Smoke from a Pacer on the Lincoln to Sheffield line

[ryan125hst]

This morning I got a message from my cousin saying that the 07:40 Northern service from Retford (ex Lincoln) to Sheffield suffered from a problem at Kiverton Park. Evidently the two rear carriages of the four carriage train (two Pacers I believe) were emitting smoke. She said that she didn't see it, but smelt it and mentioned that passengers who were facing backwards saw the smoke (she was facing forwards so didn't). No one was required to leave the train including those in the effected carriages, although the engines were revved a bit and the lights and heating were switched off in the rear two coaches before the train continued.

They made it to Kiverton Bridge where the train limped from the station. She's also said that they had to put sand on the line. Clearly this was due to poor railhead conditions owing to the wet weather and leaves on the line.

Finally, the train had to run slowly between Darnall and Sheffield and was held for five minutes near to the Supertram depot, due to signalling problems. She ended up getting into Sheffield 50 minutes late.

Does anyone know what the problem with the train was? She said that after the lights and heating were switch off in the rear two carriages (they must have mentioned it on the PA as she was in the second coach), they didn't report any further problems. Could it be another minor fire on the Pacer?

The delay to the train was made worse by the adhesion and signalling problems, but at least everyone made it to Sheffield safely, albeit late.

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

passengers who were facing backwards saw the smoke (she was facing forwards so didn't). No one was required to leave the train including those in the effected carriages, although the engines were revved a bit and the lights and heating were switched off in the rear two coaches before the train continued.

Exhaust smoke?

 

[ryan125hst]

Exhaust smoke?

I doubt it as she didn't say the engines in the effected two coaches were switched off, just the lighting and heating.

 

[Silv1983]

Could be the auxiliary heater engine. Theyre small but dirty and smokey. People regularly get a bit twitchy when they unleash a plume of smoke. Turning them off turns off the heating so does tally. Unsure about the lights though. Peculiar.

 

[driver9000]

Could be the auxiliary heater engine. Theyre small but dirty and smokey. People regularly get a bit twitchy when they unleash a plume of smoke. Turning them off turns off the heating so does tally. Unsure about the lights though. Peculiar.

I agree with the thoughts of it being the Webasto auxiliary heater. However isolating the Webasto doesn't turn the heating off as the heating is supplied by waste heat from the coolant which passed around the pipework in the saloon. The Webasto provides a top up to this as required and also engine preheating. To turn the heating off you need to move the Saloon Heater switches to isolate or trip the MCBs. Not sure why the lights went out though.

 

[ryan125hst]

Could be the auxiliary heater engine. Theyre small but dirty and smokey. People regularly get a bit twitchy when they unleash a plume of smoke. Turning them off turns off the heating so does tally. Unsure about the lights though. Peculiar.

I agree with the thoughts of it being the Webasto auxiliary heater. However isolating the Webasto doesn't turn the heating off as the heating is supplied by waste heat from the coolant which passed around the pipework in the saloon. The Webasto provides a top up to this as required and also engine preheating. To turn the heating off you need to move the Saloon Heater switches to isolate or trip the MCBs. Not sure why the lights went out though.

Thank you for your responses. Does the Webasto heater run even if the train has been running for a couple of hours? I've seen a video on You Tube about the Class 180's which mentioned a diesel heater like this, but I thought it would only preheat the engine and heating if needed before the engine is started? It would certainly make sense if it was the problem though.

As for the lights, it looks like that is a mystery. Do you think an electrical problem could have been the culprit?

 

[driver9000]

Thank you for your responses. Does the Webasto heater run even if the train has been running for a couple of hours? I've seen a video on You Tube about the Class 180's which mentioned a diesel heater like this, but I thought it would only preheat the engine and heating if needed before the engine is started? It would certainly make sense if it was the problem though.

As for the lights, it looks like that is a mystery. Do you think an electrical problem could have been the culprit?

The auxiliary heater runs as required all day, every so often you can hear the 'whumph' as it fires. It will also fire when the engine is shut down for a period of time (a couple of hours as I recall). For engine preheating on cold mornings the driver can fire the auxiliary heater from the cab.

Incidentally the 180 used an Eberspacher auxiliary heater

 

[ryan125hst]

The auxiliary heater runs as required all day, every so often you can hear the 'whumph' as it fires. It will also fire when the engine is shut down for a period of time (a couple of hours as I recall). For engine preheating on cold mornings the driver can fire the auxiliary heater from the cab.

Incidentally the 180 used an Eberspacher auxiliary heater

I didn't know that. I suppose it's used to give a boost if the waste engine heat isn't enough, so it's probably needed more on colder days?