The problem may have been caused by LUL using cheap steel on the wheels.

Offramp wrote:
The problem may have been caused by LUL using cheap steel on the wheels.


Does LU use different a different grade of steel in its rails to NR? Why
would that cause wheel flats, as opposed to broken rails?

And why would it be much worse this autumn?

On Mon, 28 Nov 2016 20:23:50 -0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
Offramp wrote:
The problem may have been caused by LUL using cheap steel on the wheels.


Does LU use different a different grade of steel in its rails to NR? Why
would that cause wheel flats, as opposed to broken rails?

And why would it be much worse this autumn?

I know this sounds a bit contrary, but wouldn't it make more sense to make
the wheels of harder steel than the rails, so upon slippage its the rail
that wears out and not the wheel? Because it seems to me it would cause less
problems since the rail would wear out along a length instead of one spot
on the wheel and when it did need to be changed it would be a lot simpler
than jacking up a whole load of trains and putting their wheels on a lathe.

--
Spud

wrote:
On Mon, 28 Nov 2016 09:02:57 -0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
Basil Jet wrote:
If I counted correctly (unlikely) http://traintimes.org.uk/map/tube/
suggests that there are 35 Picc trains at the moment. The normal number
would be 68 to 78.


The wheel lathe must have been busy, as they've now added an infrequent
shuttle service to Rayner's Lane:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CyU5xoAW...jpg&name=large

Normal service is resumed then.

Distinctly unusual service actually: there's both the 20 min train shuttle
service *and* a rail replacement bus service. The latter has the usual
motley selection of vehicles in many liveries, including at least one RM.
The bus service has an unusual route, usefully stopping at Hanger Lane
Central Line station instead of Park Royal. Some of the buses display the
BR arrows instead of the LU roundel.

On Thu, 1 Dec 2016 22:05:31 -0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
wrote:
On Mon, 28 Nov 2016 09:02:57 -0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
Basil Jet wrote:
If I counted correctly (unlikely) http://traintimes.org.uk/map/tube/
suggests that there are 35 Picc trains at the moment. The normal number
would be 68 to 78.


The wheel lathe must have been busy, as they've now added an infrequent
shuttle service to Rayner's Lane:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CyU5xoAW...jpg&name=large

Normal service is resumed then.

Distinctly unusual service actually: there's both the 20 min train shuttle

I know, I was being sarcastic. Problem is that if my experience of using that
branch back in 2013 & 2014 is typical then the normal service is utterly
pathetic anyway. I remember sitting at Park Royal numerous times at 5.30pm
waiting normally 5-10 mins, sometimes up to 15, for a train to show up. God
knows how bad the service must have been outside of the rush hour.

service *and* a rail replacement bus service. The latter has the usual
motley selection of vehicles in many liveries, including at least one RM.
The bus service has an unusual route, usefully stopping at Hanger Lane
Central Line station instead of Park Royal. Some of the buses display the
BR arrows instead of the LU roundel.

Sounds like they've been dragged out of preservation.

--
Spud

Basil Jet wrote:
On 2016\11\25 16:01, Basil Jet wrote:
On 2016\11\25 15:16, d wrote:
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 12:44:00 +0000
Recliner wrote:
On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 10:47:25 +0000 (UTC), d wrote:

On Fri, 25 Nov 2016 10:37:10 +0000
Basil Jet wrote:
On 2016\11\25 09:48, Recliner wrote:
If it really is as they say, then this level of failure is much
more than
could be explained by wheel flats alone, though that may still be a
contributing factor. But I can't find any news reports about a major
technical problem.


If I counted correctly (unlikely) http://traintimes.org.uk/map/tube/
suggests that there are 35 Picc trains at the moment. The normal
number
would be 68 to 78.

Over on District Daves forum they're saying its due to wheel flats from
leaves too. But I don't remember a time half of a lines stock all
got serious
wheel flats at the same time and all had to be taken out of service.
At the
very least, surely they could form up some 3 car units of servicable
cars?
Would be better than nothing.

Yes, looking at that forum, it seems that the problem is down to not
enough RATs, plus, perhaps, poor driving technique.

Unless they've got in a whole new batch of drivers this year I doubt
its the
latter. And its not as if autumn leaves are a new occurance. The only
thing
that makes sense is if they didn't send a RAT around as much as other
years
because some of them are out of service and haven't been fixed in a
foolhardy
effort to save a few quid. That turned out well.

I assume the 73TS doesn't have its own sanding gear?

Beats me, but I doubt it.

The only thing I can think of is that various work is being done on
various bits of track across the network to make them more silent for
night time operation. While you might expect that to reduce wheel wear
rather than increase it, perhaps there are unintended consequences for
the 1973 stock. (Clutching at straws here.)

Oh, and there are loads of new drivers for the night shift.

It was Angus that did it:

http://www.londonreconnections.com/2016/wear-and-lathing-problem-with-the-piccadilly-lines-trains/