37408 is badly damaged after a shunting incident whereby the loco ran away 
at Rhymney into a set of stock.
Initial reports suggest the damage is quite bad at one end and it certainly 
looks like this loco is written off.
The police SOCO officer was at Rhymney this morning to take fingerprints 
from the loco.  They are exploring the avenue that an unauthorized person 
entered the cab and got it moving.  37408 was stabled at the end of the 
headshunt until units had moved out of the way before drawing down to run 
round its stock.

It seems to me that it could be possible the parking brake wasn't applied. 
If so, it echoes the collision between 37113 and and HST at Abbeyhill, 
Edinburgh, about 10 years ago.  The parking brake wasn't applied to 37113 
when stabled in Waverley station and it ran away through Calton Hill Tunnel, 
wrong road, into a Cross Country HST heading towards Edinburgh.

Chris...

"Chris Pelling"  wrote in message 
news:42ef53d3$1_4@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...

> 37408 is badly damaged after a shunting incident whereby the loco ran away 
> at Rhymney into a set of stock.
> Initial reports suggest the damage is quite bad at one end and it 
> certainly looks like this loco is written off.
> The police SOCO officer was at Rhymney this morning to take fingerprints 
> from the loco.  They are exploring the avenue that an unauthorized person 
> entered the cab and got it moving.  37408 was stabled at the end of the 
> headshunt until units had moved out of the way before drawing down to run 
> round its stock.
>
> It seems to me that it could be possible the parking brake wasn't applied. 
> If so, it echoes the collision between 37113 and and HST at Abbeyhill, 
> Edinburgh, about 10 years ago.  The parking brake wasn't applied to 37113 
> when stabled in Waverley station and it ran away through Calton Hill 
> Tunnel, wrong road, into a Cross Country HST heading towards Edinburgh.
>
> Chris...
>


The one thing on 37s that the Qtron doesn't appear to indicate is 
application of the handbrake (manual by handwheel). It does show that at 21 
minutes after being stabled the air in the bogies had leaked off 
sufficiently to allow the loco to roll, colliding with the stock at 12.5 
mph.  The driver (non EWS) is utterly adamant that he applied the handbrake 
but stated that children were nearby, prompting the possibility that the 
loco was tampered with.

buxtonmick wrote:


> The driver (non EWS) is utterly adamant that he applied the handbrake 
> but stated that children were nearby, prompting the possibility that the 
> loco was tampered with. 


No locks on the cab doors? Amazing this hasn't happened before.

Charlie

Charlie Hulme wrote:

> buxtonmick wrote:
>
> > The driver (non EWS) is utterly adamant that he applied the handbrake
> > but stated that children were nearby, prompting the possibility that the
> > loco was tampered with.
>
> No locks on the cab doors? Amazing this hasn't happened before.
>
> Charlie


37`s were built with (yale type) door locks as were 31`s and I think
most british locos were fitted with some kind either a number 1 style
key or someother , but after 30-40 years of lack of use + several
layers of paint and general track dirt etc locks soon clog up, also
matter of H&S these days ? if you need to get out in a bit of a quick
hurry doubt if you would want to be faffing around trying to unlock a
door, also class 37 doors do tend to stick with the movement within the
frame, and lets not forget that most 37`s handbrake wheels take between
75-100 turns due to the wear & tear in the linkages !

If the loco was coupled to the stock then the guard should have also
had his brake on ! 

Regards

D6586@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:

> Charlie Hulme wrote:
> 
>>buxtonmick wrote:
>>
>>
>>>The driver (non EWS) is utterly adamant that he applied the handbrake
>>>but stated that children were nearby, prompting the possibility that the
>>>loco was tampered with.
>>
>>No locks on the cab doors? Amazing this hasn't happened before.
>>
>>Charlie
> 
> 
> 37`s were built with (yale type) door locks as were 31`s and I think
> most british locos were fitted with some kind either a number 1 style
> key or someother , but after 30-40 years of lack of use + several
> layers of paint and general track dirt etc locks soon clog up, also
> matter of H&S these days ? 


Interesting, thanks to both yourself and buxtonmick for the info.


> if you need to get out in a bit of a quick
> hurry doubt if you would want to be faffing around trying to unlock a
> door, also class 37 doors do tend to stick with the movement within the
> frame, and lets not forget that most 37`s handbrake wheels take between
> 75-100 turns due to the wear & tear in the linkages !


