Class 379 on the GN

[slick]

Hi all

Whilst travelling down the A406 I spotted one of our 379 units being towed by what looked like a class 57 loco heading north between bowes park and palmers green, anyone know where it was headed? Was around 15:00 today.

Cheers

 

[ryan125hst]

I'm guessing it's was this path, 1338 Ilford E.M.U.D. to Derby Adtranz Litchurch Lane: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97548/2014/05/14/advanced

I don't know what for though. It could be a unit going for some testing of some description. Have they modified a Class 379 to be battery powered yet, and if so, have they tested it? I heard about this project a while back but all seems to have gone quiet.

 

[user15681]

Hi all

Whilst travelling down the A406 I spotted one of our 379 units being towed by what looked like a class 57 loco heading north between bowes park and palmers green, anyone know where it was headed? Was around 15:00 today.

Cheers

Move was 5X57, 57310 dragging 379013 from Ilford to Derby. That's the unit going to have the battery fitted.

 

[SPADTrap]

I photographed it in the Langford area! As stated above was moving to Derby. Out of interest, I noticed this unit was debranded, understandable if NR have comandeered it, but why are the other GA 379s often debranded?

 

[badassunicorn]

they are being rebranded with the new logo after being hand cleaned =)

 

[O L Leigh]

Passed it around Oakham today.

I didn't catch any numbers but, interestingly for those who have debated the use of Cl57s as "thunderbirds" on EMU routes, what I did notice was that the loco was coupled directly to the unit without the use of any translator or brakeforce vehicles. Clearly there must be some facility for the loco to supply and control the unit's brakes through the autocoupler.

O L Leigh

 

[badassunicorn]

it was pretty cool actually, a dellner coupler folded down from the front of the loco, with an electrical jumper cable with a special attachment to fit directly into the electrical connection block of the 379.

 

[Lockwood]

Passed it around Oakham today.

I didn't catch any numbers but, interestingly for those who have debated the use of Cl57s as "thunderbirds" on EMU routes, what I did notice was that the loco was coupled directly to the unit without the use of any translator or brakeforce vehicles. Clearly there must be some facility for the loco to supply and control the unit's brakes through the autocoupler.

O L Leigh

I thought I read somewhere ages back that NR had "made" some 57 thunderbirds to aid in recovering EMUs?

Edit: Found something http://www.railexpress.co.uk/news/thunderbirds-fly-again-in-yellow
Surely then, it is beyond "debate" and into practice?

 

[Class377/5]

Passed it around Oakham today.

I didn't catch any numbers but, interestingly for those who have debated the use of Cl57s as "thunderbirds" on EMU routes, what I did notice was that the loco was coupled directly to the unit without the use of any translator or brakeforce vehicles. Clearly there must be some facility for the loco to supply and control the unit's brakes through the autocoupler.

O L Leigh

NR have got the 57s to be able to couple directly. You may recall the trails where a 377 was taken around for the day with hotel power supplies by the 57? Basic idea is for emergency situations like trapped in snow you can hook a unit on and keep it warm or drag to safety in a fully compatible mode.

As for the 379, it'll be back in service in the summer testing on electric branch with its pan down (so it can be raised of it fails) before being moved to an unelectified branch for full testing.

 

[Chris125]

I didn't catch any numbers but, interestingly for those who have debated the use of Cl57s as "thunderbirds" on EMU routes, what I did notice was that the loco was coupled directly to the unit without the use of any translator or brakeforce vehicles. Clearly there must be some facility for the loco to supply and control the unit's brakes through the autocoupler.

There's an article about this in The Rail Engineer - 'National Rescue'

"...So the project team (NDS working with Porterbrook and Atkins) concentrated on fitting pressure switches and pickups so that control commands could be sent to the stranded train. Using various adapter cables, the Class 57/3 can now feed 110V power to the EMU and also control both brakes and door opening systems. Compressed air can be fed to the train if its own compressors are offline.

All necessary frames and cables are stored in the old boiler compartment. To connect to the stranded train, the driver handles the loco while the crew oversees the coupling up and other connections. These are best done by two people, removing the need for anyone to duck through under the coupling, so the driver of the stranded train is usually drafted to assist under instruction.

Once connected, there are two possibilities. If the train is completely dead, it can be hauled out to a place of safety at low speed. However, if all systems are running and controlled from the 57/3, then the consist can operate at line speed. Although it will probably only run to the closest station, it is actually quite capable of operating the originally intended service."

Chris

 

[59CosG95]

Move was 5X57, 57310 dragging 379013 from Ilford to Derby. That's the unit going to have the battery fitted.

Evidently the battery lab tests were successful, if they're now fitting them to 379013. As for when in the summer the testing begins, I don't know.