Class 387

[physics34]

The seat bases look spongier...... off course, could be an optical illusion.

 

[RobShipway]

I'm wondering if DC testing is going to get done first then AC testing will be done on GWML. The reason behind me thinking this is there was GWR Reading staff (was on their hi vis) on board. Would then make sense.

Technically the testing can be anything. All that matters is its fault free and has a path! Note the 387 testing has been AC mon/fri and DC tues/wed/thurs.

Could it be that the training being done to the GWR staff is someone that knows the route from Bletchley to Brighton and as you say then the testing perhaps will be done GWML from Paddington to Southall prior to their introduction in September?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Idle curiosity - what's with the odd opening window - is it one or two per carriage ? They look terrible from both inside and out.

It doesn't appear to be sufficient for significant ventilation either in motion or when stationary.

 

[swt_passenger]

Could it be that the training being done to the GWR staff is someone that knows the route from Bletchley to Brighton and as you say then the testing perhaps will be done GWML from Paddington to Southall prior to their introduction in September?

It would take a heck of a long time to get the mileage up to normal values for fault free running checks (so many 1000's of miles) on such a short route, (especially in the busy Paddington approaches) and AIUI that's why they usually run Bletchley > Wembley > Crewe and back.

All the necessary Q paths are still in the system, so I'd be very surprised if they don't end up in Crewe eventually as we'd normally see.

 

[physics34]

Idle curiosity - what's with the odd opening window - is it one or two per carriage ? They look terrible from both inside and out.

It doesn't appear to be sufficient for significant ventilation either in motion or when stationary.

the trains are air conditioned. These odd windows can be used for ventilation when the AC fails.

 

[Class377/5]

Could it be that the training being done to the GWR staff is someone that knows the route from Bletchley to Brighton and as you say then the testing perhaps will be done GWML from Paddington to Southall prior to their introduction in September?

A engineer wouldn't know the route. Looks more like they are doing advance training of depot staff as its going to be extremely tight to get the trains in service for the right date especially as drivers haven't done practical handing yet.

Idle curiosity - what's with the odd opening window - is it one or two per carriage ? They look terrible from both inside and out.

It doesn't appear to be sufficient for significant ventilation either in motion or when stationary.

Same as all other Electrostars and the GWR ones, bar colours are the same as all other 387/1 and /2s.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think the emergency opening windows look rather more obvious on the recent units without the ribbon glazing, because the various rubber seals are a bit more prominent.

In my experience it is incredibly rare for them to be opened, I suspect the aircon is pretty reliable generally?

 

[Domh245]

In my experience it is incredibly rare for them to be opened, I suspect the aircon is pretty reliable generally?

Or because the guard (where they are still on a service) can't get to the windows to unlock them?

 

[47802]

the trains are air conditioned. These odd windows can be used for ventilation when the AC fails.

I'm sure Philip Phlopp is aware of that, personally I welcome an emergency ventilator, it probably stands out more on the GWR units as there is no dark band around the windows like the other 387 colour schemes.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

the trains are air conditioned. These odd windows can be used for ventilation when the AC fails.

Yeah, I know they're air conditioned, but none of the other new air conditioned stock has such windows, the refurbished Class 321 stock doesn't even keep a spare hopper window fitting and none of the Turbostar stock, which is air conditioned, features an opening hopper window, including the Class 172 which does away with the ribbon glazing.

It's an oddity unique to the Electrostar stock, and something which wasn't designed out of the stock when they did away with ribbon glazing. Just curious as to why, really.

 

[Class377/5]

I'm sure Philip Phlopp is aware of that, personally I welcome an emergency ventilator, it probably stands out more on the GWR units as there is no dark band around the windows like the other 387 colour schemes.

The white GTR 387/1 have a black band just like the green GWR 387/1 (black is a rubber insert rather than livery detail) and the 387/2. Only difference is the GWR units are a dark colour to begin with.

