Where is the wheel lathe for AGA trains?

[skfl]

Thanks. I think the second video is more like the real world for wheel machining as most if not all "lathes" do not require the wheelset to be removed from the unit.

Transit? Agreed. Freight + heavy haul, though, will often use above floor truing machines (lathes or milling) that require the wheel sets be removed - granted, other actions are also likely being performed to the wheel set components.

 

[WarrenTManager]

You cannot do a single wheel, both wheels on any axle have to be identical diameter. But I believe using a modern wheel lathe whole 4 or 5 car units are done in only a few hours, they are usually in and out in the same day.

both wheels have to be the same size as you say but to complicate even further power axles on a DMU need to be the same or the final drives can have issues by the master and slave not having parity.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wimbledon Park has a nice new double headed lathe so both wheels on a bogie can be turned at the same time.

 

[Class 170101]

Not helped by AGA requesting a reduction in RHTT trips a couple of years ago as lineside clearances were supposed to have reduced the problem and they claimed the RHTTs were disrupting their services :facepalm:

Is this because NR insist on running them whilst the train services run rather than prune their maintenance time and run the RHTT overnight when AGA are not running trains.

 

[CockneySparrow]

Perhaps bidders in the upcomimg East Anglia Franchise competition could earn bonus points by promising to instal a lathe at Crown Point?

Would it make a difference if they did, in terms of money probably yes but in terms of time probably not

 

[TheEdge]

Would it make a difference if they did, in terms of money probably yes but in terms of time probably not

What? Of course it would save time. If there was a wheel lathe at Crown Point then there would be no need to send stock to join the queues for the lathes at Ilford, Hornsey, Old Oak or Etches Park. The DMU, Mk3 and 90 fleets could be quicker turned around at CP.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Are all the units with flat spotted wheels all based out of one depot of various depots?

 

[Shunter_69]

Rather ironically one of the RHTT's had to visit Ilford's wheel lathe at the weekend.

 

[jopsuk]

Are all the units with flat spotted wheels all based out of one depot of various depots?

All of AGAs DMU fleet is based at Crown Point in Norwich.

They do have a small fleet of micro fleets, which doesn't help. They've got 5 153, 9 156, 4 2-car 170 and 8 3-car 170

 

[DarloRich]

Is this because NR insist on running them whilst the train services run rather than prune their maintenance time and run the RHTT overnight when AGA are not running trains.

what maintenance time? There is little spare time. Ours on WCML south run:

Bescot - Rugby - Macclesfield - Rugby - Northampton - Bletchley - Bedford-Bletchley- Euston

On the way back it runs Euston - Watford - St Albans - Euston - Northampton - Rugby - Bescot covering up all lines

It leaves Bescot at 10:50 and returns at 0632. In that time you have to feed and water the locos, attend to any minor maintenance and more importantly fill the water tanks back up

 

[CockneySparrow]

What? Of course it would save time. If there was a wheel lathe at Crown Point then there would be no need to send stock to join the queues for the lathes at Ilford, Hornsey, Old Oak or Etches Park. The DMU, Mk3 and 90 fleets could be quicker turned around at CP.

Suppose you have a point, would any lathe a CP obstruct the depots other daily business though

 

[dk1]

Suppose you have a point, would any lathe a CP obstruct the depots other daily business though

This question was repeated constantly when I was based there 94-98 & has been ever since. Who pays?

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Is there any YouTube footage of wheel lathe in action? I've looked and not found any in the past.

Not a train, but Blackpool New Tram Depot wheel lathe. Short video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5XqYPVUV7A

 

[skfl]

Not a train, but Blackpool New Tram Depot wheel lathe. Short video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5XqYPVUV7A

That's a Hegenscheidt U2000-150 Underfloor Wheel Lathe! More information on that machine can be found here and here.

 

[jopsuk]

So that's a sophisticated ultra-modern lathe that can process effectively six bogies in seven hours. I'm guessing older lathes take longer? If anyone's trying to keep score on times!

Even before this autumn AGA have had long running reliability issues across their DMU fleet- which as previously highlighted is three micro-fleets of different classes, one of which has two different formations. The units are operating out of two hubs - Ipswich and Norwich - but there's just the one depot, shared with the Intercity fleet and by reputation overcrowded. So much so that some of the Intercity formations are a carriage shorter than the rest entirely because of space at the depot.

What is the solution? A separate depot? But if so where? A uniform fleet? That would be madness, several of the routes really do merit only a single 153 whilst others really do need those 3-car Turbostars.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Who could AGA do swaps with (and swapping what for what) to get rid of their microfleets?

 

[D365]

Who could AGA do swaps with (and swapping what for what) to get rid of their microfleets?

:roll: I think you're missing the point entirely.

In an ideal scenario, electrification between Ipswich and Cambridge would find us a home for the Class 317s going spare by the end of the decade. But by then a new depot really will be needed!

 

[jopsuk]

Well yes- electrification should ideally "sort out" Ipswich-Cambridge, Peterborough and Felixstowe and Cambridge-Norwich, plus the Sudbury branch (which some would like included into a Cambridge-Haverhill and on to Colchester reopening, but that's another, somewhat fantasy, scheme).

 

[Class 170101]

what maintenance time?

Sorry referring to Network Rail maintenance time not train maintenance.