Chris Ward
Chris Ward
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After several weeks of trials at the Old Dalby test track, the first class 180 unit was delivered to First Great Western's Old Oak Common Depot, west London during July 2000. Known as the Adelante's, the first of fourteen 125 mile/h units was built by Alstom (formerly Metro Cammell) at their Washwood Heath, Birmingham works and consisted of 5 cars, each with an underslung 750HP Cummins QSK19 engine with Voith hydraulic gearbox and final drives. The gearbox also incorporated an hydraulic retarder to assist with braking. The trials commenced in May 2000 at the Old Dalby test track when the first unit 180101 was delivered by road. This was because the operational Railway Safety Case to enable Serco Railtest to run the train under test conditions was not yet accepted and therefore the unit could not run under its own power on Railtrack. After the completion of preliminary testing at the test track, the unit was loco-hauled to Old Oak Common depot but, due to further delays in obtaining the Testing Safety Case, running did not commence until December 2000. It continued into the summer of 2001 mainly on the GW main line between OOC and Bristol Parkway via the Badminton route. Serco Railtest also undertook to operate the train for the public launch of the Adelante unit at Paddington although as it turned out the launch was rather premature as the introduction of the units was severely delayed due to numerous problems. Further testing included bridge resonance tests - Bridge Resonance
Underbridge resonance is a phenomenon that occurs
when the frequency of loading from rail vehicles matches the natural frequency
of a structure or particular elements of a structure - namely a rail
underbridge. Incidents of ballast moving on underbridges when being traversed
by TGVs on SNCF lead Railtrack to instigate a test series on several new built
DMU's (including class 180 and class 221) although realistically the design of
underbridges in UK was different from SNCF and the fact that TGV's were
articulated seemed to have passed Railtrack by. Domestic arrangements We stayed near Great Portland Street tube station at the Forte Posthouse which was very convenient for the city's attractions, food and drink etc. Having numerous 24 hr convenience stores in the locality was also very useful for picking up sandwiches etc for the night shifts we often undertook. We used to drive to and from OOC along the A40 - we were leaving Town when everybody else was arriving and vice versa - so no real traffic problems except Friday afternoons trying to get home. Thanks to the combined initial efforts of the Serco and Alstom teams all the class 180's eventually entered service on the GW main line. Recent use of the units Unfortunately most of the units were dispensed with by FGW - a short sighted policy I think as they knock the Voyagers into a cocked hat. Until 2010 three units were operating with Northern Rail (not much 125 mile/h running on the route between Manchester and Blackpool methinks!), First Group with Hull Trains' services and Grand Central had a couple each too. The first GC example 180112 was delivered to Heaton depot on 25th July in a distinctive livery of black with orange bodyside stripe, and named 'James Herriot' Present use of the units Grand Central now operate units 180101 - 180108, 180112 and 180114 East Midlands Railway have acquired 4 units 180109 - 180111 and 180113 which will enter service in December 2020 to replace HSTs - joke! |
Here are a selection of photos of the class 180 units on test.............
Click on the picture for a bigger image - all photos are the author's unless otherwise credited
On test
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The first of five cars comprising the pioneer class 180 unit (180101) arrives by road at the Old Dalby test track in May 2000 where initial evaluation and commissioning was undertaken |
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The hauliers prepare to unload one of the driving cars |
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180101 passes Old Dalby on a northbound test run in May 2000 |
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The unit stands outside the compound at Old Dalby between runs |
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A view inside the cab at Old Dalby |
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In the early summer of 2000 the unit awaits a path from Old Dalby to Old Oak Common. It was parked out of the way at the former Asfordby mine complex due to the impending upgrade of the test track on behalf of Alstom |
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On 21st December 2000 in the middle road at South Ruislip on the former GW/GC Joint Line, the unit awaits a return path to Old Oak Common during its early shakedown runs. Note the horn grilles on the cab roof - a rare picture of them in place. |
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The inside of the unit was Spartan to say the least |
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The unit pictured inside the servicing shed at Old Oak Common depot on 11th January 2001 |
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On a splendid January day in 2001, 180101 sits inside the yard at Southall having just arrived from Reading on a driver training run |
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By February the unit was under test and is pictured in Stoke Gifford yard next to Bristol Parkway station ready for a run back to Swindon |
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The testing was undertaken by Alstom staff - here are the men at work (and a visitor) |
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At the heart of the GWR! 180101 pauses at platform 3 at Swindon en route for Bristol Parkway in April 2001 Note the horn grilles on the cab roof are now removed due to them vibrating at speed. |
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And in the London terminus of the old GWR - platform 1 at Paddington |
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180101 sits in the Up Goods Loop at Bristol Parkway in April 2001 |
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A view inside the cab at Stoke Gifford - note the Royal Mail terminal then in use. |
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Another stop at Southall Yard with a FGW-liveried HST passing on a Down service
Chris Ward |
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In May 2001 the unit is captured on the Up road passing the 100MP - at the former Badminton station |
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On a rainy day at Swindon 180102 is pictured from the cab of 180101 during joint testing. |
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50 miles from Paddington 180102 approaches 180101 at speed near Didcot |
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After the testing came the public
launch at St Philips Marsh depot in Bristol. The launch also revealed the
First Group livery as applied to the HST's. Note the mythical number on the
HST power car 43001 - it doesn't exist anymore being originally allocated to
one of the prototype HST power cars - the other being 43000..
Chris Ward |
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......and in service
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On 29th September 2003 180109 leaves Didcot with a service for Paddington Steve Jones |
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180101 arriving at Oxford with the 16.45 service to Worcester Shrub Hill on 27th August 2005 |
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180107 pictured about to leave Exeter with a service for Paddington on 3rd October 2005 |
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180109 departs from Westbury on 19th October 2006 - note that it by this date they were running without the coupler covers |
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180110 at Reading on 19th October 2006 |
.......................and with new operators
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180111 pictured at Crofton depot on 22nd April 2008 where it was being used for driver familiarisation. |
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180111 in its new role with Hull Trains passes Newark at speed heading for London on 2nd July 2008. The livery is still based on First Group's hideous colours of pink and purple but with a name change. Shame they didn't keep the Hull Trains original livery |
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180110 at KX with the 16.05 to Hull on 19th June 2009 |
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180113 at KX with the 16.05 to Hull on 14th August 2009 |
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180110 passes Finsbury Park with a service for KX on 15th October 2010 |
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180107 in Grand Central colours at Kings Cross on 3rd June 2013 |
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180112 leaving York in 2012 |
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Passing Frinkley Lane crossing near Grantham in August 2014 |
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Hull Trains livery at Doncaster on 7th December 2012 |
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6 years later and the Hull Trains
livery has changed little These units all appear to have had their coupler covers permanently removed which rather detracts from their appearance |
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180112 Grand Central at Kings Cross 2015 |
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180103 arriving at York in Sept 2020 |
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180114 approaching Wakefield Kirkgate Aug 2012 |  |
180107 passing Alexandra Palace Aug 2012 |
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180105 at Doncaster 2020 |
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180105 at Doncaster 2020 |
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180101 at KX 2020 |
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180103 at Grantham 2018 |
and EMR
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180113 on Etches Park depot in Sept 2020 |
More pictures will be added as time permits