.

If the OHLE is unpowered in any location where a 745 sitting down is problematic, everything it's blocking is unable to move anyway.

 

[GarethC]

The 755 was in 'pan up' mode

I did think it may be unlikely given the 755/3s habits of overheating on diesel!

Thanks,
Gareth

 

[CBlue]

I did think it may be unlikely given the 755/3s habits of overheating on diesel!

Thanks,
Gareth

In that same vein, that the 755 was able to haul a dead 745 without issue says a lot about the power they've got on electric!

 

[sheepy1991]

In that same vein, that the 755 was able to haul a dead 745 without issue says a lot about the power they've got on electric!

In OHLE mode the 755’s have half the power output of a 745, so approx 3500hp give or take. One heck of alot of power for 3/4 coach units.
Given that Class 90’s with an isolated traction motor have been known to rescue failed hauled sets (and the similar power output to a 755 in that scenario) there should not have been any doubt that there was enough power to complete the test move. What I personally find astonishing about the power outputs on the Stadler fleet is the compactness of the traction converters and the traction motors. Very little room taken up by them.

There has also been a test carried out away from the National Network with a 755/3 hauling a dead 745 on Diesel only mode, no speed records gained but at the same time it did move the 745 with relative ease.

 

[LAX54]

In OHLE mode the 755’s have half the power output of a 745, so approx 3500hp give or take. One heck of alot of power for 3/4 coach units.
Given that Class 90’s with an isolated traction motor have been known to rescue failed hauled sets (and the similar power output to a 755 in that scenario) there should not have been any doubt that there was enough power to complete the test move. What I personally find astonishing about the power outputs on the Stadler fleet is the compactness of the traction converters and the traction motors. Very little room taken up by them.

There has also been a test carried out away from the National Network with a 755/3 hauling a dead 745 on Diesel only mode, no speed records gained but at the same time it did move the 745 with relative ease.

Firrst time it had been tried on a 'live' railway enviroment, with other traffic in the mix, and of course the first after a multitude of Stadler Software updates !