Steam preserved but what about the Electric Traction

Crewe Heritage Centre also hosts a couple of 25KV powered items namely the last built Class 87 locomotive 87035 'Robert Burns' (due to be repainted into BR Blue over the winter)
and also the remaining partial set of Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train vehicles. The Crewe Heritage Trust has also registered an interest in preserving the last Crewe built locomotive 91031 which was first named 'Sir Henry Royce' in the Centre's main exhibition hall.

 

Except their Cravens unit hasn't worked for years now, the website hasn't been updated for 5 years, and once the sub-surface network is resignalled it will be extremely difficult to operate anything anywhere on LU (without fitting the new signalling system to these old trains - if that's even possible - they'll be essentially restricted to the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines).
The only 'heritage' trains run on LU in recent times have been run under the banner of the LT museum, and I'm not sure what their plans are post-resignalling either.

 

Were preserving there trains haven't heard anything about them in years, just looked into their website hasn't been updated in years, however I did find a group on Facebook restoring the shutter and signal box at Epping. One of the posts shows a picture of the only remaining 1962 in a siding being left to rot.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/636124789811546/permalink/1178334145590605/

 

Does it? Their 1960 stock train hasn't carried passengers on LUL tracks since 2003, although it did move under its own power in 2014 following overhaul and also appeared (diesel hauled) at the EOR gala. Not much news since then. Restoration of their other unit (1962 stock) seems to have stalled.

However their old website (still existing, but dormant) has been replaced by a new one:
http://cravensheritagetrains.org/

 

Although steam was my main interest, and I had very little interest in electric traction as a youngster (there wasn't any in West Yorkshire), I think it's sad that there is almost no opportunity to experience preserved electric railway traction. As someone said earlier, to get anything from preserved electrics you need to operate them, and hear the distinctive noises they make. As static exhibits, electric locos and EMUs tend to lack life and charisma.

There are lots of problems, many of them covered in previous posts. One clear issue is that the UK never managed to standardise on a single system, and so a running line for, say, the Woodhead electrics would be unsuitable for SR, Watford or Merseyside stock, or 25KV electrics. To provide a comprehensive running facility, many different systems would have to be installed alongside each other, and this is probably not possible. Leaving aside the cost.

If the Ardingley branch could be electrified for SR operation the I would find it a very attractive destination, especially if some of the older units could be used, e.g. the 2-BIL or 4-COR.

For the rest, I find it hard to envisage anyone ploughing money into an electric preserved railway. I think the best bet might be to identify parts of the national network that could be used for occasional heritage operations. How about Birkenhead to New Brighton?

 

It is a shame that electric units gave been scattered around the land, airfields and other isolated sites seem popular. Apart from Ardingly, another possible solution is to take over an old EMU depot. Several Southern ones have closed, including Ore, now demolished I think. If there are ever closure plans for the likes of Farnham or Effingham Junction, these would be ideal as a place to gather together all of the stray carriages from units that have been split up. Once restored, they could be used on diesel hauled railtours, if running under their own power is impossible.
A green 33 hauling a green unit would look fine. Likewise, a blue 33 with a blue unit. Of course, a 33/1 and 4TC would be 100% correct as well. St Leonards is a good example of an old DEMU depot finding a new use. That one is a modern version of Carnforth, not open to the public. Still, it illustrates what could be done.

How many SR EMU sheds are still in use?

 

What about the equivalent of a 'plandampf' with preserved EMU's on the Lymington Branch - say on a winter Sunday?

The line is self contained so there would be no concerns over interaction with main line stock

 

Another problem is that EMUs seem to end up miles away from anywhere that had them-e.g., Coventry. Ideally a museum would want to be in the south east, but of course land is expensive there...
As I said before, I do think Crich has shown the pattern for success-get everything under cover, and under control of one group. Unfortunately the happy circumstance of an abandoned quarry going cheap seems less likely today.

