Class 373 Eurostar withdrawals

[brad465]

While cycling this evening around the Fawkham Jct link area, I spotted a class 373 on the up line stationary, which is odd for a no. of reasons, notably why it was there given if it had gone further it would have lost its power supply (with no 3rd rail shoes anymore), and how it would have got back onto HS1 (reversing was my initial thought, but would be difficult in high traffic periods)? :roll:

I've attached 2 pictures of the unit in question, taken about 18:45 earlier today.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Probably a failure and pushed off HS1 out of the way. Most likely it'll get pulled back to Temple Mills when time allows, but it is fine where it is for now.

 

[whoosh]

Possible wrong routing by the signaller?

 

[mikestone1952]

I ssem to recall reading somewhere that they are to be stored there until sent for scrap.

 

[najaB]

I ssem to recall reading somewhere that they are to be stored there until sent for scrap.

Stored on an active line?!

 

[pdeaves]

Stored on an active line?!

Calling it an 'active' line is perhaps a bit of a stretch! It's disconnected at the Network Rail end now.

 

[najaB]

Calling it an 'active' line is perhaps a bit of a stretch! It's disconnected at the Network Rail end now.

I more meant that it's classed as an active line rather than being officially OOU, even if not actually used very much. Didn't realise it was disconnected at one end.

 

[brad465]

Are you sure??? hock: :? I've haven't been along the Chatham Main line in that area since around last Christmas but I remember it being connected then. While I admit it sees little if any use, I'm sure if it was disconnected I'd have read about it somewhere. :?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Calling it an 'active' line is perhaps a bit of a stretch! It's disconnected at the Network Rail end now.

If disconnected, where are the signals operational? Don't 395 crews retain knowledge of that section for some reason?

 

[pdeaves]

OK, 'disconnected' was taking things a bit further than should be the case.

The weekly notice stated:

The Up and Down Waterloo Connection lines between Fawkham Junction and Southfleet Junction (on HS1) has been taken out of use until further notice.
All points at Fawkham Junction have been secured (clipped and padlocked) for movements on the Up and Down Chatham line only.
The conductor rail has been isolated.
Buffer stops have been positioned on the Up and Down Connection line to protect the Chatham lines.

So the connection cannot be used, even if the ironwork is continuous.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

OK, 'disconnected' was taking things a bit further than should be the case.

The weekly notice stated:



So the connection cannot be used, even if the ironwork is continuous.

So a fairly big bit of work to shove the 373 up there then... I don't suppose the 373 was there in order to retrain crews?

 

[rebmcr]

So a fairly big bit of work to shove the 373 up there then...

Didn't it enter the section from the other, still-connected end? The point being that with those works it's not blocking any traffic.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Didn't it enter the section from the other, still-connected end? The point being that with those works it's not blocking any traffic.

I thought it was implied it was disconnected at both ends

 

[Kentish Paul]

I thought it was implied it was disconnected at both ends

No, still connected at the HS1 end last time I passed.

 

[pdeaves]

The Eurostar would have travelled to where the photos were taken by overhead power.

Was it to shift a failure out of the way? A 'rusty rail'/route retention move? A staff jolly? Someone must know!

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

The Eurostar would have travelled to where the photos were taken by overhead power.

Was it to shift a failure out of the way? A 'rusty rail'/route retention move? A staff jolly? Someone must know!

I did a bit of googling and a few websites said that 395 crews have route knowledge for that section

 

[Nippy]

From a contact I know with Eurostar.

The train is stored there, another one will be joining it soon.

 

[gsnedders]

From a contact I know with Eurostar.

The train is stored there, another one will be joining it soon.

The beginning of the end of the non-SNCF 373s?

 

[WestRiding]

Anyone know who has the contract to scrap them? A few weeks ago, people were looking at Rotherham Workstation at York ROC trying to decide how they might get to Booths at Rotherham. Issues with gauging at Masborough old station and the platforms at Rotherham Central. They would need shaving for Booths to get the contract.

 

[Domh245]

Anyone know who has the contract to scrap them? A few weeks ago, people were looking at Rotherham Workstation at York ROC trying to decide how they might get to Booths at Rotherham. Issues with gauging at Masborough old station and the platforms at Rotherham Central. They would need shaving for Booths to get the contract.

They'd probably end up at the TGV scrapping site in France.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Does anybody have any pictures of the Eurostars being scrapped?

Also, which Eurostar is being stored?

 

[NSE]

Are they actually up for scrapping? I've never been on them but I'd've thought they'd have a few more years in them? Or are they just scrapping a handful of the not so reliable ones?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Aside from the three domestic SNCF full length sets, all of which have already been scrapped ( one lot of trailers has been retained for departmental use ) at least four sets from the main Eurostar fleet have already been withdrawn.

 

[TheEdge]

Does anybody have any pictures of the Eurostars being scrapped?

I'm sure I've seen somewhere that the TGV family sets scrapped by the French, including their 373s are scrapped at a special secretive site so there are no pictures.

 

[LowLevel]

Are they actually up for scrapping? I've never been on them but I'd've thought they'd have a few more years in them? Or are they just scrapping a handful of the not so reliable ones?

It's quoted that they have a very hard paper round so to speak and are pretty much at the point of being life expired in TGV terms - some being retained through heavy refurbishment though.

 

[Boycko]

373 Eurostar seen yesterday morning about 10.30 stationary between Southfleet Junction and Fawkham Junction on disused link. Is this a regular occurrence? I use Farningham Road to Victoria line regularly and have not seen a Eurostar since St Pancras opened. Apologies if this is wrong thread!

 

[Phil.]

To give the definitive answer to the 373 - which is likely to be joined by others. It is sitting there in "warm storage".

 

[TheEdge]

To give the definitive answer to the 373 - which is likely to be joined by others. It is sitting there in "warm storage".

Is that unlike its date with on oxyacetylene torch, which I guess will be considered "very warm storage"?

 

[Flying_Turtle]

A return of the White Rose?

 

[Doctor Fegg]

There was a rumour that Vivarail were looking at them (no, really).