Ministers mull re-opening Great Central

[class 313]

Dumb question, is converting a DMU/DEMU to EMU or a hybrid possible?

I believe the 185s can be made into a EMU.

 

[Mojo]

Dumb question, is converting a DMU/DEMU to EMU or a hybrid possible?

It depends, traditionally it's only really been possible to provide DC electric and diesel (such as 73s) together due to either the heavy weight or large equipment required for AC, though I should imagine modern technology would allow both to be combined easier.

Out of this list it seems the only AC Electro-diesel is currently being built for use in France and works off DC, AC and Diesel!

How about using that technology in our HST2, though using DC third rail instead?

 

[laseandre]

Yes, use third rail because everywhere* caters for it. There's no other alternative** is there? :roll:

*In SE England at least
**OHLE

 

[Mojo]

Yes, use third rail because everywhere* caters for it. There's no other alternative** is there? :roll:

*In SE England at least
**OHLE

I don't think you understood what I meant.

I was talking about the French train which will run on AC & DC OHLE and Diesel, and suggested instead of DC OHLE DC use DC 3rd rail.

 

[Nick W]

It depends, traditionally it's only really been possible to provide DC electric and diesel (such as 73s) together due to either the heavy weight or large equipment required for AC, though I should imagine modern technology would allow both to be combined easier.

You are quite correct. High-voltage AC locomotives/trains have to carry a bulky transformer with them, often as big as a diesel engine and generator. Hence there is no room for both.

Out of this list it seems the only AC Electro-diesel is currently being built for use in France and works off DC, AC and Diesel!
[/quote]
No you were right the first time. They offer a diesel/dc model and an ac/dc model.

How about using that technology in our HST2, though using DC third rail instead?

Third rail is out of question at 125mph.

DC catenary is used in regional tram systems in this country to avoid them having to carry a heavy, bulky transformer and making them zippier, also for safety reasons of course.

However the power losses over the wires (heating them up) are 4 times greater for every halving of the voltage, or about 250 times greater for 1500v than 25Kv AC. Over larger intercity distances it pays off to have high-voltage AC, as the energy savings are greater than those lost by the extra weight of a transformer.

 

[P156KWJ]

Yes, obviously transformers to have AC/DC combo with diesel would be very heavy, as transformers are basically a block of iron inside them!
More on the point of the GC, I don't think that the GCR and GCRN heritage trusts would be chuffed about reopening the line to a private company (excuse the pun!) And with the GCRN track not being of high standard and mostly single track anyway, with max line speed currently 35mph, and the former Ruddington station now just had a housing estate built on it, plus the massive inconvenience of building new line through wilford village, over next to the Trent, on to Victoria embankment, a bridge over the A52 at Trent Bridge, then elevated most of the way, over Midland station where the tram lines were built no more than 6 years ago, through a filled in tunnel by weekday cross, and to the former Victoria station (now Nottingham's main shopping centre) would cost billions of taxpayer's money to take a bit of strain off the WCML. The answer is to improve the current former LMS line from Birmingham over to Nottingham and Derby, and then to take freight off the WCML by widening the Nottingham - Lincoln. Unfortunately you can't divert anything onto thwe ECML at the moment cos of the double track section near Welwyn, which is used to max capacity. The widening of that would require 2 new tunnels, the vast re-modelling of Welwyn North, a new 2 track viaduct, a MASSIVE amount of disruption to service, making people want to use cars instead, a bunch of local moaners protesting, and then they'll end up whittling it down to 2 tracks agasin one day anyway. If you ask me, all political parties are anti-railway, and if you ask me: don't vote, go anarchy!

 

[A0]

I reckon 156401's got it about right in terms of the probs with reopening a part of the GC.

You could restore Calvert to Rugby fairly easily - though some creativity would be needed around Brackley as BR removed the viaduct........

Through Rugby is also less clear with the recent removal of the birdcage bridge......

You could get from Rugby to Leicester though, but from Leicester to Nottingham is lost for the reasons stated.

Also I'm not sure either Leicester or Nottingham could justify or sustain two mainline railway stations.

North of Nottingham the route is largely lost as well. Anyone interested to see what I mean would do well to get a copy of Mac Hawkins' excellent book 'The Great Central Then and Now'.

More logically would be to link with the MML at Leicester, upgrade Leicester - Sheffield on the MML and then, possibly, look at Woodhead again.....

 

[BLAKESCREWE]

Wow! what an exciting project if it happens, the poss of travelling over Leicester and Nottingham is very exciting, lets hope it comes along and i`m still here when its re-built, in the meantime I can continue to dream!

 

[Guinness]

Old news I'm afraid!

It's been nearly a year.

 

[Mojo]

Please don't dig up old threads.