Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
If it's still where it was there on Saturday, it should be photographable from anything going across the flyover during the day when the depot is otherwise almost empty.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
GWR Class 230 Information, Movements & Discussion.
- Thread starter FGW_DID
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
reddragon
Established Member
There's a LNW livery class 230 coach on an Alleys truck about to leave Reading depot.
Probably 230004 you saw. 230005 departed yesterday. 230003 will follow. (I think they were in that order)
They are heading to the scrappies where the rest of the D78 stock acquired by GWR (when they bought 230001 and related tech) are being stored.
They were taking up valuable stabling space on the TCD and so have been evicted!
Anonymous10
Established Member
Has there been any developments with trialling this battery tech?
Tests / Trials are ongoing. Whilst the unit has been quite happy trundling up and down the Greenford branch, its always been quite lightly loaded i.e just had test kit and techs aboard. The next test will be to simulate a fully loaded train of passengers, which is imminent in the next couple of days with a trainload of volunteer staff.
Anonymous10
Established Member
Think I have a suspect of a member of gwr staff I know who will be aboard that
Peter Sarf
Established Member
This Scrappies/storage you speak of - where is it please ?.
Sims, Long Marston.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
I can't really see Sims being used as storage - aren't they so tight on space and that's why stuff gets processed within hours of arrival? Presumably, then, this is the end of the former Marston Vale trio?
The other 67(?) D78 vehicles that were bought from Vivarail's administrators are stored there too. You can see them on satellite view on Google maps.
reddragon
Established Member
I didn't see any there at Rail Live in June. Hidden?
The D78s are at Sims, not at the Porterbrook site - they're different places about a mile apart.
Actually they are in a big fenced compound at Birds, proper title International Metals & Cable Recycling Ltd (IMR), which is next door to Sims, and it definitely isn't the Porterbrook 'Rail Innovation Centre' (formerly MOD Long Marston). You won't be able to see the compound where they're stored at Birds, it is a long way back from the road. Please do not go trespassing or flying drones to see them! But the ex-WMT units are NOT being scrapped.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Oh... *penny drops* ... I didn't realise Sims had bought a storage site... I automatically thought of it as Newport...
Sims haven't, the storage compound is owned by a different company (IMR) - see post #494
45669
Member
If anyone would like to have a look, I've put another short video clip of 230001 on test passing South Greenford at speed in the Photos and Videos forum :
www.railforums.co.uk
TTFN,
Ron.
Fast Charge Battery-Electric Train Trial
This is currently (June 2024) underway in west London It uses 230 001 - a former London Underground D stock train. To simulate a real-world application this test train shadows the West Ealing - Greenford diesel passenger service, stopping at stations etc but it is not carrying passengers.
www.railforums.co.uk
TTFN,
Ron.
AlistairCowell
Member
- Joined
- 10 Jan 2018
- Messages
- 356
No more D-trains to be converted. 
And ex-LNWR 230s are sent to Sims Metals.
At least we have five TfW 230s and five IL 484s in service, and of course GWR 230001.
Of course there could have been more sets, VivaRail had interesting concepts, such as country or metro configurations, whether diesel, electric or hydrogen modes.
But unfortunately, VivaRail went bust in late 2022, and of course Adrian Shooter died soon afterwards.
GWR tried to keep the D-trains going, and only did managed to do 230001 for a battery train.
The dream of D-trains is over
At least we have five TfW 230s and five IL 484s in service, and of course GWR 230001.
Of course there could have been more sets, VivaRail had interesting concepts, such as country or metro configurations, whether diesel, electric or hydrogen modes.
But unfortunately, VivaRail went bust in late 2022, and of course Adrian Shooter died soon afterwards.
GWR tried to keep the D-trains going, and only did managed to do 230001 for a battery train.
The dream of D-trains is over
Last edited:
I think we need to clear up all this confusion. From my understanding the D stock at Reading has been moved to a yard near Sims at Long Marston for storage and NOT for scrap. Can someone please confirm that this is correct.No more D-trains to be converted.
And ex-LNWR 230s are sent to Sims Metals.
At least we have five TfW 230s and five IL 484s in service, and of course GWR 230001.
Of course there could have been more sets, VivaRail had interesting concepts, such as country or metro configurations, whether diesel, electric or hydrogen modes.
But unfortunately, VivaRail went bust in late 2022, and of course Adrian Shooter died soon afterwards.
GWR tried to keep the D-trains going, and only did managed to do 230001 for a battery train.
The dream of D-trains is over
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Ha! That’s the best joke I’ve heard all year.
Is that a deduction from where they’re going or an officially confirmed pronouncement?No more D-trains to be converted.
And ex-LNWR 230s are sent to Sims Metals.
At least we have five TfW 230s and five IL 484s in service, and of course GWR 230001.
Of course there could have been more sets, VivaRail had interesting concepts, such as country or metro configurations, whether diesel, electric or hydrogen modes.
But unfortunately, VivaRail went bust in late 2022, and of course Adrian Shooter died soon afterwards.
GWR tried to keep the D-trains going, and only did managed to do 230001 for a battery train.
The dream of D-trains is over
reddragon
Established Member
If you go to Meon Hill view point and use a telephoto lenses you can
That is correct, they have gone for storage at Birds with all the other D78 stock acquired by GWR at the same time as 230001. NOT for scrap.
AlistairCowell
Member
- Joined
- 10 Jan 2018
- Messages
- 356
Okay, ex-LNWR units aren't being scrapped (for now).
I take Sims also does the storage, in addition to that Newport shredder (I think there are a few Sims Metals kicking about).
I take Sims also does the storage, in addition to that Newport shredder (I think there are a few Sims Metals kicking about).
reddragon
Established Member
read post #503 from the person who actually knows!
Thanks for confirming
Northerngirl
Member
Is the Greenford branch done by just one train all day usually
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
Yes, just 1 train.
Usually runs from/to Paddington as first/last service.
Northerngirl
Member
Good to know, I was worried if it needs 2 then scrapping the remaining ones would be very foolish
The public service on that branch of one diesel train starts the day at Paddington. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...24-08-05/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt
The test service of one 230 started today at West Ealing sidings, a location photographed earlier in this thread. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U20618/2024-08-04/detailed Other days it comes from Reading depot.
The test service of one 230 started today at West Ealing sidings, a location photographed earlier in this thread. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U20618/2024-08-04/detailed Other days it comes from Reading depot.