Loco N460 has emerging electrical issues breaks down on departure

I had observe N460 Fri 18/10 beforehand it had some
 moving parts spiking in frequency between cycles it was quite noticeable at odd times it didn’t sound well!

Timeline of events on VN10 17/10:

1. VN10 and BZN262 had issues air conditioner system in the train
   •   Did the Thermostatic control stop working?
   • As It was only blowing air and not cooling!
   • The whole train was very stuffy!

C carriage communication doors were isolated both end on departure.

This in my view was a very strong indicator that the automatic doors Mechanism was defective.

It can be possible that the door engines in the other carriages too may need some attention!

I went to BRN to grab some refreshments at 10:23 door would not open after I pressed the button!

1. Usually when doors don’t open, it’s possible the door opening system could be a factor ie: pulleys need adjusting!
   • Or door engine systems need a bit of maintenance ie: Lubrication
   • Door sticking or catching to the felt that protect the door surface as it slide along it as it can dislodge due to normal use

That seem to confirm the BRN too had door issues too on the downward leg

Z series ACZ and BZ cars now reclassified as BZNs only a handful currently in service has the push /pull sliding operated communication doors.

Majority BZN are communication door operated.

Often staff sometimes leave them open on route as they are awkward to open and close whist in motion!

When the siding doors be it Communication at the ends or WC jam on the tracks it is pain to fix as it mean the whole carriage has go in the workshop and the tech guys had dismantle it to realign the door or replace the rollers etc.

I was wondering why was the train jerking back and forth slight between stop it didn’t seem normal?

• I could hear the brake rigging operating underneath as the driver did his normal procedures in slowing the train down before brake applications on route .
• As I understand the driver are trained to roll their train and slow it down on route and preventing too much force exerted on the couplers ie:
  • keep the train stretched within a certain acceptable stress tolerance for the coupler when powering the up the grade , as too much force on the couplers can cause breakaways when going up grades with a heavy loads
  • keep the cars bunched up going down the grade and applying the brake in a particular way to control the train speed down hill and avoid overheating the brakes.

Homeward leg from Swan Hill

On getting munchies I saw the crew had isolated the BRN communication doors on the way back.

When this process completed the knob used for would be set from Auto to Manual which allows those doors affected to be operated like normal push/pull sliding door!

Train PA verified BZN262 air conditioning was stuffed!!!

Customers please be advised the 4th car is very warm due the air conditioner not working but customers are welcome to sit in 5th or 3rd car where it a bit cooler.

The crew managed to get other carriages air conditioner working but had to turn fan up full

• All went well after, it was fairly stuffy in this carriage but to me it wasn’t too bad in my case, as the weather was a bit cooler that day.
• Arriving at Bendigo on 16:01 as tabled one of the passengers who boarded muttering how hot it was in the carriage.

One of them had mentioned to me about the heater should be shut off in this train as he passed by I responded :

The air con is not working properly try sitting in the last car or the 3rd car….

17:27 A electrical spike noticed in fluro tubes of train.

Heading toward Kelior Plains –  Diggers rest rough riding area toward Metropolitan areas!

Arrived on time at 18:18 no.1 Platform and Y class pop up and took her away to make room for XPT arrive afterward.

18/10 at Southern Cross Station VN10 & N460 at 5A ready for the departure at 07:40 Swan Hill

All seem normal door check and at 07:34 board call was made I settled in BZN262 after the PA the door bell sounded and doors were going be secured for the run to Swan Hill when….

I was alerted by the electrical fluctuation very slight in fluro tubes of light of the train, then looked in time to notice the door green light go out!

The odd thing was I was peering happliy out my window at the time and looking the Waurn Ponds VLocity beside me on 6A.

Whist the conductor was dealing with the external door fault and it rectified after getting Alstom tech guy to address it whist I sat there setting up my breakfast on the train.

PA was made for the 07:40 departure

I heard the horn sound and the brake release and we rolled forward briefly only to come to a instant jarring stop!!!

Ironically, was aware a serious of electrical spikes taking place before departure 07:39-07:42

Oh dear, Loco N460 has suffered a serious mechanical failure at plaform how embarrassing for V/Line!

