Class 313 flashovers

[Islineclear3_1]

I have read about the recent flashovers on Southern Class 313s and understand that the seriousness on unit 205 led to its withdrawal. Presume this is the first of the class to be withdrawn (from Southern)

Any reason why 313s in particular are suffering from flashovers?

 

[03_179]

205 is as at this moment not withdrawn BUT it's highly unlikely to return

 

[lord rathmore]

These units are 45 years old so maybe it's an ageing issue?

 

[Cravens]

Flashovers are definitely not uncommon in DC motors, particularly in old DC motors. I remember when the A Stock was being withdrawn (when they were in their late 40’s/early 50’s), a few retirements were hastened by flashovers and burnouts.

 

[LiftFan]

What actually is a traction motor flashover? Does that mean it's permanently spent or can they be repaired?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

What actually is a traction motor flashover? Does that mean it's permanently spent or can they be repaired?

Basically its a short-circuit/electrical arc

Someone with more knowledge will explain in more detail but I found an old thread here

what exactly is "flashover" damage please?

recently picked up a old video (yes that old!!!) on the class 50s and the the narrator kept commenting on the problems they had with flashover damage on the LSW route. However, it never explains what flashover damage actually was/is! Can someone please enlighten me?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

It won’t be coming back, and the rest will surely be gone before the year is out.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

It won’t be coming back, and the rest will surely be gone before the year is out.

I'm surprised they lasted this long tbh

 

[Tynwald]

Class 313 have GEC G310 traction motors, along with class 507, 508, some 314 and 315. They have always suffered commutation problems from new, hence flashovers. A very rigorous maintenance policy is required to prevent this.

 

[D365]

It won’t be coming back, and the rest will surely be gone before the year is out.

Watch out for the speculation brigade

 

[Richard Scott]

What actually is a traction motor flashover? Does that mean it's permanently spent or can they be repaired?

It's when the insulation between parts of the commutator effectively breaks down and allows and arc to form between windings. Sometimes little damage is done - in days of deltics was normal practice to close power controller then reapply power; if all was OK just carried on. Would then get inspected at depot and probably just clean up the commutator. Carbon build up from brushes could often cause flashover so keeping motors clean was a good way to avoid issues. Series-Parallel wound locos were more prone to generator flashover as ran at twice the voltage to an all parallel loco (roughly speaking).

 

[Southern Dvr]

Watch out for the speculation brigade

September. That was in the latest version of ‘the truth according to DfT that I saw’

 

[Doomotron]

September. That was in the latest version of ‘the truth according to DfT that I saw’

I had a friend of a friend that said the 313s would be replaced by battery-powered 376s...



Really, speculating about the withdrawal of the 313s is pointless, as there is no indication that they are actually being withdrawn, and there's no direct replacement as of yet anyway.

 

[D365]

I had a friend of a friend that said the 313s would be replaced by battery-powered 376s...

Really, speculating about the withdrawal of the 313s is pointless, as there is no indication that they are actually being withdrawn, and there's no direct replacement as of yet anyway.

That's brave

 

[Bald Rick]

I had a friend of a friend that said the 313s would be replaced by battery-powered 376s...

That's brave

that was, actually, a plan at one point.

 

[Bikeman78]

I'm surprised they lasted this long tbh

Agreed. They only had 16 diagrams. I'd have thought that service reductions elsewhere would free up 16 other units.

 

[A0wen]

that was, actually, a plan at one point.

Can I ask why battery powered?

 

[Bald Rick]

Can I ask why battery powered?

they weren’t intended for the coasway.

 

[AlastairFraser]

they weren’t intended for the coasway.

Marshlink and Uckfield to get rid of the 171s?