This article was opened on 10 January 2005, and
last modified on 2 September 2024.
The section on On-train Monitoring Recorders has been moved to its own page.
Number / name | Vehicle type | Progress |
---|---|---|
60118 Tunbridge Wells | Motor Coach | Completed 6 April 2007, certified 22 June 2007 |
60116 Mountfield | Motor Coach | Completed 3rd week May 2007, certified 22 June 2007 |
60529 | Trailer | Completed, certified 3 June 2008 |
60501 | Trailer | Completed, certified 3 June 2008 |
69337 | ex-BIG Buffet-car | Completed, certified 23 June 2008 |
70262 | CEP trailer | Completed, certified 16 March 2010 |
60528 | Trailer | Completed, certified 24 April 2023 |
60119 | Motor Coach | Completed, certified 24 April 2023 |
60000 | Motor coach | Work well progressed |
60502 | Trailer | Work begun |
On Friday 22 June 2007 the two Motor Coaches described at the top of the table above passed inspection and, given the completion of a parallel project to fit OTMR, were re-certified to run on the main line. Two trailers and the BIG buffet-car were signed off during June 2008, in time for the train’s first CDL-equipped outing.
For our trains to run in passenger service on the main line after 31 December 2005, they would need to be fitted with Central Door Locking, a system that prevents passenger doors from being opened except when they are released by the traincrew.
Whilst our train was out of traffic in 2006 for the fitting of CDL, regulations required that before our train could re-enter service on the main line, its driving vehicles would also have to be fitted with “black boxes” or On-Train Monitoring Recorders.
Photo: The finished product! The cab of Motor Coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells, showing the CDL control-buttons on the desk-top and the driver’s OTMR (orange) interface-box at top right. As this article will demonstrate, there is much more to this project than just what can normally be seen in the cab! Photo by Andy Armitage.
To prevent passenger doors being opened except when released by the traincrew, we were required to fit Central Door Locking; unlike the system installed on the 125 High Speed Train, the apparatus we are working with is unobtrusive: it is situated in the same area as the existing door-catch.
Hastings Diesels Ltd began installation work as a prototype for all remaining DEMU vehicles; in view of the length of time typically taken for engineering approval and acceptance to take place, we began on vehicles 60528 and 60019 for this test-bed. These two vehicles were not in railway use as yet as each has been undergoing restoration (see link to each).
The plan was to use these coaches instead of ones from the active unit 1001, to avoid the latter being out of traffic for a long period of time. Unfortunately, fitting CDL has proved to be far from trivial, and the job has been frustrated by several factors:
The first CDL control unit was fitted into the ceiling void above the rear vestibule of motor-coach 60019 on 18 June 2005.
These views show the completed CDL works on motor coach 60116 Mountfield.
The section on On-train Monitoring Recorders has been moved to its own page.