Wheelslipping badly

[heart-of-wessex]

Yes ive had a 313 on the North London Wheel slip a lot on a wet day sometime ago, the couplers were jolting like mad! I saw it leave Stratford fro the reverse point, he jammed the throttle up and the wheelset pushed down ans the wheels were spinning! So He done this wheelslipping all the way to Hackney, where I got a 313 to Homerton then another to Stratford (at a time i was ticking off stations as visited) and all the time the rails were still wet, the other 313s were fine, just this one we were on first, again the driver seemed to love max power all the time, the other drivers were actually notching slowly and we kept grip all the time!

 

[ungreat]

I love it when things get a bit naughty out there (though not too naughty). I take it as a challenge to my driving skills to get my train started and stopped correctly and safely, and still run as close to time as possible. For me, the sander button is there only as a cheat for when things get REALLY bad, because I relish the challenge of really driving the train out of a slippery station.

Going up through the power notches is a good way of getting moving when things are slippery. Of course you'll give it the beans to start off with on the off-chance that you may actually have enough grip for it, but once it starts to slip you need to consider your options. Normally notch 2 is fine to get things going up to about 30mph, then you take notch 3 while ocassionally trying notch 4 to test the grip levels. If things are really bad and it's spinning up in notch 2 you might want to drop a bit of sand, but I'd rather save it in case I get into a slide while braking rather than squandering it on the traction phase.

WSP can be helpful but I'd rather not leave matters in it's hands if I can. I've had the WSP limit a Cl317 to 65mph in notch 4 because the wheels kept spinning up even at that speed. It just wouldn't go any quicker. So I just knocked it back to notch 3 and the reduction in power at the rail was enough to stop the unit spinning up it's wheels and it romped up to the 80mph linespeed without a sniff of complaint.

Braking is a different matter. Driving longer trains with more braked wheelsets means that I do get it easier than some of my colleagues. I have had one or two trains struggle to stop, but they've always managed it. You just select your desired brake step and then just leave things well alone while you gauge how well you're slowing as the WSP does it's thing. I've not yet felt the need to go for emergency, but it's always there as an option of it looks like I'm going to miss the stop board.

O L Leigh

I agree mate,as 10 years as a unit driver now..previous 12 years were freight and loco passenger trains
...fun with a class 9 no braked train with a 47..40 wagons out of Corby on snow with just the loco brake..not fun!! Just made it to Leicester with many hairy moments

 

[Jord]

ekr123 could tell you a story about slippery moments on a 465 I think.

Anyway, behind 43051 pulling out of Arbroath station heading south up a slight incline at 08:45 before the RHTT does it's job was quite fun must have slipped 6 or 7 times before we got over the top.

37422 heading into Carlisle with 417 dead back in August was nice too

Other memories will come back to me probably.

EDIT: surprised Loader aint creamed over 37410!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

agreed there jord, I was only a couple of coaches behind 37422 into carlisle, nice long slip, sounded like it could have been one purpose for some thrash

 

[class 313]

ekr123 could tell you a story about slippery moments on a 465 I think.

Anyway, behind 43051 pulling out of Arbroath station heading south up a slight incline at 08:45 before the RHTT does it's job was quite fun must have slipped 6 or 7 times before we got over the top.

37422 heading into Carlisle with 417 dead back in August was nice too

Other memories will come back to me probably.

EDIT: surprised Loader aint creamed over 37410!

That was more to do with the weight of the train + Incline than weather conditions. But it was an emotional moment for all that night.

Even after the RHTT had past, the unit I was on slipped so much! Until we changed onto the fast lines (The RHTT carried on up the slows) then we were fine...

 

[Jord]

agreed there jord, I was only a couple of coaches behind 37422 into carlisle, nice long slip, sounded like it could have been one purpose for some thrash

I was at front droplight on the right hand side of the train in the direction of travel

 

[TDK]

Very good points there, I never thought it could really get that bad! But I can imagine a lot of things start going through your mind when you're approaching a red and you're just not stopping.

Yeah like saying hi to the guard in the rear cab

 

[Jim]

I think my most memorable day has to contain some of the most 'slippage' I've had in my life. FGW Valenta farewell day - showers caused slippery rails for most the day.

Worst trip was 13.52 Exeter-Padd, where the slipping out of Castle Cary was very bad: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l0G_SV5Ecvo .

I will also never forget slipping DOWN Savernake Bank (Between Newbury-Westbury) one night with a Valenta.

 

[class 313]

You all knew this was coming

[youtube]MzGiRKvWOuo[/youtube]

I was ****ed at the time hence the constant talking But hey! Enjoy that bloody great slipping thrash!

 

[Phoenix]

Wheel slipping for me is generally a pain try doing Crewe - Derby on a EMT 158 they things leave the station at 5MPH and stay at that!!!!

 

[37427]

Went to Spa Valley for their diesel gala, got some thrash from 37254 which was having problems with the wet rails (or so the driver told me)

Video here:
[youtube]O4ULlKBjYXI[/youtube]

Oh and hats of to Tom Loader's video, that is Absolutely Dreadful! 8)

 

[37412]

I was at front droplight on the right hand side of the train in the direction of travel

I was dossed out in the front bay But was soon woken up

 

[devon_metro]

You didn't get sparks on those 37s did you Loader

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M3CJPgn7moo

 

[P156KWJ]

Wheel slipping for me is generally a pain try doing Crewe - Derby on a EMT 158 they things leave the station at 5MPH and stay at that!!!!

funny you should say that - I was on an ex-CT 158 on Saturday Nov 1st and we slipped badly out of Blyth Bridge, driver kept trying it in 4th but it wouldn't have it did the same when we departed Peartree too

 

[Jord]

I was dossed out in the front bay But was soon woken up

So I probably saw you then? :?

 

[Chilled Phill]

Love hearing 323s wheel slip, I find it an amusing sound.

Knowing how eager the EMU is to accelerate, it must be hard for the driver to prevent wheel slip in a 323, no?

 

[class 313]

I just stumbled amongst this little gem

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg01PIV3Mps

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Had a good one the other day with an Ascot bound 458 at Ash Vale (was on the platform waiting for the following London train).

The JOP was having real trouble starting away, and could barely make it up to 2mph. At one point the train was even rolling back!

As the rear cab passed me (very slowly) the guard opened his window, stuck his head out and shouted to me:

"Give us a push would you?!"

Eventually the train managed to crawl out of the platform and over the junction allowing my (now delayed) London train in.

 

[class 313]

Had a good one the other day with an Ascot bound 458 at Ash Vale (was on the platform waiting for the following London train).

The JOP was having real trouble starting away, and could barely make it up to 2mph. At one point the train was even rolling back!

As the rear cab passed me (very slowly) the guard opened his window, stuck his head out and shouted to me:

"Give us a push would you?!"

Eventually the train managed to crawl out of the platform and over the junction allowing my (now delayed) London train in.

Aren't 458s prone to such slipping?