Class 387

[Class377/5]

0906 Bletchley TMD to Wembley EFOC:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P90327/2016/07/15/advanced

ran this morning, it's the usual precursor to this trip to Crewe, starts at 1033:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P90328/2016/07/15/advanced

...which was activated this morning, and is now showing in progress as of 1045.

Could be an AC test run if anyone is in the area to see it?

So the 387 testing has seen some rare logos at Crewe! Especially the previously DC only GatEx!

 

[swt_passenger]

So the 387 testing has seen some rare logos at Crewe! Especially the previously DC only GatEx!

Is it possible to confirm if these really are GWR units? I've been making a bit of an assumption that they are.

But it'll answer the 1045 question from swt class 450 as they cannot be in two places at once.

However, none of the "Q paths" from Bletchley TMD that go down onto the Southern today are active, so that probably rules out a Brighton - Gatwick sighting...

 

[phoenixcronin]

Do the GWR 387s actually have a designated first class section? I know one of the pictures a few pages back was labelled first class but it looks exactly the same as standard, not even a pathetic antimacassar!

 

[cactustwirly]

Do the GWR 387s actually have a designated first class section? I know one of the pictures a few pages back was labelled first class but it looks exactly the same as standard, not even a pathetic antimacassar!

I'm guessing it would be used as a 'quiet zone' since their intial duties are in the hands of declassified 165s and non declassified 166s

 

[DS]

Currently on a VTWC service and passed 2x GWR 387 heading southbound through Kings Langley at about 1630 - 387130 the leading unit.

 

[swt_passenger]

Currently on a VTWC service and passed 2x GWR 387 heading southbound through Kings Langley at about 1630 - 387130 the leading unit.

Thanks for taking the time to confirm that. It's roughly the time RTT reports, running about 32 minutes early:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P90332/2016/07/15/advanced

So as I deduced yesterday although the initial sighting of them under test happened to be in Brighton it wasn't really significant after all...

 

[BingBong50]

Would love to see the GWR 387's enter passenger service testing on Thameslink like the 387 2's. What an interesting color combination with a TL, GX and GWR 387 in 12 car formation!! Guess that will never happen though.

 

[387star]

Would love to see the GWR 387's enter passenger service testing on Thameslink like the 387 2's. What an interesting color combination with a TL, GX and GWR 387 in 12 car formation!! Guess that will never happen though.

that would be a cracker!

 

[AlexNL]

And then run it on a Southern service.

 

[MCR247]

And then run it on a Southern service.

Good luck finding one of those

 

[swt class 450]

Is it possible to confirm if these really are GWR units? I've been making a bit of an assumption that they are.

But it'll answer the 1045 question from swt class 450 as they cannot be in two places at once.

However, none of the "Q paths" from Bletchley TMD that go down onto the Southern today are active, so that probably rules out a Brighton - Gatwick sighting...

Ok. Thanks for the info. I certainly didnt see any on this line today. Does anyone know if the new FGW units will regularly be used on the Brighton Main Line for testing?

 

[AM9]

And then run it on a Southern service.

Complete with RPOs.

 

[jimm]

The two GWR sets pictured yesterday using 25kv power on the Northampton loop, passing Daventry rail freight terminal. Pictures on Flickr by Chris Chaplin.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-chaplin/28043771260/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-chaplin/28043775660/

 

[Domh245]

The two GWR sets pictured yesterday using 25kv power on the Northampton loop, passing Daventry rail freight terminal. Pictures on Flickr by Chris Chaplin.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-chaplin/28043771260/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-chaplin/28043775660/

Blimey those roofs won't stay that colour for long. At least the front is a dark green colour though so the "Thameslink effect" might not be as noticable

 

[swt_passenger]

Ok. Thanks for the info. I certainly didnt see any on this line today. Does anyone know if the new FGW units will regularly be used on the Brighton Main Line for testing?

There's no logical reason why they won't do similar testing as the earlier class members, I'd just keep an eye on RTT for the paths from Bletchley TMD and see which ones are activated each day. There are overnight paths on the WCML too.

But as follow on units to an in service type they won't be testing for a lengthy period of time, they could be with GWR relatively quickly.

 

[physics34]

Blimey those roofs won't stay that colour for long. At least the front is a dark green colour though so the "Thameslink effect" might not be as noticable

yeh, not sure why they dont get painted dark grey.

I assume they paint them a light colour to reflect heat away from the AC units, but if they are gonna get dirty from the carbon off the pantograph like the TL units then whats the point.

 

[Domh245]

yeh, not sure why they dont get painted dark grey.

I assume they paint them a light colour to reflect heat away from the AC units, but if they are gonna get dirty from the carbon off the pantograph like the TL units then whats the point.

I suppose that the argument would be that not many people go around looking at the roof of the train!

