EGIC/ESIC/Schraeder Hose/MRPIC

[TrainBotherer]

Good afternoon,

Please can someone who is in the know explain to me all of the above and how they work. I know what they stand for, but I don't understand what it is exactly that they do and how it all works and what happens with the air and what's gone wrong in the first place in order to require the use of any of this, and what they do to make it right?

I'm particularly interested in Class 15X trains, if that makes any difference.

Thank you in advance.

 

[37057]

It's just a means of connecting air systems between units, usually in rescue situations. Say a BSI fitted unit is rescuing a Dellner fitted unit (or vice versa), you would use a head adapter to physically couple them but these don't have the necessary means to connect air systems, so the emergency air connector would be used. The air would be used to operate air suspension, parking brake release etc.

An example of a time I've used the emergency air connector being when I had to attend a Cl.350 that couldn't 'pan up' after a planned isolation at Corker Hill. Turned out to be a failed auxiliary compressor and ended up using a Cl156 to supply air to get the pan up. Both units had a hose with a schraeder on one end and main res star connector (used on locos, stock, wagons etc) on the other in the emergency equipment cabinet.

Depots may also use them to maintain main res pressure while the unit is dead for certain tasks.

 

[158757]

The Schrader hose can be used to drain air from a vehicle on a 150/1 (and presumably other 15x). As they don't have a valve to take the air out above A and C doors, if the door will not close and you need to drain the air off, the schrader hose is attached under a bay of seats and the entire vehicle drained of air.

 

[pdeaves]

As a matter of interest is 'Schraeder' the type of valve and, if so, the same as found on car and bike tyres?

 

[JModulo]

As a matter of interest is 'Schraeder' the type of valve and, if so, the same as found on car and bike tyres?

Yes.

 

[plugwash]

Is it the same size as the one used on car and bike tyres or is it larger? If the former I would have expected the adapter to be rather fragile.

 

[37057]

More industrial / workshop style quick release airline connector.

 

[LowLevel]

The Schrader hose can be used to drain air from a vehicle on a 150/1 (and presumably other 15x). As they don't have a valve to take the air out above A and C doors, if the door will not close and you need to drain the air off, the schrader hose is attached under a bay of seats and the entire vehicle drained of air.

Later 15x have door reservoir isolation cocks. Under the secondman's side of the cab on 153/156 and in the bog on a 158 if I remember rightly (never had to use them in anger and it was many years since my training which was the last time they were mentioned!).

 

[Eccles1983]

Its used to drain the air off the doors (the schrader) when the doors are required to be locked out of use. Mainly on 150/1 as most 150/2 have individual egress release valves above the offending door.

However, they are impossible to use without grating half the skin off your knuckles.

A much easier way of draining the air is to stick a t-key into the valve, look away and push. It blasts the air out, and also decades of dirt from under the seat. Not an offical means of draining but it will save lots of swearing, sweating and skin.