GWR Class 800

[JN114]

Any particular issue?

Not per se - the fleet utilisation percentage since the latest set of diagrams were introduced has gone up a bit and there’s been a couple of significant failures in the evening the past few days - 5 car with GU (engine) issues that got stuck between Didcot and Swindon for a couple of hours on Tuesday; and a 10 car with brake issues in Wales(?) yesterday evening. All 3 units involved were shown as stopped for repairs in the early hours of this morning; and Agility requested permission to uncover 4 diagrams; resulting in 4x 5 vice 10 sets in traffic when I left work this morning. The other issue is we’re now at the stage where Stoke Gifford and North Pole don’t have as many spare units over their daily requirement; so if failure forces a set to go to the wrong depot - it can leave Agility short of sets for the following days service. I think that’s been a factor the last couple of days; and we barely have enough drivers to cover day-day services; never mind as-hoc transfers from Stoke Gifford or North Pole.

I think (hope!) this is just a little reliability blip. The general; anecdotal trend is that reliability is improving. Certainly feel like I’m dealing with fewer issues with them compared to November/December last year. Don’t have any hard figures to back that up though, and I could just be lucky with where my shifts fall! Staffing issues remain a problem, but that’s not the trains fault!

 

[hexagon789]

Not per se - the fleet utilisation percentage since the latest set of diagrams were introduced has gone up a bit and there’s been a couple of significant failures in the evening the past few days - 5 car with GU (engine) issues that got stuck between Didcot and Swindon for a couple of hours on Tuesday; and a 10 car with brake issues in Wales(?) yesterday evening. All 3 units involved were shown as stopped for repairs in the early hours of this morning; and Agility requested permission to uncover 4 diagrams; resulting in 4x 5 vice 10 sets in traffic when I left work this morning. The other issue is we’re now at the stage where Stoke Gifford and North Pole don’t have as many spare units over their daily requirement; so if failure forces a set to go to the wrong depot - it can leave Agility short of sets for the following days service. I think that’s been a factor the last couple of days; and we barely have enough drivers to cover day-day services; never mind as-hoc transfers from Stoke Gifford or North Pole.

I think (hope!) this is just a little reliability blip. The general; anecdotal trend is that reliability is improving. Certainly feel like I’m dealing with fewer issues with them compared to November/December last year. Don’t have any hard figures to back that up though, and I could just be lucky with where my shifts fall! Staffing issues remain a problem, but that’s not the trains fault!

It's good to hear that reliability is improving seeing as they will be with us for decades presumably.

 

[aar0]

Short of 800s this morning. 3 trains ex Swansea/Carmarthen and a Taunton to Paddington formed 5 Cars vice 10. GWR - More than usual undergoing repair.

I was about to post and say I'd seen several short formed. Annoyingly, having not had breakfast so I could enjoy the Pullman, it was cancelled due to being 5 not 10... although the board at Paddington said clearly that the Pullman was running. Also discovered that the trollies don't do hot food; I was told by GWR that they would do, by going to the kitchen and bringing it to you. I'm quite peckish now....

 

[hexagon789]

I was about to post and say I'd seen several short formed. Annoyingly, having not had breakfast so I could enjoy the Pullman, it was cancelled due to being 5 not 10... although the board at Paddington said clearly that the Pullman was running. Also discovered that the trollies don't do hot food; I was told by GWR that they would do, by going to the kitchen and bringing it to you. I'm quite peckish now....

GWR certainly suggested that hot food would still be available, but I think a lot of people thought they wouldn't and it would just be the usual trolley affair.

 

[D1009]

Also discovered that the trollies don't do hot food; I was told by GWR that they would do, by going to the kitchen and bringing it to you. I'm quite peckish now....

They were certainly doing hot food in the early days of the 800s, I remember having a bacon roll.

 

[TEW]

I was about to post and say I'd seen several short formed. Annoyingly, having not had breakfast so I could enjoy the Pullman, it was cancelled due to being 5 not 10... although the board at Paddington said clearly that the Pullman was running. Also discovered that the trollies don't do hot food; I was told by GWR that they would do, by going to the kitchen and bringing it to you. I'm quite peckish now....

Yesterday the 1045 Swansea was running as 5 vice 10 and the Pullman was provided as advertised.

 

[Typhoon_93]

First delivery from Aycliffe for a few weeks in the form of 800304 currently enroute to Doncaster Carr on 5X40.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K28279/2018/03/23/advanced

 

[Master29]

They were certainly doing hot food in the early days of the 800s, I remember having a bacon roll.

