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Spare stock?

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Dolive22

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Once upon a time I think I knew this, but is there much spare passenger stock available or coming spare soon? If so what is it?

Also, is there anything that could be converted to a TPO, if Royal Mail decided that burning huge amounts of jet fuel to push letters through the air while not sorting them was, you know, a massively wasteful and environmentally destructive operational mistake. I mean over and above the stuff they use now (and which I think isn't fitted for actual TPO use, as opposed to hauling mail bags like some over sized, diesel York trolley).

I had great fun with a postcode list and some mainline maps, working out services you could run, but I don't know if there are any trains to run them.
 
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pemma

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There's some 508s in store and some 317s in store. The 508s need a lot of work doing to them, the 317s have been replaced by 379s and haven't yet found a new home. They may finish up on Chat Moss with electrification on that line set to be completed well ahead of the 319s being released.

All DMUs are in use.
 

Yew

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I think there a a few mk2/3's from the west coast, However I dont think they are really in a state that they will ever be put back to use. (although Network rail are converting some for engineering duties) Also toc's dont seem to favour LHCS at the minute, despite some medium distance routes that could benefit from the extra capacity it gives (places where doubled up sprinters and similar are used for example)
 

pemma

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The former Virgin carriages not with franchised operators have in the main been secured by rail tour companies or non-franchised operators e.g. DRS.
 

NSEFAN

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My understanding is that, apart from the MUs mentioned in the above posts, there is almost no spare stock available, and anything that is currently spare is not in very good condition.

As for TPO workings, there are the class 325 EMUs, but these are already being used pretty intensively as well. Again, I don't think the odd carriages which are rotting away at Long Marston will be suitable without a lot of work.
 

ainsworth74

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The only things I can think of that would be suitable for TPOs or for an expansion in the railway post network that are going to be spare in the nearish future would be the HSTs when they're released from the GWML and the ECML but that of course assumes they aren't redeployed onto other passenger operations. If they are available they might be quite useful with some modifications to the Mk3s as they're a 125mph go anywhere train.

Personally however I doubt we'll ever see a return of TPOs as it is far more operationally efficient to sort at a shore depot than to sort on the move on a train. But I could see an expanded post network hauling post between major Royal Mail depots.
 

Yew

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The only things I can think of that would be suitable for TPOs or for an expansion in the railway post network that are going to be spare in the nearish future would be the HSTs when they're released from the GWML and the ECML but that of course assumes they aren't redeployed onto other passenger operations. If they are available they might be quite useful with some modifications to the Mk3s as they're a 125mph go anywhere train.

Personally I can see them being snapped up by XC, possibly reformed into shorter rakes to be able to keep to voyager timings. Chances are they will still be plenty spare, for if anyone can find a use for them
 

HSTEd

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Well XC reforming the HSTs into shorter formations leaves you with a surplus of coaches and no power cars (three per rake?) and no buffets either.

Not really much you can do with that as I understand it the DVTs in store are not in very good condition and the DBSOs are all gone. (How about grafting a dead Sprinter cab onto the end of one?)
 

fgwrich

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My understanding is that, apart from the MUs mentioned in the above posts, there is almost no spare stock available, and anything that is currently spare is not in very good condition.

As for TPO workings, there are the class 325 EMUs, but these are already being used pretty intensively as well. Again, I don't think the odd carriages which are rotting away at Long Marston will be suitable without a lot of work.

To which i hear (and noticed on WNXX) That the first 325 is to be broken up in Rotherham in the next few weeks for spares – 325110 if anyone’s interested.
 
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theblackwatch

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The only things I can think of that would be suitable for TPOs or for an expansion in the railway post network that are going to be spare in the nearish future would be the HSTs when they're released from the GWML and the ECML but that of course assumes they aren't redeployed onto other passenger operations. If they are available they might be quite useful with some modifications to the Mk3s as they're a 125mph go anywhere train.

Personally however I doubt we'll ever see a return of TPOs as it is far more operationally efficient to sort at a shore depot than to sort on the move on a train. But I could see an expanded post network hauling post between major Royal Mail depots.

Several years ago EWS purchased a number of Mk. 3 sleeping cars with a view to converting them to NPCCS vehicles. The loss of the Royal Mail work meant the project went in the bin before any work was undertaken on the vehicles and they were all disposed of.
 

Dolive22

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The only things I can think of that would be suitable for TPOs or for an expansion in the railway post network that are going to be spare in the nearish future would be the HSTs when they're released from the GWML and the ECML but that of course assumes they aren't redeployed onto other passenger operations. If they are available they might be quite useful with some modifications to the Mk3s as they're a 125mph go anywhere train.

Personally however I doubt we'll ever see a return of TPOs as it is far more operationally efficient to sort at a shore depot than to sort on the move on a train. But I could see an expanded post network hauling post between major Royal Mail depots.

HST's were what I though as well. Hull (with mails for London and Doncaster) > Doncaster (pick up London, drop off Doncaster, possibly sorted) > London (sorted to sorting offices/mailsort 120 or 700, plus AL postcodes via van to Euston and trolley to St Pancras/much more to regional sorting centre in Hemel via Euston) doesn't really work with electric power, as electric trains, along with other innovations like 3 lane motorways, have not quite reached Hull yet.

