Class 505 / 506 (non) preservation...why please ?

[Townsend Hook]

I've always felt that the potential of batteries for running EMUs is something the heritage sector should look into more. It's probably a good idea to brush up on their green cred...

It’s something several organisations have explored. AIUI the main barriers are cost (of course), because a big bank of batteries and bespoke control electronics don’t come cheap, and integrating it all into the vehicle in a sensitive fashion.

 

[Steve B]

There are two basic requirements for anything to be preserved 1) the will 2) the funding.

One could also add "the luck" for some "items" to survive long enough for either or both of the requirements to be present.

Sadly there are far more items awaiting restoration / preservation than there are either the funds or the will and thus lost for ever.

Perhaps another thing to add is that you need somewhere to keep it - most preserved lines are short on storage and siding space, and EMUs are large! Ideally items like these should be kept under cover and secure from vandalism - which all adds to the expense.

 

[Magdalia]

I've always felt that the potential of batteries for running EMUs is something the heritage sector should look into more.

Always? Really? The potential for running EMUs with batteries is very recent and definitely was not an option for class 505 or class 506. It is just about becoming feasible for the current cohort of withdrawals.

This should be where the museums step in ideally, as a kind of duty to preserve history. Places like the London Transport Museum seem to do this pretty well, telling the story of everyday transport.

Watching "Secrets of the London Underground" it is clear that the London Transport Museum is way ahead of anyone else in EMU preservation. The National Railway Museum surely has some lessons to learn from them?

 

[Mat17]

I do wonder if EMUs will one day come into their own - especially going down the battery route.

I understand the current argument that visitors to heritage railways want steam, the preserved railways want trains they can run under their own power.

Twenty to thirty years from now, the green restrictions might be way stricter and coal might be much harder to come by - this is not speculation, it's already happening. It could be the case that the NRM and other heritage lines end up with a lot of static steam engines (and maybe even diesels) that they cannot afford to run, or maybe are not permitted to run.

Will EMUs become a viable alternative?

 

[eldomtom2]

Always? Really? The potential for running EMUs with batteries is very recent and definitely was not an option for class 505 or class 506. It is just about becoming feasible for the current cohort of withdrawals.

You're making quite a lot of assumptions about me here...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jul 2023 ==

Will EMUs become a viable alternative?

If battery conversion is feasible for historic (i.e. not freshly withdrawn) EMUs, then I'd say definitely.

 

[Steve B]

Quite possibly the older units, with their luggage compartments at least have space for the batteries...

 

[JKF]

…or stick something that looks a bit like a brake tender on one end, with jump leads going to the pantograph/shoe…

 

[D365]

…or stick something that looks a bit like a brake tender on one end, with jump leads going to the pantograph/shoe…

A lot of engineering and safety paperwork required first!