julo
Box Boy
Posts: 44
|
Post by julo on Mar 26, 2013 6:32:47 GMT
I understand that the voltage will be raised at the same time that the line speed will be raised. As has already been mentioned, the line speed on the main north of harrow is already 60mph in places. Very unlikely this will be done in May.
|
|
|
Post by metdriver on Mar 26, 2013 9:21:47 GMT
Best you have now is "Full M" :-P
|
|
|
Post by tulip on Apr 3, 2013 9:19:03 GMT
Once upon a time it was first point or Shunt, series then Parallel, the good old days ;-)
Tulip
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2013 10:18:41 GMT
Indeed, and keeping on time using the Westinghouse really proved your worth
|
|
|
Post by Nortube on Apr 4, 2013 11:44:23 GMT
Trains these days are just toys for drivers to amuse themselves with. There's very little skill involved in driving any more
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2013 19:49:43 GMT
So you're saying its a semi-skilled job?
|
|
|
Post by Nortube on Apr 4, 2013 23:29:56 GMT
I didn't say that the job was semi-skilled. Actually driving the train is very easy once you've got the hang of it. It doesn't take long to learn how to control the train. There are some finer points to learn, such as the difference in braking in all weather conditions etc. but there's very little skill needed with the new stock.
As for the other aspects of the job, then that's another matter and two of the most important things are the line knowledge and what to do to get out of the brown stuff when you have a defect, a one under, smouldering, detrainment, hit an obstruction on the track (or from the tunnel roof!), have something drop off the train, derailment, get hit by another train, P.I.O.T, and any other of the 101 things that a driver may get called upon to deal with. Granted, some are very unlikely, but a driver has to know how to deal with any situation.
What has been taken away is the skill that was needed to use the Westinghouse brake. Also, the newer stock are generally more reliable in that they work as they're supposed to, unlike older stock where each individual train could behave differently, let alone differences in the way the different stock on the line behaved.
72 stock used to have a habit of the EP brake being slow to take over in Rheo 1 when the rheo cut out at around 8mph, meaning that you were slowing nicely to the point where you were aiming to stop, then you suddenly found you were coasting instead of braking. 59, and to a lesser extent 38 stock, often had varying EP brakes, which meant you had to do your braking according to that train. It was always much more of an art on older stocks when braking at speeds when approaching a platform wet weather, especially when on a downhill gradient, because you had to prevent the wheels locking and the risk of overshooting the platform. Newer trains have dump valves (or whatever) which normally do a very good job of preventing wheel look and, on 95 stock at least, you could approach the same platform at almost normal speed in wet weather, braking normally and still stop at the correct place.
The newer stock are a big improvement in many ways over the older stock, but they do not need the same sort of skill to drive that older stock did. Hence the drivers job is more boring these days because there is less to keep their mind occupied.
|
|
|
Post by one on on Jun 2, 2013 19:58:01 GMT
Pre-dominantly existing 60mph areas were taken advantage of. However, there were some alterations in permissible speed.
Northbound Main Moor Park (Inclusive) to Rickmanswoth (Exclusive) 50 mph running increased to 60 mph running. Southbound Main Chorleywood (Exclusive) to Rickmansworth (Exclusive) 50 mph running increased to 60 mph running. Southbound Main Watford North Jn (Inclusive) to Moor Park (Inclusive) 50 mph running increased to 60 mph running. Southbound Fast Harrow South Jn (Exclusive) to Wembley Park (Exclusive) 50 mph running increased to 60 mph running.
At the same time a lot of 'T' signs have been replaced with the actual permissible speed.
|
|
|
Post by WLX568 on Jun 5, 2013 20:27:36 GMT
A few lines have gone the same way to continuous signage of the permissible speed over the years. Officially the Bakerloo changed over in the late 90s, though the changing of the signs was done haphazardly and was never fully completed.
The District went the same way in 2006, though they decided to break all the rules about what type of sign to use and where (i.e. Round ones outside, rectangular ones in tunnels). The met is now the latest, and from what I can see the only one to at least try and do it properly!
|
|
|
Post by Zippy on Jun 8, 2013 21:10:21 GMT
72 stock used to have a habit of the EP brake being slow to take over in Rheo 1 when the rheo cut out at around 8mph, meaning that you were slowing nicely to the point where you were aiming to stop, then you suddenly found you were coasting instead of braking. Oh yes, C stock does that a lot too.
|
|