Can you find out when freight is due?

[Y961 XBU]

Is there a way you can find out in Advance that time Freight Trains are due at Train Stations?

 

[Minilad]

Paging Dr Freightmaster

 

[Y961 XBU]

Paging Dr Freightmaster

Wheres that done at? am a very very rare Train Spotter :P

 

[ryan125hst]

Wheres that done at? am a very very rare Train Spotter :P

There's a member on here called Freightmaster who runs a site of the same name that you can subscribe to for freight timetables: http://www.freightmaster.net/ You can also see freight trains on Realtime Trains, although their headcodes are scrambled.

I'm sure Freightmaster will be along shortly to plug his site though

 

[Freightmaster]

I'm sure Freightmaster will be along shortly to plug his site though

Plugging my site at every opportunity??

How very dare you!


Seriously, Freightmaster's main selling point is indeed that it shows,
in advance, what freights are likely to pass 130 or so popular spotting/
photting locations, along with each train's usual motive power, what
each train conveys, headcodes, usual running days, etc, i.e. information
which is difficult/impossible to get from 'free' sources such as RTT.


However, when a similar question was asked on wnxx a few weeks ago,
it quickly descended into several pages of anti-Freightmaster arguments,
from people who can't see the point of Freightmaster when according to
them "all the info is available for free on RTT and gen groups these days"


But if that was the case, I wouldn't have almost 700 paying subscribers, would I?!:roll:


Having said that, I appreciate that 90% of enthusiasts do not go out
far/often enough these days justify the cost of subscribing to FMonline,
so I am extremely grateful for the 10% who do...



MARK

 

[Y961 XBU]

Plugging my site at every opportunity??

How very dare you!


Seriously, Freightmaster's main selling point is indeed that it shows,
in advance, what freights are likely to pass 130 or so popular spotting/
photting locations, along with each train's usual motive power, what
each train conveys, headcodes, usual running days, etc, i.e. information
which is difficult/impossible to get from 'free' sources such as RTT.


However, when a similar question was asked on wnxx a few weeks ago,
it quickly descended into several pages of anti-Freightmaster arguments,
from people who can't see the point of Freightmaster when according to
them "all the info is available for free on RTT and gen groups these days"


But if that was the case, I wouldn't have almost 700 paying subscribers, would I?!:roll:


Having said that, I appreciate that 90% of enthusiasts do not go out
far/often enough these days justify the cost of subscribing to FMonline,
so I am extremely grateful for the 10% who do...



MARK

I have just had a very good look at RTT Website and i can see whats due to run ect, what is the difference between your site and RTT? Are you more Actuate or do you give more info?

 

[ryan125hst]

Plugging my site at every opportunity??

How very dare you!

There's nothing wrong with free advertising

Seriously, Freightmaster's main selling point is indeed that it shows,
in advance, what freights are likely to pass 130 or so popular spotting/
photting locations, along with each train's usual motive power, what
each train conveys, headcodes, usual running days, etc, i.e. information
which is difficult/impossible to get from 'free' sources such as RTT.


However, when a similar question was asked on wnxx a few weeks ago,
it quickly descended into several pages of anti-Freightmaster arguments,
from people who can't see the point of Freightmaster when according to
them "all the info is available for free on RTT and gen groups these days"


But if that was the case, I wouldn't have almost 700 paying subscribers, would I?!:roll:


Having said that, I appreciate that 90% of enthusiasts do not go out
far/often enough these days justify the cost of subscribing to FMonline,
so I am extremely grateful for the 10% who do...



MARK

It's sad that some other enthusiasts are against Freightmaster. I'm mostly interested in passenger trains, so it wouldn't really be worth it for me to subscribe (i don't think my parents would be too keen on the idea when i have A Levels to do!) and instead have to make do with what information I have. I'm pleased to see though that, when I other members have had a query (I asked about the RHTT's a few months ago), you are happy to share that information. You could just say "subscribe to Freightmaster to find out", but you are happy to give details of freight trains when they are asked for.

