Additional XC HST ECS Working 17/03/13

[Martin_1981]

Following the failure of 43357 at Exeter last Saturday whilst working the 0632 Dundee-Plymouth with 43285, the train was terminated at Newton Abbot (as 285 could not be expected to climb the Devon banks on its own) and the set ran ecs to Bristol St Philips Marsh.

On looking at Facebook, I noticed the following additional ECS working as a result of 357's failure:-

Additional ECS working 17/03/13:

43285 + 43357 (XC01)
5S01 - St Philip's Marsh H. S. T. D (15:00) to Craigentinny T&R.S.M.D (00:03) via Didcot

As it says 'via Didcot' (presumably to avoid 285 conking out on the Lickey incline), I'm interested to know what route it took from there. I'm guessing it went Oxford, Leamington, Solihull, Derby and onto the ECML. I doubt it went via London and the ECML or WCML, but I'm intrigued to know if anyone can shed any light. Whilst I have every faith in my favourite XC power car (285)Bristol-Edinburgh is a long way for a HST to go on one power car, with 7 MK3's and the deadweight.

Martin

 

[TEW]

That was the route it took, via Leamington and Solihull. 43285 may well have been fixed overnight at St.Phillips Marsh though.

 

[Crossover]

It wouldn't appear that rake was booked in service today, so it has probably seen maintenance at Craigentinny through the day

 

[causton]

Ah, interesting... was on the Plymouth - Paddington around the time of the return working of that and wondered why the train was cancelled... thought it was just late running!

 

[Martin_1981]

Ah, interesting... was on the Plymouth - Paddington around the time of the return working of that and wondered why the train was cancelled... thought it was just late running!

Yes, I was travelling from St James Park to Torre on the Exmouth-Paignton and noticed 43357 in platform 4 at St Davids surrounded by XC and FGW staff and appeared to be going nowhere. The stopping service I was on left before the XC, however the XC overtook at Dawlish Warren with a silent 43357 and a noisier than normal 43285 at the rear. On arrival at Newton Abbot, the XC HST was in platform 3 with all its passengers de-trained. I reached the conclusion that 357 was dead and XC weren't going to risk a total failure on the Devon Banks.

Turn the clock back 10 years or so, a Class 47 or 37 would have been added at Exeter to assist the HST over the banks, but there doesn't seem to be any suitable locos around now and so it seems when a train fails, the service is terminated, much to passenger inconvenience.

Martin

 

[TEW]

The service could have run through to Plymouth provided it did not call at Totnes and provided the rail conditions were not particularly poor. Late running often means that Cross Country will turn the service round at Newton Abbot instead to ensure the return working is on time.

 

[bb21]

Ah, that explains why I saw it at Leamington at around 1800.

 

[Martin_1981]

The service could have run through to Plymouth provided it did not call at Totnes and provided the rail conditions were not particularly poor. Late running often means that Cross Country will turn the service round at Newton Abbot instead to ensure the return working is on time.

So HST's have been allowed over the Devon Banks with only one working power car then? I thought FGW and XC had a policy whereby HST's aren't allowed over the banks unless both power cars are on song?

Looks like 43357 has been repaired, as it's with 285 today doing Edinburgh-Plymouth and Plymouth-Leeds. I'm on the 10.48 from Exeter to Plymouth this Saturday, so they could well be my two!

 

[louis97]

So HST's have been allowed over the Devon Banks with only one working power car then? I thought FGW and XC had a policy whereby HST's aren't allowed over the banks unless both power cars are on song?

No, providing that the rail conditions are fine, they are formed of 8 coaches or less, there are no train faults on the one power car and there are no signalling failures or temporary speed restrictions, HSTs can operate on one power car, however they MUST get a clear run between several points, and therefore not call at Totnes.

They must get a clear run between West of Newton Abbot and West of Dainton and West of Dainton and Marley Tunnel (2+8) or Totnes and Marley Tunnel (2+7) on the down line. So a 2+7 can stop at Totnes on one engine, but not a 2+8.

They must also get a clear run from Totnes to East of Dainton, and Plymouth station and Ivybridge on the up.

There are also several other places where clear runs must be provided when a train on one power car, such as on the Paignton branch, and also between Par & St Austell.

 

[CC 72100]

So HST's have been allowed over the Devon Banks with only one working power car then? I thought FGW and XC had a policy whereby HST's aren't allowed over the banks unless both power cars are on song?

Yep, although non-stop at Totnes is a likely consequence. Had it in December in which I boarded a Pad - Ply (so they could have terminated at Exeter where I boarded, and only lost EXD- PLY as opposed to EXD-PNZ) and it ran non-stop from Newton Abbot. Went through the centre road of Totnes doing about 30, you could tell that it really was necessary that we had a clear run otherwise we would have come to a standtill.

 

[Zoe]

Went through the centre road of Totnes doing about 30, you could tell that it really was necessary that we had a clear run otherwise we would have come to a standtill.

Strange that it didn't reach line speed after descending Dainton even with only one power car working.

 

[CC 72100]

Strange that it didn't reach line speed after descending Dainton even with only one power car working.

I was quite surprised by how much of an impact it had, but we really did go through Totnes rather slowly indeed!

 

[455driver]

probably cancelled because some office bound bod couldnt/wouldnt allow the train to run through to Plymouth, some route controllers are very "windy" when it comes to decision making!

 

[TEW]

If it was running more than 40 minutes late it makes sense to terminate at Newton Abbot as otherwise the return working would be delayed. Even if the train is 40 minutes late that would allow no turnaround time for cleaning.

 

[455driver]

it didnt form the return working!

other than that your right!

 

[Rich McLean]

it didnt form the return working!

other than that your right!

Did the New Street Hot Spare run the service from there or run ECS to Bristol (or tagged on a southbound train) as far as Bristol, then pick up the working from there?

 

[455driver]

Did the New Street Hot Spare run the service from there or run ECS to Bristol (or tagged on a southbound train) as far as Bristol, then pick up the working from there?

Dont know, the BHM hot spare normally starts from Birmingham with the crew that would take over the late running/cancelled service, it is unusual (although not unheard of) for it to run out anywhere ECS as there wouldnt be a crew available to take it.
there are few spare crews sat around these days.

 

[TEW]

That's true, that might have been the original intention though before they decided the set couldn't continue. If there were fitters available to attend the train at Newton Abbot it may have made sense to terminate there as well.

 

[Martin_1981]

The train terminated at Newton Abbot and the set ran empty to St Phillips Marsh. The return working, 17.24 Plymouth-Leeds, started from Exeter at 1824, presumably with a spare Voyager which had run ECS from Bristol to Exeter.