They were. I think that was a running as a first month of the IET special promo.

 

[TractiveEffort]

I'm pretty sure the traction motors in an HST cut out at 128.

The overspeed controlled by the WSP rack cuts in at 132mph. It is a fixed resistor and cannot be adjusted, it can be affected by small wheels, giving overspeed at lower speeds. This is far more likely to give overspeed indication than ATP, it also only cuts the power on one powercar, whereas the ATP will do it on both.

 

[The_Engineer]

I thought the limiter simply reverted the engine to idle and the driver would have to put the power controller to the OFF position, wait until speed dropped to 125 or less and then re-apply power. That's how I always understood it anyway, happy to be corrected on that.

That must be a post-build modification. I recall a commissioning test run in 1976 where we had a speed related fault (it turned out to be a rectifier overtemp sensor loose wire) and the driver happily ran it up to 135 mph to ensure the fault had cleared!!

 

[hexagon789]

That must be a post-build modification. I recall a commissioning test run in 1976 where we had a speed related fault (it turned out to be a rectifier overtemp sensor loose wire) and the driver happily ran it up to 135 mph to ensure the fault had cleared!!

Oh they certainly got up to well over 130, even 135 in service in the early years, but this came to be frowned on and limiters set at 128 mph were fitted in the early/mid-1980s I believe.

 

[hexagon789]

That must be a post-build modification. I recall a commissioning test run in 1976 where we had a speed related fault (it turned out to be a rectifier overtemp sensor loose wire) and the driver happily ran it up to 135 mph to ensure the fault had cleared!!

Having asked someone in 'the know' about it, because of the difference between worn and new tires the limiters will permit 132 with brand new tires and 126 with fully worn ones.

 

[Railperf]

Having asked someone in 'the know' about it, because of the difference between worn and new tires the limiters will permit 132 with brand new tires and 126 with fully worn ones.

On another forum i am told the wheel diameters need to be a minimum of 978mm to avoid traction motor overspeed. But apparently there were some power cars with wheel diameters as low as 968mm in service. The same source also says ATP will warn a driver of overspeed on full diameter wheelsets at 128mph..and cut the brakes in at 131mph. Clearly the power cars with really worn out wheelsets will be affected accordingly - so an ATP warning at a speedo reading of 128mph..could be a true speed of only 122mph!! AND ATP applying the brakes at a true speed of just 125mph

 

[59CosG95]

So - 800s 001, 002, 019 & 032 haven't been seen in quite a while. I know 007 & 036 have yet to leave Newton Aycliffe; all the other GWR 800/0s are now in service (excluding 003 & 004, which I assume are still on test). Anyone know what they're up to at present?

 

[Domh245]

So - 800s 001, 002, 019 & 032 haven't been seen in quite a while. I know 007 & 036 have yet to leave Newton Aycliffe; all the other GWR 800/0s are now in service (excluding 003 & 004, which I assume are still on test). Anyone know what they're up to at present?

For 800001 and 800002, I would think that they have gone for interior fit out. Being pre production/prototype units I expect they won't have been fitted with anything resembling their final interior which will obviously need rectifying before they can enter service.

 

[59CosG95]

For 800001 and 800002, I would think that they have gone for interior fit out. Being pre production/prototype units I expect they won't have been fitted with anything resembling their final interior which will obviously need rectifying before they can enter service.

Ah yes, that would make sense. 019 & 032 might well be based at Donny Carr at this point in time for similar fitout.

 

[Domh245]

Ah yes, that would make sense. 019 & 032 might well be based at Donny Carr at this point in time for similar fitout.

I would have thought that 019 and 032 would have been outshopped from Newton Aycliffe fitted out though - unless the interiors are being redone/reupholstered into GWR green as per 800009 (although I've yet to see a photo of what this revamped interior looks like, other than a very brief glimpse from the video of 009's naming)

 

[LA50041]

So - 800s 001, 002, 019 & 032 haven't been seen in quite a while. I know 007 & 036 have yet to leave Newton Aycliffe; all the other GWR 800/0s are now in service (excluding 003 & 004, which I assume are still on test). Anyone know what they're up to at present?

