My ideas for third rail electrification on GWR

[railfan john]

Could the GWR run on overhead and third rail in places like Chippenham to Bristol via Bath?

Also could it work on other parts on the GWR, where they can't use overhead wires?

It worked on the North London Line, which uses overhead wires and third rail.

I don't know if the class 800s can work that way.

Thanks

 

[221129]

No. 800s aren't set up for it. Ignoring the fact that new installations of 3rd Rail are unlikely to be approved.

 

[MatthewRead]

I use to think the Dawlish sea wall could've been third rail since the stormy elements couldn't damage third rail as much as overhead wires but since the wall is being raised they might as well just use wires.

 

[221129]

I use to think the Dawlish sea wall could've been third rail since the stormy elements couldn't damage third rail as much as overhead wires but since the wall is being raised they might as well just use wires.

Why? No reason you can't wire it anyway.

 

[AM9]

I use to think the Dawlish sea wall could've been third rail since the stormy elements couldn't damage third rail as much as overhead wires but since the wall is being raised they might as well just use wires.

Try googling for 'storms Saltcoats railway' and look at some of the videos. Here the Scotrail line runs along the seafront wilth full OLE and sometimes the storms break over the trains, causing flshovers, - but the toughened OLE usually survives.

 

[Bald Rick]

I use to think the Dawlish sea wall could've been third rail since the stormy elements couldn't damage third rail as much as overhead wires but since the wall is being raised they might as well just use wires.

I’d be a lot more concerned about the reliability of third rail at Dawlish than OLE. Drenching it in saline solution on a regular basis would play havoc with return current paths with implications for the whole bonding system and the signalling.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I’d be a lot more concerned about the reliability of third rail at Dawlish than OLE. Drenching it in saline solution on a regular basis would play havoc with return current paths with implications for the whole bonding system and the signalling.

My response was going to be "They've changed all of the laws of physics" but I thought that rather harsh

 

[adrock1976]

There is already some third rail sections on Great Western Railway routes, both present and historic.

Dorchester - Weymouth (the GWR was the first to reach Weymouth, and not its bitter rival the London & South Western)
Chester - Birkenhead (the present day Merseyrail route that was formerly GWR/London & North Western Railway)
Basingstoke? (unsure if the former GWR side of the station had third rail laid in the platform there)

Also, much of the former GWR route between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton is part of the present day Midland Metro tram line, although it has overhead line electrification, it is done to a lower voltage.

 

[David Goddard]

Pretty much the only part of the current GWR network where it would make sense to lay 3rd rail is to infil the gaps on the North Downs service (Wokingham to Ash and south of Guildford to Reigate).
Modern thinking on safety etc precludes this so is probably unlikely. If this did go ahead then my personal view would be a likely transfer of the service to SWR, which could then work the service with 450s or 701s.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I’d be a lot more concerned about the reliability of third rail at Dawlish than OLE. Drenching it in saline solution on a regular basis would play havoc with return current paths with implications for the whole bonding system and the signalling.

My response was going to be "They've changed all of the laws of physics" but I thought that rather harsh

Indeed. DC is way way worse for corrosion in the 1st place. Recipe for disaster.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

How was the Steventon Bridge problem solved?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

How was the Steventon Bridge problem solved?

Bespoke design with significant deviation from accepted maximum contact wire gradient, combined with reduced speed limit, which was extensively modelled by the nice people at Atkins before being signed off. It's all subject to an enhanced assessment program to check for wear, which was predicted by the modelling to be higher than normally accepted limits.

Rumours I want the bridge condemned so I can point and laugh at the community council are, of course, unfounded...

 

[Bald Rick]

How was the Steventon Bridge problem solved?

Good article on it in a recent Modern Railways.

Rumours that a farmer is going to accidentally crash through the fencing on the adjacent farm track, and into one of the bridge arches at 30mph towing 100tonnes of rare turnips, coincidentally when the line is blocked for engineering works, are also completely unfounded.

 

[The Ham]

Rumours I want the bridge condemned so I can point and laugh at the community council are, of course, unfounded...

The fact that if it were you would, are neither here or there then!?!?

 

[43096]

Good article on it in a recent Modern Railways.

Rumours that a farmer is going to accidentally crash through the fencing on the adjacent farm track, and into one of the bridge arches at 30mph towing 100tonnes of rare turnips, coincidentally when the line is blocked for engineering works, are also completely unfounded.

Turnips, you say. How very Baldrick. If they are that rare he can buy a big turnip in the country...

 

[Alfie1014]

Low voltage dc is hardly well matched to long distance InterCity operation and even if the 800’s could be made tri-mode they are probably as agile on diesel. Who remembers Eurostars slogging up to Sevenoaks tunnel from Tonbridge of a cold frosty night!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Back on topic, I just can not see anymore 3rd rail on GWR getting approved.

 

[The Ham]

Back on topic, I just can not see anymore 3rd rail on GWR getting approved.

Especially given that the past of the purpose of the southern bit of the Electric Spine was to reduce ongoing costs.

 

[Jan]

Good article on it in a recent Modern Railways.

And another one on RailEngineer.co.uk.