I certainly see the advantages of Freightmaster- RTT shows up so many Q paths, and so many WTT schedules that never run, and it doesn't mention the traction or what the train is carrying. For those who's main interest is in locomotives or freights, your service must be very important to them, and I hope you are able to keep it running for the foreseeable future. Sadly, I fall into the "don't get out far/often enough" to make worthwhile category. I seem to spend an awful lot of of online looking at trains, but when studying for A Levels and without a job, I can't go out and see them "in the flesh" very often.

Hopefully it will change when I get a job and if I have a bit more time on my hands. I'll probably subscribe when that is the case

I've got a freight question for you actually that proves your point to anyone who believes Freightmaster isn't useful: Could you tell me what freight train passed through Retford southbound on Sunday at about 18:35 (just after Duchess if Sutherland left on the Great Britain VII railtour). I think it was a Doncaster to Peterborough GBRF working, but it was cancelled on according to RTT. I've uploaded a YouTube video and its at the end if it (I thought it was a light loco move and RTT suggests the cancelled service was, but i'm sure it was hauling something, but I couldn't see what it was because I had just come out of the subway near Retford station) and I've said it's a bit of a mystery. Im sure you'll have the info, unless I've left it too late.

Thank you, and sorry for the long post!

 

[455driver]

I have just had a very good look at RTT Website and i can see whats due to run ect, what is the difference between your site and RTT? Are you more Actuate or do you give more info?

He gives much more accurate info on trains that should actually run rather that the trains which might run if there is an R in the month and its a full moon etc but still have their paths in the system.

While it is possible to find out afterwards what has run (most of the time) it isnt quite the same as having a list of what is likely to run before you go out!

 

[Freightmaster]

I have just had a very good look at RTT Website and I can see whats due to run ect,...?

You can??? hock:

In that case, you are far better at judging what will/won't run than I am!

Are you more accurate or do you give more info?

Both! But particularly when used in advance to plan where/
when to visit to see particular trains/loco classes.

I admit that 'on the day', RTT becomes more useful than FMonline,
as it can tell you exactly what is running and how late/early each
train is.

Because of this, I like to say that FMonline and RTT complement,
rather than compete with each other, in other words, FMonline
enhances the usefulness of FMonline and vice versa...

Could you tell me what freight train passed through Retford southbound on Sunday at about 18:35 (just after Duchess if Sutherland left on the Great Britain VII railtour). I think it was a Doncaster to Peterborough GBRF working, but it was cancelled on according to RTT.

The train ran in a slightly different path as a class 4 (and starting from
Decoy yard rather than the RMT), which is why it wasn't picked up by RTT.

Regarding the loco, I have looked at your video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8jgkxQNP9U&feature=youtu.be&t=16m41s

And it definitely is a GBRf 66, but half the 66/7s were at Doncaster on Sunday
afternoon, so that doesn't really narrow it down much, I'm afraid!


MARK

 

[Y961 XBU]

yea, am looking at RTT now and i can see what trains are due to run and it gives me a time for some of them so its a safe bet some will be no shows

 

[FQ]

Plugging my site at every opportunity??

How very dare you!


Seriously, Freightmaster's main selling point is indeed that it shows,
in advance, what freights are likely to pass 130 or so popular spotting/
photting locations, along with each train's usual motive power, what
each train conveys, headcodes, usual running days, etc, i.e. information
which is difficult/impossible to get from 'free' sources such as RTT.


However, when a similar question was asked on wnxx a few weeks ago,
it quickly descended into several pages of anti-Freightmaster arguments,
from people who can't see the point of Freightmaster when according to
them "all the info is available for free on RTT and gen groups these days"


But if that was the case, I wouldn't have almost 700 paying subscribers, would I?!:roll:


Having said that, I appreciate that 90% of enthusiasts do not go out
far/often enough these days justify the cost of subscribing to FMonline,
so I am extremely grateful for the 10% who do...



MARK

I am subscribed to it and I think it is a very good website and that it has much more to offer than RTT including the TOPS lists.

 

[Freightmaster]

yea, am looking at RTT now and i can see what trains are due to run...

Incorrect - RTT doesn't tell you what freights are due to run in advance - it just
lists all possible paths for a particular location/date, most of which will not run.

