Skegness HST

[CockneySparrow]

Anyone know whether this is running this year

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I believe so, yes, between 25 July and 05 September:

1S01 0753 Derby-Skegness
1S02 1140 Skegness-Derby

 

[Muzer]

See the Frequently Requested Diagrams thread, it's in there:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=84997

 

[CyrixDes]

It starts earlier than the LTP train again this year and will be running every Saturday between 4th July and 5th September

 

[Muzer]

LTP train?

 

[CyrixDes]

The base train that runs the same period every year

 

[455driver]

LTP train?

LTP- Long Term Planning (the base timetable)
STP- Short Term Planning (additional trains)
VSTP- Very Short term Planning (Immediately required trains, assistance locos, test runs, timetable fixes etc)
VAR- variation on a LTP (small diversion, re-timing etc)

This is a simplified description but gets the basics across.

 

[Mark62]

So basically the nice comfy HST will take you to a day out at the seaside, but in the evening you have to travel back on an awful overcrowded sprinter? This service should be balanced for a return working. I presume this service is intended for those wanting a day out and not only those holidaying? My friends and I were going to have a run last year to Skegness but backed out when we found out it was a dreadful sprinter for the journey home. Traveling in such discomfort only ruins the day.

 

[CallySleeper]

In fairness Mark there's good reason for an HST to run from Skeggy in the morning because all the masses get kicked out of accommodation in the morning. Something similar occurs in the south west.

 

[CockneySparrow]

I believe so, yes, between 25 July and 05 September:

1S01 0753 Derby-Skegness
1S02 1140 Skegness-Derby

Thanks, I see they have cut it then, used to start in May until mid September, looks like it only running for the school holidays

 

[AnonymousUser1]

So basically the nice comfy HST will take you to a day out at the seaside, but in the evening you have to travel back on an awful overcrowded sprinter? This service should be balanced for a return working. I presume this service is intended for those wanting a day out and not only those holidaying? My friends and I were going to have a run last year to Skegness but backed out when we found out it was a dreadful sprinter for the journey home. Traveling in such discomfort only ruins the day.

the return journey is to take those who have stayed for 1 or 2 full weeks and would be expected out of their accomodation by perhaps 1030 at the latest on Saturday

 

[bradders1983]

God, imagine spending a week in Skegness! The horror!!!!!

 

[class26]

God, imagine spending a week in Skegness! The horror!!!!!

Many do !

 

[Minilad]

Many do !

Watch them getting on the Skeggy train at Nottingham.

Horror is quite an apt description

 

[MCR247]

God, imagine spending a week in Skegness! The horror!!!!!

I know, its a scary thought

Watch them getting on the Skeggy train at Nottingham.

Horror is quite an apt description

I remember travelling to Skeggy when I was younger on a packed CT 153 with buggys and prams in the aisles, screaming babies/children etc all on a scorching hot day :cry:

 

[DarloRich]

I remember travelling to Skeggy when I was younger on a packed CT 153 with buggys and prams in the aisles, screaming babies/children etc all on a scorching hot day :cry:

I remember travelling to Skeggy behind a pair of 20's

 

[Antman]

So basically the nice comfy HST will take you to a day out at the seaside, but in the evening you have to travel back on an awful overcrowded sprinter? This service should be balanced for a return working. I presume this service is intended for those wanting a day out and not only those holidaying? My friends and I were going to have a run last year to Skegness but backed out when we found out it was a dreadful sprinter for the journey home. Traveling in such discomfort only ruins the day.

It is aimed at holiday makers rather than day trippers
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

God, imagine spending a week in Skegness! The horror!!!!!

Had a few days there recently..................cracking place is Skegvegas

 

[GatwickDepress]

Had a few days there recently..................cracking place is Skegvegas

What on earth did you do to deserve that?!

 

[70014IronDuke]

I remember travelling to Skeggy behind a pair of 20's

And maroon coaches to boot!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It is aimed at holiday makers rather than day trippers
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Not in the olden days, it wasn't. At least, I don't think so. I think the loco hauled train (I am talking early 70s, so 2 x 20s or a 25) was daily in the summer. I think the stock waited until 16.00 ish before coming back. Maybe someone can confirm.

But the O/P does have a point - it really is no good for day trippers. What happens in practice? On a good, sunny day, are the departures c 18.00 ex Skeggy full and standing and on the roof?

Also, the DMUs only go to Nottingham, right, not to Derby? Hardly encouraging day trippers, is it?

Could EMT spare another HST to go over and depart c 18.30, or are there no paths, even if they had one spare?

Had a few days there recently..................cracking place is Skegvegas

I'd imagine it's fine for a young family with a couple of kids, provided the weather holds a bit. A a damn sight easier than negotiating a couple of airports and negotiating a taxi fare on the continent in a strange language, I'd have thought. Unless you don't mind being ripped off, that is.