003 & 004 were at Kings Cross earlier on a test run

 

[59CosG95]

I would have thought that 019 and 032 would have been outshopped from Newton Aycliffe fitted out though - unless the interiors are being redone/reupholstered into GWR green as per 800009 (although I've yet to see a photo of what this revamped interior looks like, other than a very brief glimpse from the video of 009's naming)

They certainly haven't been seen in GWR Green yet, so they may be getting the interior done at the same time as the exterior.

 

[Siemens Staines]

800032 was in passenger service with GWR last Thursday.

 

[59CosG95]

800032 was in passenger service with GWR last Thursday.

Certainly some good news - Flickr hasn't given any evidence for it though!

 

[800001]

So - 800s 001, 002, 019 & 032 haven't been seen in quite a while. I know 007 & 036 have yet to leave Newton Aycliffe; all the other GWR 800/0s are now in service (excluding 003 & 004, which I assume are still on test). Anyone know what they're up to at present?

019 at Doncaster being prepared for service introduction.

001 and 002 both also at Doncaster, they have Both had the carriage where kitchen is swapped out for brand new ones.

 

[TEW]

I would have thought that 019 and 032 would have been outshopped from Newton Aycliffe fitted out though - unless the interiors are being redone/reupholstered into GWR green as per 800009 (although I've yet to see a photo of what this revamped interior looks like, other than a very brief glimpse from the video of 009's naming)

Same seat covers as the 387s, minus the green section at the top. So they are still very grey, just a patterned grey now. I found the seat covers very rough too, like the famous Southern 'Astro Turf' covers. It wasn't an improvement really in my opinion on the original seat covers.

 

[aar0]

Yesterday the 1045 Swansea was running as 5 vice 10 and the Pullman was provided as advertised.

I'd rather have not known that!

I can now compare GWR HST seats to IET seats. I'm 6'6", and found the firmness not an issue - but the headrest wings very much an issue. I could still feel their pressure just below my shoulder blades for two days afterwards... I also find there to be less headroom in the carriages - not enough to hit my head, but I was conscious of it. And blimming heck the engines start with a thump! (Though are unnoticeable on the move).

 

[cactustwirly]

Same seat covers as the 387s, minus the green section at the top. So they are still very grey, just a patterned grey now. I found the seat covers very rough too, like the famous Southern 'Astro Turf' covers. It wasn't an improvement really in my opinion on the original seat covers.


View attachment 44371

The GWR 387s do seem more comfortable than the GN ones with the "astroturf"

 

[shaun]

Same seat covers as the 387s, minus the green section at the top. So they are still very grey, just a patterned grey now. I found the seat covers very rough too, like the famous Southern 'Astro Turf' covers. It wasn't an improvement really in my opinion on the original seat covers.


View attachment 44371

They 'look' softer that's for sure, more like the Class 158 seats. Only sitting on them will tell... To be fair I personally had no issues with most of the seat design, it was only really the base I found too firm on the rear. Posture was good and legroom exceptional, although I still wonder why they didn't just go with the tried and tested Class 395 design of seat.

 

[BestWestern]

They 'look' softer that's for sure, more like the Class 158 seats. Only sitting on them will tell... To be fair I personally had no issues with most of the seat design, it was only really the base I found too firm on the rear. Posture was good and legroom exceptional, although I still wonder why they didn't just go with the tried and tested Class 395 design of seat.

They are very definitely nothing even vaguely similar to Class 158 seats!

 

[TEW]

They are definitely not softer either. If anything I found then even harder than the original offering.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Same seat covers as the 387s, minus the green section at the top. So they are still very grey, just a patterned grey now. I found the seat covers very rough too, like the famous Southern 'Astro Turf' covers. It wasn't an improvement really in my opinion on the original seat covers.

View attachment 44371

They need the green. And to replace the lime green reservations strip with a darker green, that makes it look like a 1990s Dennis Dart.

 

[hexagon789]

On another forum i am told the wheel diameters need to be a minimum of 978mm to avoid traction motor overspeed. But apparently there were some power cars with wheel diameters as low as 968mm in service. The same source also says ATP will warn a driver of overspeed on full diameter wheelsets at 128mph..and cut the brakes in at 131mph. Clearly the power cars with really worn out wheelsets will be affected accordingly - so an ATP warning at a speedo reading of 128mph..could be a true speed of only 122mph!! AND ATP applying the brakes at a true speed of just 125mph

On the the thread I mentioned someone said that they have had ATP Intervention at only 126 a few times. I wonder how the 800s are affected by this?