Chiltern 168 Moves

[Mollman]

Apologies if there is already a thread covering this but I could not find it. There seems to be a number of Chiltern 168s visiting Wolverton works, today's was a 4-car 'orgional style' and a 2-car 'turbostar' style unit coupled together. Is this to do with rectifying the recent fueling issue or for something completely different? Thanks

5M68 1040 Wembley Lmd to Wolverton Centre Sidings

 

[CR165022]

Apologies if there is already a thread covering this but I could not find it. There seems to be a number of Chiltern 168s visiting Wolverton works, today's was a 4-car 'orgional style' and a 2-car 'turbostar' style unit coupled together. Is this to do with rectifying the recent fueling issue or for something completely different? Thanks

5M68 1040 Wembley Lmd to Wolverton Centre Sidings

It's 168001 and either 168327 or 328.

168001 had an issue with one of its exhausts, and had it removed, it's gone to Wolverton to have it fixed I believe, the 168/3 was just tagging along incase it broke down and will return to Aylesbury today hopefully.

 

[Mollman]

It's 168001 and either 168327 or 328.

168001 had an issue with one of its exhausts, and had it removed, it's gone to Wolverton to have it fixed I believe, the 168/3 was just tagging along incase it broke down and will return to Aylesbury today hopefully.

Thanks

 

[12LDA28C]

Apologies if there is already a thread covering this but I could not find it. There seems to be a number of Chiltern 168s visiting Wolverton works, today's was a 4-car 'orgional style' and a 2-car 'turbostar' style unit coupled together. Is this to do with rectifying the recent fueling issue or for something completely different? Thanks

5M68 1040 Wembley Lmd to Wolverton Centre Sidings

Chiltern units regularly visit Wolverton for repairs and modifications, particularly collision damage and suchlike, this is nothing new.

You'll also see Chiltern units heading to Bristol or Crewe for removal of ATP and fitment of TPWS4.

 

[BanburyBlue]

Out of interest, how do Chiltern units get to Wolverton.

 

[AJDesiro]

Out of interest, how do Chiltern units get to Wolverton.

I believe this particular move went from Wembley - Neasden Jn, branching off onto the Dudding Hill Line, before making a reversal to join onto the west coast.

 

[12LDA28C]

I believe this particular move went from Wembley - Neasden Jn, branching off onto the Dudding Hill Line, before making a reversal to join onto the west coast.

This is the usual route, even when the unit comes from Aylesbury. In the past occasionally they were routed via Leamington and Coventry to reverse but this was rare and hasn't happened AFAIK for a few years. It would be a lot simpler if the Aylesbury spur from EWR ever gets built!

 

[50002Superb]

What’s happening with 168329 at present?

Hardly seems to run these days

 

[AJDesiro]

What’s happening with 168329 at present?

Hardly seems to run these days

It's very much a testbed for the hybrid conversion at the moment, so is kept away from the mainline as much as possible owing to it only being able to achieve 488 miles per 701d according to the latest issue of Modern Railways.

 

[12LDA28C]

It's very much a testbed for the hybrid conversion at the moment, so is kept away from the mainline as much as possible owing to it only being able to achieve 488 miles per 701d according to the latest issue of Modern Railways.

Not correct. The testing period is over and the decision has already been taken to revert the unit back to standard diesel configuration although there is no date set in stone for that to happen as yet. Bearing in mind the various engineering blockades affecting Aylesbury in the coming weeks, I probably wouldn't expect to see 168329 back out in traffic as a Hybrid unit. It's currently stabled in the south sidings at Aylesbury.

 

[AJDesiro]

Not correct. The testing period is over and the decision has already been taken to revert the unit back to standard diesel configuration although there is no date set in stone for that to happen as yet. Bearing in mind the various engineering blockades affecting Aylesbury in the coming weeks, I probably wouldn't expect to see 168329 back out in traffic as a Hybrid unit. It's currently stabled in the south sidings at Aylesbury.

Ah, I didn’t realise that, thanks!

 

[BanburyBlue]

So, thinking this through, how many units do a company like Chiltern have as spares, i.e. over and above what they need for day to day operational service? From other posts, I get the impression that Chiltern are short of units, but then looking at the top of the thread where they send a spare unit attached, just in case of a failure.

 

[AJDesiro]

So, thinking this through, how many units do a company like Chiltern have as spares, i.e. over and above what they need for day to day operational service? From other posts, I get the impression that Chiltern are short of units, but then looking at the top of the thread where they send a spare unit attached, just in case of a failure.

There’s currently ongoing engineering works so less units are required.

 

[Liam L]

There’s currently ongoing engineering works so less units are required.

Only for this week. back to normal next week

 

[CR165022]

Only for this week. back to normal next week

Less units still required next week as both Aylesbury lines are shut

 

[Liam L]

Less units still required next week as both Aylesbury lines are shut

Ah right, I only had the Leamington block in mind

 

[12LDA28C]

So, thinking this through, how many units do a company like Chiltern have as spares, i.e. over and above what they need for day to day operational service? From other posts, I get the impression that Chiltern are short of units, but then looking at the top of the thread where they send a spare unit attached, just in case of a failure.

None. Can you imagine the carnage on the WCML if the unit being sent to Wolverton failed? That's why they attach another unit, especially as often the unit heading to Wolverton might have an engine out or collision damage or whatever.

 

[BanburyBlue]

None. Can you imagine the carnage on the WCML if the unit being sent to Wolverton failed? That's why they attach another unit, especially as often the unit heading to Wolverton might have an engine out or collision damage or whatever.

