Class 387

[Roast Veg]

Damn, was hoping to see some pictures of a 57 hooked up to a 387. Glad ROG are getting the revenue though.

 

[spark001uk]

Just a thought I was pondering, theoretically speaking, (if they were cleared) could the units have run via N.Pole Jn and onto the WLL and 3rd rail, round to Clapham then on to Reading as far as southern jn, then be plucked off with a loco the short distance from there? Would there be anything physically preventing it? I expect the hassle and cost would be more than just hauling straight down the GWML, but as I say just wondered if it were theoretically possible.
Also if they were to put a wire up through the underpass, they could have even made it to the depot assuming the wires through 13 and 14 were live right through?

 

[3973EXL]

Just a thought I was pondering, theoretically speaking, (if they were cleared) could the units have run via N.Pole Jn and onto the WLL and 3rd rail, round to Clapham then on to Reading as far as southern jn, then be plucked off with a loco the short distance from there? Would there be anything physically preventing it? I expect the hassle and cost would be more than just hauling straight down the GWML, but as I say just wondered if it were theoretically possible.
Also if they were to put a wire up through the underpass, they could have even made it to the depot assuming the wires through 13 and 14 were live right through?

No wires Acton Mainline to Acton Wells and you would still have to send a loco light to Reading.

 

[Kite159]

No wires Acton Mainline to Acton Wells and you would still have to send a loco light to Reading.

I think spark001uk might have been thinking about the former Eurostar connection lines which come off the WLL at North Pole Junction going into the depot area

 

[spark001uk]

No wires Acton Mainline to Acton Wells and you would still have to send a loco light to Reading.

I think spark001uk might have been thinking about the former Eurostar connection lines which come off the WLL at North Pole Junction going into the depot area

Indeed I did. WLL = West London Line (Kensington Olympia - Brompton - Clapham).

 

[3973EXL]

That may be so, but W Ealing to Reading was being discussed previously.

 

[swt_passenger]

Indeed I did. WLL = West London Line (Kensington Olympia - Brompton - Clapham).

Been asked about much earlier in the thread when they were going to/from North Pole, and apparently at that time the internal connections within that depot were out of action for layout changes, so the route to/from North Pole was not available.

No idea if that remains the case.

 

[JN114]

There's no electrified link off the Great Western - it's an island for now, so you'd need a loco to get off Reading Depot, onto the Southern, and to get off the Southern via North Pole, Acton Wells and so forth.

You wouldn't be able to detach the loco except where permissive working is permitted (you can't just unhook and go on a running line) - off the top of my head you'd have to drag the units to Ascot as a minimum, attachment would probably have to take place at Kensington Olympia, possibly the Willesden area....

While ROG are currently doing the unit moves, the ultimate intention is for GWR to do them with their own locos and crews. So it makes sense to go via a route they would sign. Easier to put in a long term Q path that is activated on demand and hire in ROG loco and crew for the time being until the various issues of GWR doing it themselves are sorted, than fanny about with a grossly impractical alternative route for the sake of 25 miles of running on 3rd Rail.

 

[JN114]

Been asked about much earlier in the thread when they were going to/from North Pole, and apparently at that time the internal connections within that depot were out of action for layout changes, so the route to/from North Pole was not available.

No idea if that remains the case.

Still out of action at present time

 

[spark001uk]

There's no electrified link off the Great Western - it's an island for now, so you'd need a loco to get off Reading Depot, onto the Southern, and to get off the Southern via North Pole, Acton Wells and so forth.

I was thinking of the old Eurostar route, straight out of North Pole depot onto the Kensington. Or has NP junction been de-electrified on that side?

 

[JN114]

I was thinking of the old Eurostar route, straight out of North Pole depot onto the Kensington. Or has NP junction been de-electrified on that side?

The Reception lines are signed out of use at the present time

 

[spark001uk]

The Reception lines are signed out of use at the present time

Ah right OK cheers. Is the OHLE from reception to NP jn still in place? Or is it 3rd rail? Been past a few times but can't say I ever looked.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I believe it's entirely inappropriate that GWR Class 387s are now running around plastered in unsightly graffiti. At least two units are affected. It gives a woeful image for the electrification project. Will the IEPs also suffer? Whoever is responsible for security at West Ealing Sidings should be firmly held to account.

 

[Master29]

I believe it's entirely inappropriate that GWR Class 387s are now running around plastered in unsightly graffiti. At least two units are affected. It gives a woeful image for the electrification project. Will the IEPs also suffer? Whoever is responsible for security at West Ealing Sidings should be firmly held to account.

I noticed that today. I wouldn`t even have minded it if it looked good but it`s pretty naff.

 

[spark001uk]

Probably done by some unemployed oiks with stolen paint.

 

[AlexNL]

Class 387s are awful

Matter of personal preference. I loved the 387 I took from London to Brighton, last year.

 

[reddragon]

Matter of personal preference. I loved the 387 I took from London to Brighton, last year.

If a class 387 is better than what you have got then its better, but if its worse than you have its worse in your opinion.

