GWR Class 800

[TwistedMentat]

It seems 802003+004 are finally on their way...

So would those be delivered via the Channel Tunnel or a more traditional ship shipment.

 

[59CosG95]

So would those be delivered via the Channel Tunnel or a more traditional ship shipment.

Channel Tunnel. I'm just glad they aren't 68s trying to be shipped to Velim!

 

[Typhoon_93]

800036 on test at Aycliffe 05/04/18

 

[DidcotDickie]

800036 on test at Aycliffe 05/04/18

Good pic. Last 5 car 800/0 for GWR IIRC (I know there are also some 5 car 802s on order)

 

[BestWestern]

No idea whether they are better in poorer weather as such but the programme certainly seemed to imply that the HSTs were failing left, right and centre so to speak.

The HST fleet performed as normal. The 800s were largely removed from service, due to frozen horns and problems with the TMS taking a dislike to the snow brakes. One would assume those issues will have been duly rectified.

 

[corsaVXR]

Good pic. Last 5 car 800/0 for GWR IIRC (I know there are also some 5 car 802s on order)

are you sure? the body is white (ish) and the doors are darker - wouldn't vinyl/paint get applied before fitting parts to the body shell?

 

[Typhoon_93]

are you sure? the body is white (ish) and the doors are darker - wouldn't vinyl/paint get applied before fitting parts to the body shell?

The first batch 800001-036 are painted white and have been vinyled at Doncaster after delivery from Aycliffe. The next batch 800301-321 and all the class 802’s for GWR are painted green.

 

[hexagon789]

The HST fleet performed as normal. The 800s were largely removed from service, due to frozen horns and problems with the TMS taking a dislike to the snow brakes. One would assume those issues will have been duly rectified.

Hopefully they will be seeing as we'r stuck with the 800s. Also, what is the snow brake, I've seen reference to these being fitted to the Pendolinos but no explanation of what it is?

 

[DidcotDickie]

are you sure? the body is white (ish) and the doors are darker - wouldn't vinyl/paint get applied before fitting parts to the body shell?

Yes - Typhoon_93's post above explains.

I see that Hitachi are still turning out 5 cars instead of 10 on some diagrams. 1A11 9:30 Temple Meads to Padd passed me near Uffington today as '5 vice 10'. Must have been cosy by the time it got to Reading.

 

[Typhoon_93]

Has anyone heard anymore on the 802’s working there was across Europe..

 

[BestWestern]

Hopefully they will be seeing as we'r stuck with the 800s. Also, what is the snow brake, I've seen reference to these being fitted to the Pendolinos but no explanation of what it is?

My understanding - which may or may not be complete tosh! - is that the brakes are held very lightly applied, enough to cause heat which in turn prevents the brake rigging from freezing and becoming inoperable. This appears in some cases to have confused the TMS into thinking there is a dragging brake. Which, in essence, I suppose there is, but intentionally!

 

[hexagon789]

My understanding - which may or may not be complete tosh! - is that the brakes are held very lightly applied, enough to cause heat which in turn prevents the brake rigging from freezing and becoming inoperable. This appears in some cases to have confused the TMS into thinking there is a dragging brake. Which, in essence, I suppose there is, but intentionally!

Applied while the train is under power?

 

[superkev]

The HST fleet performed as normal. The 800s were largely removed from service, due to frozen horns and problems with the TMS taking a dislike to the snow brakes. One would assume those issues will have been duly rectified.

I thought sending prototype trains to the Czech republic for freezing conditions testing was supposed to sort out such things.
K

 

[najaB]

I thought sending prototype trains to the Czech republic for freezing conditions testing was supposed to sort out such things.
K

They might have encountered the wrong type of snow.

 

[Typhoon_93]

I thought sending prototype trains to the Czech republic for freezing conditions testing was supposed to sort out such things.
K

All IEP testing has been done in the uk (probably some in Japan) out of old dalby initially then eastern/western regions.

 

[BestWestern]

Applied while the train is under power?

I believe so, yes. The idea is to prevent a major braking defect resulting from the brakes freezing solid whilst not being used. Obviously this can, and has in the past, led to serious operating incidents (SPAD with an HST in snow comes to mind). Ordinarily, the potential effects of snow are mitigated through performing running brake tests at frequent intervals, however this of course can slow progress quite significantly on a long journey.

 

[Domh245]

I thought sending prototype trains to the Czech republic for freezing conditions testing was supposed to sort out such things.
K

I think you are thinking of the Vienna climatic wind tunnel (aka vienna arsenal) located in Vienna (unsurprisingly). It can only do static tests AFAIK so something like snow brakes can't be tested really

 

[hexagon789]

I believe so, yes. The idea is to prevent a major braking defect resulting from the brakes freezing solid whilst not being used. Obviously this can, and has in the past, led to serious operating incidents (SPAD with an HST in snow comes to mind). Ordinarily, the potential effects of snow are mitigated through performing running brake tests at frequent intervals, however this of course can slow progress quite significantly on a long journey.