For anyone wanting the words from the ORRs mouth: http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/17621/dc-electrification-policy-statement.pdf

Interestingly, it describes how the DLR is OK running third rail as it has a shrouded conductor, and is very inaccesssible to the public-mostly in tunnels or raised op, and no level crossings. So theoretically, all we need is a site in the south/south east, with a trackbed that can be safely walled away, room for a couple of huge sheds and not too expensive...Oh well!
Were such a museum to exist, I see very little need for 1500V overhead-there's only 3 things that could use it, and I'd be amazed if even one would actually be released for use. 3rd rail DC and 25KV AC run together OK on the big railway.

 

Even better than a 33, would be a couple of 73's, one green and one blue to haul EMU railtours. As unpowered carriages, they would be treated the same as other railtour stock. The ED would provide the required whine and be able to go off live tracks as well. Bluebell to Mid Hants and vice versa?

 

Its NOT self contained as although the branch itself is a separate entity, it shares the platforms at Brockenhurst with other SWT services - and as the only place where 'overtaking' is possible between Redbridge and Bournemouth, the creation of a self contained platform for the branch is a non starter.

A 'self contained' branch is one like the Slough - Windsor one, which has a dedicated bay platform at Slough that is not used by any other services.

The closest thing to a 'self contained' branch in the 3rd rail area is actually the Bromley North - Grove Park shuttle, Grove park having a dedicated platform for Bromley services.

 

Except that 73s cannot provide an ETS supply while under diesel power, meaning no heat and relying on batteries for lighting. The 33s do have ETS capability

Also, apart from the REP units (and the 442s) all Southern EMUs lack traditional ETS connections - as the designers never envisaged them being dragged round by diesels in passenger service.

 

Great idea.

 

I'm sure the NRM could be persuaded to de-acquisition their EM1

 

'Except that 73s cannot provide an ETS supply while under diesel power, meaning no heat and relying on batteries for lighting. The 33s do have ETS capability'

Oh well, there are plenty of juice lines for the 73's

Also, apart from the REP units (and the 442s) all Southern EMUs lack traditional ETS connections - as the designers never envisaged them being dragged round by diesels in passenger service.'

Not insurmountable.

 

Could use 73/0's, they can do ETS on diesel power.

Sent from my HTC Desire 620 using Tapatalk

 

If I've got this right the only emus that will be running about mainline are CEP 7105 which is currently being returned to original condition. also MLV 68002 is apparently being returned to mainline hopefully.

Also there's an option of doing what the eden valley railway do currently to run their emu fleet. Fit a diesel gen set into an MLV then run the emu with the emu powering. Also the network southeast society run their 4CIG 1753.

Currently it runs push pull with a 73/1 73130 at finmere station. Finmere will be going if HS2 comes to fruition as apparently it's routed right through the station site. It'd be nice though if the network southeast society could reach an agreement with the owners of 73130 for it to go with 1753. That'd work out well for both parties as the 73 could be used on regular running days & with the CIG.

Another emu that runs regularly is refurbished 3CEP 1198 owned by the emu preservation society & based at the chinnor & princes risborough railway. It's had a hell of a lot of work done so far & seems to get regular running days.

 

Although this thread seems to be more about EMUs than electric traction per se, I'd like to see E5001 back in use. It was restored for use about 20 years ago and at one stage, I believe there was a plan to run it again, but this has come to nothing.

 

27000/NS1502 was preserved by the EM2 Locomotive Society in 1986 (30 years ago now) and ran 3,100 miles in Holland as a preserved loco in 1989. The intention was to convert to BR condition and run on the Spen Valley line (West Yorkshire Transport Museum). Instead she has ended up a static (and intact) exhibit. We have explored the possibility of generator cars etc but come to the conclusion that power should be supplied as nature intended (ie. the pantographs). Until such times as someone puts some overhead we will just wait quietly in the wings at Swanwick.

Before anyone asks Holland is a no-no for us now due to changes to signalling etc since 1989. I understand that the owners are starting to work on 1501 over there so all is not lost!

http://em2ls.jimdo.com/

 

Does seem odd that the NRM went for a 71 instead of a 74, the latter being more useable.

 

But the 71's were electrics as built, the 74 electro diesel conversions following later on, so hardly an example of a loco being in something like "original condition" for the NRM.