GWR Class 800

[leomartin125]

Your link to the IEP schedule brings up 1K46.

According to internal railway systems, the IEP was booked off North Pole at 1019 and in to Paddington at 1025. It left North Pole early, and at one stage may have been expected at 10:10, but has only, ever been booked to arrive at 1025.

I have tirelessly said RTT is NOT an authoritive source of information - it is a skim/snapshot of open data sources to provide the public with more detailed timing information. It should never be relied upon, particularly not to judge the actions of others.

This is the IEP link:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97581/2017/03/24/advanced

And I see, thats interesting. I usually use Realtime Trains for many platform related enquiries, and have found it seemingly accurate. I have certainly never experienced this issue before with Realtime Trains, so hence why I was so clueless as to why everything seemed odd on the day. But thanks for the explanation.

The service is due to run again on Monday, but this time the Realtime Trains link gives time for the Bedwyn turbo to depart the platform, utilising a short halt at Royal Oak Sidings along the way:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K06300/2017/03/27/advanced

 

[Sean Emmett]

A good driver = a plymouth driver, u will not reach 125 at goring more like Cholsey with a HST.

Can't comment on the first bit (!) but I have timed 9 trains westbound from Reading since Sep 2016, 8 HSTs and a steam special.

Two of the HSTs were checked, so of the remaining 6:-

- Only 2 actually reached 125 mph.
- speeds through Goring were 119, 117, 117, 120, 119, 120
- speeds through Cholsey were 124, 119, 124, 127, 118, 123

The last run reached 125 just before Cholsey.

Summary logs attachedView attachment 310328 RDG DID HST.pdf

 

[spark001uk]

I have tirelessly said RTT is NOT an authoritive source of information - it is a skim/snapshot of open data sources to provide the public with more detailed timing information. It should never be relied upon, particularly not to judge the actions of others.

Quite right you are. Though I frequently see staff of, let's just say a number of TOCs, using said website to quote its information to customers.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Now that the GWR mainline is energised as far as Maidenhead, will they be allowed to test the 800s on the newly energised section in electric mode straight away (paths permitting)?

 

[leomartin125]

Now that the GWR mainline is energised as far as Maidenhead, will they be allowed to test the 800s on the newly energised section in electric mode straight away (paths permitting)?

We may see a few operations here and there, though I believe it would be better to test the OLE once it's completed through to Reading.

 

[JN114]

Now that the GWR mainline is energised as far as Maidenhead, will they be allowed to test the 800s on the newly energised section in electric mode straight away (paths permitting)?

They don't transit on AC power between North Pole / Paddington and Airport Jn yet - I suspect they won't transit on AC power anywhere on the GW until they've ironed out all the issues they're experiencing / causing on the original test track between Reading and Didcot.

 

[jimm]

Couple of pictures of 800001 out and about on the GWML taken by Martin Loader yesterday, also showing some of the steelwork for the overhead wires around Shrivenham.

http://hondawanderer.com/Recent_Additions.htm

 

[D1009]

They don't transit on AC power between North Pole / Paddington and Airport Jn yet - I suspect they won't transit on AC power anywhere on the GW until they've ironed out all the issues they're experiencing / causing on the original test track between Reading and Didcot.

This is confusing to me, as I'm not sure there have been any reported issues running on AC on the ECML. It still seems unclear whether the issues are to do with the trains or the new OLE.

 

[jimm]

This is confusing to me, as I'm not sure there have been any reported issues running on AC on the ECML. It still seems unclear whether the issues are to do with the trains or the new OLE.

Depending on which rumour one believes, the issues encountered when Class 800s have run off 25kv between Tliehurst and Didcot are to do with the trains not tripping axle counters correctly, or them affecting the lineside telephones. There may be more, but those seem to be the most persistent ones.

Nothing official seems to have emerged so far, unless someone knows different.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The seats look horrible!

 

[JN114]

This is confusing to me, as I'm not sure there have been any reported issues running on AC on the ECML. It still seems unclear whether the issues are to do with the trains or the new OLE.

387s are working just fine on GW series one OHL between Didcot and Reading, the issue is with the trains.

Stabbing around in the dark somewhat, but has the power supply to the "original" GW OHLE been upgraded yet? My last day at work was the energising of Stockley - Maidenhead, but up until that point there were restrictions on number of 387s we could have in traffic on the original OHLE section. Supposedly going away imminently, but perhaps these IETs are too thirsty for the original power supply infrastructure to handle?

It's also likely - although I should clarify again I have nothing to do with IETs so it's only professional/educated guess work - that as they're still prototypes in the eyes of various certification criteria, that many aspects of their operation are restricted while acceptance testing is underway. This would possibly include a restriction on where they can operate on AC power to a small handful of sites, the specifications and failure modes of which are intricately known.

 

[Sean Emmett]

This is the IEP link:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97581/2017/03/24/advanced

Would this test have been on full or reduced power?

Note from RTT how the 10.45 PAD - SWA HST chased this down!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

387s are working just fine on GW series one OHL between Didcot and Reading, the issue is with the trains.