It also doesn't tell you what loco class is likely to be hauling each train,
what type of wagons/what it is conveying, headcodes, etc...


But if you are happy without all that that info, and just want to track
freight trains which you already know are running on a particular day,
then I'm sure that RTT will be more that sufficient for your needs, but
in your original question you specifically asked how to find out the times
and days that freight trains run in advance, which is where Freightmaster
becomes invaluable.


455 Driver puts it succinctly:

While it is possible to find out afterwards what has run (most of the time) it isnt quite the same as having a list of what is likely to run before you go out!

MARK

 

[Johnny_w]

Dear Mr Freightmaster

Can you tell me what points around Anglia you might cover?

Thanks,

JW

 

[Freightmaster]

Dear Mr Freightmaster

Can you tell me what points around Anglia you might cover?

Currently:

- Peterborough
- Ely
- Ipswich station
- Trimley

..but I can also produce one off timetables for anywhere else (e.g. March,
Stowmarket, Colchester, etc.) on request with 24 hours notice.


MARK

 

[Condor7]

yea, am looking at RTT now and i can see what trains are due to run and it gives me a time for some of them so its a safe bet some will be no shows

Mark at Freightmaster has already explained things very well so I won't repeat it here other than to reiterate that RTT and Freightmaster should be viewed as two separate services that compliment each other.

If you go into a location on RTT, there is a whole list of trains with times shown, but they are just paths and not necessarily actually going to run. If however the origin of the train is some distance away from your location you can click on the column in blue headed 'id' and it will give you full details of the train and its journey. If in the top right it says 'Real Time Status' and 'Activated' it still does not necessarily mean it will run but has a good chance. The only way to know for certain is to then check the 'Real Time' column and it will tell you if the train is running early (E) or late (L) and by how many minutes. You then know it is definitely running.

That is the only way 'in advance' you can tell if a train in definitely running.

 

[GB]

Even if a train does run, it may not necessarily show it as running on RTT.

Such as this www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H90350/2014/05/07/advanced

Light loco Ipswich to North Walsham but I'm pretty sure it did run.

 

[higthomas]

... in other words, FMonline
enhances the usefulness of FMonline and vice versa...

MARK

Hmm...

Also I was wondering whether you could tell me when Guildford's sole (I think) non-network rail freight, the Holybourne Kelt Explratn oil trains, run?
Also what are they normally hauled by?
Thanks
H

 

[Y961 XBU]

i gave RTT a go today mainly as i wanted to photo TP while Route Learning however there was 7 Freight Trains down to pass while i was there and 5 showed up, a 6th one also went past but this was not down on the RTT site so wonder where that came from!

 

[stibz]

VSTP perhaps, remember also, nobody can guarantee 100% what you will see on any given day, no matter how much you pay for info. If you keep your eye on RTT you'll see on the day, what actually set's-off on a route.

 

[Freightmaster]

Hmm...

Also I was wondering whether you could tell me when Guildford's sole (I think) non-network rail freight, the Holybourne Kelt Explratn oil trains, run?
Also what are they normally hauled by?

Believe it or not, there is a Guildford FMonline timetable these days!! hock:

(The Holybourne oil trains used to be a regular FAQ on my forum,
so it was actually easier to have a timetable so my subscribers
could look up the days/times it runs)

There is also a Fareham table, so the Holybourne train is well documented!


MARK

 

[Condor7]

i gave RTT a go today mainly as i wanted to photo TP while Route Learning however there was 7 Freight Trains down to pass while i was there and 5 showed up, a 6th one also went past but this was not down on the RTT site so wonder where that came from!

When you go onto RTT and type in the location, do you also change 'WTT Order' to 'Actual Order'?
If not it is often the case that the train that past was either a much earlier train running late or a much later train running early.
By choosing 'Actual Order' it brings the late and early running trains into the time period you may be looking at.

