Class 506

[Grumpy Git]

Interesting rolling stock on the 2A07 Crewe-Walsall service tonight, I guess it's going via Woodhead?

https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/P45218/2019-11-01

 

[MarkWiles]

Blimey, Gresley bogies timed at 110mph, you'd end up with whiplash.

 

[Grumpy Git]

looks like a bug in the system as all LNW services (around Crewe at least) are shown as 506's?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Perhaps the Class 306 at Shildon has been passed for main-line running and it's a typo in the system; a "5" instead of a "3"

 

[Bevan Price]

looks like a bug in the system as all LNW services (around Crewe at least) are shown as 506's?

May be a problem at OTT -- RTT shows it pathed for a 100 mph Class 350.

 

[6026KingJohn]

Traksy also shows many WMR/LNR services as class 506

 

[Class 170101]

LMR services now timed at 110mph I'd say. When the Trent Valley services first came in these were timed at 110mph and shown as Class 506, on RTT they were shown as Project 110. This differentiated them from the 100mph timed services. (NB Class 350/2 trains couldn't do 100mph at the time of 110mph running for Trent Valley services).

 

[keith1879]

Blimey, Gresley bogies timed at 110mph, you'd end up with whiplash.

Seemed to do OK on the Coronation and the Silver Jubilee!!

 

[AlistairCowell]

Only a cab from a Class 506 is preserved - the rest are gone!

 

[87015]

Timing load 506 has absolutely no connection to a Class 506 EMU. Its just incorrect, lazy or mischievous translation by the various open sites like you see with the delay codes.

506 = 350 110mph as above

 

[DidcotDickie]

Seemed to do OK on the Coronation and the Silver Jubilee!!

Assuming the 506s were the same as the 306s (in their original DC format), then they weren't fitted with Gresley bogies. The ride on the 306s was lively enough at 60-70mph, I wouldn't want to have been on one anywhere near 100mph!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/14084364391 (not mine)

All the other first generation EMUs on the GE (with the exception of the 309s) and the LT&S were fitted with Gresley bogies on their trailer vehicles which had the riding characteristics of a sack of potatoes. I know, I used to commute to school on the damn things!

 

[AM9]

Assuming the 506s were the same as the 306s (in their original DC format), then they weren't fitted with Gresley bogies. The ride on the 306s was lively enough at 60-70mph, I wouldn't want to have been on one anywhere near 100mph!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/14084364391 (not mine)

All the other first generation EMUs on the GE (with the exception of the 309s) and the LT&S were fitted with Gresley bogies on their trailer vehicles which had the riding characteristics of a sack of potatoes. I know, I used to commute to school on the damn things!

Well remembered (on both counts), - you beat me to it!

 

[phil beard]

These errors occur regularly. I was l;ooking at Westbury and there were a lot of trains on Realtime Trains marked the previous day as run by an electric locomotive; they must be bi-mode freights!

 

[MarkWiles]

The old Class 304s were abysmal riders at any speed. When I was a student in the 1980s I used to commute daily from Walsall to Perry Barr and 90% of the time it was a purgatorial Class 304. Between Bescot and Hamstead they used to get up to top speed on the indifferent track of the route and the sight of one half of the coach being bounced in the air as the bogie beneath it hit the joint followed a second later by the other half was hilarious. They were probably the only EMU class I have experienced where the motor coach gave a better ride than the trailers.

I can't understand what BR were thinking of saddling these units with archaic rough riding bogies when they were intended to be used on some long semi-fast services.

 

[43096]

The old Class 304s were abysmal riders at any speed. When I was a student in the 1980s I used to commute daily from Walsall to Perry Barr and 90% of the time it was a purgatorial Class 304. Between Bescot and Hamstead they used to get up to top speed on the indifferent track of the route and the sight of one half of the coach being bounced in the air as the bogie beneath it hit the joint followed a second later by the other half was hilarious. They were probably the only EMU class I have experienced where the motor coach gave a better ride than the trailers.

I can't understand what BR were thinking of saddling these units with archaic rough riding bogies when they were intended to be used on some long semi-fast services.

There'll be someone along shortly to tell you are wrong and that the 304s were way better than their replacements (Class 323 principally) because they had slam doors and rode so badly.

I fully agree with you, btw!

 

[Grumpy Git]

The old Class 304s were abysmal riders at any speed. When I was a student in the 1980s I used to commute daily from Walsall to Perry Barr and 90% of the time it was a purgatorial Class 304. Between Bescot and Hamstead they used to get up to top speed on the indifferent track of the route and the sight of one half of the coach being bounced in the air as the bogie beneath it hit the joint followed a second later by the other half was hilarious. They were probably the only EMU class I have experienced where the motor coach gave a better ride than the trailers.

I can't understand what BR were thinking of saddling these units with archaic rough riding bogies when they were intended to be used on some long semi-fast services.

Wow, pull-up a sandbag & swing the lampshade! The 304's on the Macclesfield - Piccadilly service were shockers. Always used to make me sick on the way home!

 

[johnnychips]

I’m getting confused. Were 506s the Hadfield 1500v EMUs and how did that move the conversation to 306?

 

[RochdalePioneers]

304s! Now there is a memory - I used to do Stockport to Crewe on a Saturday, bouncing along, as well as longer runs out with the old man. Used to be a diagram that did Manchester Piccadilly - Stoke, Stoke - Stafford, Stafford - Walsall via Birmingham. So we'd get on a 304 in Stockport and get off a Bescot to go round the shed.Lets just describe the ride as "lively"

I also remember 504s to Bury. Surprised the collector shoe stayed in contact with the power rail they bounced so much...

 

[MarkWiles]

There'll be someone along shortly to tell you are wrong and that the 304s were way better than their replacements (Class 323 principally) because they had slam doors and rode so badly.

I fully agree with you, btw!

When the 323s arrived on the Cross City after the rag bag collection of ex NSE 308s and 304s they were wonderful, smooth, relatively comfortable and quick. Superb under-rated units.

I’m getting confused. Were 506s the Hadfield 1500v EMUs and how did that move the conversation to 306?

The 506 and the 306 were essentially the same design, the 306 units were originally built as 1500v DC in many respects identical to the Woodhead units, but were later converted to AC when the Great Eastern lines were converted to 25kV. There is of course a Class 306 preserved so I presume that is where it came from. I mentioned Gresley bogies which is where the Class 304 references came from!