Creation of class 230 DEMUs from ex-LU D78s by Vivarail

[21C101]

have northern considered using open wagons or container trains....

the sooner the 455s get sent to them the better

 

[ExRes]

the sooner the 455s get sent to them the better

455s in the north, I can see an itsy bitsy problem there .........

 

[dysonsphere]

have northern considered using open wagons or container trains. Then the cattle can can at least walk around around. open trucks would help Northern keep open the little used stations they want to close. The train can slow down and cattle can jump out onto the platform. Saves money. Or maybe they can do what they did when they first took over the franchise. They stopped running most trains and replaced them with buses. Of course they still got paid the full amount by taxpayers. Bring back the buses and stop running trains altogether. Nobody down South will care anyway. They make all the decisions. Excuse my sarcasm but Northern get away with things that southern TOCS would never dare do.

Er whats a "bus"

 

[pemma]

the canadian company is "VIA Rail".

There's also Viva Next who do local transport and metro systems: http://www.vivanext.com/

Who does this "community rail officer" work for?

She's employed by Cheshire West & Chester council.

 

[al.currie93]

Good idea but I think we could take this a bit further. How about one of the coaches made into a proper observation carriage? Keep the front door for entry/exit, replace the second with glass as you say, then cut the roof off the second half for some decent catenary, signalling gantry and tunnel roof views.

D stock enthusiasts could then stand in the open air part and hold up a pantograph on an insulated broom pole and hey presto we have a D stock converted to 25kv as well.

I have a feeling D Stock could be the most flexible stock ever built at this rate.

You wouldn't even need to pay anyone anything to remove the roof, just direct one down the Piccadilly Line at Earl's Court and watch as it emerges a convertable unit :P

 

[starrymarkb]

D stock enthusiasts could then stand in the open air part and hold up a pantograph on an insulated broom pole and hey presto we have a D stock converted to 25kv as well.

Who needs a broom handle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unhXEQQk8G8

 

[3141]

Amazing! You'd think that they might have had a hook on the end of the pole to provide a more consistent connection to the power supply.

 

[physics34]

lol, can't believe this pie in the sky thread is still going

 

[ExRes]

Who needs a broom handle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unhXEQQk8G8

Was that Ed Burkhardt changing the 'points' ?

 

[jrhilton]

lol, can't believe this pie in the sky thread is still going

Pie in the sky? Are you suggesting d stock could also be converted into aircraft to help our aviation industry?

As I said earlier, they are definitely looking like the most flexible class ever built!

 

[dysonsphere]

Who needs a broom handle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unhXEQQk8G8

I wonder what our health and safety nazis would have to say about that method.

 

[jopsuk]

health and safety nazis

sigh.:roll:

 

[ExRes]

Pie in the sky? Are you suggesting d stock could also be converted into aircraft to help our aviation industry?

As I said earlier, they are definitely looking like the most flexible class ever built!

They could easily be converted to take the place of the F35 Lightnings on HMS Queen Elizabeth, stick the leftover Class 460 pointy bits on to make them look badass and away you go, they could also, of course, be converted in 4 car sets as AWACS platforms

 

[Kneedown]

They could easily be converted to take the place of the F35 Lightnings on HMS Queen Elizabeth, stick the leftover Class 460 pointy bits on to make them look badass and away you go, they could also, of course, be converted in 4 car sets as AWACS platforms

I thought the 442's were going to be the AWACS platforms?

 

[ExRes]

I thought the 442's were going to be the AWACS platforms?

Afraid not, 442s are 5 car so would be too long for platforms

 

[edwin_m]

The D78 stock has a lot of aluminium and the 442s are mostly steel. So when both are melted down the D78 has more of a chance of forming part of a plane.

 

[pemma]

The D78 stock has a lot of aluminium and the 442s are mostly steel. So when both are melted down the D78 has more of a chance of forming part of a plane.

And those melted down old London commuter trains will finish up operating out of Manchester Airport meaning the North gets London cast-offs again.

 

[ExRes]

And those melted down old London commuter trains will finish up operating out of Manchester Airport meaning the North gets London cast-offs again.

And here's one of them

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...act=rc&uact=3&dur=1186&page=1&start=0&ndsp=16

 

[physics34]

Pie in the sky? Are you suggesting d stock could also be converted into aircraft to help our aviation industry?

As I said earlier, they are definitely looking like the most flexible class ever built!

looooool

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Could 1 unit be converted into an engineering or a track measurement/recording train for use on the sub-surface lines?

Realistically the only place they'll go after being replaced by the S stock is the scrapyard

 

[ExRes]

Could 1 unit be converted into an engineering or a track measurement/recording train for use on the sub-surface lines?

Realistically the only place they'll go after being replaced by the S stock is the scrapyard

Steady on old chap, this is not and never has been a thread for realistic comments

I thank you

 

[edwin_m]

I think LU already has a track recording coach to Tube gauge which can also run on the sub-surface lines. Unlikely they would need a second one?

 

[Domh245]

Some of the double ended units are going to be converted for use as RATs on the metropolitan and district lines, but that only uses up about 5 units

 

[bluegoblin7]

Some of the double ended units are going to be converted for use as RATs on the metropolitan and district lines, but that only uses up about 5 units

Just two, actually. Two three-car double-ended units to be saved as RATs (Replacing the two 4-car A stock currently used for the job).

 

[Nym]

Its not just two actually...(!)
It will likely end up being four or five units.

 

[bluegoblin7]

Its not just two actually...(!)
It will likely end up being four or five units.

In that case I apologise; things must have moved on from the information I was given.

 

[Class377/5]

The D78 pacer replacements even have a class number, 278. And its proposed to fit them with toilets with 150 seats and 400 standing per 4 car with a price tag of a third of a new build unit according to Modern Railways.

 

[ExRes]

The D78 pacer replacements even have a class number, 278. And its proposed to fit them with toilets with 150 seats and 400 standing per 4 car with a price tag of a third of a new build unit according to Modern Railways.

Toilets with 150 seats !!, I hope they've got good air fresheners on order

 

[NotATrainspott]

How long do they expect these trains to last in passenger service? If these are a cheap, quick and nasty way of allowing passenger growth before the Pacerland lines are 25kV electrified, and one that can be made entirely TSI-PRM, emissions and safety (including ETCS) compliant without increasing the costs too much then it might not be as bad an idea as it might seem.

 

[YorkshireTC]

How long do they expect these trains to last in passenger service? If these are a cheap, quick and nasty way of allowing passenger growth before the Pacerland lines are 25kV electrified, and one that can be made entirely TSI-PRM, emissions and safety (including ETCS) compliant without increasing the costs too much then it might not be as bad an idea as it might seem.

Alan Williams' article in MR, August has an excellent grasp of the problems in the north. Just as in Alan's days fighting for the commuters from Effingham Junction, he has a very clear view from outside the industry of what the customer needs. Equally ask how many commuters care if there is aesthetic value in a pantograph and OHLE, or if they will prefer an IEP to an HST when the catenary is down at Maidenhead? An HST is still a very good train and has plenty of life in it for some time to come.