4002 has made a long anticipated return to service today on the “short” workings. I believe this is the first time it has worked in revenue service in over two years.
It managed a couple of trips on service 110 a couple of weeks backBeen back in service since the end of March, was out of service for about just a year.
It managed a couple of trips on service 110 a couple of weeks back
I imagine it would be to do with the fact that the 4 cars in question can only couple up with each other and will not work with any of the refurbished cars. This makes rescuing them with another train impossible, calling for the battery locos, which I believe are almost never allowed down onto network rail infrastructure. A similar problem would be that they wouldn’t want an un-rescuable train to get stuck in some of the single line sections down the shields line. so Keeping it on the shorts and not going past Pelaw is the safest option. It only finds itself on a full route when there’s no other trains available to replace a withdrawn train.Don't quite get why(especially when 4040+83 was paired) they are restricted to mainly peak services when they are effectively DDA compliant. Clearly there is a reason behind it, apart from 4040(as I seen photos online) , did the other 3 unrefurbished cars had proper corrosion work done to them and its that reason why they are mainly restricted to peak workings?
As far as I know 4001 and 4002 have also had the corrosion work. Not sure about 4083.Don't quite get why(especially when 4040+83 was paired) they are restricted to mainly peak services when they are effectively DDA compliant. Clearly there is a reason behind it, apart from 4040(as I seen photos online) , did the other 3 unrefurbished cars had proper corrosion work done to them and its that reason why they are mainly restricted to peak workings?
They’re compatible with the refurbished units for empty stock and rescue purposes - recovering an unrefurbished pair if they failed on the Sunderland line would be no more difficult than recovering a refurbished pair. The only reason they can’t run together in regular service is because the call for aid buttons won’t work in the rear unit of a refurbished-unrefurbished pairing. It’s quite common to see one of the unrefurbished units top and tailing the autumn RHTT with a refurbished unit.I imagine it would be to do with the fact that the 4 cars in question can only couple up with each other and will not work with any of the refurbished cars. This makes rescuing them with another train impossible, calling for the battery locos, which I believe are almost never allowed down onto network rail infrastructure. A similar problem would be that they wouldn’t want an un-rescuable train to get stuck in some of the single line sections down the shields line. so Keeping it on the shorts and not going past Pelaw is the safest option. It only finds itself on a full route when there’s no other trains available to replace a withdrawn train.
Ahhh thanks for the info! And I’d imagine a mainline train rescuing a metro would be a day the spotters would never forget.As far as I know 4001 and 4002 have also had the corrosion work. Not sure about 4083.
They’re compatible with the refurbished units for empty stock and rescue purposes - recovering an unrefurbished pair if they failed on the Sunderland line would be no more difficult than recovering a refurbished pair. The only reason they can’t run together in regular service is because the call for aid buttons won’t work in the rear unit of a refurbished-unrefurbished pairing. It’s quite common to see one of the unrefurbished units top and tailing the autumn RHTT with a refurbished unit.
The battery locos are able to work to South Hylton and have ventured onto the Sunderland line at least once, however as I understand this is very much a last resort rescue option.
The network rail sectional appendix suggests that there are coupler adaptors to allow Metro units to be rescued by mainline stock on the Sunderland line should all else fail.
Indeed it would! I don’t know of any occasions where it’s actually happened but, according to the sectional appendix at least, there is a procedure for it!Ahhh thanks for the info! And I’d imagine a mainline train rescuing a metro would be a day the spotters would never forget.
I imagine it would be to do with the fact that the 4 cars in question can only couple up with each other and will not work with any of the refurbished cars. This makes rescuing them with another train impossible, calling for the battery locos, which I believe are almost never allowed down onto network rail infrastructure. A similar problem would be that they wouldn’t want an un-rescuable train to get stuck in some of the single line sections down the shields line. so Keeping it on the shorts and not going past Pelaw is the safest option. It only finds itself on a full route when there’s no other trains available to replace a withdrawn train.
What would that look like in practice - shove it towards Pelaw to meet a battery loco there?Indeed it would! I don’t know of any occasions where it’s actually happened but, according to the sectional appendix at least, there is a procedure for it!
I’m not sure.What would that look like in practice - shove it towards Pelaw to meet a battery loco there?
Couple it to the front of an Azuma, get it upto 125mph and release it up the chord, it should be able to coast all the way to the depot from there.What would that look like in practice - shove it towards Pelaw to meet a battery loco there?