GWR Class 230 Information, Movements & Discussion.

[TurboMan]

Is that yet another traction mode that the Class 230 units now have branched into?

Yes, diesel, battery, steam, solar, and (so I'm led to believe) they can also be driven using The Force.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Don’t forget bionic duckweed.

 

[Benjwri]

230004 was running round Reading depot yesterday under its own steam.

I have noticed fo storaged units, they move around an aweful lot within the depot.

 

[Trainguy34]

Yes, diesel, battery, steam, solar, and (so I'm led to believe) they can also be driven using The Force.

Or they can (and probably will be) driven by passengers pushing the train forward

 

[FGW_DID]

I have noticed fo storaged units, they move around an aweful lot within the depot.

They haven‘t moved that much since arrival. They need to be moved every two weeks so that the PW team can access the track for routine inspection. Anything above that will likely be training depot staff, as yesterdays little move was.

 

[D365]

Or they can (and probably will be) driven by passengers pushing the train forward

A Flintstone reference?

 

[Trainguy34]

A Flintstone reference?

No actually!

 

[Benjwri]

They haven‘t moved that much since arrival. They need to be moved every two weeks so that the PW team can access the track for routine inspection. Anything above that will likely be training depot staff, as yesterdays little move was.

Fair enough, I they just seem to be in a different place every time I go past!

 

[TurboMan]

Fair enough, I they just seem to be in a different place every time I go past!

Apart from the move this week, they've been on West 7 East ever since they were delivered, because no-one's been able to get them to move before now.

 

[800301]

The rails have now been installed and Rail Adventure drivers have been out route learning so looks like something will be happening soon

 

[Techniquest]

Good to see some progress with the infrastructure, not long to go until the trial begins

 

[anthony263]

I'm looking forward to seeing it in action

 

[TurboMan]

Still lots of testing of the train and the battery banks going on at Long Marston. Likely to be at least a couple of months before it arrives at Reading, then onto West Ealing.

 

[JN114]

Good to see some progress with the infrastructure, not long to go until the trial begins

Whilst the rails are installed, there’s nothing in the compound behind where the charging equipment is to be installed.

 

[Techniquest]

Whilst the rails are installed, there’s nothing in the compound behind where the charging equipment is to be installed.

Fair enough, but it's still good to see progress This trial has the potential to be a piece of really good news for the railway, and I'm really keen to try it out. A trip to London to sample it as soon as possible will be made, no question of it.

 

[Woods]

Whilst the rails are installed, there’s nothing in the compound behind where the charging equipment is to be installed.

That's because one of the trackside charging containers is at Long Marston being used to complete train testing. The other one is up in Sheffield being upgraded for various reasons. Eventually both of them will end up down at West Ealing.

 

[12LDA28C]

Still lots of testing of the train and the battery banks going on at Long Marston. Likely to be at least a couple of months before it arrives at Reading, then onto West Ealing.

Testing happening yesterday, specifically ensuring that fast charging of the unit doesn't interfere with S&T systems or anything else electrical, and vice versa.

 

[TurboMan]

Mainline test runs with 230001 on the North Cotswolds line are planned for Monday 4th to Friday 8th December, and for Monday 11th to Wednesday 13th. Then on Thursday 14th, the unit moves to Reading TCD via Oxford.

 

[50002Superb]

Mainline test runs with 230001 on the North Cotswolds line are planned for Monday 4th to Friday 8th December, and for Monday 11th to Wednesday 13th. Then on Thursday 14th, the unit moves to Reading TCD via Oxford.

Which part of the North Cotswold Line please?

 

[Wyrleybart]

Which part of the North Cotswold Line please?

I'd guess for Long Marston - Evesham - Moreton in the Marsh and back a couple of times a day

 

[norbitonflyer]

I'd guess for Long Marston - Evesham - Moreton in the Marsh and back a couple of times a day

Any update on when to expect it in service at West Ealing? Post 133 upthread suggested December was still possible

 

[12LDA28C]

Any update on when to expect it in service at West Ealing? Post 133 upthread suggested December was still possible

I think December is beyond unlikely. Is the infrastructure in place, tested and operational? Have GWR drivers, fitters and other staff been trained? I suspect not.

 

[TurboMan]

Any update on when to expect it in service at West Ealing? Post 133 upthread suggested December was still possible

It won't be December. Likely to be some ECS movements on the Greenford branch in January, but any passenger service will need GWR drivers to be trained and there is no agreement to do so as yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Nov 2023 ==

I'd guess for Long Marston - Evesham - Moreton in the Marsh and back a couple of times a day

That's the route, but no diagrams as yet, so the number of trips per day is still tbc.

 

[50002Superb]

Ok, thanks

 

[3RDGEN]

Any update on when to expect it in service at West Ealing? Post 133 upthread suggested December was still possible

There's an article in the December issue of "Today's Railway UK" that details a talk given by David Horton of GWR to the IMechE recently which quotes Spring 2024.

"https://www.platform5.com/Catalogue/Todays-Railways-UK/Todays-Railways-UK-262-December-2023-TRUK262" -

"Batteries Included for West Ealing to Greenford: Great Western Railway is preparing to start using its fast-charge battery Class 230 unit on the West Ealing to Greenford branch from spring next year. David Horton, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the project for GWR provided an update on this exciting project to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in October."

 

[RacsoMoquette]

I really do hope that the trial is successful It would be so lovely to see 230003/4/5 converted also

 

[3RDGEN]

I really do hope that the trial is successful It would be so lovely to see 230003/4/5 converted also

Difficult to see how it can't be a success on a self contained 4 mile branch line running ever 30 minutes, if batteries can't do that then we are in trouble. They claim a 60 mile range so biggest issue is can the unit get to or from Reading for maintenance on the battery.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Difficult to see how it can't be a success on a self contained 4 mile branch line running ever 30 minutes, if batteries can't do that then we are in trouble. They claim a 60 mile range so biggest issue is can the unit get to or from Reading for maintenance on the battery.

Does seem an easy/obvious job for a battery 230 on many of the Thames branches.

I feel a class 18 (or any other loco) coming on for moves to Reading. Lets not rule out how they got to Reading - road. But I wonder if a depot nearer London might come about eventually.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

They claim a 60 mile range so biggest issue is can the unit get to or from Reading for maintenance on the battery.

Isn't West Ealing to Reading only around 30 miles?
If the battery can't do half its capacity that's surely a problem

 

[RacsoMoquette]

If we do see more battery trains created out of ex D78 Stock cars. Will GWR convert them, and will they be still designated Class 230s as apparently in the December edition of Todays Railways their are still enough D78 bodyshells to create at least seventeen three car units for branch line utilisation.