Opening the hopper ventilators on Class 158s

[Welshman]

I was on an EMT 158 the other day, when the conductor asked if we would like the hopper ventilators opening. As it was a warm day, it was very welcome. The conductor then told us they had to get permission from some central authority before opening them, whereas it had originally been sensibly left to the conductor's discretion.
Surely this person was pulling our legs! Don't tell me there's someone in an office in Derby or somewhere with a thermometer at hand, paid to dispense permissions!!

 

[Turbostar]

It could possibly be due to the aircon not working, as having the hopper windows open the aircon won't work properly, so it sounds like the system has failed, & the good-thinking conductor has decided to open them before the passengers start fainting in the heat. He probably had to contact central control to tell them the aircon has failed, so that the unit would be booked in for a visit at the earliest opportunity to have the aircon looked at, & control would have advised the conductor to open the hopper windows as well.

 

[NSEFAN]

There's something about air con and central authorities. When I used to work at PC World, we had no control whatsoever over our own heating, it was run by the gremlins at Head Office.

I wouldn't be suprised if he was telling the truth.

 

[ainsworth74]

The conductor then told us they had to get permission from some central authority before opening them

Seems a bit silly, on Northern the conductors just open the windows whenever they feel like it.

 

[CarterUSM]

Seems a bit silly, on Northern the conductors just open the windows whenever they feel like it.

Yes, it seems a little over-dramatic on the conductors part if that is what he said. Report it to control by all means, but asking for permission is a little strange, he should be competent to make decisions within his own authority. Open hoppers and lock open vestibule doors to enhance air flow throughout the unit. Mark in defect book and report to control. Job done.

 

[flymo]

Last time I was on a 158 was Shipley to Carlisle and the conductor came through and opened the hoppers without a second thought, somewhere after Settle, as it was rather stuffy in the saloon. Did the job too as the flow of air cooled and cleared the air quite nicely.

 

[323235]

is the EMT 158 aircon effective in hot weather when working?
As I can't really recall ever experiencing the full effects of it

 

[thelem]

There's something about air con and central authorities. When I used to work at PC World, we had no control whatsoever over our own heating, it was run by the gremlins at Head Office.

The trouble with aircon is people never agree. I work in an office of about 25 which has two aircon units with thermostats that can be separately controlled (but the idea is you set both to the same so they work as hard as each other).

When people near the aircon get cold they just turn the units off, meaning people near the sunny windows get hot. Other times people open the window near them because they are hot/cold, meaning the aircon doesn't work at all, and we've even got someone who uses an electric heater while the aircon is on!

It would make things a lot simplier if the aircon was just set at one temperature and left!

 

[class313]

On London Overground all the windows are locked on the new 378's, and the air con was not working today (as usual), and it was worse than an oven in the train, but nobody unlocked them.

 

[rail-britain]

I was on an EMT 158
The conductor then told us they had to get permission from some central authority before opening them

This suggests the air conditioning was "working"
The hopper windows should not be opened unless the air con fault light is on
Where the fault light is on, then the train crew can open the hopper windows, permission is not required to do so

However if the fault light is not on, then the train crew must obtain permission to do so
They may then be advised to switch the air con off manually, which may require that the track alongside the train is briefly placed under possession whilst the crew work on the train and isolate the air con
In some cases the light is already reported as faulty or the unit has a known poor air con system (not yet been fitted with the upgraded version)

 

[Welshman]

Thank you to everyone for your responses.
In reply to rail-britain, as the unit was one of the recently-refurbished 158s, I assume it was fitted with the upgraded version. Having said that, I was not aware of it's being effective when I boarded.

 

[455driver]

They may then be advised to switch the air con off manually, which may require that the track alongside the train is briefly placed under possession whilst the crew work on the train and isolate the air con

I thought the air con controls were accessed from the vestibule inside the train.

 

[222007]

I was travelling home from work last night and (20:00ish) and it was still very hot stiffling on the train the guard actually opened the cupboard and reset the aircon thankfully the 170's have great aircos (when working) was very very welcome you could see the look of relief on the faces of the passengers

 

[Fincra5]

Same on a 377, just needed resetting The guard walked to a cupbaord, flicked some swithces and we have aircon