Yeah, I know they're air conditioned, but none of the other new air conditioned stock has such windows, the refurbished Class 321 stock doesn't even keep a spare hopper window fitting and none of the Turbostar stock, which is air conditioned, features an opening hopper window, including the Class 172 which does away with the ribbon glazing.

It's an oddity unique to the Electrostar stock, and something which wasn't designed out of the stock when they did away with ribbon glazing. Just curious as to why, really.

Because replacing glazing takes longer and is more expensive to repair so is bad for the passenger, TOC and ROSCOs.

 

[physics34]

Yeah, I know they're air conditioned, but none of the other new air conditioned stock has such windows, the refurbished Class 321 stock doesn't even keep a spare hopper window fitting and none of the Turbostar stock, which is air conditioned, features an opening hopper window, including the Class 172 which does away with the ribbon glazing.

It's an oddity unique to the Electrostar stock, and something which wasn't designed out of the stock when they did away with ribbon glazing. Just curious as to why, really.

ha ha sorry i didnt mean to misjudge your question, i just read it to mean you didnt know ha ha.

Funnily enough Class 171s do have the odd opening hopper. It seems to be a "southern" thing.

AS 377/5 said, im sure ribbon glazing takes up to 24 hours to replace due to the "glue" thats used, whereas the other type are prefabricated windows that can be fitted quickly.

Im not sure why 375s/377(1-5)s/170s/171s were chosen to have ribbon glazing. Maybe its cheaper?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

ha ha sorry i didnt mean to misjudge your question, i just read it to mean you didnt know ha ha.

Funnily enough Class 171s do have the odd opening hopper. It seems to be a "southern" thing.

AS 377/5 said, im sure ribbon glazing takes up to 24 hours to replace due to the "glue" thats used, whereas the other type are prefabricated windows that can be fitted quickly.

Im not sure why 375s/377(1-5)s/170s/171s were chosen to have ribbon glazing. Maybe its cheaper?

No, still just the ventilator windows I'm interested in and why it was kept after the move away from ribbon glazing. I knew the ribbon glazing was dropped because of the replacement time (and the fact it's a bit of a water trap which causes corrosion issues on the bodyshells).

 

[47802]

The white GTR 387/1 have a black band just like the green GWR 387/1 (black is a rubber insert rather than livery detail) and the 387/2. Only difference is the GWR units are a dark colour to begin with.


.

I'm not entirely sure what you are refereeing to there, but as far as I can see yes the GWR units are a darker colour to start with, but the metalwork between the windows is green coloured and has no contrast with the rest of the bodywork and hence the windows and hopper window tends to stand out a bit more.

While such as the Gatwick Units the metal work is black between the Windows giving a contrasting band which tends to hide the shape of the windows to some degree, and potentially give it more of a ribbon glazing type look.

 

[N228PF]

Interesting to see a lack of step plates under the doors. Or maybe I'm
Just blind

 

[Class455]

So I went to Purley today, and albeit a few minutes early, 387 131 turned up on test! The train was being driven by a Freightliner driver. All the tables were covered up in cardboard but will look very nice when they receive their branding. Also put up a video of it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR-eWZZHC8M

 

[Class377/5]

Interesting to see a lack of step plates under the doors. Or maybe I'm
Just blind

Ths has been the case for testing of all the 387s.

So I went to Purley today, and albeit a few minutes early, 387 131 turned up on test! The train was being driven by a Freightliner driver. All the tables were covered up in cardboard but will look very nice when they receive their branding. Also put up a video of it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR-eWZZHC8M

Have a look back a couple of pages and you'll see my photos for both 130/131 that were running (plus an uncovered table shot).

 

[RobShipway]

A engineer wouldn't know the route. Looks more like they are doing advance training of depot staff as its going to be extremely tight to get the trains in service for the right date especially as drivers haven't done practical handing yet.



Same as all other Electrostars and the GWR ones, bar colours are the same as all other 387/1 and /2s.

Okay, thanks.

