Trains and Drivers announces two new route projects

[Makeone]

Will this Class 377 be the dual voltage one?

This is the 377/1, which is 3rd rail only one,

Kev

Eh...a 3rd rail only 'type' 3 EMU? Where's the logic of that then? Now i know, that it's not that accurate, but mostly 3xx = AC EMU and 4xx = DC EMU. What's the biggest running 4xx, 460?

[USRailFan]

Now, I'm by no means an authority on this, but AFAIK all the 377s are made so that they can easily be equipped with pantographs and used on both OHLE and third-rail.

[Andreas19]

If possible, we will do a 3rd rail version and another one with pantographs, so the 377 could be used on several routes.

[ianmanson]

gypbrc; Yes full use off easements, and superelevation is been used so you will get the tilting that you see in the video

377s...as far as my knowledge goes

377/1 - 4 Car - 3rd Rail Only - Used all over
377/2 - 4 Car - 3rd & OHLE - Mainly South Croydon - Milton Keynes
377/3 - 3 Car - 3rd Rail Only - Used all over (ex 375s with new couplings to make them compatible with other 377s)
377/4 - 4 Car - 3rd Rail Only - Used all over
377/5 - 4 Car - 3rd & OHLE - Currently on loan from Southern to First Capital Connect for Thameslink services

Dont quote me on this!

Ian

[Irishrailguy]

Not quoting but what Ian said, As far as I know the different variants can have either shoes or shoes and OHLE, I'm not aware of a sub class that has OHLE only, but I'm sure the /1 sub class only runs on 3rd rail shoes. Correct me if I'm wrong though, it all helps

Kev

[danny3]

Looks like you've done well so far with the 377 and the route layout so far, looks fairly accurate from the map and wish you luck with it, especially for the Clapham Junction area! (I tried to map that area with the paths in google earth and got lost a few times )

(I guess i won't need to worry about the one that I had planned to do with the BML, was something for me to try after I'd finished the current route i was doing , probably still do it as a challenge for myself though, like the Victoria - Clapham area is definitely an interesting challenge for trackwork though!)

[transadelaide]

Now, I'm by no means an authority on this, but AFAIK all the 377s are made so that they can easily be equipped with pantographs and used on both OHLE and third-rail.

That is correct, and indeed it does apply that way for all new build third-rail EMUs. It would seem from a quick bit of reading that current Network Rail policy is to replace third rail electrification on a route with 25 kV AC overhead lines when the third rail infrastructure comes up for renewal, except in the semi-isolated metro system of Merseyrail. With new EMUs being designed for a life cycle of 40 years it would be prudent to make provision for voltage conversion a part of all new third rail EMUs when they are built rather than attempting to add it in later at significantly higher cost.

The classification in the 3xx series would stem from the fact that there is at least one variant of the class which is equipped for dual-voltage use from the factory rather than designed for conversion at some later date.

[micaelcorleone]

Interesting discussion about the 377 here.

More progress:

[transadelaide]

Looking good!

Hopefully people who have laid eyes on the real thing will also be of that opinion, the only Bombardier products I'm qualified to comment on are a batch of Flexity Classic trams that are inappropriate for Adelaide (and badly built as well), and their refurb jobs on Class 3000/3100 DEMU railcars

[Inthernet]

Very excited about the Brighton line as I used to live in the East Croydon area in the mid-90s. I wonder how extensive the "branches" would be (thinking Caterham here!). Nevertheless, even Victoria - Purley would be a great stretch to drive the Thomson 455 on the all-stopper!

One thing I'm curious about the Class 377...
Is it possible to produce two sets of physics onto one train? Dual Voltage trains are noticeably slower on the 3rd rail versus OHLE!

I also hope RSC would produce a Class 319 as a DLC for your route. They've done half the work already with the Class 325!

[ianmanson]

Hi Inthernet,

Thanks for your support. Unfortunately at this point the line up doesnt include Caterham. What is included at the moment...but may change;

Brighton Mainline +
Hove
Aldrington
London Road Brighton
Reigate
Reedham
Coulsdon Town
Sanderstead
Norwood Junction
West Croydon

There may be a few added around Clapham & Victoria at this point. I would like to get to Caterham at some point in the future but for the time been the Clapham Junction challenge is big enough

[micaelcorleone]

Further detail added between the bogies.

[JCogman]

Hi Inthernet,

Thanks for your support. Unfortunately at this point the line up doesnt include Caterham. What is included at the moment...but may change;

Brighton Mainline +
Hove
Aldrington
London Road Brighton
Reigate
Reedham
Coulsdon Town
Sanderstead
Norwood Junction
West Croydon

There may be a few added around Clapham & Victoria at this point. I would like to get to Caterham at some point in the future but for the time been the Clapham Junction challenge is big enough

Wish you luck with this route, I grew up next to the line in South Norwood and still, to this day, have a preference for the Southern! Would you consider the short stretch to Balham via Crystal Palace? Scenario wise, you not only have the "Metro" but a diversionary route for mainline and cross country services.

[ianmanson]

The plan at the moment is to build the route as announced. Subject to success I would like to continue to build extensions to the base route. When and if this happens I would like to put it to community vote so everyone has a chance to get the route expanded in the direction they want. There are no promises on this it's just what I would like to do!

[Andrew Page]

For those whose interests lie in real railroads rather than tramways , there's an excellent article on the Alaska Railroad [ARR] in the December issue of Trains magazine. The article points out that the ARR as an operator of both freight and passenger services styles itself "the last full service railroad in the United States".

Well worth a read if you've an interest in US operations.

Andrew