Irish Mk3

[snakeeyes]

Has there been any interest in anyone buying the Mk3 that Irish rail have stopped using, new bogies and they could be used over here to help overcrowding, must be allot chaeper then new build?

 

[Skimble19]

There's been a fair amount of discussion about this already.. as far as I'm aware nobody has bought or said they'll be buying any yet - I might have missed it though!

Welcome to the forums btw!

 

[route:oxford]

Shame if they are left to rot.

A "modern" version of a Class 26 to operate in push-pull pairs would be an interesting option, albeit unlikely.

 

[merlodlliw]

Shame if they are left to rot.

A "modern" version of a Class 26 to operate in push-pull pairs would be an interesting option, albeit unlikely.

dont the Irish rail mk 3s have plug doors,changed when bought from BR.

welcome to RF Mr Snake

Bob

 

[Skimble19]

Nope, they were built new with them.

 

[DarloRich]

might the cost of re gaugeing put people off?

 

[snakeeyes]

dont the Irish rail mk 3s have plug doors,changed when bought from BR.

welcome to RF Mr Snake

Bob

thanks for the welcome, a good chat forum this!

 

[anthony263]

might the cost of re gaugeing put people off?

Cant be too difficult to re guage them or could you use the boggies from any mk3 sleeper carriages stuck in sidings?

 

[sprinterguy]

I can only see twelve mark 3 sleepers registered on the national network that are going spare. I presume that the other spare vehicles that there once were have since been scrapped or sold off to preserved lines as volunteers accommodation. I don’t know for sure though.

 

[jopsuk]

Shame if they are left to rot.

A "modern" version of a Class 26 to operate in push-pull pairs would be an interesting option, albeit unlikely.

Why have two locos? The Irish mrk 3s include ones with cabs. The control system would need changed, obviously, but already having a cab is a start.

 

[route:oxford]

Why have two locos? The Irish mrk 3s include ones with cabs. The control system would need changed, obviously, but already having a cab is a start.

Simply to distribute the traction, offer redundancy and provide the ability to operate in "economy" mode.

The whole idea would be to have a standardised loco, probably with 2 750hp(adequate?) engines inside. Capable of hauling 2 coaches plus DVT or 6 coaches in push-pull format.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

There is only two left with cabs, the others were scrapped.

The Irish Mk3s will never run again, it wouldn't make financial sense for the UK to buy them, besides the issue of re gauging they have been lying in store for a very long time and would need an awful lot of work done to them.

When I visited them in March they were in a sorry state. http://www.drimnagh-road.com/130311heustonmk3s.htm

 

[jopsuk]

Simply to distribute the traction, offer redundancy and provide the ability to operate in "economy" mode.

The whole idea would be to have a standardised loco, probably with 2 750hp(adequate?) engines inside. Capable of hauling 2 coaches plus DVT or 6 coaches in push-pull format.

Could have an "economy mode" if you had a single locomotive. And the ability to have more passenger accomodation

 

[WillPS]

There is only two left with cabs, the others were scrapped.

The Irish Mk3s will never run again, it wouldn't make financial sense for the UK to buy them, besides the issue of re gauging they have been lying in store for a very long time and would need an awful lot of work done to them.

When I visited them in March they were in a sorry state. http://www.drimnagh-road.com/130311heustonmk3s.htm

Nice pictures.

To my untrained eye, they seem not too bad... not far off the GC stuff?

 

[Skimble19]

Must admit they certainly don't look beyond repair.. would probably need completely gutting and refurbishing (possibly rewiring?) before being used here though.

 

[snakeeyes]

Great photos, thanks for that, what a waste though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Could some of the spare class 60 be regeared for 100mph and then if you made up 6 coaches per set and a driving trailer, that would be approx 21 extra trains, must be worth doing?

 

[4SRKT]

Great photos, thanks for that, what a waste though.

Could some of the spare class 60 be regeared for 100mph and then if you made up 6 coaches per set and a driving trailer, that would be approx 21 extra trains, must be worth doing?

And meanwhile more hideous plastic crap for Irish Rail is unloaded at Dublin Port. Now that really *IS* a waste.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46669

 

[jopsuk]

Could some of the spare class 60 be regeared for 100mph and then if you made up 6 coaches per set and a driving trailer, that would be approx 21 extra trains, must be worth doing?

By the time you made the bogies needed, rewired the sets, added a cab and control cables through, designed a suitable MU system for that and modofied the locomotives (which are currently "within class only" as far as Multiple controls go), you'd have been better off getting the scrap metal value of the coaches and locos and putting that towards an order of brand new regional DMUS.