1. When this occurred…out came the conductors both buffet and the offsider up and down in the train and platform.
2. PA was made for passengers to remain on the train for now and crew will advise as info come available
   • In my case I pulled out my breakfast and started eating whist watch it all unfold around me, while making myself comfortable in the older carriage
   • Other passenger was dozing, fiddling with their phones or eating at the time
3. I was aware such a fault occurs it has a potential to cancel a trains service and result in a VLocity and coach replacements by the managers and crew if the deem it unsafe or unresolvable in set time frame
   • I saw a flurry of activity of staff around the train
     • 2x Drivers
     • 2x Conductors the ones roster for the service
     • Customer staff
     • 3 technical personnel
     • Finally the duty managers and operational personnel

Major fault impacting Swan Hill Service and they trying to rectify it!!!

• Afterwards PA advice came out if the control will allow the train to depart or cancel it for now stay on the train until advised at 08:24
• As we lost a lot time and lost our path due to this incident and it was up for Centro and the chain of command approve and issue a train order and path.

08:37 train order was approved and N460 rolled out the station with VN10

By 08:50 the website of v/Line came out but strangely nothing on Bendigo V/Line account about it.

Unquote:

The 07:40 Southern Cross – Swan Hill service is delayed by 56 minutes.” train fault”

VN17 passed 10:07 toward Kyneton on time and arrived at Bendigo at 10:44

BZN262 Air conditioning systems is working properly now as it seem it was repaired overnight!

1. Cutting in and out to regulate the temperature in the carriage!
2. The air from fan is now cooling the carriage.

After a nice long run to Swan Hill we arrived 44 Mins late and crew was flat out prepping the train for the return and getting passenger off the train to their bus connection to Mildura.

All went well onboard whist pulling out of Swan Hill, after while I wandered to BRN to grab a meal until I return to the carriage BZN262 to seat down to eat I noticed on entering the carriage was suddenly very stuffy!

I wasn’t amused about this 2nd occurrence of the same issue when crew reported to maintenance dept day before!

14:13 of occurrence, darn it!

the air conditioning in this carriage has gone again!!!

Same issues as  yesterday BZN262 fortunately the other 4 cars wasn’t impacted

I wondered what happened to the quality control?

The Conductor came in shortly and realised the air conditioner is not good and advised me it going be reported…

1. Electrical Spike at Bendigo 16:11 hrs
2. Up leg from Castlemaine noticeable impact felt resonating throughout carriage from bogie from track a distinct “click clack” was heard as the carriage past it!!!
   • It was one heck of a hole 16:52 hrs and in time that sort impact is enough to damage electrical connection and bogie springs etc.
     • Good example of this on older interstate train it blew the fluro lights in the carriage due to rough riding track on the Standard Gauge when I rode The Overland earlier this year at 55 peg on the way to Nth. Shore South West line……
3. The Overland is top of the pecking order in rolling stock and if can damage that train electrical connections it can in time damage the VLocity rail cars fitting too!
   • The impact on the newer train physical structure when rolling over 130 kms maybe more severe since they are light weight rail cars built for speed!
4. Another Spike at Footscray 18:09

When it pulled in 18:22 it seem N452 was going couple up and take this set back to Swan Hill?

I saw N460 being detached from the train I hope she goes in the workshop for some serious maintenance fixes and repairs!

Huh? What? VN10 with a busted Air conditioning system and doors between cars they or aka management wants to run it back for the Evening Service?

Observations is follows:

Currently 4 set and 4 locomotives in use which barely enough to cover the time it takes to roster staff and drivers arranging train order from control to move various carriage set or loco around the state to Bendigo or various workshops when work orders are issued & approved to 3rd party contractors to fix them….

• With so many N set stored at Bendigo Workshops why can’t they recommission them and get more to cover the 4x set VN14, VN17, N12 and VN10 currently running?
• Due to the track conditions which very rough in Metro and Regional at times between scheduled maintenance periods and since the state is in debt could be prudent have at least 3 spare to cover the 4 being operated on daily basis?

N class has leased out and carriage of old N sets scattered around VIC ,if those people who are allocated them can’t maintain them or justify their use only It’s fair for it go back where they can being unitised!

ie: 3 N carriages at Castlemaine beside the mainline and they haven’t turn a wheel since it was sent there and they looking very tired and neglected!

It not very good look to see neglected carriages by the trackside.

On the day after noticed VN10 in the Melb yard after pulling out VN17.

I am guessing they eventually they were forced to take that set out as there were too many problems with it!

I noticed they had another set to take it’s place:

it should never being allowed to reach that point to keeping pushing the train to point of failure!!!