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- 8 Sep 2008
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An SWT 158 158880 I think it was did a test run to Swanage yesterday. Anyone know why?
Just found out and you are correct. InterestingThe only information I can find suggests it was a route clearance exercise.
There are no plans for this, SWT just doesn't have the capacity to start new services at the moment or in the planned future, this was no more than a testing exercise but opens the door to possible special workings from Wareham.
Perhaps when the 456s come over one could replace the 158 on the Lymington branch, which could then work a few Wareham-Swanage shuttles?
Perhaps when the 456s come over one could replace the 158 on the Lymington branch, which could then work a few Wareham-Swanage shuttles?
To be fair, it seems that a few of the diagrams currently operated by 158/159s will be changed over to EMU operation when the 456s arrive - largely those originating from Basingstoke.
Interestingly the story on the Swanage Railway website states that the gauging trips were for the testing of "...a modified Class 158 DMU - for performance and environmental improvement - on the Swanage Railway early in 2013 during the line's winter shutdown" - presumably this is the long awaited testing of a mechanical transmission as fitted to the 172's.
Chris
The only information I can find suggests it was a route clearance exercise.
Yep. It'll be the ZF Ecomat 6 speed gearbox. Not sure which unit it'll be fitted to yet, although it'll probably be rather distinctive due to the sound of it.
Without wishing to resort to posting unintelligible babble, how exactly does the noise change from that of a standard 158 when this new kit is fitted? I'd be rather sad if they lost their distinctive high pitched engine note
Because its a completely different transmission - the ZF box sounds like that in a car, so you get to hear it accelerate up through each gear as you would in a car. It's very distinctive in the 172.