On 26/01/2011 15:36, D7666 wrote:
On Jan 26, 1:57 pm, Graeme wrote:

In which case why not go to Bournemouth?


Bournemouth would increase the distance of any special moves by over
60 miles (both ways) which is not something you really want to do with
stock on mileage based intervals for some maintenance events. Also
increased train crew hours.

But most services start/end in that direction


Probably also required a further power supply increase, Northam did
for the depot, but was already in a strong area, so was smaller
incremental increase.

Possibly so.


But almost certainly at the time Northam was set up, BOMO was the 442
depot and was there and remaining for 442s. I doubt there is enough
room at the Branksome site to contain the existing full 442 facilities
that was BOMO and add something of the same size as Northam.

Hadn't thought of the 442s as being a problem in that respect.


Suggesting now, today, that Bransksome site would have been better is
using information that did exist in c.2001 or whenever it was that
Siemens got the SWT contract, no-one had any plans to removes 442s at
that time (this came into being with the solutions to BML RUS and the
SWT re-franchise).


I thought they were always planned to go on the introduction of the 444s.

--
Graeme Wall
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Railway Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail
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