The 158s have very severe snowy weather brake test requirements.

 

[800001]

It seems 802003+004 are finally on their way...

Do we have any more info on where these currently are? Or an expected UK arrival date?

 

[IanXC]

Has anyone heard anymore on the 802’s working there was across Europe..

See attached for an 802 already here and testing, pictured yesterday (07/04/18) as the crew seemed to be changing ends just outside Paddington in the reinstated (I forget what they are called) sidings.

 

[JN114]

See attached for an 802 already here and testing, pictured yesterday (07/04/18) as the crew seemed to be changing ends just outside Paddington in the reinstated (I forget what they are called) sidings.

Royal Oak Sidings

 

[800001]

See attached for an 802 already here and testing, pictured yesterday (07/04/18) as the crew seemed to be changing ends just outside Paddington in the reinstated (I forget what they are called) sidings.

802001 and 802002, been here for several months.

 

[33Hz]

Finally got a go on these, but my first high-speed electric run on the GWR will have to wait. For some reason it ran on diesel all the way from Didcot to Paddington, despite the pantograph on the unit (800016) being up on arrival.

Pros:

- it's not a Voyager.
- acceleration was decent.

Cons:

- the engines are only marginally less noisy than a Voyager. At higher constant speed it was drowned out by track noise though.
- seat was hard as nails. No way would I want to go down to Truro on that.
- standard interior is garish.
- interior is already showing signs of wear and developing rattles.
- automated announcement was muffled, like the speaker was damaged.

All in all a far more inferior experience to the HST I went to Didcot on this morning.

 

[Bletchleyite]

- the engines are only marginally less noisy than a Voyager. At higher constant speed it was drowned out by track noise though.
- seat was hard as nails. No way would I want to go down to Truro on that.
- standard interior is garish.
- interior is already showing signs of wear and developing rattles.
- automated announcement was muffled, like the speaker was damaged.

All in all a far more inferior experience to the HST I went to Didcot on this morning.

Basically my view as well - an utterly mediocre train with an utterly mediocre interior at an utterly outrageous price.

Just look at what TPE are getting (interior wise) if you want quality. Or Stadler. Or for a more traditional 125mph bi-mode I think Bombardier's product will knock spots off them.

I would not be at all upset if Hitachi got no further orders of any kind for the UK with the third-rate products they appear to be offering.

 

[cactustwirly]

Basically my view as well - an utterly mediocre train with an utterly mediocre interior at an utterly outrageous price.

Just look at what TPE are getting (interior wise) if you want quality. Or Stadler. Or for a more traditional 125mph bi-mode I think Bombardier's product will knock spots off them.

I would not be at all upset if Hitachi got no further orders of any kind for the UK with the third-rate products they appear to be offering.

Hmm, it's a lot better than the stuff that Bombardier churn out (like voyagers) the only major problem with them is the seats, and that's down the the DfTs spec.
The build quality may not be as good as Siemens but it's better than Bombardier IMO.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Regarding quality Voyagers are now over 15 years old, a more useful Bombardier comparison is recent Electrostars and Aventras which are pretty good - not Desiro-perfect but certainly up there.

 

[387star]

Finally got a go on these, but my first high-speed electric run on the GWR will have to wait. For some reason it ran on diesel all the way from Didcot to Paddington, despite the pantograph on the unit (800016) being up on arrival.

Pros:

- it's not a Voyager.
- acceleration was decent.

Cons:

- the engines are only marginally less noisy than a Voyager. At higher constant speed it was drowned out by track noise though.
- seat was hard as nails. No way would I want to go down to Truro on that.
- standard interior is garish.
- interior is already showing signs of wear and developing rattles.
- automated announcement was muffled, like the speaker was damaged.

All in all a far more inferior experience to the HST I went to Didcot on this morning.

I thought the engines were vastly quieter than the Voyagers from what most people have been saying....

I understand the seats are being recovered with an improved material? I wonder with these hard seats whether it is the shape of the seats themselves or the material placed on them that is more to blame.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

I might be wrong but the last couple of 800 seats I’ve sat in (Standard Class) seemed to be marginally more supportive and ‘stuffed’. Are Hitachi fitting improved cushions or has my backside just got flabbier? (Quite possible )

 

[TEW]

I understand the seats are being recovered with an improved material? I wonder with these hard seats whether it is the shape of the seats themselves or the material placed on them that is more to blame.

In my opinion the new material actually makes the seats worse. I couldn't notice any real difference in the padding, but the covering used is now very rough and scratchy rather than smooth.

 

[HowardGWR]

Assuming the electrification projects complete, what do we think will happen to the 9 car sets. Will they be changed back to all-electric to save weight? Or will they be palmed off onto such as the MML TOC? Same question about the 5 car sets.