Class 380 Decoupling failure

[mbreckers]

Spotted a ScotRail driver attempting to decouple 380009 and 380012 at Glasgow Central on Thursday.

Something had clearly failed during the decoupling, and resorted to using the old if it wont move kick it routine.

Cue engineer (are they called engineers?) who managed to decouple it after a few minutes after a lot of clunks.

 

[Jonfun]

Something had clearly failed during the decoupling, and resorted to using the old if it wont move kick it routine.

Basic railway fault rectification: (any relation to activities of real life fitters or depots is purely coincidental... )

If in doubt, give it a clout. If still unsure, hit it some more.

If it should move but doesn't, WD40. If it shouldn't move but does, gaffer tape.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Do the corridor connections have a pneumatic rod at the top to extend and retract them?

 

[Carntyne]

It's a kind of folding mechanism they have at the top which pushes it out.

 

[notadriver]

Surely it can still run if that mechanism fails ?

 

[swt_passenger]

Surely it can still run if that mechanism fails ?

Not if (as I believe) it is required to be retracted when moving for forward visibility. Although a slow speed run to the nearest depot might be a different matter.
If it was OK to run with the gangway vertical I doubt they'd have fitted the additional bellows section (the one nearer the cab - there's a flange (or frame) between the two sections).

As an aside, the spring mechanism that's visible on the top of the front section of gangway seems to be basically the same as that on a normal 350/450/444 - so I think the means of hinging the second section must be hidden from view.

 

[380101]

There is an internal gangway retract valve if it fails to retract using the switch. Similarly there an internal deploy valve if it fails to deploy using the switch. Happens from time to time but not big issues really. Can run with the gangway deployed at up to 50mph if leading cab and 100mph if trailing.

It will not allow the uncouple procedure to start unless the gangways are retracted for some reason, unless they are isolated I think. Never had to go down that road though...yet!

 

[mbreckers]

There is an internal gangway retract valve if it fails to retract using the switch. Similarly there an internal deploy valve if it fails to deploy using the switch. Happens from time to time but not big issues really. Can run with the gangway deployed at up to 50mph if leading cab and 100mph if trailing.

Off topic, but are you a 380 driver?

 

[380101]

Off topic, but are you a 380 driver?

Yes...

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Yes...

@380101; is there a pneumatic arm inside there that extends/retracts the corridor connection?

 

[380101]

@380101; is there a pneumatic arm inside there that extends/retracts the corridor connection?

Absolutely no idea...there is a foldable roof panel inside the gangway which may conceal the mechanism. There is no access to the gangway when retracted as the missile doors don't open far enough due to hitting the drop down roof panel. Only way to see in is if someone hasn't closed up the yellow fly doors on the outside.