 

[Y961 XBU]

When you go onto RTT and type in the location, do you also change 'WTT Order' to 'Actual Order'?
If not it is often the case that the train that past was either a much earlier train running late or a much later train running early.
By choosing 'Actual Order' it brings the late and early running trains into the time period you may be looking at.

i left it on WTT Order mate, i took notes at 11pm, i looked on RTT when i got home and i dont see the extra Train so god knows where thats come from

 

[SGS]

i left it on WTT Order mate, i took notes at 11pm, i looked on RTT when i got home and i dont see the extra Train so god knows where thats come from

Another possibility is that the extra train you saw didn't have a timing point listed for the location you entered in RTT. There are, apparently, some "compulsory" timing points that all trains using a line will list. It would be quite useful to know some of these, if anyone's got them.

 

[The Planner]

Download the Timetable Planning Rules off the NR website, all the mandatory timing points are shown in bold text on the routes.

 

[Freightmaster]

Another possibility is that the extra train you saw didn't have a timing point listed for the location you entered in RTT. There are, apparently, some "compulsory" timing points that all trains using a line will list. It would be quite useful to know some of these, if anyone's got them.

Easiest way to that that is to look up a WTT train (freight or passenger)
on the line in question for a future date - it will only list the train's TRUST
timing points, rather than the extra ones which are added by RTT on the day.

MARK

 

[Muzer]

I see Freightmaster as filling a different niche to RTT - they complement each other. RTT lets you see what is pathed to run, and *on the day* whether or not it's running and how late it is (this is the crucial part). Freightmaster (correct me if I'm wrong, I don't have it!*) doesn't do realtime stuff, but will give you a lot more detail about whether or not the train is likely to run much further in advance, as well as the real headcode (for crossreferencing against other things), likely rolling stock used, etc.

* This is because I'm not really that interested in freight workings, not because I have anything against it!


EDIT: Ah, I see Freightmaster (the user) has already made this point. Sorry, I should read better
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Another possibility is that the extra train you saw didn't have a timing point listed for the location you entered in RTT. There are, apparently, some "compulsory" timing points that all trains using a line will list. It would be quite useful to know some of these, if anyone's got them.

Yes - as has been said, RTT automatically fills these in on the day - or maybe the day before (I'm not quite sure how automatic this process is, I'm sure Tom could tell me ). It's a pretty clever piece of software.

Usually compulsory timing points are obvious if you know the area - usually anywhere with a junction or multiple platforms (more than the number of tracks going into/out of the station) that are important for ensuring a lack of conflicts. When you think of it from a timetable planner's point of view, where they need to add services and be sure nothing will conflict, it all becomes clear.

 

[The Planner]

Also bear in mind that RTT also shows locations which arent planning locations and extrapolates the times.

 

[Freightmaster]

I see Freightmaster as filling a different niche to RTT - they complement each other.

Well said, that man!

I've been trying to push/promote that message for the past 16 months,
ever since RTT was launched, but some people still just see RTT as a
"free alternative to Freightmaster" no matter what I say, even though
RTT doesn't provide any of the info which FMonline does!!!!

RTT lets you see what is pathed to run, and *on the day* whether or not it's running and how late it is (this is the crucial part). Freightmaster (correct me if I'm wrong, I don't have it!*) doesn't do realtime stuff, but will give you a lot more detail about whether or not the train is likely to run much further in advance, as well as the real headcode (for cross referencing against other things), likely rolling stock used, etc.

You've summarized the situation perfectly!!

As you say, RTT and FMonline fulfill two completely different needs;
namely info on the day (RTT) and info in advance (FMonline).

FMonline cannot do what RTT does (track trains) while RTT cannot provide
any of the 'background' info (headcodes, motive power, running days, etc)
that FMonline can, so the two services work perfectly together.

Not sure why people can't understand/accept this??? ad:


MARK

 

[FQ]

Hmm...

Also I was wondering whether you could tell me when Guildford's sole (I think) non-network rail freight, the Holybourne Kelt Explratn oil trains, run?
Also what are they normally hauled by?
Thanks
H

The services are both usually EWS class 66s and they're timings at Guildford are 10:45 (north) and 20:45 (south).

It runs on Wednesdays and Mondays only and it is a Q pathway.

Also Freightmaster puts in the traction, timings, head code, type of train, where it is going from and to, the direction and when it runs.

It also has a forum and a tops list so you know what is on what.