GWR Celebrity Power Car Watch W43002/43185

iantherev · 18 May 2019

Railperf said:
GWRs finest travelling fitter had it restarted at Bridgend for run to Swansea. Has been on 2 power cars so far - currently looking good between Swindon and Reading. Batteries on 43002 NOT charging. I understand driver was warned there is a risk they could go flat..but not sure of consequences..... Driver instructed to connect 43002 to shore supply at Paddington.

That will upset a few photographers....

RailUK Forums

Thunderer · 18 May 2019

Railperf said:
GWRs finest travelling fitter had it restarted at Bridgend for run to Swansea. Has been on 2 power cars so far - currently looking good between Swindon and Reading. Batteries on 43002 NOT charging. I understand driver was warned there is a risk they could go flat..but not sure of consequences..... Driver instructed to connect 43002 to shore supply at Paddington.

I took this train between Swansea and Cardiff today and 43002 was up and firing for the return journey to London. It left Cardiff about 2 mins late sounding its horn as it left for the last time on a booked service to London. It was a great, but also quite sad to say goodbye to these great machines from front line GWR expresses.

43096 · 18 May 2019

Railperf said:
GWRs finest travelling fitter had it restarted at Bridgend for run to Swansea. Has been on 2 power cars so far - currently looking good between Swindon and Reading. Batteries on 43002 NOT charging. I understand driver was warned there is a risk they could go flat..but not sure of consequences..... Driver instructed to connect 43002 to shore supply at Paddington.

Not sure how connecting to the shore supply is going to help if the battery charger is knackered.

Railperf · 18 May 2019

43096 said:
Not sure how connecting to the shore supply is going to help if the battery charger is knackered.

Perhaps prevent the battery being drained further? Just a guess as i am not a Hst engineer lol. Dont shoot the messenger pls

43096 · 18 May 2019

Railperf said:
Perhaps prevent the battery being drained further? Just a guess as i am not a Hst engineer lol. Dont shoot the messenger pls

I wasn’t intending to shoot anyone, least of all the messenger!

Some control circuits run off the batteries, so if you lose battery charge eventually the power car dies as the batteries drain, regardless of plugging in to shore supply. However, as I understand it, the GWR technical rider arranged for parts to be sent up from Bristol to Paddington on the next up service (much like BR used to do with its UVS (Urgent Vehicle Standing) system) to allow 002 to be fixed.

Railperf · 18 May 2019

43096 said:
I wasn’t intending to shoot anyone, least of all the messenger!

Some control circuits run off the batteries, so if you lose battery charge eventually the power car dies as the batteries drain, regardless of plugging in to shore supply. However, as I understand it, the GWR technical rider arranged for parts to be sent up from Bristol to Paddington on the next up service (much like BR used to do with its UVS (Urgent Vehicle Standing) system) to allow 002 to be fixed.

Yes. That was the engineers fear...that 002 could die before reaching Paddington.

FGW_DID · 19 May 2019

Aside from the known future plans of the likes of 002/185, what’s planned for 43172 ‘Harry Patch’? Is it earmarked to remain for the 2+4 sets?

(I know the answer is probably already somewhere amongst the thousand of pages dedicated to the final days of the 2+8 HST!)

43096 · 19 May 2019

FGW_DID said:
Aside from the known future plans of the likes of 002/185, what’s planned for 43172 ‘Harry Patch’? Is it earmarked to remain for the 2+4 sets?

(I know the answer is probably already somewhere amongst the thousand of pages dedicated to the final days of the 2+8 HST!)

Current plan is 172 goes off lease, like 002 and 185.

Railperf · 19 May 2019

43096 said:
Current plan is 172 goes off lease, like 002 and 185.

Which power cars are going to be used on the Flying Banana rail tour? Any allocations yet?

AnthonyRail · 19 May 2019

Railperf said:
Which power cars are going to be used on the Flying Banana rail tour? Any allocations yet?

Would love it be 185/002 with a full green set.

MKC25 · 19 May 2019

002 will eventually go to the NRM at York
093 will be used for Castle sets (I assume 198 will too?)
Not heard anything about 172 or 185 so assume off lease and stored?

cactustwirly · 19 May 2019

AnthonyRail said:
Would love it be 185/002 with a full green set.

I think that's the plan, they didn't spend £1000s on 002's G exam for nothing

43096 · 19 May 2019

cactustwirly said:
I think that's the plan, they didn't spend £1000s on 002's G exam for nothing

E exam if I remember correctly. Presumably the value of the PR has outweighed the cost of the exam, which could not be justified on any other basis.

83G/84D · 23 May 2019

43002 in company with 43198 on a 2+4 slam door set failed at Penzance.

MightyMirrlees · 23 May 2019

Apparently 002 eventually left Penzance at 1425 Penzance to Plymouth (3Z51). Does anyone know if it will come back to Penzance tonight?

PHILIPE · 23 May 2019

MightyMirrlees said:
Apparently 002 eventually left Penzance at 1425 Penzance to Plymouth (3Z51). Does anyone know if it will come back to Penzance tonight?

Going to Laira

83G/84D · 23 May 2019

Driver reported that whilst driving the set both power cars wanted to go in opposite directions (both pulling instead of one pulling and one pushing). 43002 was isolated and train went to Laira with just 43198 powering.

Railperf · 23 May 2019

Could the fault be on either loco?

83G/84D · 23 May 2019

Could be, fitters attended and decided best course of action was to shut down 43002. What they found when they looked at the set I didn’t get told.

83G/84D · 23 May 2019

Never mind if 43002 isn’t easily fixed there is 43185 available at Laira as a replacement.

43096 · 23 May 2019

Railperf said:
Could the fault be on either loco?

Likely reverser fault on 002. They do that occasionally.

43096 · 23 May 2019

83G/84D said:
Never mind if 43002 isn’t easily fixed there is 43185 available at Laira as a replacement.

Don’t think 185 is available as a replacement as I believe it is on handback before going off lease.

trainmania100 · 23 May 2019

Someone's been wibbling to me that 185 is on tomorrow 5L46 Laira to Ely,,, can anyon confirm? I still need 43185

83G/84D · 23 May 2019

43096 said:
Don’t think 185 is available as a replacement as I believe it is on handback before going off lease.

Thanks I was not aware of that.

dave87016 · 23 May 2019

43185 is indeed on Laira to Ely Papworth tommorow with booked departure off Laira TMD at 0940 with 43018

AnthonyRail · 23 May 2019

So no 43185 on HST Railtour then

fishquinn · 23 May 2019

dave87016 said:
43185 is indeed on Laira to Ely Papworth tommorow with booked departure off Laira TMD at 0940 with 43018

Shame to lose 018, one of my faves. Never particularly liked 185 myself so not a huge loss for me.

strimmer · 23 May 2019

43185 at Exeter St Davids with the 06:55 Newcastle - Plymouth on 28th of December 1984.

dave87016 · 23 May 2019

AnthonyRail said:
So no 43185 on HST Railtour then

I’m guessing probably 43002 with either 43172 or 43198

MKC25 · 24 May 2019

24/05/2019

W43002/43198 short set
06.00 Exeter SD - Bristol Parkway
Works various local trains all day, then
19.00 Cardiff - Taunton

43185/43018 (most likely final report)
09.35 Laira - Ely Sidings

GWR Celebrity Power Car Watch W43002/43185

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