Grasshopper Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 This is one of the diesel units i work on. Wasn't my fault..... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8003774.stm The fire was due to a collapsed wheel bearing. This unit had recently suffered from soft wheels which were not round anymore which then causes vibration. The wheels had been turned (machined) back to correct profile, but i guess the damage had been done. Ironically it's due for a bogie overhaul next week! New wheel bearings were fitted on Saturday and it was back out in service today. As a point of interest we have a multi-million pound wheel lathe which can turn 4 wheels at a time while still attatched to the train bogie. It's a very impressive piece of kit, and is mounted in a 4 metre deep hole in the floor so the train just drives onto it and then work commences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Picyures of the lathe please if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 See if i can get one tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Daymond Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 how often do the bogies receive an overhaul? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 These ones have done up to 500.000 miles in 5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest catweazle (Banned Member) Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 These ones have done up to 500.000 miles in 5 years. So only when they catch light then:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 Something like that. Same train decapitated someone today (their choice). That makes 2 kills (not that we keep count...) and a fire for that unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 666 is the train number Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Daymond Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I feel sorry for the driver, you can't exactly steer around them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Something like that. Same train decapitated someone today (their choice). That makes 2 kills (not that we keep count...) and a fire for that unit. Does that mean, that after three kills you get a free Teaset. Like Green shield stamps gifts!.......................:rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 No but it means some poor sod has to clean the train afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 No but it means some poor sod has to clean the train afterwards. So the 'New Boy' gets a hose & a Bass Broom then? :-( Not a nice job, I can empathise!........:coffee: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 They send the units to the cleaning facility at Streatham hill. They even have a special "biohazard" body parts bin. The worst incident I have had to deal with was a unit that hit a flock of sheep. It smelled of hot diesel engines and roast lamb. That really messes with your brain, as a train shouldn't smell tasty! Fortunately there was not really any gory stuff on the unit. They have some seriously thick obstacle deflectors (cow catchers) on the front of the diesels. I've banged my head on them enough times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratty Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 They have some seriously thick obstacle deflectors (cow catchers) on the front of the diesels. I've banged my head on them enough times! So they work then:-D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 They send the units to the cleaning facility at Streatham hill. They even have a special "biohazard" body parts bin. The worst incident I have had to deal with was a unit that hit a flock of sheep. It smelled of hot diesel engines and roast lamb. That really messes with your brain, as a train shouldn't smell tasty! Fortunately there was not really any gory stuff on the unit. They have some seriously thick obstacle deflectors (cow catchers) on the front of the diesels. I've banged my head on them enough times! Yes I can understand the mess & cleaning aspect. :sweat: I was in the Met Police after I first left the Army. I was stationed at Norbury just up from Croydon. I had to 'Liase' a couple of times with the British Transport Police over suicides & accidents at the Station next to our copshop. We were invariably the first on the scene to see if 'First Aid' could be administered. But the usual routine was to secure the area for evidential purposes. I can attest that a Train can make a right mess of a Human Being! :-( There is something very saddening i think, when someone feels there is no place to go or no one to talk to in the depths of dispair. And they feel they have no option but to take thier own life. :-( The other side of the coin is. Some people think it also very selfish. Some poor Soul has to clean all that mess up to prevent the Public from being upset at all the 'Damage'! :argh: Keep up the good work. :yay: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 This is one of the diesel units i work on. Wasn't my fault..... This unit had recently suffered from soft wheels which were not round anymore which then causes vibration. The wheels had been turned (machined) back to correct profile, but i guess the damage had been done. Do they still use removable tyres shrunk onto a plain wheel, or is it one piece these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 The tyres are still removable. They plug a hydraulic line into the axle and push the wheels off that way. They are heated prior to fitting on the axle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 Here are some pictures of the wheel lathe for Mark. It has it's own conveyer system for removing the swarf, which ends up in a skip. It turns 4 wheels at a time and is kept in use 24/7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Thats a big bit of kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Wheel balancing for MEN! :shocked: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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