Steve Johnson Modelmaker
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Class 230
D-Train The Class 230, or D-Train, is a conversion of ex-London Transport D78 stock. The conversion, carried out by Vivarail, involves fitting two underfloor engine-generator sets to the power cars. The existing traction motors are re-used and each car develops 200hp. The sets are formed into either 2 or 3 car (with trailer) formations giving a maximum power of 400hp. As the D78 Stock was replaced with S Stock ahead of schedule, the idea was to convert the stock to produce a lightweight diesel-electric multiple unit as a cheap alternative to buying new stock and to allow possible replacement of the Pacer railbuses. As of writing, two three car sets had been converted in 2016 (230 001 and 230 002) and were allocated to Tyseley for test running on the Leamington Spa-Coventry-Nuneaton line. Unfortunately, a prototype set caught fire at Kenilworth in December 2016 and tests have been suspended. No model has been produced of this class, although a good starting point would be to convert a D78. John Polley at Metromodels has produced 3D printed bodies of D78 Stock and illustrates a Class 230 on his website.
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