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Parry People Mover , a viable option ?

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Pen Mill

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Reading the Tavistock re-opening thread it got me thinking about the PPM.

The Stourbridge PPMs have been around for a couple of years now so I’m assuming that a serious evaluation has been done in this time.
Is this unit a viable option for short rail legs where the track still exists and is or could easily be Network Rail compliant ?

One local to me is the Yeovil Pen Mill to Yeovil Junction chord service(1 mile 62 chains) which was discontinued in the 1960s and replaced by a bus service which still runs Today. This is maintained as a diversionary route for both FGW and SWT needs.

Are there other routes which could lend themselves to this machine ?
 
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pemma

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The makers of the PPM visited the Helsby-Ellesmere Port line but I haven't heard anything since regarding that.

Although, generally in the North there's a lot more talk of tram-train with one proposal for Liverpool South Parkway to the Airport.
 

IanXC

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Don't PPMs have to be kept on completely separated lines from the rest of the network?

Would Yeovil present a problem achieving that?
 

YorkshireBear

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Its been looked at to be used on a sheffield nunnery square to stocksbridge service up lthe freight only line to a steel works in the area.
 

TheWalrus

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Exactly what I thought!

I think they would be a good, innovative option for rural lines with their much lower operating costs, provided they could operate DOO. I would propose them for the Cornish branchlines and Westbury-Chippenham.
 

Yew

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Could the larger PPM's be a viable option for 153 replacements?
 

sprinterguy

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Could the larger PPM's be a viable option for 153 replacements?
There's not very many routes these days where a single 153 offers sufficient capacity all day though, and most 153s are used to provide additional capacity on other services in combination with other units. There's not much call for a stand alone train with the capacity of a single 153 these days.
 

GNERman

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What about on the Middlesborough - Whitby route, maximum speed is 50 (I think) and its relatively self contained...

Also, Darlington to Bishop Auckland is mainly 45mph...
 
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Exactly what I thought!

I think they would be a good, innovative option for rural lines with their much lower operating costs, provided they could operate DOO. I would propose them for the Cornish branchlines and Westbury-Chippenham.

Probably well under-powered for Cornish Branch lines!!!!
2 litre lpg engine? Probably 10 litre+ per car be more like it!!
 

sprinterguy

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What about on the Middlesborough - Whitby route, maximum speed is 50 (I think) and its relatively self contained...

Also, Darlington to Bishop Auckland is mainly 45mph...
And passenger numbers on many services on the Whitby branch can regularly fill a 156 completely. I don't know about the Bishop Auckland branch, but I should imagine that it has some sort of concentrated commuter traffic into Darlo. Not passenger numbers you could squeeze into a single 153 or modern equivalent.

Also, the Whitby branch is basically a two hour journey from Middlesborough, and those stretched Parry People Mover things won't have toilets, which would be completely unsuitable.
 

ChiefPlanner

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Also "considered" for Pantyffynon to Gwaun Cae Gurwen as part of the Amman Valley Rly "revival" ......
 

2Dogbox

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Could the larger PPM's be a viable option for 153 replacements?

I wouldn't have thought so. Every route using 153's could really do with having 2 car units as overcrowding on some is dreadful. The only replacement or 153s should be new 2 car units (though round here we will get some secondhand cast offs in about 10 years time).
 

Class172

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As mentioned in another thread, the 153s should be formed back into the original 155s. 150s can then cover the former 153 operated routes.
 
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Class172

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Would it be possible that some rural lines could be re-opened using PPMs?
 

Class172

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If demand got high enough then eventually it would warrant more common mainline stock (eg Class 150). Thus the PPM could then be moved to another new line.
 

HSTEd

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Do any figures exist on the axle weight of one of these things?

I imagine a line equipped with them would be very low maintenance.

I assume a Cl139 is classified as RA1?
 

sprinterguy

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Do any figures exist on the axle weight of one of these things?

I imagine a line equipped with them would be very low maintenance.

I assume a Cl139 is classified as RA1?
The class 139s weigh 12 tonnes. So that's an axle weight of 6 tonnes.
 

tbtc

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Also, Darlington to Bishop Auckland is mainly 45mph...

Where would you terminate such a service at Darlo, if its split off from the Saltburn service? The "mainline" platforms at Darlington are too busy for any unit to lay over in (and there are no bays at the northern end).
 

GNERman

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Where would you terminate such a service at Darlo, if its split off from the Saltburn service? The "mainline" platforms at Darlington are too busy for any unit to lay over in (and there are no bays at the northern end).

It's not hard. Simply run the service as a shuttle, with minimum turn around at Darlington. Surely the intro of PPM's would allow for more services on the branch...
 

Bald Rick

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Lightweight, 4 wheeled single vehicles based on hybrid bus technology to use on short branch line routes. It would be great if these could be mass produced with 'go anywhere' capability for flexibility, DOO drivers who take fares (on lower salaries) to keep costs down, and best of all use existing infrastructure to avoid any expensive reinstatement costs.

Oh wait, that's a bus :idea:
 

starrymarkb

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Lightweight, 4 wheeled single vehicles based on hybrid bus technology to use on short branch line routes. It would be great if these could be mass produced with 'go anywhere' capability for flexibility, DOO drivers who take fares (on lower salaries) to keep costs down, and best of all use existing infrastructure to avoid any expensive reinstatement costs.

Oh wait, that's a bus :idea:

Isn't that what happens in France on rural lines...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I don't think so. They've been TOPS classification of 139.

They do, they are too light to be allowed to mix with much heavier stock. They have a TOPS classification, but so do the Class 21s and previous Class 22s. They've never ventured beyond a yard in Kent! Then there was the Sealink fleet which were very much out of gauge!
 
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