 

[jon0844]

If I can't see the top of a train looking like this after a few months or even years, I will be most upset.

 

[Domh245]

I do wonder what the roof cleaning facilities (even if just for the cab front) are like at the GWR depots where these units will be based (OOC I assume?)

 

[JN114]

I do wonder what the roof cleaning facilities (even if just for the cab front) are like at the GWR depots where these units will be based (OOC I assume?)

Reading TCD will be their home base, stabling at North Pole initially with 57 drags to Reading when needed on TCD for exams.

 

[urpert]

I do wonder what the roof cleaning facilities (even if just for the cab front) are like at the GWR depots where these units will be based (OOC I assume?)

Bit off topic, but I've noticed all the depots here in Alsace have substantial gantries to allow staff to access the roof of units (recent DMUs and hybrids here have a lot of their equipment mounted on the roof so they can have a low floor). Perhaps surprisingly the tracks adjacent to these gantries still have catenary, though it may be that it can be temporarily deactivated!

 

[317 forever]

387225 was in service on Monday this week so yes, all in service, but of course, 387201-3/6/22/3 haven't yet operated for Gatwick Express.

This begs the question as to when Gatwick Express will be entirely operated by 387/2s? The temporary timetable and staff uncertainties may be delaying the full conversion.

Doubts about easily tracking down a 313 and a 387/2 have discouraged me from going to Brighton over the August Bank Holiday.

 

[Harbornite]

I do wonder what the roof cleaning facilities (even if just for the cab front) are like at the GWR depots where these units will be based (OOC I assume?)

I hadn't given their base much thought. I guess OOC could be used because there will be surplus space, as Hex will have upped sticks and the crossrail depot will not occupy the entire site. Another suggestion is Reading, but some turbos aren't due to leave so I can write that off.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Stuff my previous post, an RG article from June said that Reading would be used.

 

[swt_passenger]

I hadn't given their base much thought. I guess OOC could be used because there will be surplus space, as Hex will have upped sticks and the crossrail depot will not occupy the entire site. Another suggestion is Reading, but some turbos aren't due to leave so I can write that off.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Stuff my previous post, an RG article from June said that Reading would be used.

Reading was basically built as an EMU depot and is being temporarily used by diesels. It's been fairly obvious since it opened with OHLE everywhere.

Don't forget that ultimately the OOC site will be just Crossrail depot and HS2 and GW stations. Not really any room for anything else.

 

[JonathanH]

This begs the question as to when Gatwick Express will be entirely operated by 387/2s? The temporary timetable and staff uncertainties may be delaying the full conversion.

Doubts about easily tracking down a 313 and a 387/2 have discouraged me from going to Brighton over the August Bank Holiday.

Not just yet - still 6 units on hire to Thameslink and we've been told on the forums that 700s initially create a cascade to eliminate some 319 workings.

2245, 2300 and 2315 London Victoria to Gatwick Airport all 442s tonight.

In addition to asking when Gatwick Express will be fully 387s, there is also the matter of amending the gatelines at Gatwick Airport to create a separate charging area for platform 5 and 6 from the rest of the station which might be timed to line up with full 387/2 introduction.

There is a very limited Gatwick Express timetable after 2130 Monday to Thursday at the moment - basically 2100, 2130 from Victoria then no departure until 2300 and 2330.

 

[Steve14]

Blimey those roofs won't stay that colour for long. At least the front is a dark green colour though so the "Thameslink effect" might not be as noticable

I believe that is temporary as it's still testing. After I presume they will apply the roof colour like they have with the 166s (matt black roof) and then send to GWR for it's official GWR labelling.

 

[leomartin125]

Whoever said GWR Class 387 testing is "AC - MON/FRI and DC - TUE, WED, THURS" is incorrect. It's a Tuesday and a GWR 387 has mysteriously turned up at Crewe....

 

[swt_passenger]

Whoever said GWR Class 387 testing is "AC - MON/FRI and DC - TUE, WED, THURS" is incorrect. It's a Tuesday and a GWR 387 has mysteriously turned up at Crewe....

Class377/5 didn't say "is" (as above), he wrote "has been".

The same 'Q' paths are in every day, but it is conceivable that the GW batch are just doing the same hours/miles but in a different order, or are reacting to the current major disruption in SN's area, or are not doing as many DC miles.

These sort of testing periods rarely run to a guaranteed pattern throughout.

 

[physics34]

This begs the question as to when Gatwick Express will be entirely operated by 387/2s? The temporary timetable and staff uncertainties may be delaying the full conversion.

Doubts about easily tracking down a 313 and a 387/2 have discouraged me from going to Brighton over the August Bank Holiday.

virtually a full timetable on sat and sun barring engineering works.

 

[43074]

387132 is on it's way from Derby to Bletchley at the moment, http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00999/2016/07/19/advanced