Sorry - can you explain ‘none’.

surely that’s down to the level of risk? If you follow that logic, every train on the network would be doubled up just in case.

 

[AJDesiro]

Sorry - can you explain ‘none’.

surely that’s down to the level of risk? If you follow that logic, every train on the network would be doubled up just in case.

Surely it has something to do with that particular unit being unreliable as a result of its issue (I don’t know for sure). The disruption on the WCML with a failed unit would be extraordinary, so it’s sensible to have a back up unit.

 

[12LDA28C]

Sorry - can you explain ‘none’.

surely that’s down to the level of risk? If you follow that logic, every train on the network would be doubled up just in case.

Chiltern is very short on fleet availability currently. Again, units generally get sent to Wolverton after suffering a serious mechanical failure (which can't be fixed at Aylesbury) or after being involved in a collision or suchlike. Therefore they are accompanied by another unit as insurance and as I mentioned previously, to mitigate the risk of failing on an extremely busy section of railway, ie the southern end of the WCML where a Chiltern train 'sitting down' would affect many different passenger and freight operators which is not generally the case if one of Chiltern's own units sits down on its own network.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2023 ==

Surely it has something to do with that particular unit being unreliable as a result of its issue (I don’t know for sure). The disruption on the WCML with a failed unit would be extraordinary, so it’s sensible to have a back up unit.

Yes indeed. The very nature of the reason for sending a unit to Wolverton would indicate there was an increased risk of failure not present on a unit running in normal passenger or ECS service.

 

[Vanmanyo]

Therefore they are accompanied by another unit as insurance and as I mentioned previously, to mitigate the risk of failing on an extremely busy section of railway, ie the southern end of the WCML where a Chiltern train 'sitting down' would affect many different passenger and freight operators which is not generally the case if one of Chiltern's own units sits down on its own network.

I've seen several Chiltern units go to Wolverton/Crewe by themselves before though so surely there must be reason 8001 had a partner, it must be unreliable due to that broken exhaust? I see why they would do it but I believe other Chiltern 168s have been to Wolverton by themselves, or is this a more recent change because they believe units are more unreliable? Says all you need to know about the reliability of the fleet if they can't trust a unit to get to Wolverton!

How many 168s are currently out of service or away from the CML?
I know 168329 is obviously, 168112 has that long standing issue, 168001 is in for repairs and 168003 is having the first refurbishment/refresh or whatever we are going to call it. I'm sure there's a few more for repairs or general maintenance but those are the only outstanding ones I can think of! Maybe Chiltern could afford to send another unit out which I think is what was previously discussed, with the Aylesbury culvert and the major engineering works that happened.

 

[150219]

I've seen several Chiltern units go to Wolverton/Crewe by themselves before though so surely there must be reason 8001 had a partner, it must be unreliable due to that broken exhaust? I see why they would do it but I believe other Chiltern 168s have been to Wolverton by themselves, or is this a more recent change because they believe units are more unreliable? Says all you need to know about the reliability of the fleet if they can't trust a unit to get to Wolverton!

How many 168s are currently out of service or away from the CML?
I know 168329 is obviously, 168112 has that long standing issue, 168001 is in for repairs and 168003 is having the first refurbishment/refresh or whatever we are going to call it. I'm sure there's a few more for repairs or general maintenance but those are the only outstanding ones I can think of! Maybe Chiltern could afford to send another unit out which I think is what was previously discussed, with the Aylesbury culvert and the major engineering works that happened.

168003 is having collision repairs at Crewe, 168216 is at Wolverton for a wheelset change, 168219 is at Crewe for TPWS upgrades and 168112 is awaiting a gearbox change. 168001 was accompanied by another unit because it had an engine isolated on one of the driving end vehicles, so that vehicle was boxed in.

 

[12LDA28C]

I've seen several Chiltern units go to Wolverton/Crewe by themselves before though so surely there must be reason 8001 had a partner, it must be unreliable due to that broken exhaust? I see why they would do it but I believe other Chiltern 168s have been to Wolverton by themselves, or is this a more recent change because they believe units are more unreliable? Says all you need to know about the reliability of the fleet if they can't trust a unit to get to Wolverton!

It would depend entirely on the reason for the unit needing attention. For example units are currently being sent to Crewe or Bristol for removal of ATP and TPWS4 fitment and they would not need another unit accompanying them.

 

[Vanmanyo]

It would depend entirely on the reason for the unit needing attention. For example units are currently being sent to Crewe or Bristol for removal of ATP and TPWS4 fitment and they would not need another unit accompanying them.

True, but usually they only go to Wolverton for repairs, no?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Aug 2023 ==

168003 is having collision repairs at Crewe, 168216 is at Wolverton for a wheelset change, 168219 is at Crewe for TPWS upgrades and 168112 is awaiting a gearbox change. 168001 was accompanied by another unit because it had an engine isolated on one of the driving end vehicles, so that vehicle was boxed in.

Ah thanks; 8003 is also being refurbished too.

 

[12LDA28C]

True, but usually they only go to Wolverton for repairs, no?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Aug 2023 ==

That's right

 

[CR165022]

There's a Wolverton to Wembley LMD path in for tomorrow, which I'm assuming will be 168216 returning? I don't think 168001 would be ready yet.

 

[Vanmanyo]

There's a Wolverton to Wembley LMD path in for tomorrow, which I'm assuming will be 168216 returning? I don't think 168001 would be ready yet.

Must have been as its in service today: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G55770/2023-08-23