Question re SWT's 3417

That, sir, is slander. I'll have you know that the old lady (a lady called "Gordon" - work that one out) is the only thing on the yard that can be left flat and dead for weeks on end and then be made ready to move at 15 minutes notice.
And the fun part is that 5 of those 15 minutes are spent walking out to her...

Assistance, indeed. Pah! It wouldn't be the first time that she's donkied Junipers and 455s around the place...
She doesn't need assistance, she provides it!!

 

Keelar001 has a point! Even RSF would agree that she goes up and down most days unattended in the depot - Even to help other newer units....

 

She'll come in handy to shunt Canadian Pacific's tender soon....

 

I really dont get the deal with going for CP's tender and not with the one she currently has???

 

Cost. CP's is free to use.

 

It's just a shame that I probably won't be the man who is driving her.
I'd be rather sorry to think that Friday will be my last time at the controls of a 400....

 

Even after the paint-job we done on her tender?

 

It still costs money to hire, even with a new paint-job.

 

On a connected theme, I am happy to report that 1881, having been extensively fettled after 30 months out of service (lets call it prolonged storage) is almost ready to take Amps again.

Expect the AIS to be closed for the first time in preservation at some point in October.

Slowly but surely, the slammers are edging closer to the mainline!

 

Good news (I think) - but for the complete novice (me at least), what's the AIS?

btw - Are you now based in a main-line simulator somewhere un-learning all those useful things discovered shunting a depot?

 

Auxilliary Isolating Switch - you close that contact to liven the whole thing up. In laymans terms, it means "switching all the gear on."

As to the Road to Mainline Zombie-hood, that begins next week. And you're right - I have been told to forget all the useful stuff, because I'm not allowed to know it on the mainline.

 

It is a latched handle in the guard's van mechanically connected to three contactors. The first one connects 750v to the MG, compressor and heating circuits and the other two connect battery pos and neg to the 70v auxiliary circuit (and output of the MG).

 

God I love knowing people who know what they're talking about...

 

3417 was down at Weymouth last week for systems testing with a 458 and desiro units.

http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/issues/RHUK/Issue152.pdf?PHPSESSID=5ec744e20c7db92afd67538c7afd6faf

Railway Herald 152 about page 7

Regards, Neil

 

Wimbledon are hoping to have the old girl home by the end of October; after that the question becomes how much longer can we hold on to her for...

 

Thought she was staying at her home Depot (Bournemouth) as I do believe that is where she is allocated to.

 

*Raising of the eyebrow*

I beg your pardon? I would direct your attention to the depot sticker attached to said unit:

http://wimbledonparkdepot.spaces.li...ntExpand=0&addCommentFocus=0&pauseSlideshow=0

Bournemouth indeed. If we're having that nonsense again I shall be ringing a chum of mine at SWT Control.
Bournemouth... Pah. She's a Wimbledon Park unit, thank you very much!

 

http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/issues/R ... 8c7afd6faf

a link that works I hope

 

I presume the jury is still out as to whether it will still be available for special use - such as another seaside holiday on 8th, 9th and 10th May 2009 :-k
If not, perhaps we could ask that nice Mr Knights if we could borrow 1881 :-#

 

I for one would be quietly emotional should Wimbledons Magnificent VEP make it a hat-trick at Swanage, but I honestly can't see it. Minor miracles have been worked by SWT (at Wimbledon, Waterloo and Friars Bridge) to make the old girl available for the last two years but the Bluebell is where she is bound at some point; once she's at East Grinstead I can't imagine she'll leave again. Not unless the (supposedly) Anti Anything-But-Steam Bluebell management and members do something astonishing.

Personally I don't think they are nearly as blinkered as certain elements have suggested, but who knows what politics are involved with 3417s future? "Wait and see" is the unsatisfying answer to the Swanage question...