class 320 refurb

[me123]

I am slightly wary about starting this thread up again, but I have some news. 5Z20 is expected to be on her way down to Doncaster today as 5Z20, leaving Shields TMD at 10:30. All the gen is over on Scot-rail.co.uk if you want it, courtesy of ML66B over there.

Gen (requires Scot-rail.co.uk free membership to view)
Current estimates.

320314 is still TBC leaving Doncaster.

 

[Blindtraveler]

thanks for that mate. Wouldnt worry too much as those who genuinely are interested will and do appreciate it.

 

[rail-britain]

Assuming the order they are completed is sequential from 320314 onwards, then it makes it easier for future to know which have the toilet modification and can then commence working on the Argyle Line
Also confirms what I had heard some time ago that once the one in works had been signed off the next would be prepared for leaving Shields

I suspect the rumours a few weeks ago of a unit leaving Doncaster were a test run, although I believe these are normally southbound from Doncaster
I would be interested to know what the traditional test route is for EMUs (as several Class 321 units have already passed through Doncaster)

 

[me123]

Confirmed that 320315 is on her way to Doncaster just now.

 

[rail-britain]

Confirmed that 320315 is on her way to Doncaster just now.

Which then makes it possible 320314 could be returning in the next few days

 

[01jtiong]

here is video footage yesterday where a 320 was going down to doncaster on its own power
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS_FakARIeE
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
how long does it take to release the first 320, its been there since February now,

it needs to be out soon by next week

 

[rail-britain]

how long does it take to release the first 320, its been there since February now,

it needs to be out soon by next week

Why does it need to be out soon by next week?

 

[me123]

I don't see why it needs to be out by next week. There are 22 Class 320 diagrams. 4 of these are "spares" at Yoker, and two are for maintenance at Shields. There's also one that spends the day at Yoker and moves to Shields in the evening, which would in effect be a fifth spare. Even with the two units away in Doncaster, we can manage with 2-3 spare units!

 

[01jtiong]

its taking a long time to finish this unit, how more time do they need to work on it

 

[cj_1985]

can someone explain why there are so many people obsessing about when 320314 is going to be released...

it will be ready when it is ready...
its not being kept at doncaster for the hell of it, or to p*ss off enthusiasts... it being kept there because it still needs work done to meet the required customer and safety standards

 

[me123]

Well said! The same people would be moaning if they did a botched job of it. It's a very heavy overhaul, and the time is needed to finish the unit to a high standard. Besides, once this ones done, the rest should be much quicker.

 

[Skimble19]

I somewhat suspect that is the same person as before under a different alias.. the writing style (or lack of it) gives it away..

 

[rail-britain]

can someone explain why there are so many people obsessing about when 320314 is going to be released...
to p*ss off enthusiasts...

How things have changed, when people are actually interested in plastics

 

[cj_1985]

How things have changed, when people are actually interested in plastics

dont get me wrong... i like units...
but the current obsession that certain pockets of the enthusiast community have about 320314 baffles me...

yes, there are a good number of enthusiasts that are looking forward to seeing 320314 in its new livery, others are more interested in the interior work...

but as i have already said.. the unit isnt being kept under wraps, or stashed away out of sight at doncaster to p*ss off the enthusiast community... the unit is there getting a heavy overhaul/refurb.... certainly one of the heaviest that i can recall since privitisation... i mean the class 320s are not just getting new flooring, seat covering and a fresh coat of paint on the interior panels... they are getting a toilet fitted... and all the associated tanks, pipe work, and other gubbins that they were not built with.

when you think that modern EMU and DMU vehicles (i cant really talk about siemens units since i dont actually know) - bombardier units anyway- have the toilet module fitted before the roof is fitted, and all the pipes, and electric cables etc are all fitted before much of the body panels are fitted to the base....
quite how they are fitting a toilet module, the retentian tanks, and all the extra electic cables and the pipework has me curious... since i cant imagine they can just "unscrew" the roof and drop in a toilet module... nor can i imagine them managing to fit the module in via the door/vestibule. its the toilet (+ equitment) fitment that i would imagine is causing the delay


but the same people asking over and over and over on forums and online communities like scot-rail.co.uk puzzles (and iritates) me... since, when someone in the know passes on information to someone about the release... then it will be well known and publicised on most interested forums, groups or threads... keeping on asking the same thing isnt going to get the unit released any quicker.

 

[Blindtraveler]

i 2 am interested how the toilet is being handled. Only project I can think of thats similar was the disabled toilet installation on sr sleaper mk3s. How was this done? And is similar techneek being used here?

 

[ainsworth74]

Only project I can think of thats similar was the disabled toilet installation on sr sleaper mk3s.

