Class 172

[Old Hill Bank]

100mph is equivalent to 160.9 (ish) kph.


So that makes the LM ones a bit faster HE HE

 

[RPM]

172001 appeared at Aylesbury depot today - not sure the reason why. I couldn't get a picture as I was driving at the time.

 

[Dampflok]

[8th May] leaving Willesden at 09:00 and arriving at Aylesbury 10:30. Return path, depart Aylesbury 16:30 arrive Willesden 17:40

172 001 went over the road bridge near Princes Risborough station as I drove underneath at 12:23 on Saturday 8th May. As the train I was going to see (5Z15) didn't run to Risborough as planned, I went to Aylesbury instead to find the 172 stabled in the sidings south of the station, according to the crew who had arrived on it, it was due to return to Willesden around 17:00.

Photo here, though not brilliant as access is not easy - photo taken from public area:

http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p64731807.html

Cheers, Geoff

 

[starrymarkb]

Is it coupled to the 168? If so that might mean they are not compatible with 170s

 

[Dampflok]

Despite appearances I don't think it's coupled to the adjacent 168, it had arrived under its own steam, so to speak, and was stabled for a while before returning to Willesden. It may well be that the Chiltern 172s, when they arrive, may be able to couple to existing Chiltern stock to ensure the maximum flexibility of the fleet...

Cheers, Geoff

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Quoting from the 2010 Platform 5 Combined Volume:

Page 237 class 170 multiple working with classes 150, 153, 155, 156, 158, 159 and 172.

Page 242 class 172 multiple working with classes 150, 153, 155, 156, 158, 159 and 170.

 

[branchline]

Saw this unit at Millbrook on its way to Bletchley at 14.30 on Friday. I was the conductor on the LM 150 going to Bedford.

From what I understand LM are planning to run a 172 on the branch when the 150's go to Northern and are running this unit down there to get clearance.

 

[anonymous0101]

Saw it last night and got a good nosey around inside. Its very nice. I can confirm it has the 160 kph top speed. The line its meant to be used on has a 50 mph top speed!

 

[starrymarkb]

Which figures as the medium-long term aim is to wire the Goblin for 378s, that's why (apart from the frightful interior colours) they are pretty much dealer spec to allow for re-homing (ie not laid out like a 378).

 

[asylumxl]

Saw it last night and got a good nosey around inside. Its very nice. I can confirm it has the 160 kph top speed. The line its meant to be used on has a 50 mph top speed!

I have an inkling that there's a reason for it. If they're intended for the Marston Vale line that is...

LM planned to extend their services to MKC, and the platform for the services is already built. But, in order to run on the WCML, they would need to be capable of atleast 100mph...

So... Maybe...

 

[87015]

I have an inkling that there's a reason for it. If they're intended for the Marston Vale line that is...

LM planned to extend their services to MKC, and the platform for the services is already built. But, in order to run on the WCML, they would need to be capable of atleast 100mph...

So... Maybe...

In order to run to MK they need Bletchley to be remodelled, nothing to do with 100mph paths.

 

[asylumxl]

In order to run to MK they need Bletchley to be remodelled, nothing to do with 100mph paths.

Yes, and is that impossibility in the life time of the 172s?

The platform was built on the belief it would be remodeled in the near future.

 

[A60K]

Could a 172 - or any DMU - accelerate to 100mph from Bletchley before having to brake for MKC?

 

[asylumxl]

Could a 172 - or any DMU - accelerate to 100mph from Bletchley before having to brake for MKC?

Highly doubtful. I think I may have imagined it, but I swear NR and TOCs wanted 100mph stock only on the WCML to avoid slowing other services.

Then again, 377s do 90mph on the WCML, so I probably imagined it.

 

[The Planner]

If the had named the bay at MK as originally planned, it would have all become clear....give it 10 years and it will probably will get its proper name.

 

[Fincra5]

Highly doubtful. I think I may have imagined it, but I swear NR and TOCs wanted 100mph stock only on the WCML to avoid slowing other services.

Then again, 377s do 90mph on the WCML, so I probably imagined it.

I thought the 377s went to 100mph (max speed) on the wcml; where possible.

 

[westcoaster]

I have just seen 172001 in the bletchley bay at bedford station, its full off wires and computers, I wonder if 172's will be running the bletchley-bedford service. I say this because so far 001 has been to willesden ( lorols diesel deopt), aylesbury ( home of chilterns units) , so I was wondering if there is a trend starting, off course I could be wrong and 001 is just out on mileage accumilation runs.

 

[swt_passenger]

I just checked LOROL's latest track access application, part of which is for 172 mileage accumulation, and it only includes the WCML Euston to Bletchley.

So it is likely that any other destinations routes are for route clearance.

 

[The Planner]

But unless LOROL are intending to suddenly take over the Bletchley Bedfords, they would be paying for gauge clearance, either that or LM are paying them for it. Ive not heard anything about LM running 172s on the branch.

 

[westcoaster]

But unless LOROL are intending to suddenly take over the Bletchley Bedfords, they would be paying for gauge clearance, either that or LM are paying them for it. Ive not heard anything about LM running 172s on the branch.

Do lorol need 8 units to run the goblin line seems a few to many units, back in the days of silverlink there were iirc 8 150's split between county (3) and metro (5), but all were interchangeable, maybe lorol subleasing 172's to lm.

At the moment the lm 150+153 on the bedford - bletchley line are miles away from tyseley, and if one fails its a long wait for a replacement to come down.

a couple of pictures of 001 in plat 1a at bedford midland

 

[TurboStar_2533]

I have just seen 172001 in the bletchley bay at bedford station, its full off wires and computers, I wonder if 172's will be running the bletchley-bedford service. I say this because so far 001 has been to willesden ( lorols diesel deopt), aylesbury ( home of chilterns units) , so I was wondering if there is a trend starting, off course I could be wrong and 001 is just out on mileage accumilation runs.

172001 is on type test not mileage accumulation and driven by a GBRF driver. All bogies are instrumented and the kit referred to above is essentially logging the instrumentation that will ultimately be used to validate the design. Bedford - Bletchley is bolted joint track >50mph and useful to demonstrate compliance to railway group standards. Last Saturday saw interworking tests between 165 & 168's at Aylesbury a compliance to specification issue rather than speculation of future working. Hope this gives insight to what is 172001 is actually doing.

 

[cardfile]

The exposed section of exhaust either side of the bogie is wrapped in Pyrogel to reduce the exposed area temperatures.

Yes ... could cause some fun with lineside HABD equipment

That whole exhaust configuration looks a bit of a nightmare. I recall the difficulties the Class 180s had with exhaust component connections - hopefully the 172s won't suffer similar reliability problems.

 

[Pumbaa]

I thought the 377s went to 100mph (max speed) on the wcml; where possible.

Yes - they're cleared 100.

 

[swt_passenger]

Do lorol need 8 units to run the goblin line seems a few to many units, back in the days of silverlink there were iirc 8 150's split between county (3) and metro (5), but all were interchangeable, maybe lorol subleasing 172's to lm.

The Goblin is supposed to be going to a 3 or 4 tph service as soon as NR have finished the line upgrades. A peak 4 tph service appears in the next timetable, but I think it needs the Stratford - Camden line to be reopened to take the freight again...

Paul