Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

[Erniescooper]

The first 331 in the country arrived by road at Edge Hill today

 

[Domh245]

@fowler9 posted a thread about being delayed by the pantograph vehicle of a 331 arriving at Edge Hill last night

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/rail-replacement-bus-delayed-by-train.167484/

 

[507021]

@fowler9 posted a thread about being delayed by the pantograph vehicle of a 331 arriving at Edge Hill last night

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/rail-replacement-bus-delayed-by-train.167484/

It's 331001.

 

[D6700]

Somewhat bizarrely, 331101 at Velim carries the number 331101 at one end, but 331001 at the other!

 

[Tam]

Somewhat bizarrely, 331101 at Velim carries the number 331101 at one end, but 331001 at the other!

Here's the 001 end, seen at Velim today.

 

[Tam]

Video of NR 195 being shunted at Velim yesterday (28/09/18), with NR 331 top & tailed on the spur to the main line.

https://streamable.com/4wn69

 

[Tam]

I'm at Velim now and the 331 has not moved since Friday, but now has a Vectron loco coupled. The spur to the main line is not electrified, so maybe the train will be shunted there by the yard loco. Or maybe moved internally.

 

[mikemcniven]

The first 331 went onto Daytime testing today, I caught up with it at Wigan North Western as it headed back to Edge Hill depot after doing Carnforth to Preston to Carnforth runs a few times.

331001 at Wigan North Western


Northern 331001 by Mike McNiven, on Flickr


Northern 331001 by Mike McNiven, on Flickr

 

[Bantamzen]

The first 331 went onto Daytime testing today, I caught up with it at Wigan North Western as it headed back to Edge Hill depot after doing Carnforth to Preston to Carnforth runs a few times.

331001 at Wigan North Western


Northern 331001 by Mike McNiven, on Flickr


Northern 331001 by Mike McNiven, on Flickr

Great photos, looking forward to seeing some of them over here in West Yorkshire next year.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

That's quite impressive, if they are now permitted in normal traffic under power.
The traction system must have passed the signalling interference tests which often hold up EMU acceptance.

 

[158820]

Who are providing the drivers for the test runs?

 

[TRAX]

I like how they look like the Auckland AM Class EMUs (also a CAF production):

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think they look very European, mainly because there is no tapering at the vehicle end, unlike almost all previous UK stock.

 

[Domh245]

Who are providing the drivers for the test runs?

Freightliner heavy haul I think

 

[142Pilot]

Who are providing the drivers for the test runs?

Northern.

 

[TRAX]

I think they look very European, mainly because there is no tapering at the vehicle end, unlike almost all previous UK stock.

What does tapering mean ?

 

[158820]

Northern.

Surprising TOCs often don't let there staff near new trains until they have been accepted for traffic.

Freightliner heavy haul I think

Make senese as they also are doing they Caf mk 5s for TPE.

 

[142Pilot]

It's northern instructors and training staff doing it under supervision of CAF.

There is no point in bringing in other staff, as the people testing it can use the experience to design a training plan.

 

[158820]

It's northern instructors and training staff doing it under supervision of CAF.

There is no point in bringing in other staff, as the people testing it can use the experience to design a training plan.

Thanks interesting and different approach.

 

[The_Engineer]

What does tapering mean ?

In this case, the reduction in coach width towards each coach end. It is usually done on longer bodies (e.g. Mk.4s) as there is more of an overthrow at these points than on shorter bodies and allows the maximum width to be used on the rest of the coach rather than reduce the width all along the coach. The sharp curves on model railways demonstrates this very well with passenger coaches, it exaggerates the overthrow as their curves are often much tighter radius than their full scale equivalents!

 

[Bletchleyite]

What does tapering mean ?

Where the vehicle end bends inwards in order to avoid clouting the platform when the line is curved.

The tapered ends are very visible on this (simulated) picture (not mine) of a Class 158:

 

[TRAX]

Oh I see. Thanks guys. It is indeed a change from that real british tradition.

 

[The_Engineer]

Where the vehicle end bends inwards in order to avoid clouting the platform when the line is curved.

The tapered ends are very visible on this (simulated) picture (not mine) of a Class 158:

Thanks too!! I think we overlapped on this one, but yours adds to mine wonderfully I forgot to add in mine that the reason the body width and overthrow matters is to keep the coach within the permitted dynamic envelope (loading gauge, at maximum train speed and all along the route). Due to platform structure at stations and certain close to rail line-side equipment, the permitted loading gauge for all routes, below the body down to rail level, has to be narrower than at body height.

The loading gauge does vary from area to area too, and even on certain lines (e.g. Hastings route), as recently demonstrated by Class 365s used in Scotland and formerly used in a broader loading gauge area. The doorway step boards became a gauge issue in Scotland, and they had to be trimmed...….

 

[deltic08]

I think they look very European, mainly because there is no tapering at the vehicle end, unlike almost all previous UK stock.

I am more interested in what the inside is like and ride quality, but we will have to wait a little longer.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I am more interested in what the inside is like and ride quality, but we will have to wait a little longer.

There's a picture of the interior on the Class 195 thread, and it's meant to be basically the same. It's ironing boards (ScotRail style cushion) with the general black, blue and white theme Northern are using on the refurbs too.

 

[deltic08]

There's a picture of the interior on the Class 195 thread, and it's meant to be basically the same. It's ironing boards (ScotRail style cushion) with the general black, blue and white theme Northern are using on the refurbs too.

Thanks, will look for it.

 

[modernrail]

How come this unit does not need tapering?

 

[mikemcniven]

331001 is once again out again, it's just between Preston and Lancaster on 5Z01,

it should then do 5Z50 (Carnforth - Preston - Carnforth),
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S00489/2018/10/18/advanced

5Z51 (Carnforth - Preston - Carnforth),
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S00490/2018/10/18/advanced

5Z52 (Carnforth - Preston),
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S00491/2018/10/18/advanced

5Z53 (Preston - Carnforth)
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S00492/2018/10/18/advanced

5Z54 (Carnforth - Preston - Wigan - Edge Hill)
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/S00493/2018/10/18/advanced

 

[Erniescooper]

Should pass a Mk5a set at some point on its way to Crewe via Carnforth

 

[driver9000]

Should pass a Mk5a set at some point on its way to Crewe via Carnforth

The mk5A ended up minutes behind the 331 which was 20 minutes late. They briefly stood alongside each other in the loop at Carnforth too.