GWR Class 800

[Mintona]

Hi Leo,

I don't wish to sound rude, but do you actually have any sources for your information? It's not the first time you've posted something as 'fact' and previously you have been pulled up on it by other people, who do know what they're talking about.

From what I understand, the class 800 that previously went to Reading and back was not testing in anyway, it was just the most convenient turnback place for the unit at the time as the usual one (at Southall?) wasn't available. The colour of it had nothing to do with anything, they just needed the unit back at Old Dalby.

In addition, if electric testing has started on the ECML then I don't see why you're saying it is 'pointless' as these units will run on the ECML every single day as well as the GWML. Maybe not these specific units, but at this time they are not allocated to either TOC, they are just all being used collectively by Hitachi to see what works and what doesn't.

 

[jimm]

That was a test of the Class 800 nine car sets that GWR will now be ordering instead of nine car Class 801's, due to electrification delays. Although the only nine car Class 800's present at the moment are for Virgin Trains East Coast, this explains why a Virgin Train was testing on the GWML. It was to test the train, rather than advertise the operator for this purpose. If a GWR Class 800 nine car existed, I'm sure this would have been the preferred choice. Was a one off also, not easy to test on the GWML with the ongoing Crossrail engineering works and Electrification works overnight.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Would also like to add that recent late night test runs of the IEP between Old Dalby and Darlington have shown the unit more recently being tested with it's pantograph up, thus meaning testing in electric mode of the Class 800's has begun. Tonight, either 800001 or 800002 sped passed Thirsk with it's pantograph up, so testing of the electric power source of the sets is now underway.

Which I think is pointless for these units as the OHLE specification for the ECML is very different to that of the new Fuller + Frey Series 1 on the GWML, but at least it proves the units work I guess.

As Mintona says, you have been asked not to post nonsense on previous occasions but this is more of the same.

Testing of Class 800s on electric power started at Old Dalby and on the southern ECML more than a year ago as part of the general type testing programme, which is intended to make sure they work satisfactorily under all the operating conditions they are going to face during their working lives - which includes taking power from different designs of 25kv overhead in use on the national railway network.

Which train operating company eventually receives the pre-series sets that are currently involved in the test programme - or whatever bits of vinyl have been stuck on them - is irrelevant at this stage.

By way of a Class 800 progress update, here's a video from YouTube taken by WaverleyJohn of an unnumbered UK-assembled Class 800 running up and down the short test track at Newton Aycliffe last month on diesel power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmkTXDT-_IQ

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Peterborough-Darlington IEP runs are in normal traffic, so the testing in electric mode must be well advanced.
If they were still running under possession we would be worried.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97232/2016/06/17/advanced

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Tonight, either 800001 or 800002 sped passed Thirsk with it's pantograph up, so testing of the electric power source of the sets is now underway.

Which I think is pointless for these units as the OHLE specification for the ECML is very different to that of the new Fuller + Frey Series 1 on the GWML, but at least it proves the units work I guess.

There's IEP/Series 1 OLE interface work which started at Old Dalby last week, in preparation for the energisation and availability of the GWML test section in the next few weeks.

The pantograph design to be used with IEP (the variant of the BR/BW High Speed pantograph) has already been used with the Series 1 trial/development installation at Old Dalby, when a Class 395 unit had its usual pantograph replaced with a BR/BW unit.

There's also lots of data available from the GE installation, which makes use of much Series 1 componentary.

The OLE specification is different, but the electric specification is the same, the 25kV (nominal) voltage and current drawn will be the same (or very close to it, with minor variations in feeder output coming from different feeder designs) on both the ECML and GWML. What you're talking about is the interface between pantograph and catenary, but there's lots of other data we need first, things like interference, fault tolerance and signal immunisation. That can be collected by any unit.

What's also going to have to happen is for each unit to be compatible with different types of OLE - Hitachi can't set up the GWR units specifically for Series 1 (the GWML will retain some older OLE), and the VTEC units for Mark 3 (it will gain Series 1 in areas) whilst the TPE units will run on both Series 1 and Mark 3 OLE, and there's always a chance that VTEC, GWR or TPE will need to hire in units, so having stock which needs more than minor hardware and software updates to be hired in/out isn't good.

