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Island Line Railway - current state and the future

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Dougal2345

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The ride on every single bus I've been on recently is better, and the seats more comfortable, than the 38s. You're clearly allowing a personal prejudice to influence your opinion. The 38 Stock is absolutely not fit for purpose. I agree trains are more comfortable than buses in many cases, but saying "80-year-old trains are fractionally better than modern buses" is a stupid argument for keeping 80-year-old trains.
I'm just saying that "ride" is more than just feeling the imperfections of the road/rail surface as you go along. Certainly a bus beats the 38s in that respect, at least if running on an undamaged road surface.

But in my view "ride quality" also encompasses the forces that throw you about, from side to side when cornering, and forwards and backwards when accelerating and braking, which personally I dislike much more than the vibrations from the road. Any train, however decrepit, is going to beat a bus in those aspects of "ride".

It's already been stated over and over again that battery power is the most likely option.
Most likely - but not certain, which is why I said 'if' rather than 'as'. Actually no-one really has any firm information on this do they - it's all guesswork?
 
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Chris M

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Most likely - but not certain, which is why I said 'if' rather than 'as'. Actually no-one really has any firm information on this do they - it's all guesswork?
Indeed. The last I remember seeing the 230s were just the "preferred" option, with no confirmation that they will be moving to the island, let alone what motive power they will be using if they do.
 

341o2

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I thought it was a rack-gronk with tilted bodywork and cab to keep the driver on the level when climbing.

...I'll get my coat!
And the radiator at an angle so the engine was not starved of coolant while climbing
 

Chris125

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was down there on Saturday - lovely, quaint little line. But by god those tube trains need to go. The roofs are peeling off and they ride like a ballast wagon.

They ride fine, as was proved on mainland test runs - it's the track causing the poor ride unfortunately.

The reasons why are explained in this report.
 

Chris125

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Mainland test runs?

To quote the document above:

"During test running on the mainland the vehicles showed no ride quality issues and comments were made by senior officers that the ride was as good as comparable more modern vehicles. However as soon as the vehicles arrived on the Island ride quality issues emerged and very quickly became an issue which led to delays in delivery of some of the vehicles whilst the cause was investigated and remedies identified"
IIRC test runs were operated out of Eastleigh and Fratton, with brake testing on the Shepperton branch.
 

DarloRich

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To quote the document above:

"During test running on the mainland the vehicles showed no ride quality issues and comments were made by senior officers that the ride was as good as comparable more modern vehicles. However as soon as the vehicles arrived on the Island ride quality issues emerged and very quickly became an issue which led to delays in delivery of some of the vehicles whilst the cause was investigated and remedies identified"
IIRC test runs were operated out of Eastleigh and Fratton, with brake testing on the Shepperton branch.

Thanks - I cant see a date. Do you know when?
 

hwl

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Thanks - I cant see a date. Do you know when?
Early 1989 probably around Easter time.

I was at the funeral of the person who was i/c the refurb programmme a decade ago so not much opportunity to ask on the detail, his paperwork for the project and his many others (4 REPs, 442s (his cunning plan to reuse bits), Eurostar, getting the 458s working properly and many many more) is now in the NRM collection though. His familiarity with the W&C (still BR at the time) and ferries (including ramps at ports) from when BR owned Sealink made him the ideal candidate.
 

hwl

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Much as "clickety clack" is nice, if you replaced it all with CWR you'd get years out of it before you even needed to look at it again.
Agreed CWR will also help the return path resistance and voltage drop issues.
 

DarloRich

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Much as "clickety clack" is nice, if you replaced it all with CWR you'd get years out of it before you even needed to look at it again.

Agreed CWR will also help the return path resistance and voltage drop issues.

good luck getting the fully welded lengths of rail on the ferry ;)

The track certainly has!
I suspect the rubber suspension components certainly won't have aged well...

the bad ride wasn't all track related. The track is fairly rough mind.
 

Journeyman

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The track certainly has!
I suspect the rubber suspension components certainly won't have aged well...

I don't think the 1938 Stock has any rubber suspension components - pretty sure it's all leaf springs. The 59 and 62 stocks were a bit more modern in that regard.
 

hwl

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good luck getting the fully welded lengths of rail on the ferry ;)

Mobile Flash butt welder attachment on the end of an excavator arm so it become continuous on site pre installation, conveniently a spare track bed in most places.
 

DarloRich

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Mobile Flash butt welder attachment on the end of an excavator arm so it become continuous on site pre installation, conveniently a spare track bed in most places.

oh i know all about the welder ;) Certainly quicker than crucible welding
 

Why

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Whilst in the Isle of Wight last week couldn't resist the chance to do the whole line again.... I get nostalgic for Tube stock i used to travel on for many years!!
Struck by how friendly the staff in general are, Lady issuing tickets at Shanklin very pleasant and warned of a possible delay due to a train fault, resolved and ran right on time. Guards also very welcoming.

Loved the journey .... just like i remember surface deep tube running, bouncy and a train that i presume was max 45mph gave the impression of 100 mph! £12.20 return for 2 or us and no charge for our labrador i thought very good value.

I do hope the solutions for the line are found and it retains its national rail status ..... good luck to all the staff, they deserve security of employment etc.
 

cav1975

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They would do better if all the guards collected the fares. A recent experience:-
Just after lunchtime - Ryde Pier Head to Ryde Esplanade - only about 8 people in the rear carriage, no attempt to collect fares;
Early evening - Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier Head - all tickets checked and £1.60 obtained from someone whose ticket didn't include the pier train.
 

StephenHunter

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They would do better if all the guards collected the fares. A recent experience:-
Just after lunchtime - Ryde Pier Head to Ryde Esplanade - only about 8 people in the rear carriage, no attempt to collect fares;
Early evening - Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier Head - all tickets checked and £1.60 obtained from someone whose ticket didn't include the pier train.

Doesn't a random collection make it more fun?
 

Chris125

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They would do better if all the guards collected the fares. A recent experience:-
Just after lunchtime - Ryde Pier Head to Ryde Esplanade - only about 8 people in the rear carriage, no attempt to collect fares;
Early evening - Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier Head - all tickets checked and £1.60 obtained from someone whose ticket didn't include the pier train.

I think guards take the view that there isn't really enough time between stations in Ryde, especially for the Shanklin-end carriage which they can only enter and leave when stationary.
 

BR Boy 125

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Any news on whether the current rolling stock is going to be refurbished or replaced as well as any plans for the physical infrastructure once network rail get the network back in their hands. Lots of talk about the pier and a new loop but nothing new.
Chances are that the 38' Stock will probably get replaced. I got word that the Class 230 converted D78 Tube stock Battery EMUs will replace them on the isle line.
 

swt_passenger

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Chances are that the 38' Stock will probably get replaced. I got word that the Class 230 converted D78 Tube stock Battery EMUs will replace them on the isle line.
Er... that’s what most of this thread has been about recently. Battery power on 230s is nothing but speculation.
 

cav1975

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I think guards take the view that there isn't really enough time between stations in Ryde, especially for the Shanklin-end carriage which they can only enter and leave when stationary.

I have some sympathy with that point of view, but I was in the Ryde end carriage in both directions and everyone had their tickets or money ready. In addition on the down journey tickets could have been sold while the driver changed ends but they weren't.
 

Journeyman

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Chances are that the 38' Stock will probably get replaced. I got word that the Class 230 converted D78 Tube stock Battery EMUs will replace them on the isle line.

The 38 Stock will definitely be replaced. It's falling to pieces.
 

krus_aragon

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In the worst of cases, perhaps the last remaining bogies of the 38 stock could be converted into pump trollies? :D
 
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