Can 185s couple up to electric Desiros?

[SpacePhoenix]

Can 185s couple up to electric Desiros and operate in service or would it only be allowed to rescue a stranded unit?

 

[J-2739]

Can 185s couple up to electric Desiros and operate in service or would it only be allowed to rescue a stranded unit?

That could be a bit heavy and slow.

 

[Crossover]

I think I saw mention elsewhere that no they can't - the 185's have a piece of metal stuck out of the top of the coupler which would foul the gangway on the gangwayed electrics

 

[smudga331]

I think I saw mention elsewhere that no they can't - the 185's have a piece of metal stuck out of the top of the coupler which would foul the gangway on the gangwayed electrics

So would it be a possibility on a 360?

Could they run in multiple on electrified lines? Or would the differences in acceleration and braking risk damage to the coupler etc.?

Just something I'm curious about

 

[Crossover]

I would imagine if they did couple it would be perhaps for emergency rescue purposes only, with a unit dead in tow (like when a Voyager hauls a Pendolino). However, I'm sure someone will soon be along to say I'm talking nonsense :P

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I think I saw mention elsewhere that no they can't - the 185's have a piece of metal stuck out of the top of the coupler which would foul the gangway on the gangwayed electrics

Does that piece of metal serve any purpose or is it a bit that could be safely cut off the coupler?

 

[73001]

That could be a bit heavy and slow.

It's not as daft as it sounds though... There are electric and diesel units on the continent that can work in multiple, both under power and controlled by one driver (assuming they are running under the wires obviously).

 

[edwin_m]

The two Class 210 units were specified to work in multiple with 317s, with the intention I think of allowing them to be coupled on suburban services where the outer part of the route was not electrified and the 317 would be uncoupled at the last electrified station.

 

[380101]

I think I saw mention elsewhere that no they can't - the 185's have a piece of metal stuck out of the top of the coupler which would foul the gangway on the gangwayed electrics

That's the gathering horn, which is fitted to all delner style couplers - some at the top and some at the bottom; depends whether the electrical box is above or below the coupler. it can be removed very easily by hand (if maintained correctly)

 

[Crossover]

That's the gathering horn, which is fitted to all delner style couplers - some at the top and some at the bottom; depends whether the electrical box is above or below the coupler. it can be removed very easily by hand (if maintained correctly)

That sounds familiar.
The 350's don't appear to have them, nor, from what I can see, do the 360's, 444's or 450's

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Does the gathering horn serve as a kinda "failsafe" to ensure that the couplers are aligned properly? It looks like gathering horns started to appear from the 380s when the electrical block started to be at the top of the coupling

 

[380101]

Does the gathering horn serve as a kinda "failsafe" to ensure that the couplers are aligned properly? It looks like gathering horns started to appear from the 380s when the electrical block started to be at the top of the coupling

Not a failsafe, but what you describe is exactly what they are for. they are visible on 220/221 and I'm sure they are fitted on the TPE 350s.

 

[edwin_m]

I'm sure they are fitted on the TPE 350s.

According to a quick Google, apparently not. I wondered if it was something to do with the increased lateral offset when coupling on a curve with 23m stock, but the 171s and 444s don't have them either.

 

[380101]

According to a quick Google, apparently not. I wondered if it was something to do with the increased lateral offset when coupling on a curve with 23m stock, but the 171s and 444s don't have them either.

may well be a length thing then. If you look at a BSI coupler on 156 and 158 sprinters they have a short "horn" also to aid coupler alignment. Never really paid attention to them in over 4 years of coupling them up until my DTM pointed it out during my rules assessment when standing on the track looking at it!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Do the gathering horns necessarily have to be at the top of the coupler? Could they serve their purpose just as well if they were moved to the bottom of the coupler?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

If there was a capability for 185s to rescue 350s, don't you think TPE would have used it?
There have been a number of TPE 350 failures after all.
They all live in the same depot.

 

[swt_passenger]

Do the gathering horns necessarily have to be at the top of the coupler? Could they serve their purpose just as well if they were moved to the bottom of the coupler?

They have to be on the opposite side to the electrical connector, and also not foul the gangway. Hence there are many EMUs which cannot have them at all. In SWT's area they try to avoid joining units on significantly curved platforms, as the couplers need to be fairly well aligned to mate successfully

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Its possible but the electrical connections need to be pulled back, this can be done by removing two rods and carefully sliding the mounting back, you can then run an EMU and DMU together on a diesel line.

There is a video on Youtube somewhere regading this.