Class 185 - Fuel Economy

[matacaster]

I seem to recall that fuel saving was introduced on 185's by shutting down one engine. Is this policy still in place and does the driver override it to make up lost time?

The reason I ask is whether the considerable power available with all engines working is being used to reduce some of the delays which seem to be endemic in the new timetables or is money being saved by using less fuel?

 

[_toommm_]

Certainly seems like it - on my travels from Manchester you Sheffield there is no noise from the engine and little to no vibrations. This is especially prominent on that route as its rather flat.

 

[Overspeed110]

Certainly seems like it - on my travels from Manchester you Sheffield there is no noise from the engine and little to no vibrations. This is especially prominent on that route as its rather flat.

It's rather flat?????
The 185s are restricted to 70/75 on that route, that's probably why they only use 2 engines.

 

[_toommm_]

It's rather flat?????
The 185s are restricted to 70/75 on that route, that's probably why they only use 2 engines.

I really don’t know why I worded it like I did, but the Cleethorpes to Airport topography is flat I.e. not hilly

 

[GW43125]

They do still use it. I've had it happen to me leaving man airport where one engine shut down. Someone thought we'd failed!

However I'm told that they disabled it during the recent hot spell so there was increased power available to run the aircon.

 

[Domh245]

I really don’t know why I worded it like I did, but the Cleethorpes to Airport topography is flat I.e. not hilly

Perhaps on the whole, but between Manchester and Sheffield, it's very hilly indeed (near enough 1:100 up to edale and then the same all the way back down to stockport)

 

[driver9000]

Eco mode is not mandatory and its use seems to have fallen with most units now running with it switched off. The Driver has control of it through the TMS where they can switch it on or off. When it's on it will shut an engine down (cycled for balance) at predetermined points and the Speed set function (cruise control) will also shut an engine down but this isn't linked to Eco mode. It's not advised to use it on the Scottish services over Shap and Beattock due to the steep climbs.

During hot weather Drivers are advised not to use Eco to reduce strain on the engine providing cross feed power to the shut down car for the air conditioning.

 

[_toommm_]

This all sounds quite strange as whenever i travel on the 185s on the Hope Valley the engine is always off. I can only really remember one time it was on, and I was so used to it being off it came as quite a surprise to me.

 

[The Ham]

Perhaps on the whole, but between Manchester and Sheffield, it's very hilly indeed (near enough 1:100 up to edale and then the same all the way back down to stockport)

In road terms 1:100 is flat (anything flatter and drainage starts to be a problem), for instance most footways have a gradient towards the road of 1:40 and the roads have a similar fall from the middle of the road to the channel line.

 

[edwin_m]

In road terms 1:100 is flat (anything flatter and drainage starts to be a problem), for instance most footways have a gradient towards the road of 1:40 and the roads have a similar fall from the middle of the road to the channel line.

That may be so but in railway terms 1:100 is fairly steep.

 

[FQTV]

Class 185s operating down services generally seem to arrive at Durham with the rear carriage engine shut down, and quite a lot of up services seem to likewise.

They restart during the dwell; down services also seem to chuck out quite a bit of clag during the process - anecdotally more-so than ups.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Drivers eco payments stopped some time ago. They now have no incentive to run in eco mode so many don't. If an engine isn't running more often than not it's because that engine has been isolated.

There's no set pattern as to which engine shuts down in eco 2 at a given location or route. The TMS rotates the engines once speed set has been activated so a different one is shut down each time, thereby evening out drive train, engine and starter wear.

 

[driver9000]

Drivers eco payments stopped some time ago. They now have no incentive to run in eco mode so many don't.

The payment is still made. Most recently about 2 months ago.