Atomic Systems

Hi, i was just wondering, do drivers turn their engines off at Paddington, save all that diesel affecting the airflow and passengers, also the local stopping service DMUs (can't remember the class no.) Reason i asked is bus drivers are reminded to switch off at bus stands so why not the diesels, which are 10x more powerful than a bus.

Not sure about FGW but EMT drivers turn off one PC after arrival at both Sheffield and St Pancras (I assume the HSTs arriving at Nottingham do the same) mostly so that someone can go into the engine room to check over it and make sure all is well, but of course this also saves on fuel and smoke. They tend to re-start the PC about 5 mins before departure. Not sure about the 222s that EMT use as they have engines under each coach so maybe shut down a few but certainly hear them running whenever ive seen one stopped at Sheffield.

FGW do shut down the PC nearest the buffers. In the BR Past they used to be connected to a Shore Supply - TBH I wouldn't be surprised if Network Rail charge a lot for shore power and so FGW use the Power Car (I've noticed some airlines have switched to using the APU rather then a shore supply).

Start up takes place approx 5-10 mins before departure though things are quieter and less smokey since the MTU programme

Im clueless as to what shore power is i'll have to research that one. I wouldn't know the difference between MTU and Paxman i only know that they're loud and the times i've gotten off the local service which uses that class 166 i think - they keep them on - Even planes at airports turn theirs off after a while of sitting still. I figured why the class 222s keep theirs on, they don't start back up again! my first visit to st. pancras since it opened, it had some serious problem, wouldn't let people on until they had revved up the motors to full to see if it would stay on. Must admit not pleasant smell.......the same goes for Paddington, unpleasant even with the 'MTU'

JunGRail wrote:Im clueless as to what shore power is i'll have to research that one. I wouldn't know the difference between MTU and Paxman i only know that they're loud and the times i've gotten off the local service which uses that class 166 i think - they keep them on - Even planes at airports turn theirs off after a while of sitting still. I figured why the class 222s keep theirs on, they don't start back up again! my first visit to st. pancras since it opened, it had some serious problem, wouldn't let people on until they had revved up the motors to full to see if it would stay on. Must admit not pleasant smell.......the same goes for Paddington, unpleasant even with the 'MTU'

i'm sure somebody will correct me, but shore power is just that, a power supply on the "shore", or in this case, the platform, basically, they plug the train in to keep all the electrical systems on-board on, which means they don't need to keep a power car engine on to generate leccy.

at Portsmouth harbour when ever a 15X class arrive in they turn off the engine, but i believe the capacitor(battery) holds enough charge to keep the on-board lights, plus marker lights on for the half hour that they are there. however the 158's that are stabled in Fratton over the weekends turn off everything, even marker lights.

Think Hook up at a caravan site then you'll get the basic's

I get it now with shore power, thanks for that it's just i never heard that phrase before (newbie) - Another thing is marker lights? only the tube trains have both headlights equivalent to road transport but trains are different? how come :S (again newbie questions)

marker lights are the equivelant to Side lights

salopiangrowler wrote:marker lights are the equivelant to Side lights

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JunGRail wrote:

salopiangrowler wrote:marker lights are the equivelant to Side lights

????????????

on the front of all modern trains, like post 1980, all units have three lights on each side of the cab at each end of the train, they are small white, large white, and red.

two small white lights (one on each side of the cab) are marker lights, this is usually used when shunting etc
one small and one large white are day and night lights, set for main line working, are used when not in a depot etc
two reds should mean the end of the train, however they may carry one tail lamp.

happy to help.. any more questions?

liam

Ah it's just since the rails aren't lit with line lights the one headlight wouldn't be bright enough, but i guess its not about that really. I don't have any other questions since trains on National Rail don't run that close behind each other unlike tube trains.

The Day light is more for conspicuity. The night light is aimed to illuminate the track side signage.

Headlights are need day and night no headlight mean 25mph working, or using to.


before 1988 it wasnt neccersarily compuslary to have a headlight which is why some pic of loco's pre 1989 just show the marker lights. Headlights really came in to elluminate rail side signs such as speed limits as marker lights werent really reliable especially after 200 miles of fly swatting.

these day LED's replace normal light bulbs which is why you see the latest stuff has brighter lights then older stuff, which in turn are having there lights replace as and when needed ie DRS 37's.

Visually i used to spot shrewsbury station regulary at night and all train pass with just one headlight and 2 marker lights lit. 66's and newer stuff have 3 marker lights although the top one rarely lights anything up its just to let people on track know something big comes their way.

salopiangrowler wrote:Headlights are need day and night no headlight mean 25mph working, or using to.


before 1988 it wasnt neccersarily compuslary to have a headlight which is why some pic of loco's pre 1989 just show the marker lights. Headlights really came in to elluminate rail side signs such as speed limits as marker lights werent really reliable especially after 200 miles of fly swatting.

these day LED's replace normal light bulbs which is why you see the latest stuff has brighter lights then older stuff, which in turn are having there lights replace as and when needed ie DRS 37's.

Visually i used to spot shrewsbury station regulary at night and all train pass with just one headlight and 2 marker lights lit. 66's and newer stuff have 3 marker lights although the top one rarely lights anything up its just to let people on track know something big comes their way.

I see, i get it now, has anyone here been in the front of a cab, say on the southeastern network from Cannon Street or Charing Cross, as those aren't as busy as waterloo or liverpool street