C stock DMC 5554

[Christopher J]

I travelled on in C Stock DMC 5554 between Upton Park and Gloucester Road (second H&C of the day which formed into an outer Circle at Aldgate East) on Monday and I noticed that the RPA notched up faster than usual, it went like a rocket off the mark and didn’t seem to want to stop! (T/op must’ve got it to a good 40-45mph between Upton Park/Plaistow)

Is the RPA edited to let the juice into the motors quicker on this C stock?

Thanks.

[q8]

There are 2 rates of accelaration selected by a switch in the cab. No 2 gives that faster rate. Useally you get wheelspin with it.

[Colin]

C stocks are only allowed to at a maximum 40mph!! Don't forget also that there are two other units with motors in the train - so they all need to be good to fly about in the way you describe. 45 mph from Upton Park to plaistow? There's many D stocks that would struggle with that let alone a C!! Not saying you're lying by the way (!!) - but that really must have been one hell of a C stock!!

[q8]

Coiln have you nevre driven a 'C' with the flag up and in rate two. In the 80's they did 50 round from Barking easy

[solidbond]

All we need to know now, is was it 5556 as in the heading, or 5554 as in the post? ;D ;D

[solidbond]

q8 said:

Coiln have you nevre driven a 'C' with the flag up and in rate two. In the 80's they did 50 round from Barking easy

It wouldn't make any difference with the Weak Field Flag up nowadays - it has been disconnected ;D But when I drove them in the 80's, doing nights at Neasden, it was always good fun running up the fast to Wembley Park, with the flag up, and see if you could hold your nerve and keep it in parallel through Neasden N/B About 50 - 55 mph, and praying that the thing wasn't REALLY gonna hit the platform ;D ;D

[Christopher J]

solidbond said:

All we need to know now, is was it 5556 as in the heading, or 5554 as in the post? ;D ;D

Sorry!! It was 5554!

colin said:

Not saying you're lying by the way (!!) - but that really must have been one hell of a C stock!!

It did seem quite fast! Maybe 45mph is exaggerating a little bit... But nearer 40mph maybe! It did defiantly go faster than most of the C stocks I’ve been down that part of the line with.

[q8]

I once was nattering to a Ricky driver at Barking. [They had a turn on the H&C that went to Barking at one time] at he told me that once on a test run when they were new, he had a 'C' stock possibly in excess of 60mph with the flag up coming down from Amersham.

I will tell you this though. When the WF switch did work and you cut it in you could feel the 'jump' as it set. They were damn scooters when it did work

[Deleted]

christopherjolly said:

It did seem quite fast! Maybe 45mph is exaggerating a little bit... But nearer 40mph maybe! It did defiantly go faster than most of the C stocks I’ve been down that part of the line with.

Too right! In any case as Colin says, the maximum speed for a C stock is 40mph and rate 2 shouldnt normally be used.

[Deleted]

Is this because the traction motors are not designed to cope with the high temperatures induced by high-speed movement and thus run the risk of seizing?

[Deleted]

theonekea said:

Is this because the traction motors are not designed to cope with the high temperatures induced by high-speed movement and thus run the risk of seizing?

Risk of blowing through the floor is the reason IIRC?? Solidbond?

[trainopd78]

We tend not to use rate 2 because with a C stock, you tend to lose the pilot light, therefore motoring too. If it was 5554 was there any noises coming from under the floor whilst it was braking?

[Christopher J]

trainopd78 said:

We tend not to use rate 2 because with a C stock, you tend to lose the pilot light, therefore motoring too. If it was 5554 was there any noises coming from under the floor whilst it was braking?

No abnormal noises than any other C stock makes.