Class 378 For the WCML and Goblin Line as for a brief time ran on WCML and the Goblin line, another good Electrostar to add to TSW In service 29 July 2009 – present Manufacturer Bombardier Transportation Built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works Family name Electrostar Replaced Class 172 Class 313 Class 508 A60/A62 Stock Constructed 2008–2011 (plus additional vehicles in 2015) Number built 57 Successor Class 710[a] Formation 5 cars per unit: DMOS-MOS-PTOS-MOS-DMOS Fleet numbers 378135–378154 378201–378224 378225–378234 378255–378257 Capacity 1,178 total (186 fixed seats, 86 tip-up seats, and up to 906 standees) Owners Transport for London[1] Operators London Overground Lines served East London line North London line South London line West London line Watford DC line Specifications Car body construction Welded aluminium body with steel cab ends Train length 101.350 m (332 ft 6.2 in) Car length DMOS vehs.: 19.995 m (65 ft 7.2 in) Others: 19.660 m (64 ft 6.0 in) Width 2.800 m (9 ft 2.2 in) Height 3.774 m (12 ft 4.6 in) Floor height 1.151 m (3 ft 9.3 in)[2] Doors Double-leaf pocket sliding, each 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) wide (2 per side per car) Wheel diameter 840 mm (2 ft 9 in) (nominal)[2] Wheelbase Over bogies: 2.600 m (8 ft 6.4 in) Over bogie centres: 14.173 m (46 ft 6.0 in) Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h) Weight DMOS vehs.: 45.5 t (44.8 long tons; 50.2 short tons) MOS vehs.: 41.1 t (40.5 long tons; 45.3 short tons) PTOS vehs.: 39.9 t (39.3 long tons; 44.0 short tons) Total: 212.8 tonnes (209.4 long tons; 234.6 short tons) Steep gradient 1 in 29[2] Traction motors 3 per motor car, each of 600 kW (800 hp) Power output 2,400 kW (3,200 hp)[2] Electric system(s) 750 V DC third rail 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead (378/2 only) Current collector(s) Contact shoe (DC) Pantograph (AC) (378/2 only) Bogies Powered: Bombardier P3-25 Unpowered: Bombardier T3-25 Braking system(s) Electro-pneumatic (disc) and regenerative/rheostatic (Knorr-Bremse EP2002) Safety system(s) AWS TPWS Tripcock (378/2 only)[2] Coupling system Dellner 12 Multiple working Within class, and with Classes 375, 376, 377 and 379 Seating Longitudinal Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
I would suggest that the 378 should really be titled "For the WCML and Goblin Line" as they only ran on the latter route for a few months because West Midlands wanted their Class 172s and the 710s weren't ready for the commencement of electric services, so a handful of 378 were temporarily shortened to 4 cars. The Class 378 served the Euston DC lines on the WCML for over 10 years after replacing the 313s. However, the 378s from the DC Lines have now been cascaded to bolster services other Overground Lines and have been replaced by 710s. So they are a very rare sight between Euston and Watford Junction now and will never operate the GOBLIN again.
The 378 is coming at some point with a third party on a line that I can't remember the name of. But apparently (I think I read this) it'll layer onto WCMLS. Unsure if it'll be on Goblin though. If prototypical, I hope it's included - perhaps alongside the new to be released soon non branded C2C liveried electro stars. Think I read Liam saying somewhere that he would like to (but no guarantees) look at getting them on Goblin line but as far as I understand there is no work going on on this yet.
I'd certainly enjoy a 4 car 378 layer in Goblin, maybe based during that few weeks when they ran alongside the 710s so we have more variety. It'll be there as AI at Willesden on WCML South as a minimum but again, I'd love there to be a 378 layer in the timetable. We could feasibly have a backdated version NSE era version of WCMLS with 86s, 87s and 313s. We'd need a Class 310,317 or 321 though if it's fully based in the second half of the 80s.
The 378 was announced as part of the Mildmay Line by Incredible trains. Only has to be layered onto other appropriate routes. I only wonder what layering yet nother train onto WCML south will do to the performance (which is finally acceptable atm)
I am do excited for the upcoming mildmay line and hopefully it arrives shortly. I am predicting early March but could you let me know your thoughts
I did a trip on the TSC version of the Mildmay Line yesterday and I've made my peace with the TSW version ending at Willesden Junction. It's not the most exciting of lines beyond Willesden and stopping at all stations for every service gets a bit repetitive after 45 mins. I was quite pleased by the time I arrived at Richmond and certainly didn't fancy a return trip. This is why I'm starting to think the Elizabeth Line isn't a particularly good idea and why the Metropolitan Line and it's multiple branches and fast services is probably the best pick of the Underground lines for TSW. Most importantly though, The Mildmay Line DLC covers the two best portions of London, North and East. [Awaits disgruntled comments from those south of "the river" and/or to the west of the Bakerloo Line]
Metropolitan line would be incredible. I think this along with the Hammersmith and City lines are the only Underground lines I can see coming. Picadilly seems too unlikely to me