Stabbing around in the dark somewhat, but has the power supply to the "original" GW OHLE been upgraded yet? My last day at work was the energising of Stockley - Maidenhead, but up until that point there were restrictions on number of 387s we could have in traffic on the original OHLE section. Supposedly going away imminently, but perhaps these IETs are too thirsty for the original power supply infrastructure to handle?

It's also likely - although I should clarify again I have nothing to do with IETs so it's only professional/educated guess work - that as they're still prototypes in the eyes of various certification criteria, that many aspects of their operation are restricted while acceptance testing is underway. This would possibly include a restriction on where they can operate on AC power to a small handful of sites, the specifications and failure modes of which are intricately known.

IEPs are presumably being tested at a higher speed (125mph) than 387s (110mph), with a higher power draw.
Then there will be the multiple pantograph issue for both types.
Are 387s working to Didcot only as single units?
It seems IEPs are OK under the ECML OHL, which brings us back to the GW installation (and its new signalling/axle counters etc).

 

[jimm]

Would this test have been on full or reduced power?

Note from RTT how the 10.45 PAD - SWA HST chased this down!

My understanding is that this week's runs between London and Bristol were trying out various engine settings but I don't know what the permitted speeds were. Someone else may be able to confirm.

 

[jimm]

Are 387s working to Didcot only as single units?

Last week's tests were just a single 387 but the following was posted in the Great Western Passengers Forum's GW electrification thread:

Man in the know on WNXX reports that there will be 12 car testing with 387s between Reading TCD and Didcot on the night of 7th/8th April and between Stockley and Maidenhead on the night of 8th/9th April. If this goes well they are apparently just about on schedule to introduce EMU working between Padd and Maidenhead in tome for the May timetable change.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5066.2505

But given this is the Class 800 thread, perhaps people could take any further discussion of this point over to the Class 387 thread here.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=92831&page=308

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Last week's tests were just a single 387 but the following was posted in the Great Western Passengers Forum's GW electrification thread:
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5066.2505

Thanks.
I take this to mean that Series 1 OHLE is not yet cleared for multiple pantograph operation.

 

[jyte]

Apologies if this question has already been asked and answered.

When will the 800s start testing linespeed electric/diesel handovers?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

When will the 800s start testing linespeed electric/diesel handovers?

You'd hope they already have, at least on the ECML.

 

[swt_passenger]

You'd hope they already have, at least on the ECML.

It was reported as tested at Old Dalby (with the Series one OHLE) very early on before they ever went on the mainline, I'd be amazed if it wasn't also done on the GW in the very early weeks as well.

 

[jyte]

It was reported as tested at Old Dalby (with the Series one OHLE) very early on before they ever went on the mainline, I'd be amazed if it wasn't also done on the GW in the very early weeks as well.

That's good, thank you.

 

[coppercapped]

You'd hope they already have, at least on the ECML.

From the Hitachi man responsible for approvals, it has already been done on the ECML at full speed, both diesel to overhead and overhead to diesel.

It's a specification requirement.

 

[DidcotDickie]

From the Hitachi man responsible for approvals, it has already been done on the ECML at full speed, both diesel to overhead and overhead to diesel.

It's a specification requirement.

They have been doing this intermittently for some while now on the GWML too with overnight runs between Reading and Wantage Road. This involves switching from from diesel to AC at Tilehurst and back again at Didcot.

As Coppercapped says, it's in the specification.

 

[DidcotDickie]

800 004 and companion 800 003 (thanks ajay 1071) worked 5X81 from North Pole IEP Depot to Swansea Maliphant CS this morning via Bristol Parkway. Thanks to a heads up from a friend who saw it at Reading, I was able to video it at Baulking Grange/Hale Farm between Challow and Uffington.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_AXI0nAiSA

The train was slowing down as it passed, possibly because it was running behind a couple of HSTs and may have encountered restrictive aspects.

Note the new length of wiring on the down line which appeared last week.

 

[ajay1071]

800 004 + 800 003, first 10 car just arrived in Swansea, seems tight fit, half of front driving car hanging off platform

 

[CardiffKid]

800 004 + 800 003, first 10 car just arrived in Swansea, seems tight fit, half of front driving car hanging off platform

Photo of it passing through Cardiff Central: https://www.linkedin.com/hp/update/6254630185073668096

 

[Darandio]

Photo of it passing through Cardiff Central: https://www.linkedin.com/hp/update/6254630185073668096

Link doesn't seem to be of much use unless you have a Linkedin account? :-?

 

[Plasmanoodle]

I think it's time to head over to see if I can see it poking its nose out, then ^_^

Does anyone have any idea when it will be heading back to Bristol/North Pole?

 

[nidave]

Will just leave this here
140mph Virgin train set for Hertfordshire lines is dangerous, says the mother of one of the drivers
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co....-the-drivers/story-30241431-detail/story.html

 

[najaB]

Link doesn't seem to be of much use unless you have a Linkedin account? :-?

Rather an odd choice of social media platform for this kind of thing. Anyway, here's the photo...

The caption is: First trip to South Wales this morning for our new GWR Intercity Express Train!

 

[Mag_seven]

The caption is: First trip to South Wales this morning for our new GWR Intercity Express Train!

Except that it isn't the first Class 800 trip to South Wales - unless they mean the first GWR liveried set?