 

[leomartin125]

First of all I would like to apologise, clearly my updates are seen as offensive, though I fail to see why, curiosity has clearly put me in a bad position. Granted I should have explained much clearer and not sounded so 'know it all' despite knowing seeminly very little about the IEP testing program. The posts above have helped increase my knowledge and understanding on where we are at with the Class 800 testing, so thanks to Philip for explaining the situation and how things work. From now on, I'll keep my input to a minimal to help reduce the amount of 'spam posts' on this forum thread.

 

[D1009]

The Peterborough-Darlington IEP runs are in normal traffic, so the testing in electric mode must be well advanced.
If they were still running under possession we would be worried.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97232/2016/06/17/advanced

Does that mean that they now have clearance to run anywhere in electric mode? I'd have thought that a significant development in the testing.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Does that mean that they now have clearance to run anywhere in electric mode? I'd have thought that a significant development in the testing.

They're running in diesel mode, as far as I'm aware, but I'm less interested in the ECML OLE testing at the moment (just as long as they don't dewire the bloody stuff). The interesting (for ECML) testing is in multiple, in electric mode, to see the deflection of the catenary with two pantographs. The ECML testing with single unit, single pan is relatively routine.

 

[jimm]

clearly my updates are seen as offensive, though I fail to see why

If you are going to post nonsense - and this wasn't the first time you have done it - then expect people to point it out.

If you are able to provide new, accurate information, no one will have a problem with that.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Does that mean that they now have clearance to run anywhere in electric mode? I'd have thought that a significant development in the testing.

I have no idea what the level of clearance is (electric or diesel), but running in normal traffic with a pantograph up is a good sign.
Philip has pointed out the critical areas of testing for squadron use.
Operating one or two test trains does not mean a generic clearance has been granted, and it will always be route specific given the 26m profile.
There is a long, complicated test programme and one would hope for a steady widening in clearance as more units arrive.

 

[bnsf734]

They are obviously cleared for the M1!

I was driving south on the M1 near Milton Keynes this morning and saw 4 Class 800 vehicles heading north courtesy of Allelys Transport and their low loaders. There was 1 driving car and 3 trailers. All were in white livery and none had numbers, so I assume they were brand new.

I presume they were heading to Newton Aycliffe but I am intigued what they were doing that far south as I was under the impression that they were imported from Japan via Teesport so perhaps the ship was diverted?

Any ideas?

 

[fgwrich]

They are obviously cleared for the M1!

I was driving south on the M1 near Milton Keynes this morning and saw 4 Class 800 vehicles heading north courtesy of Allelys Transport and their low loaders. There was 1 driving car and 3 trailers. All were in white livery and none had numbers, so I assume they were brand new.

I presume they were heading to Newton Aycliffe but I am intigued what they were doing that far south as I was under the impression that they were imported from Japan via Teesport so perhaps the ship was diverted?

Any ideas?

Could they have come in Via Southampton, as per the first unit?

 

[jimm]

They are obviously cleared for the M1!

I was driving south on the M1 near Milton Keynes this morning and saw 4 Class 800 vehicles heading north courtesy of Allelys Transport and their low loaders. There was 1 driving car and 3 trailers. All were in white livery and none had numbers, so I assume they were brand new.

I presume they were heading to Newton Aycliffe but I am intigued what they were doing that far south as I was under the impression that they were imported from Japan via Teesport so perhaps the ship was diverted?

Any ideas?

The ships carrying bodyshells from Japan may be going into Teesport but as fgwrich says, the other pre-series trains assembled in Japan went to Southampton - it may just be that the ship they were carried in can't get into Teesport or was on a schedule that meant Southampton was the most suitable place to unload.

 

[bnsf734]

On reflection Southampton would be the most logical port of arrival.

The lowloaders must have been routed via M3/M25/M1 probably due to restrictions on the most logical route of the M40/M42.

