I haven't seen the changeover with retraction of the pentagraph and the start-up of the diesel engine documented in a video before. Nice! I would have thought it takes more time to warm up the engines and generate enough power to accelerate.
Do they also do the power changeover 'on the move' between Stowmarket and Haughley Junction these days? Just wondering, as I have recently seen them arriving and departing with the pantograph up without doing the changeovers in the platforms. I suppose it might be done during darkness to avoid a bright spark from the pantograph whilst stopped in the platform?
They now do the power changeover between Haughley Junction and Stowmarket. It's noticeable because if you sit near the power pack, you feel the train shudder and hear the pantograph making contact with the overhead lines. I don't know the reason why they now do this though.
I believe it was only one. During the day and the train I got off, the train started two of the four engines but for some reason, this one only fired one engine. Interesting!
I drive these, and the 4 cars have 4 engines. Two start up first, and the other two start up a few seconds after. This one may have had one of the engines isolated, so I reckon the recording didn’t pick up the third engine starting.
They also don't run all engines if not needed to save on fuel. The remaining 1 or 2 engines (depending on model) will start while "on the go" if they are needed for extra power. The hybrid battery provides extra boost for acceleration from a standstill. At least this is how the Norwegian Flirt type 76 works.
I miss greater Anglia class 90 and greater Anglia class 321. They should have kept the Greater Anglia refurbished renatus class 321 until 2038 as the only got refurbished a few years ago. Greater Anglia should bring back the refurbished class 321 as spares just in case the class 720 break down