The above route would be part of a much bigger network. I can dream.
 

33056

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To which i hear (and noticed on WNXX) That the first 325 is to be broken up in Rotherham in the next few weeks for spares – 325110 if anyone’s interested.
325 010 and I doubt that it has much left on it now that can still be used, lots of bits taken off it to refurbish the others whilst it was at Ilford.
 

pemma

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My understanding is that, apart from the MUs mentioned in the above posts, there is almost no spare stock available, and anything that is currently spare is not in very good condition.

I did actually miss off a couple of instances where stock is out-of-use but is being refurbished and returned to service - such as the 5 x 180s that FGW will put in to service later this year.

leaves you with a surplus of coaches and no power cars (three per rake?) and no buffets either.

FGW are currently converting some 'surplus' buffet vehicles in to standard vehicles to use to lengthen their HSTs.
 

Peter Sarf

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325 010 and I doubt that it has much left on it now that can still be used, lots of bits taken off it to refurbish the others whilst it was at Ilford.

Amazes me that the bodyshells are not being kept for spares. I seem to remember they are related to Networkers (165, 166, 365, 465 & 466). If thats true then they could be usefull to replace accident damaged vehicles in those classes of units.

How old is a 325 anyway, only about twenty years ?.

Point is if they have no use for that 325 on Post Office work then its unlikely they would need to convert any Mk3s. Also iirc they used to drag dead 325s around on Post office work anyway so could be used off the wires and already has roller shutter sides.
 

90019

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Amazes me that the bodyshells are not being kept for spares. I seem to remember they are related to Networkers (165, 166, 365, 465 & 466). If thats true then they could be usefull to replace accident damaged vehicles in those classes of units.

IIRC, they're based on the 319s, but with Networker style cabs.
 

hairyhandedfool

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Amazes me that the bodyshells are not being kept for spares. I seem to remember they are related to Networkers (165, 166, 365, 465 & 466). If thats true then they could be usefull to replace accident damaged vehicles in those classes of units....

The only thing a 325 has in common with a Networker is the cab front, aside from that it is basically a 319 with buffers and drophead buckeyes. I'd say that if it was to be useful as a donor body it would be for a 319/320/321/322, but even then I'm not sure it would be worth it. They'd still have to fit new couplings, windows, passenger doors, seats heaters and associated equipment, not to mention that if it was to replace a 319 car on FCC services it would probably require a new cab front aswell.

....How old is a 325 anyway, only about twenty years ?....

About that, just under I'd say.

....Point is if they have no use for that 325 on Post Office work then its unlikely they would need to convert any Mk3s. Also iirc they used to drag dead 325s around on Post office work anyway so could be used off the wires and already has roller shutter sides.

It's been out of service for years, I think before the Royal Mail contract was lost by EWS, so any stock use since then would account for one less unit. The Mk3s were originally planned to replace the Mk1 based NPCCS, which had a lower top speed, and make better use of the 67s with their maximum permitted speed of 125mph.
 

Lampshade

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I thought 325s were built to be easily converted to passenger use should there be no need for them on mail duties anymore :?
 

hairyhandedfool

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As a class they probably were, but keeping one unit for a time when it might be needed in a different class is a different matter.

I don't know if you recall, after the Potters Bar accident, the possibility of the driving coach of the 365 being replaced by the driving car of a 166 (involved in the Ladbrook Grove accident) was looked at and rejected, and that is quite a similar proposal.
 

Mojo

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How about D Stocks soon to become available from LUL? Oh wait... ;)
 

themiller

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Point is if they have no use for that 325 on Post Office work then its unlikely they would need to convert any Mk3s. Also iirc they used to drag dead 325s around on Post office work anyway so could be used off the wires and already has roller shutter sides.

If I remember correctly, they were originally limited to being dragged for a certain mileage before they had to be powered up again. Possibly in connection with the electric motors.
 

sprinterguy

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If I remember correctly, they were originally limited to being dragged for a certain mileage before they had to be powered up again. Possibly in connection with the electric motors.
That makes some sense as when GBRf held the mail contract and were dragging them with class 87s up and down the West Coast main line I believe the 325s had the pantograph car removed, which is the vehicle that also houses the motors. This also allowed the motor carriages to receive mechanical attention before the 325s re-entered service as self powered units.
 

whhistle

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How about D Stocks soon to become available from LUL? Oh wait... ;)
Seriously, they should be used on local services like Coventry - Birmingham or Birmingham to Wolverhampton / Walsall.
 

33056

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It's been out of service for years, I think before the Royal Mail contract was lost by EWS..........
Pretty sure it "died" when GBRf had the contact (no reflection on them BTW), hence the reason it ended up at Wembley as they were maintained there at the time. If it was under EWS, it would have been dragged back to Crewe.
 

lincolnshire

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Post from Hull is now trucked by road to Leeds or Sheffield for sorting, so not much use for a train anymore.
Post from where I live near to Scunthorpe used to go to Doncaster now goes to Sheffield for sorting.
So i don,t think we will see post like it used to be back on the rails.
 
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