 

[leomartin125]

In case anyone is interested, a Class 800 (Most likely 800 003/004) will pay a visit to North Pole IEP Depot, arriving early Friday morning from Merchant Park sidings in Netwon Aycliffe. If any spotters are based up that way (I wish I was you!), it has a stop in Darlington tomorrow evening at 21:55 till 21:57, only brief on Platform 4A. I'm hoping to catch it at Acton Mainline early Friday Morning. Timings are available in the link below:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97112/2016/06/23/advanced

Regards,
Leo

(Hope I've not made a mistake in this post too, if so, pelase feel free to enlighten me)

 

[Harbornite]

In case anyone is interested, a Class 800 (Most likely 800 003/004) will pay a debut visit to North Pole IEP Depot, arriving early Friday morning from Merchant Park sidings in Netwon Aycliffe. If any spotters are based up that way (I wish I was you!), it has a stop in Darlington tomorrow evening at 21:55 till 21:57, only brief on Platform 4A. I'm hoping to catch it at Acton Mainline early Friday Morning. Timings are available in the link below:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97112/2016/06/23/advanced

Regards,
Leo

(Hope I've not made a mistake in this post too, if so, pelase feel free to enlighten me)

This isn't the first time a Class 800 unit has visited North Pole.

http://www.railmagazine.com/news/ne...north-pole-as-first-800-reaches-hitachi-depot

 

[Nippy]

I've just been chatting with the driver, he says it 800004. I'm assuming Leo means it's the first visit of that unit?

 

[leomartin125]

This isn't the first time a Class 800 unit has visited North Pole.

http://www.railmagazine.com/news/ne...north-pole-as-first-800-reaches-hitachi-depot

I didn't mean the train, I meant the unit, sorry for my bad use of language there. Neither 800 003 or 800 004 has been at North Pole yet as both are brand new and have been based at Newton Aycliffe.

UPDATE: Apparently (to the post above) 800 004 is being tested between York and Darlington tonight ahead of it's move to North Pole tomorrow evening. RTT for this is below, will be the first time either 800 004 has been on the mainline. Another unit from Old Dalby is joining it for testing tonight.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97606/2016/06/22/advanced

Regards,
Leo

 

[800001]

Should be 800004, as this is out on test again this evening Between Merchant Park (Hitachi) and York.

 

[Class 170101]

On reflection Southampton would be the most logical port of arrival.

The lowloaders must have been routed via M3/M25/M1 probably due to restrictions on the most logical route of the M40/M42.

Southampton to Bishop Auckland I would expect the route to be M3, M25 and M1. M40 / M42 head to and around Birmingham.

 

[leomartin125]

Should be 800004, as this is out on test again this evening Between Merchant Park (Hitachi) and York.

Has it done this before? I was under the impression taht this was it's first time on the mainline away from Newton Aycliffe?

 

[800001]

It was out on test between Merchant Park - York last night, 800001 + 800002 were also out last night Old Dalby - Darlington, and passed 800004 at York station. (004 in plat 3, 001 and 002 in plat 5).

Monday night 800004 only made 1 trip to York and back to Darlington, where it then stayed over night until the Bishop branch reopened and it could return to the depot.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Should be 800004, as this is out on test again this evening Between Merchant Park (Hitachi) and York.

seen at Darlington in this evening's setting sun.

 

[leomartin125]

It was out on test between Merchant Park - York last night, 800001 + 800002 were also out last night Old Dalby - Darlington, and passed 800004 at York station. (004 in plat 3, 001 and 002 in plat 5).

Monday night 800004 only made 1 trip to York and back to Darlington, where it then stayed over night until the Bishop branch reopened and it could return to the depot.

Lot's of IEP action then! Thanks for the update of what's been happening.

 

[800001]

Lot's of IEP action then! Thanks for the update of what's been happening.

And here is a picture of 800004, sat at Darlington at 06:15 this morning, waiting to go back to Merchant park.

 

[ainsworth74]

Ooh don't often see things sat in that siding!

 

[leomartin125]

And here is a picture of 800004, sat at Darlington at 06:15 this morning, waiting to go back to Merchant park.

Lovely picture, will see it myself at Acton Mainline tomorrow morning.

 

[Harbornite]

And here is a picture of 800004, sat at Darlington at 06:15 this morning, waiting to go back to Merchant park.

Nice shot there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Nice shot there.

Indeed. Must admit they are quite attractive units even in base white. Sort of like a super-156 because of the single-leaf pocket doors

 

[ash39]

Here's 800004 on test at York last night. As others have said already, surprisingly quiet on diesel power!


800004 York 22/06/2016 by Flash 3939, on Flickr

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it me or have they released the doors on the offside there? The buttons look red - or do they go red for locked and green for unlocked?

Ah, thinking on probably just locked OOU.