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TPE Nova 1 diesel engine reliability

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dstannard

Posts: 39
Location: cheshire, uk
TPE Nova 1 diesel engine reliability - Posted: February 19, 2020 - 12:26 PM Quote and reply
Watched the mode change of five Hitachi bimodes at Manchester Victoria yesterday morning (18th Feb) and noted that two of the sets appeared to be operating with engines out on diesel power.

Timed one of these, 802206 on 09:24 Liverpool-Edinburgh, from Manchester Victoria to Huddersfield and 2 min was dropped on the scheduled run time of 27.5 min (which itself includes 1.5 min of allowances).

Seems that things have some way to go before settling down.


David Stannard
RPS Committee - Technical
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16012FH

Posts: 168
Location:
Re: TPE Nova 1 diesel engine reliability - Posted: February 19, 2020 - 10:13 PM Quote and reply
dstannard said:
Watched the mode change of five Hitachi bimodes at Manchester Victoria yesterday morning (18th Feb) and noted that two of the sets appeared to be operating with engines out on diesel power.

Timed one of these, 802206 on 09:24 Liverpool-Edinburgh, from Manchester Victoria to Huddersfield and 2 min was dropped on the scheduled run time of 27.5 min (which itself includes 1.5 min of allowances).

Seems that things have some way to go before settling down.


Also yesterday noted 10.21 Edinburgh-Liv leaving York on only two engines at 13.07 didnt note number.

Is any of using only two engines down too fuel tanks not being big enough for a run Liverpool to Edinburgh return and more and Drivers have to switch to different engines to conserve fuel?

Andrew Clark



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dstannard

Posts: 39
Location: cheshire, uk
Re: TPE Nova 1 diesel engine reliability - Posted: February 20, 2020 - 8:03 AM Quote and reply
Do not believe daily fuel range to be an issue as TPE's Nova 1s are Class 802s with higher capacity 1550 litre fuel tanks. Normally no fuel issues with the GWR 802s working all day on Devon and Cornwall services via the Berks and Hants route on diesel and have seen a 'conservative' fuel range figure quoted for GWR's 802s in excess of 900 miles. The TPE Nova 1s on the Liverpool to Edinburgh route should also normally be operating in electric mode from Liverpool to Manchester and from York to Morpeth.
Is however rather disturbing to see reports of so many new TPE sets apparently operating with engines out, although seemingly 15-20% is not an unusual figure for GWR sets.

David Stannard
RPS Committee - Technical
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tester

Posts: 16
Re: TPE Nova 1 diesel engine reliability - Posted: February 20, 2020 - 6:00 PM Quote and reply
Engines are not being switched out as on 185's. If an engine is out.. Then it is due to a fault.

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26006

Posts: 67
Re: TPE Nova 1 diesel engine reliability - Posted: February 22, 2020 - 1:24 PM Quote and reply
Due to the much lower power to weight ratio of class 802 compared to 185's , it is clear all engines are needed at all times.
On Sundays - the 802's are restricted to diesel mode between York and Durham and need all 3 engines to try and achieve their maximum speed.


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16012FH

Posts: 168
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Re: TPE Nova 1 diesel engine reliability - Posted: February 22, 2020 - 10:30 PM Quote and reply
26006 said:
Due to the much lower power to weight ratio of class 802 compared to 185's , it is clear all engines are needed at all times.
On Sundays - the 802's are restricted to diesel mode between York and Durham and need all 3 engines to try and achieve their maximum speed.

On Thurs 20 Feb I caught 15.05 ex York (12.33 ex Edinburgh) it seemed to me that acceleration wasnt very good Chaloners Whin took 3.10 still only doing 57,80 at Colton Jn with 88 max before Church Fenton taken at 67 then on climb to Micklefield dropped to 64,Garforth 73 then 88 at Cross Gates so it was 24.47 to Leeds clear road throughout. (Booked 22 mins) I had a word with Driver he said that it was 3 engines on leaving York but one quickly dropped out. I then went over to waiting room on plat 12 and same Driver was there when he saw me he smiled (he was working 15.51 back to Newcastle) so I asked can I ask a few questions he said no problem. He said that under diesel just about every train one engine drops out and to reset it you have to stop train then walk back to a compartment in train where all the mcbs (Electrcal Switches)are located then find problem and reset them. This takes at least 5 mins so you might as well just continue with 2 engines as as soon as you reset it, get going again and engine will drop out again.
He also said that if you are down to one engine between Morpeth and Edinburgh you can ask permission from Control to use Electric.

Andrew Clark


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