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5BEL

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colchesterken

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If Belle can work with other ex Southern units any chance of a date with Gordon ( if he ever gets finished ) for a 10 coach dash to Bournemouth on a rail tour.
 
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Deepgreen

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Normally two lights are used. They certainly are not as bright as the halogen headlights on the desiro units, but are comparable to the DB C class 66's.
Whatever, they are better than the original electric lights or paraffin lights.
I'm not trying to be pedantic, but 35028's lights are nowhere near as bright as any 66's headlights. When 35028 is approaching the lights do not even strike me as being lit until I look specifically, but a 66's (and any other main line traction) lights are always very obvious from a great distance. The point is that the BEL could seemingly have moderate lights in line with 35028's, rather than what look like 'Desiro'-style dazzlers.
 

Deepgreen

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If Belle can work with other ex Southern units any chance of a date with Gordon ( if he ever gets finished ) for a 10 coach dash to Bournemouth on a rail tour.
Is 'Gordon' the 4VEP (3417)? Are you assuming that the BEL will be six cars? I think the combination would be interesting, to say the least, but odd.
 

big all

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Is 'Gordon' the 4VEP (3417)? Are you assuming that the BEL will be six cars? I think the combination would be interesting, to say the least, but odd.
In years gone by, when they where a unit short for a 10 car service, they would use a "Nelson" unit, usually a 4COR but not unknown to borrow a BUF or GRI from the Southwestern side.

The refurbished Bell is now '63 stock compatible, so can work on the 'juice' with '51 Stock (EPBs and HAPs), '57 stock (Kent coasters, and later EPBs) and '63 stock (VEPs, CIGs, 4TCs), and i believe Class 442's?
 
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UP13

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If Belle can work with other ex Southern units any chance of a date with Gordon ( if he ever gets finished ) for a 10 coach dash to Bournemouth on a rail tour.

That would be interesting. Gordon for standard class and the Belle for dining class?
 

gimmea50anyday

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Yeah we have Gordon (3417) Linda (1198) and the 400 series set 3905 plus there’s also CEP 7105 currently in the process of being deswindonised although there has been no progress report since March 2017and several bagpipe fitted 33s and 73s potentially available. The Hastings thumper should also be compatible so the potential is there. As for the will, legislation may unfortunately put paid to that.... (there are in excess of 80 doors on a VEP!)
 

VEP3417

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bit of a off topic side note but still relevant ish :lol:
i used to travel quite a lot on 1198 and on occasion 3417, my profile photo is of 3417 and 1497 coupled together at brockenhurst from a long time ago when for some reason 3417 was parked on the far platform at brock, then 1497 did a run around from the lymington side to the opposite side and coupled up and then both went to bournemouth depot i think, purely a chance sighting as id only gone to photograph 1497

anyway....nice to see all of them still suvive and receiving restoration work.....but yes imagine fitting all thos door locking mechanisms to a vep.....
 

SECR263

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bit of a off topic side note but still relevant ish :lol:
i used to travel quite a lot on 1198 and on occasion 3417, my profile photo is of 3417 and 1497 coupled together at brockenhurst from a long time ago when for some reason 3417 was parked on the far platform at brock, then 1497 did a run around from the lymington side to the opposite side and coupled up and then both went to bournemouth depot i think, purely a chance sighting as id only gone to photograph 1497

anyway....nice to see all of them still suvive and receiving restoration work.....but yes imagine fitting all thos door locking mechanisms to a vep.....

Would you need to fit central locking to all doors? As long as you had say, 4 doors per carriage, 2 per side, and the rest were locked out of use with the "buget key" would this not satisfy safety? Loading pass would take longer but would that matter on rail tour duty?
 

VEP3417

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i would imagine due to health and safety and for evacuation purposes all doors would have to be functional...not to mention the large ques it would cause when people where trying every door to find one that would open :lol:
 

43096

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i would imagine due to health and safety and for evacuation purposes all doors would have to be functional...not to mention the large ques it would cause when people where trying every door to find one that would open :lol:
You could paint the operational doors a contrasting colour....
 

Roast Veg

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Not required for heritage/charter stock. There are plenty of things beside doors preventing any of these units entering regula passenger service...
 

Ashley Hill

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Will it be fitted with toilet retention tanks?
Given that it's technically new to the mainline (unlike mk1s which have been in continual use) I would have thought CDL would be mandatory!
 

Journeyman

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Will it be fitted with toilet retention tanks?
Given that it's technically new to the mainline (unlike mk1s which have been in continual use) I would have thought CDL would be mandatory!

I expect you're right. I know at least some toilets have been repositioned to allow disabled access, so I'm guessing completely new modern equipment has been fitted.

In all honesty, is any of the original BEL left?
 
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