 

[Class455]

Ths has been the case for testing of all the 387s.



Have a look back a couple of pages and you'll see my photos for both 130/131 that were running (plus an uncovered table shot).

I saw. Good photos as well!

 

[tsr]

Funnily enough Class 171s do have the odd opening hopper. It seems to be a "southern" thing.

Indeed they do - well, some of them. Even that's changing now! The ex-170s won't have them.

 

[physics34]

Indeed they do - well, some of them. Even that's changing now! The ex-170s won't have them.

so i hear ha ha. Out of service if an engine fails!

 

[ChristopherJ]

I had GEX 387223 on the Sutton Loop tonight. How long have 387s been doing loop locals?

Can't complain, anything is better than a decript 319!

Photo: 387223 at Sutton working 2V26 2012 to Bedford.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Schnuzelbug1/status/753669778926080000

 

[tsr]

so i hear ha ha. Out of service if an engine fails!

Alas, yes. Lots of fun and games to be had...

 

[Class377/5]

I had GEX 387223 on the Sutton Loop tonight. How long have 387s been doing loop locals?

Can't complain, anything is better than a decript 319!

Photo: 387223 at Sutton working 2V26 2012 to Bedford.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Schnuzelbug1/status/753669778926080000

Been 387s on Sutton and Sevenoaks services since December. However increase in 700 diagrams have displaces 6 387 diagrams onto 6 319 diagrams.

 

[fgwrich]

No, still just the ventilator windows I'm interested in and why it was kept after the move away from ribbon glazing. I knew the ribbon glazing was dropped because of the replacement time (and the fact it's a bit of a water trap which causes corrosion issues on the bodyshells).

I would almost suspect it to be more related to the corrosion issues with the Bombardier built stock (the issues with the 357s spring to mind) and cost of the ribbon glazing in general than the replacement time - the opposite scenario seems to be happening within the bus world at the moment with Gasket (Same as the 387s) and Ribbon Glazing falling in and out of operator choices for many years, but now most vehicles - Alexander Dennins in particular - only come with quick release / repair Ribbon Glazing.

 

[47802]

I would almost suspect it to be more related to the corrosion issues with the Bombardier built stock (the issues with the 357s spring to mind) and cost of the ribbon glazing in general than the replacement time - the opposite scenario seems to be happening within the bus world at the moment with Gasket (Same as the 387s) and Ribbon Glazing falling in and out of operator choices for many years, but now most vehicles - Alexander Dennins in particular - only come with quick release / repair Ribbon Glazing.

Well all the Train Manufacturers building trains for the UK are not using Ribbon Glazing at present.

 

[fgwrich]

Well all the Train Manufacturers building trains for the UK are not using Ribbon Glazing at present.

While that's True, but it was only really Bombardier who used it from the start in the first place until the arrival of the 379s. None of the Siemens stock came over with it, only the Gat Ex Specced Junipers had it from Alstom and the CAF / Siemens units were built around the same time as Adtranz started to use it.

 

[47802]

While that's True, but it was only really Bombardier who used it from the start in the first place until the arrival of the 379s. None of the Siemens stock came over with it, only the Gat Ex Specced Junipers had it from Alstom and the CAF / Siemens units were built around the same time as Adtranz started to use it.

There is also the NIR CAF DMU's while it looks like the new Arriva units wont have it, also from the limited photo's I have seen so far of the new Aventra units it doesn't look like they will retain the emergency ventilators used on the 387's.

 

[swt_passenger]

0906 Bletchley TMD to Wembley EFOC:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P90327/2016/07/15/advanced

ran this morning, it's the usual precursor to this trip to Crewe, starts at 1033:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P90328/2016/07/15/advanced

...which was activated this morning, and is now showing in progress as of 1045.

Could be an AC test run if anyone is in the area to see it?

 

[swt class 450]

Does anyone know if there are any FGW 387s on test on the Brighton to Gatwick Airport line today?