 

[route:oxford]

By the time you made the bogies needed, rewired the sets, added a cab and control cables through, designed a suitable MU system for that and modofied the locomotives (which are currently "within class only" as far as Multiple controls go), you'd have been better off getting the scrap metal value of the coaches and locos and putting that towards an order of brand new regional DMUS.

All expensive.

I suspect that the Irish Government would be prepared to sell the coaches for at a peppercorn rate, if the purchaser paid for the modifications to be undertaken in full in Ireland.

 

[TEW]

And meanwhile more hideous plastic crap for Irish Rail is unloaded at Dublin Port. Now that really *IS* a waste.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46669

The 2K class is actually really good for Intercity journeys, miles better than the Voyagers or Pendolinos over here.

 

[BestWestern]

It does seem a hell of a waste, considering that these date only from the late 80's. 158's of the same vintage could quite easily be expected to have another 20 years left in them yet! It's very odd how the Irish network has gone from being so antiquated to suddenly having enough cash to replace even fairly recent high quality trains, when did this all happen?!

I suppose it's a tough one really, the UK stock leasing co's could potentially save a hue amount of future grief when it's time to modify our MK3 sets with plug doors, but then as they've already spent such huge sums on progressive refurbs and upgrades, maybe they feel committed to them. Also considering the bare metal rebuild that much of the current MK3 rakes received in the past decade, it's reasonable to suggest that they might actually be in better structural condition than their more recent Irish cousins?! Even so, it is a waste. Surely there's a future source of spare parts here if nothing else?

 

[4SRKT]

It does seem a hell of a waste, considering that these date only from the late 80's. 158's of the same vintage could quite easily be expected to have another 20 years left in them yet! It's very odd how the Irish network has gone from being so antiquated to suddenly having enough cash to replace even fairly recent high quality trains, when did this all happen?!

Well, it didn't really happen at all. Like the rest of the so-called Irish economic 'miracle' it was all an illusion, and now has to be paid for.

 

[Kingfisher200262]

There is only two left with cabs, the others were scrapped.

The Irish Mk3s will never run again, it wouldn't make financial sense for the UK to buy them, besides the issue of re gauging they have been lying in store for a very long time and would need an awful lot of work done to them.

When I visited them in March they were in a sorry state. http://www.drimnagh-road.com/130311heustonmk3s.htm

These vehicles are in no worse condition than the Grand Central Mk IIIs were (or the WSMR ones for that matte) when we dragged them out of Long Marston. Most of what you can see is superficial.

 

[4SRKT]

The 2K class is actually really good for Intercity journeys, miles better than the Voyagers or Pendolinos over here.

Saying that x is better than Voyagers or Pendolinos is like saying that having a cold is better than cholera or syphillis. Obviously true, but it doesn't make me want a cold.

 

[TEW]

I still think that they are quite nice trains. Seats are all aligned with windows, and mostly at tables. Reasonably comfortable seats, working air conditioning. The toilets do smell awful though.

 

[Kingfisher200262]

I still think that they are quite nice trains. Seats are all aligned with windows, and mostly at tables. Reasonably comfortable seats, working air conditioning. The toilets do smell awful though.

Just like Mk IIIs really (apart from the fact that Mk III toilets rarely smell, due to the fact that the s*** ends up on the track).

 

[RichmondCommu]

The 2K class is actually really good for Intercity journeys, miles better than the Voyagers or Pendolinos over here.

You think? Pendolinos wipe the floor with mk3's and cl 87's and yes i use them regulary. They are very popular in the North West and rightly so. They are fantastic trains.

As for the Voyagers, yes they could do with being longer (blame the dft) but their acceleration knocks spots off their predecessors. Not to mention their outstanding reliability.

 

[island]

I had a lot of time for IÉ mark 3s (having lived there for 27 years). Ride quality is better than either the IÉ mk4 or the blasted 22Ks, there's more and better luggage storage, more toilets, and they're nice and quiet too. Centrally controlled plug doors are a bonus.

As regards bringing them over here, I think that's on a hiding to nothing. They would need to be regauged and extensively refurbished inside, have door buzzers and retention tanks installed, and then get retired in 2019 for violating the DDA.

Mind you I preferred Cravens, so what would I know

 

[Daimler]

You think? Pendolinos wipe the floor with mk3's and cl 87's and yes i use them regulary. They are very popular in the North West and rightly so. They are fantastic trains.

That is very much a matter of opinion. And my personal dislike has nothing whatsoever to do with the locomotives (or otherwise).

 

[Yew]

Maybe make them Into a 4 carriage unit? to allow voyagers tol be doubled up to ease congestion?