Thameslink Classes 319, 377 & 700 Trains Switching Power Supply at Farringdon & City Thameslink

Video: A compilation showing the off the dual-voltage capabilities of the Class 319, Class 377 Electrostar & Class 700 Desiro City at the power supply change points at Farringdon and City Thameslink. This was filmed in different views to show what it looks and sounds like on the inside and outside.
Originally, the change over was at Farringdon only, but even since the Moorgate Line shut and the platforms were extended it became both. City Thameslink is the switch to the overhead line (northbound) and Farringdon is the switch to third rail (southbound).

This has all been filmed through May, June to earlier July 2017 and a main video just showing the trains mainly will follow at some point. Some of the onboard footage dates back to late 2016.


Some info on what is seen (according to my knowledge):

- Class 319: The 319 has two types of pantographs, the old Stone Faiveley AMBR and the newer/modern Brecknell Willis High Speed (similar to the other BREL Mark 3 trains). The older one is air and spring operated, so it bounces when raised and is slow to drop, but the train can move while it falls. The modern one (like the 377 & 700) is air only, and is quick to fall and raise and does not bounce. The shoegears are already down, so the power change is done very quickly and the train does not cut out. The AC mode can be heard as a continuous hum, the DC mode is nothing but the clunk and the motor sounds.

- Class 377 Electrostar: All Electrostars have a Brecknell Willis High Speed pantograph, and when switching rather than leaving the shoegears down they retract before raising the pantograph. And vice versa when switching back. This takes longer to change and the train has to cut out and reboot. The Electrostar was a bit difficult to get the whole AC and DC motor change as you need to be going over 20 or 30mph to really notice a difference.

- Class 700 Desiro City: These trains all have Brecknell Willis High Speed pantographs, and when making the switch they do it very fast. Pretty much the moment the 700 pulls into the stations the pantograph is instantly dropped or raised, however like the 377s it has to power down and reboot again but it does a lot quicker. The reboot can scare the hell out of me sometimes as its that loud 'pop' sound when switching to AC. And the big difference with this train compared to all the other standard Desiros is the AC traction sounds completely different to a 350 or 360, and the DC traction sound like a generic Desiro.

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