A single class 121 bubble car used to operate my service, nice view out of the front, comfy but draughty seats, much better than a class 387, unless of course you want to get on it with today's passenger loads and its not too cold or hot weather wise.

Then there is the class 165/166 of today, 2/3/4/5/6 cars turn up, very comfy in the old 1st class section, cramped but nice moquette seats elsewhere, occasional aircon.

When the class 387 arrives, I will not only be able to get on but also will be able to get a seat and there will be aircon & wifi, yippie much better. Times will also be much quicker, so I will be happy.

That is of course, with the exception of the morning peak services currently operated by HSTs. I am still amazed when an 6/7/8 car HST pulls into a local station stretching well beyond the platform ends. Guessing you noted the short formation, these services are often operated by odd HST sets where there has been a stock failure, so all sorts of formations turn up. Once there were 4 first class coaches scattered along the train, declassified of course.

That I will miss, except maybe the long station stops (can be 4 mins) so even here the class 387s will slash journey times. Less sleepy, relaxed wander into Paddington and more wake up call.

 

[spark001uk]

One of the offending articles if anyone wondered what it looks like. Toerags got nothing better to do have they. I've other words for them but not that'll get printed here!

387133 is the unit here.

 

[Peter Sarf]

One of the offending articles if anyone wondered what it looks like. Toerags got nothing better to do have they. I've other words for them but not that'll get printed here!

387133 is the unit here.

I wonder if security at the relevant sidings needs beefing up. Probably easier to avoid having sidings in the areas where it is most likely to happen *. That might be a few jobs going from the areas where the toerags live.

I do very strongly believe the tagging (it is lower then graffiti) should be removed asap. Leaving it there only encourages these losers and their competitors.

*=That might be most of London I am afraid.

 

[GodAtum]

If a class 387 is better than what you have got then its better, but if its worse than you have its worse in your opinion.

A single class 121 bubble car used to operate my service, nice view out of the front, comfy but draughty seats, much better than a class 387, unless of course you want to get on it with today's passenger loads and its not too cold or hot weather wise.

Then there is the class 165/166 of today, 2/3/4/5/6 cars turn up, very comfy in the old 1st class section, cramped but nice moquette seats elsewhere, occasional aircon.

When the class 387 arrives, I will not only be able to get on but also will be able to get a seat and there will be aircon & wifi, yippie much better. Times will also be much quicker, so I will be happy.

That is of course, with the exception of the morning peak services currently operated by HSTs. I am still amazed when an 6/7/8 car HST pulls into a local station stretching well beyond the platform ends. Guessing you noted the short formation, these services are often operated by odd HST sets where there has been a stock failure, so all sorts of formations turn up. Once there were 4 first class coaches scattered along the train, declassified of course.

That I will miss, except maybe the long station stops (can be 4 mins) so even here the class 387s will slash journey times. Less sleepy, relaxed wander into Paddington and more wake up call.

I always hated the 165s as they were slow and noisy!

 

[FGW_DID]

I always hated the 165s as they were slow and noisy!

You should hear what they say about you!

 

[spark001uk]

You should have tried the 1st gen DMUs that came before them then!

 

[Peter Sarf]

As I recall some of those trains were probably hauled by 47s or 31s before that. Now if they had been 37 hauled........

I just wish I had been a few years earlier and would have sampled Hymeks I suspect.

 

[fgwrich]

One of the offending articles if anyone wondered what it looks like. Toerags got nothing better to do have they. I've other words for them but not that'll get printed here!

387133 is the unit here.

As much as I hate the graffiti, at least it cheers the livery up!

But I do agree with you and Peter Sarf's comments. And before the bandwagon comes out, I do not condone this sort of thing! I dislike graffiti tagging and know how difficult it is to clean off from rolling stock.

 

[spark001uk]

It's the fact they use spray, it gets in everything, and they're not going to care. Places like the grooves in the door footplates, on pipes, etc. Nightmare to get every scrap off completely.

 

[leomartin125]

The minute I heard that GWR Would be utilising sidings at West Ealing for EMU accomodation, I know a 387 would quickly end up being tagged by some of West London's finest. Maybe the other units will also start to look like those Intercity coaches sat at Southall, or will they do something about it?

And with the Crossrail sidings at Maidenhead not having that much protection either, maybe the 345's will end up being tagged as they stay the night too? It's sad to see people take the time and effort to vandalise such new stock...

 

[D365]

It's sad to see people take the time and effort to vandalise such new stock...

Time and effort? That's not what I would call it.

 

[Kite159]

Time and effort? That's not what I would call it.

It's probably more to do with "being first" and showing off to other idiotic youths that they are 'ard.

A shame but it is the youth of the day, gang culture.

 

[D365]

It's probably more to do with "being first" and showing off to other idiotic youths that they are 'ard.

A shame but it is the youth of the day, gang culture.

Emphasis being on the idiotic youths.

Wonder if this could be considered a new form of 'spotting'...

 

[Roast Veg]

It's not really the youth of the day, vandalism has been a thing forever.