Class 455 with AC Motors

[swt_passenger]

RAIB bulletin on the problem in the equipment cubicle on the Guildford unit, they have apparently worked out what was the cause:

The traction equipment involved was of the new design and the mechanism which caused the explosion was believed to be understood by the industry parties involved. Similar, smaller explosions, have occurred on at least two previous occasions where debris scatter was much more confined. The previous occurrences had been attributed to a manufacturing defect, leading to a build-up of explosive gas within the traction equipment. Industry parties were in the process of devising possible solutions to the problem at the time of the 7 July accident and are continuing to do so.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/explosion-inside-an-equipment-case-guildford

 

[Bromley boy]

I just spotted the below article on The Times website. I believe it's referring to upgraded 455s and sounds pretty serious if true.

Does anyone have any inside knowledge?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/...west-trains-services-after-upgrades-s7c28hctv

An investigation has been launched into explosions on newly refurbished commuter trains, including one blast that fired debris several metres into a railway station car park.
Rail accident investors revealed yesterday that explosions had been reported on three services operated by South West Trains, Britain’s busiest railway network. They were caused by a build-up of gas caused by a manufacturing defect.
All incidents are believed to be linked to a programme of upgrading the traction systems on electric trains used on the network, which covers a wide area of London, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire

 

[DY444]

RAIB bulletin on the problem in the equipment cubicle on the Guildford unit, they have apparently worked out what was the cause:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/explosion-inside-an-equipment-case-guildford

Takes me back to the early days of AC emus and the exploding Class 303s.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

How chunky a piece of metal is the cover that blew off?

 

[Great_Western]

Nice to see the SWT franchise going out with a bang

 

[AndrewE]

RAIB bulletin on the problem in the equipment cubicle on the Guildford unit, they have apparently worked out what was the cause:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/explosion-inside-an-equipment-case-guildford

I am intrigued, & it's a pity they are so evasive about "a build-up of explosive gas within the traction equipment."
If it's DC stock we are not talking about gases from transformer oil or windings/insulation, so is it something boiling off circuit breakers, lacquered coils or other hot components?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I am intrigued, & it's a pity they are so evasive about "a build-up of explosive gas within the traction equipment."
If it's DC stock we are not talking about gases from transformer oil or windings/insulation, so is it something boiling off circuit breakers, lacquered coils or other hot components?

455 901 is one of those that have been re-tractioned with inverters and AC traction motors.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

As afar as I know, the following have been done

5701-5742, 5750
5850, 5853-5859, 5861-5862, 5866-5870
5901-5912, 5914-5920

Any additions, amendments etc welcome

 

[Class455]

As afar as I know, the following have been done

5701-5742, 5750
5850, 5853-5859, 5861-5862, 5866-5870
5901-5912, 5914-5920

Any additions, amendments etc welcome

5847-5849, 5860 and 5864 will be amongst the last to be done.

 

[TEW]

As afar as I know, the following have been done

5701-5742, 5750
5850, 5853-5859, 5861-5862, 5866-5870
5901-5912, 5914-5920

Any additions, amendments etc welcome

5852 has been done too.

 

[rebmcr]

Has there been any pause in conversion pending the investigations into the traction explosions?

 

[TEW]

No, if you read the RAIB bulletin on the issue it states that the cause of the explosion is known and has been remedied.

 

[rebmcr]

No, if you read the RAIB bulletin on the issue it states that the cause of the explosion is known and has been remedied.

Err... nope.

The traction equipment involved was of the new design and the mechanism which caused the explosion was believed to be understood by the industry parties involved. [...] Industry parties were in the process of devising possible solutions to the problem at the time of the 7 July accident and are continuing to do so.

 

[TEW]

It was elsewhere I read that then. It was put down to some faulty parts that were only fitted to a few units. The affected units were withdrawn from service pending repairs, but it has not slowed to progress of conversions.

 

[Class455]

455 847 is now retractioned, seen at Clapham Junction this evening. Had 455 913 this evening though and it still had EE507's. Since this is the last unit to be done, I would assume the programme completion is now early September?

860 was not done last I saw it on Friday. As 873 and 864 were done behind it i assume that there are at least 4 units still to be done and 913's going to take a little longer since the carriage was originally a Class 210.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

455 847 is now retractioned, seen at Clapham Junction this evening. Had 455 913 this evening though and it still had EE507's. Since this is the last unit to be done, I would assume the programme completion is now early September?

Then they can start taking them all back in to have the software redone to eliminate the jolt you get when you stop, because it doesn't blend or do the changeover from dynamic braking properly.

Maybe if we're really lucky they may even install some traction control software on too so that they can deal with damp rails or low adhesion properly too.

Tried going up the Cobham line the other day in light drizzle, I nearly required the services of a chiropractor to sort my back out there was so much banging around. :roll:

 

[Driver@swt]

Then they can start taking them all back in to have the software redone to eliminate the jolt you get when you stop, because it doesn't blend or do the changeover from dynamic braking properly.

Maybe if we're really lucky they may even install some traction control software on too so that they can deal with damp rails or low adhesion properly too.

Tried going up the Cobham line the other day in light drizzle, I nearly required the services of a chiropractor to sort my back out there was so much banging around. :roll:

I blame the driver!!

 

[Dstock7080]

455848 looks newly converted

 

[TEW]

455901 is back. Not sure how long it has been back in service but I worked it today.

 

[Bigfoot]

I noticed today that some of the 455s have got ratchet straps wrapped around the new traction packs. I'm guessing this is to stop a reoccurrence of the Guildford incident whilst the faulty batch of capacitors is replaced.

 

[Feathers44]

I noticed today that some of the 455s have got ratchet straps wrapped around the new traction packs. I'm guessing this is to stop a reoccurrence of the Guildford incident whilst the faulty batch of capacitors is replaced.

Saw a lot of those at Clapham yesterday - every unit I saw had them - I was idly wondering what they were for but I didn't make the connection.

 

[Bigfoot]

Saw a lot of those at Clapham yesterday - every unit I saw had them - I was idly wondering what they were for but I didn't make the connection.

From what I noticed it was only the early conversions the 57xx's. The 59xx I saw didn't have them. But then there are more 57xx's than the 8s or 9s.

 

[MatthewRead]

Have all of the SWR 455's got Ac motors now?

 

[TEW]

Have all of the SWR 455's got Ac motors now?

No. The only unit with SWR branding, 5864, still has DC motors. Not sure if there are any others.

 

[Class455]

Is the programme nearly complete yet?

 

[Dstock7080]

No. The only unit with SWR branding, 5864, still has DC motors.

Certainly more than one SWR branded 455 unit running around.

 

[TEW]

Certainly more than one SWR branded 455 unit running around.

Which other units have you seen? I have yet to see any others with the new branding on.

 

[Class455]

455 860 now retractioned. That leaves 873, 864 and 913 to be done.

 

[Class455]

The 455 retractioning project is now complete! Saw 455 913 at Kingston today and it now has Vossloh traction motors. Wonder if the rest will now have to return for mods to stop them exploding.

 

[TEW]

It's not complete. 5864 will be the last unit done, AFAIK it is still in traffic at the moment with DC motors.