Diesels

[gordonthemoron]

Do they ever switch the engines off?

I was walking past Nottingham station last Thursday at 3am, way after the last service, the diesels stationed there were still running their engines.

The TOCs now appear to want to be able to run shorter trains off-peak to save emissions (fuel), why don't they just turn the bloody engines off when not in use?

 

[westcoaster]

nottingham station is not far from the EMT depot so the units might of been shunting around or waiting to move on/off the depot for cleaning/tanking/serviceing.

 

[Ben]

I was walking past Nottingham station last Thursday at 3am,

Your brave!

 

[gordonthemoron]

Your brave!

actually it was 2:30, coach had just got in from Leeds and I walked home (down london road, i'm not that brave) to bridgford as I'd have to wait 40 mins for the bus

 

[t0ffeeman]

Most sprinters would shut down after 20 mins so I expect they were being maintained.

 

[asylumxl]

I would assume, like in a car, allowing the engines to idle and slowly cool will reduce wear on components.

Turbochargers are very susceptible to wear from this due to the extreme temperatures involved.

Quick changes of temperature in metal cause them to become weak and brittle, especially if they have high carbon content.

 

[37401]

At birmingham New street the Class 170`s wait at New Street for 14mins then shut there engines down then start up again after 2 mins ready for the xx19 departure, why??? it makes no sence really?

 

[ukrob]

At birmingham New street the Class 170`s wait at New Street for 14mins then shut there engines down then start up again after 2 mins ready for the xx19 departure, why??? it makes no sence really?

Probably because they are set to auto shut down after 15 mins? I don't see why it should be altered just because of a timetable at one particular station

 

[NickM]

Some operators do shut trains downs at stations. Northern often do, I think Virgin shut down the voyagers at Glasgow as well

 

[O L Leigh]

I believe that more modern DMU's such as the Turbostar shut down automatically after a idling for more than a certain period, although I suspect that this is dependent on the reverser being in neutral or the keys being out to activate this function. I certainly know that AXC's Cl170's do this when turning around at Stansted Airport. For older DMU's such as Sprinters and Pacers, this feature does not apply.

I'm not sure whether or not Brum New St is officially classified as a sub-surface station. If it is, it is likely that there is a local instruction requiring the drivers of diesel trains to shut down on arrival, particularly if the train is going to be waiting more than a certain amount of time. Liv St P11-18 certainly have this restriction.

O L Leigh

 

[t0ffeeman]

As soon as a unit shuts down it'll lose air. > low Main Air > Parking Brake applied. If the battery is pants all doors will automatically close/ lights off etc as if unit has been disposed.
Hence its better to keep the things running.... > Key in > Short turnarounds...

 

[Yank 119]

Your brave!

His brave what?

 

[Bittern]

Some operators do shut trains downs at stations. Northern often do, I think Virgin shut down the voyagers at Glasgow as well

All DMUs shut down at Glasgow Central. As for Queen Street, I can't recall atm.

 

[gordonthemoron]

His brave what?

You have to be familiar with the area around Nottingham Station (meadows generally) and disregard the spelling mistake

 

[Pumbaa]

All DMUs shut down at Glasgow Central. As for Queen Street, I can't recall atm.

Only DMUs that shut down at Queen St are WHL units that wait for around 40mins before setting out again, and the 158s that come in off Perth runs. All other units don't because they're out again within 20mins or so.

 

[adc82140]

165s and 166s shut down after 15 minutes- down to emergency lighting, air con (166s) off.