Future
Since 2005, Paxman Valenta-engined HST power cars have been refurbished with MTU16V4000 and Paxman VP185 engines.
Around 20th November 2010, a Riding Inspector reported that the engine of powercar 43084 was blowing oil from the breather vent and crankcase door joints. The Paxman Service Engineer N Swager investigated the problem at the Heaton Maintenance Depot on the 24th November. He examined the engine, number S468, and found that cylinder B-2 had low compression. A-2 piston and con rod assembly were first removed to gain access to the big end bearing block of B-2 cylinder. When B-2 piston was removed, it was found to be damaged and had some broken piston rings. This was the cause of S468 blowing oil due to combustion gasses pressurising the crankcase. A new piston was sent from the Paxman factory at Colchester; a new cylinder liner was also fitted from the spares stock at Heaton, and powercar 43084 returned to service. Powercars, 43084 and 43123 were the last two Valenta-engined powercars in service. They were taken out of traffic on the 22nd December 2010, after 4 farewell tours between York and Sunderland. As of January 2011 there are no operational Paxman Valenta engined-powercars.
In May 2011, it was announced that the 125 Group would return prototype HST powercar 41001 to service. The powercar, currently on static display in the York National Railway Museum, will receive a full overhaul subject to technical assessment on both the vehicle and component parts. The overhaul is expected to pay particular attention to cooler group, bogies and electrical and electronic components. The powercar will also receive installation of production Paxman Valenta RP200L engine Number S508 (installed new into 43153 in 2001 under Virgin CrossCountry, before re-installation to 43143 of First Great Western after a spell in storage), donated to the NRM from the MTU re-power programme. This will mark a sooner return to traffic of a Paxman Valenta powercar than previously expected. The work is currently being undertaken at East Midlands Trains HST depot Neville Hill T&RSMD.
Read more about this topic: Paxman Valenta
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