I wouldn't have thought there would be any similarity between the two projects. The Mk3 sleepers will have already had toilets (and all the plumbing and so on) fitted, therefore the only work being done would be to expand the space around the toilet and fit the sliding door. This being nowhere near as complex as fitting a toilet from scratch I'm not sure that you can compare the two projects.

 

[Blindtraveler]

good point, my bad.

 

[rail-britain]

quite how they are fitting a toilet module, the retentian tanks, and all the extra electic cables and the pipework has me curious... since i cant imagine they can just "unscrew" the roof and drop in a toilet module... nor can i imagine them managing to fit the module in via the door/vestibule. its the toilet (+ equitment) fitment that i would imagine is causing the delay

I would doubt it is a module, but more of a kit
The easy aspect is the coach it is being fitted to has very little electrical equipment underneath, just like other BREL built 317/318/321 units
The difficult bit is the update to the toilet as if it would have been fitted originally, which requires a slightly different design (more like a Class 334)
The retention tank will be reasonably easy, and will probably be one of the last items welded into position, as the external plumbing will be first
Equally, as the toilet is electrically powered there will be more demand from this coach, so the original wiring will no doubt be upgraded along with additional cables

Finally, don't forget that with three bank holiday weekends and easter some time has been lost between February and May, I suspect it could have been as much as 3 weeks

Also, I sent a request direct to them for an update, still nothing, although they have acknoweldged they have received my request and will respond in due course
I suspect they are waiting until it is completed and at that point no doubt an article will appear in the media, along the lines of Wabtec handover first of Class 320 overhauls

Agree, it is a heavy overhaul, a lot of work to do
I suspect more than they anticipated...

 

[01jtiong]

So it seems to me that they are redoing the unit from scratch, taking everything out and stripping the paint off until its an empty shell unit

they are redoing everything from scratch and re-wiring and putting in new everything from interior to underworks etc

hopefully its finish by june or beginning of july

then the second unit hopefully be finished by august/september time

 

[cj_1985]

So it seems to me that they are redoing the unit from scratch, taking everything out and stripping the paint off until its an empty shell unit

they are redoing everything from scratch and re-wiring and putting in new everything from interior to underworks etc

hopefully its finish by june or beginning of july
then the second unit hopefully be finished by august/september time

and pray tell where you have gotten your information from...?
let me guess... close personal friend at doncaster:roll:

 

[01jtiong]

no I am making assumptions here

Hopefully in the next few weeks the unit will finally be finished

heres hoping

 

[cj_1985]

I somewhat suspect that is the same person as before under a different alias.. the writing style (or lack of it) gives it away..

you're not alone in thinking that....

the obsession about 320314 kinda gives it away...

 

[01jtiong]

has anyone heard or know when the work is expected to be finish

hopefully within the next few weeks time
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
according to scot-rail.co.uk the 320 is expected to be out sometime in june and the second unit is expected to start sometime in july so hopefully all goes to plan

 

[Callum]

:roll:

Surely not this sort of thing again.

Like children in the back of the car "Are we there yet?... Are we there yet?..."

The unit will be ready when it is ready. And as previous posts have stated, repeatedly asking the same question will not make things change.

 

[rail-britain]

So it seems to me that they are redoing the unit from scratch, taking everything out and stripping the paint off until its an empty shell unit

they are redoing everything from scratch and re-wiring and putting in new everything from interior to underworks etc

That is standard practice on such an overhaul
I remember seeing a Class 314 many years ago at Glasgow Works, and the only way I was able to recognise it was from the cab ends and window layouts
There was NOTHING internally in either of the three coaches, even the electrical and braking equipment underneath had been removed
When this Class 314 unit returned to service it was quite easy to see the difference as the internal grey panels had been replaced by yellow ones

This is typical when a EMU is at about 25 years old, as every component needs to be removed, cleaned, overhauled, tested, and then refitted
Since this work is being done, fitting a toilet fades into insignificance!

 

[The_Stig]

There is a lot of wiring and equipment that needs to be moved. The systems and wiring that may not be moved still requires access.

Once each system has been refitted they require testing. I suspect that this is where the hold-up is occurring as Wabtec will not want to release a unit with faults in it.

As for the toilet itself I was told that it is similar to the 380 toilet with an internal fresh water and effluent tanks.

 

[cj_1985]

hopefully this will satisfy certain people... (not my picture)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44640319@N04/5786929346/


note that one of the windows at the furthest away carraige has been removed/plated over... im guessing for the toilet...

 

[rail-britain]

note that one of the windows at the furthest away carraige has been removed/plated over... im guessing for the toilet...

Interestingly, same end as the Class 318, but opposite side

 

[me123]

Looks really, really smart in that livery, and it's certainly been worth the wait. Hopefully I'll see it up here in real life soon.

 

[The_Stig]

320314 is heading home as we speak according to Scot-rail. Due to arrive tonight.