Can you tell the difference between having applied the brake and
the ancient linkage seizing up or jamming? Could this be a clue to the
mishap?


> 
> If the loco was coupled to the stock then the guard should have also
> had his brake on ! 
> 


I don't think it was, if the earlier posts are correct.

Either way, it seems a sad end for poor old Loch Rannoch.

Charlie

"Charlie Hulme"  wrote in message 
news:FtOHe.3516$9K3.266@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...

> D6586@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
>> Charlie Hulme wrote:
>>
>>>buxtonmick wrote:
>>>
>>>
>
> Can you tell the difference between having applied the brake and
> the ancient linkage seizing up or jamming? Could this be a clue to the
> mishap?
>
>>
>
> Charlie



The brake chains were apparently slack on investigation and seemingly 
without fault - would have been thoroughly checked at exam anyway prior to 
charter / lease.

Nice Picture on the WNXX site of 37408 !

Oh Dear How Sad Never Mind !

One less for Mr Heller to switch off !

Regards

The whol e incident begs the question why the loco was not chocced for
addition safeguards.

When I park my car, I always leave it in gear as once the spot weld a
handbrake retaining clip came away from the body and car rolled into
garage door.

wrote in message 
news:1123048306.911342.246820@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

> Nice Picture on the WNXX site of 37408 !
>
> Oh Dear How Sad Never Mind !
>
> One less for Mr Heller to switch off !
>

Unless Margam Depot fitters repair it, like they did the other end. 
Incidentally, I bet no one can hazard a guess as to how the nose was 
starightened from its last accident at Newport.

-- 
Regards

Martin Bray, Swansea UK

Welcome to Canton Depot - RIP
http://www.martinbray-ukloco.com

"Grumpy Old Man"  wrote in message 
news:1123056785.734393.78340@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> The whol e incident begs the question why the loco was not chocced for
> addition safeguards.
>

408 like some other members of the class do suffer from leaking brake 
cylinders. Maintenance staff at Margam Depot always apply the handbrake, 
some do it at both ends for security.

-- 
Regards

Martin Bray, Swansea UK

Welcome to Canton Depot - RIP
http://www.martinbray-ukloco.com

Handbrake should be applied both ends !

Its in the Network Rail Guide Book whoops sorry Rule Book !

It might be 100 turns on the wheel but its bound to be the last one
which tightens the damn thing !

Leaking brake cylinders should also be repaired ! if it was on a
private " Heritage Diesel " it would fail its FTR exam !!

IM

Charlie Hulme  wrote:



> Can you tell the difference between having applied the brake and
> the ancient linkage seizing up or jamming? Could this be a clue to the
> mishap?


Don't know what the difference in 'feel' might be while winding 
the wheel, but the crude but effective external EE chain link to 
a brake cylinder push rod is easily checked visually. Not so with
'neater' designs with linkages arranged on the bogie centreline.

Cheers,
Francis K.

-- 
[Remove Trailing'Z' from mail address to reply.]

"Martin Bray"  wrote in message
news:dcr3l2$qgv$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

>
>  wrote in message
> news:1123048306.911342.246820@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> > Nice Picture on the WNXX site of 37408 !
> >
> > Oh Dear How Sad Never Mind !
> >
> > One less for Mr Heller to switch off !
> >
> Unless Margam Depot fitters repair it, like they did the other end.
> Incidentally, I bet no one can hazard a guess as to how the nose was
> starightened from its last accident at Newport.
>

They inflated a weather balloon inside it? Dunno, do tell us!

Nick

Maybe the skills of the old fashioned panel beater are alive and well?

On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 18:50:11 +0000 (UTC), "Martin Bray"
 wrote:


>
> wrote in message 
>news:1123048306.911342.246820@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>> Nice Picture on the WNXX site of 37408 !
>>
>> Oh Dear How Sad Never Mind !
>>
>> One less for Mr Heller to switch off !
>>
>Unless Margam Depot fitters repair it, like they did the other end. 
>Incidentally, I bet no one can hazard a guess as to how the nose was 
>starightened from its last accident at Newport.


Do tell... its got to be something a bit crazy for you to mention it. 

Could do with a laugh :o)