A question for drivers of 377s

[Railcar]

The doors of a 377 have all closed. The train is ready to leave. Before it pulls away, there is a little 'tremor' that can be felt through the seat and is an indication that the train is going to move. Can drivers of 377s explain what is happening? Is it a function of the speed control coming off an end stop?

 

[TurboMan]

The doors of a 377 have all closed. The train is ready to leave. Before it pulls away, there is a little 'tremor' that can be felt through the seat and is an indication that the train is going to move. Can drivers of 377s explain what is happening? Is it a function of the speed control coming off an end stop?

It might be when the traction motors start to take power but before the hill start releases (either because the driver takes their thumb off the hill start on the power controller, or when it automatically releases on the later 377s with the hill start on the desk). So for a moment the train is trying to move against the brake.

 

[Railcar]

Thanks, Turboman. I noticed the effect the other day, when an Eastbourne to Victoria service was at Lewes Platform 2. Maybe the approach to Lewes Tunnel is a hill start?

 

[king_walnut]

Thanks, Turboman. I noticed the effect the other day, when an Eastbourne to Victoria service was at Lewes Platform 2. Maybe the approach to Lewes Tunnel is a hill start?

It's not, but every driver will use the hill start button every time as standard.

 

[Pdf]

Is this like a hill start in a car? If it weren't used on a hill would the train roll backwards?

 

[bramling]

Is this like a hill start in a car? If it weren't used on a hill would the train roll backwards?

Depends how the particular rolling stock is set up. There’s certainly types of train which don’t have such a button, and where it’s quite possible to start on a gradient without rolling.

 

[800301]

Is this like a hill start in a car? If it weren't used on a hill would the train roll backwards?

To some degree yes, but it is used every time the train is moved from a standing start to prevent any sort of rollback, in a 387 for example it’s a button we can press at any time when stationary and it will release as soon as power notch 2 is selected, in different Electrostars it works slightly differently, some it’s a button you hold on the Combined Power Brake Controller and release when you want the brake to release which is how the hill start works on a 165/166.

On an 800 it’s automatic and the driver doesn’t need to do anything to engage the hill start unless it’s in train wash mode.

Any train rolling back for any reason of any distance seems to be a really bad thing