Grand Central Class 43

[2030720310]

Heaton's not the best place to get photos of, unless you have a good zoom and the trees are not in the way which they always seem to be.

it's a good job that he's going to newcastle then...

 

[142094]

it's a good job that he's going to newcastle then...

Is the set even going through Newcastle? Logic would say it goes down the ECML to Heaton. Unless GC are putting them straight back into use?

 

[Adam_Harrison]

I was at the north part of newcastle near the railway :P! Didn't see it though!

 

[142094]

Ah well, thought you might have been have been at Central, would have been waiting a while there then!

 

[BOSCH]

Here you go,bit small though !!

 

[p.d87]

Here you go,bit small though !!

Have to say It looks pretty good although I would have left the light clusters with the all yellow surround rather than one black and one yellow. Looked a lot nicer IMHO.

 

[BOSCH]

Have to say It looks pretty good although I would have left the light clusters with the all yellow surround rather than one black and one yellow. Looked a lot nicer IMHO.

It isnt 1 black 1 yellow,thats just the angle of the photo,both outer lights will have a black surround

 

[p.d87]

It isnt 1 black 1 yellow,thats just the angle of the photo,both outer lights will have a black surround

thats not what I meant. When the two power cars were being transferred to Kilmarnock all the lights had a yellow surround. Theres a youtube video of them at New Cumnock station if you want to see what I mean.

 

[Darandio]

I dont think he needs to look at a video, he might have been driving them!

 

[ainsworth74]

Just passed Heaton southbound on an EC HST from Aberdeen, and saw briefly anyway the repainted GC HST set just poking out of one of the sheds. Looked very smart indeed can't wait to see the full thing for a bit longer than 2 seconds

 

[p.d87]

has anythin been done to the interior or is it just a paint job?

 

[Lampshade]

It certainly makes up for the loss of the Valentas, rather a smart looking train presenting a good company image than a rather bland one with a noisy engine (from the general travelling public POV of course).

 

[142094]

I'm away from home atm, but how many Valentas are still with GC?

 

[Adam_Harrison]

I'm away from home atm, but how many Valentas are still with GC?

I think only 2, I think the next to are on there way to be MTU'ed

 

[Class 33]

Anyone heard any more news on whether GC are to run a farewell to the Valentas?

I'm interested in that too. We really need a farewell tour for these beasts rather than they just bow out quietly. But from what I read there's only TWO Valenta's left now and they are both going to be MTU'd before we know it.

 

[142094]

That's the problem, I'm planning a trip either up to Sunderland or down to the Cross, although will be much harder not knowing in advance if it is likely to be a Valenta'd HST or not.

 

[Adam_Harrison]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arLPxoBtffQ

 

[WillPS]

What about 43089?

 

[Lampshade]

What about 43089?

VP185'd

 

[WillPS]

Oh! Is it back in traffic? Still don't understand why EMT needed it in the first place but there you go.

 

[Lampshade]

Oh! Is it back in traffic? Still don't understand why EMT needed it in the first place but there you go.

My bad actually, it's currently stored at Neville Hill awaiting a VP185.

 

[Crossforth]

43089, I found out when I was there on work ex, is being used as a test bed for future projects being undertaken by EMT. Parts of the engine are sat next to 43089 in the back fitting shop at NL. I'll try and find the pics I took.

EDIT: Here we go

The engine is sat next to 43089 with it's cooler to the right of the photo
It was only taken on my phone

 

[anthony263]

I have heard that Grand central are to run their hst sets with 1 valenta & 1 MTU engined class 43's becuase of problems heating at the depots or something.

Anyway does anyone have any idea when the last 2 valenta fitted class 43's are due to go to be fitted with MTU's?

Cant remember where i read that piece of info, I think it was the GC rail gen group

 

[alanf]

They are indeed running with one of each starting today. As i posted on the GC discussion pages 084 is on the rear of this mornings first southbound.

Alan

 

[WillPS]

43089, I found out when I was there on work ex, is being used as a test bed for future projects being undertaken by EMT. Parts of the engine are sat next to 43089 in the back fitting shop at NL. I'll try and find the pics I took.

EDIT: Here we go

The engine is sat next to 43089 with it's cooler to the right of the photo
It was only taken on my phone

Wow looks pretty sorry for itself. Can't believe how mucky the paintwork looks considering the very short length of time it was in traffic! Is that a Valenta or VP185 to its side (or neither?).

Thanks for the info.

 

[Crossforth]

VP185 and if I had had a better camera I would have taken more pictures but as it was only my phone it was more a reference shot as I knew I would more than likely never see it like that again

 

[96tommy]

Here is 43480!! - http://www.flickr.com/photos/47309173@N06/5001354744/

 

[wensley]

I have heard that Grand central are to run their hst sets with 1 valenta & 1 MTU engined class 43's becuase of problems heating at the depots or something.

Anyway does anyone have any idea when the last 2 valenta fitted class 43's are due to go to be fitted with MTU's?

Cant remember where i read that piece of info, I think it was the GC rail gen group

Indeed 'twas.

Yeh, MTUs need preheat. You need shore supply to preheat. No shore supply at Heaton or Ferme Park. Solution: leave one engine running OR run Valenta/MTU combo.

Chances are Valentas will be gone by December/January if there are no problems at Brush.

It is also likely that 43123 will be paired with 43468 when it comes off repair. The days of pairs of Valentas have probably gone

Here she is at Northallerton:
http://clagmonster.fotopic.net/c1897522.html

 

[43067]

looks fantastic can't wait to travel on it, if i catch the right diagram. which is normally 11:27 northbound and the 09:55 southbound. so have they actually revamped the mk3's interiors or are they the same.

 

[Helvellyn]

I see that the refurbished power cars have a modified window on the cab doors - a new window unit seems to have been fitted that has a bar halfway across. I assume this is to allow the upper have of the window to function as a droplight to allow the Driver to look out without having to open the cab door.