Incidentally, the Sunday service on this route outside the summer 15-16 weeks is pretty dire, isn't it? that includes the Nottingham-Grantham section too. Does the local traffic demand die off so sharply?
xxx

 

[MCR247]

Not in the olden days, it wasn't. At least, I don't think so. I think the loco hauled train (I am talking early 70s, so 2 x 20s or a 25) was daily in the summer. I think the stock waited until 16.00 ish before coming back. Maybe someone can confirm.

But the O/P does have a point - it really is no good for day trippers. What happens in practice? On a good, sunny day, are the departures c 18.00 ex Skeggy full and standing and on the roof?

Also, the DMUs only go to Nottingham, right, not to Derby? Hardly encouraging day trippers, is it?

Could EMT spare another HST to go over and depart c 18.30, or are there no paths, even if they had one spare?



I'd imagine it's fine for a young family with a couple of kids, provided the weather holds a bit. A a damn sight easier than negotiating a couple of airports and negotiating a taxi fare on the continent in a strange language, I'd have thought. Unless you don't mind being ripped off, that is.

Incidentally, the Sunday service on this route outside the summer 15-16 weeks is pretty dire, isn't it? that includes the Nottingham-Grantham section too. Does the local traffic demand die off so sharply?
xxx

Firstly, I'd argue that the HST is more useful as it is by covering families staying for multiple days, as these make up a lot of the passenger numbers (as well as the passengers travelling with lots of luggage, which poses problems on some 15x runs).

You talk about encouraging daytrippers, but if someone wanted to go on a daytrip to Skeggy (for some reason) I don't think it would be the train that puts them off And through services to Derby IMO would be more trouble than they're worth in terms of pathing as ex Skegness trains arrive NOT at arrive xx23ish, when the Nottingham - Derby (-Matlock) sprinter path is at xx20

 

[Class 170101]

Could EMT spare another HST to go over and depart c 18.30, or are there no paths, even if they had one spare?

I would imagine it may be possible.

However I only say this based on experience that during the Nottingham blockade the HST was out all day and did an intermediate trip between Skegness and Grantham and return before heading back to Nottingham via Peterborough later in the day.

 

[duffers2324]

I know, its a scary thought



I remember travelling to Skeggy when I was younger on a packed CT 153 with buggys and prams in the aisles, screaming babies/children etc all on a scorching hot day :cry:

I share your pain MCR I also had this experience heading to Skeggy on holiday when i was younger and being from Scotland i didnt even know that one cairrage trains existed cue the long and tedious 1 and a half hour journey from Grantham to Skegness sitting on our luggage in the vestibule area. I just thought to myself surely they would put on a decent sized train knowing that there is a lot of people who use the train from around to country to get to Skegness on holiday. fortunatly it was a 156 on the way back and was far less busy and more comfortable.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Firstly, I'd argue that the HST is more useful as it is by covering families staying for multiple days, as these make up a lot of the passenger numbers (as well as the passengers travelling with lots of luggage, which poses problems on some 15x runs).

Fully accept what you are saying - but I didn't suggest caping the morning HST. I suggested sending it back to Skeggy (dep Derby say, 15.00 ish) to provide a decent return service for day trippers at 18.00 ish

You talk about encouraging daytrippers, but if someone wanted to go on a daytrip to Skeggy (for some reason) I don't think it would be the train that puts them off And through services to Derby IMO would be more trouble than they're worth in terms of pathing as ex Skegness trains arrive NOT at arrive xx23ish, when the Nottingham - Derby (-Matlock) sprinter path is at xx20

Well, you can't get a bigger incentive that THAT for not taking a day trip by rail from Derby (or Spondon, or Long Eaton etc) to Skeggy, can you? I mean, a 57 min wait at Nottingham at 20.00 hrs, with the kids alll tired, hungry, and wanting bed. What an advert for rail!

xxx
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I would imagine it may be possible.

However I only say this based on experience that during the Nottingham blockade the HST was out all day and did an intermediate trip between Skegness and Grantham and return before heading back to Nottingham via Peterborough later in the day.

Interesting observation. I wonder if anyone from EMT noticed?

 

[LowLevel]

It is a pain to find traincrew for - only a small number of Nottingham senior conductors and drivers sign the route and traction and doing two trips makes it two diagrams to cover in the peak leave season.

Most 15x services on Saturdays and Sundays are booked 3, 4 or 5 coaches anyway which is generally enough if still busy. The 1730 Skeg - Notts is a 5 car.

 

[bunnahabhain]

But the O/P does have a point - it really is no good for day trippers. What happens in practice? On a good, sunny day, are the departures c 18.00 ex Skeggy full and standing and on the roof?

Not usually, F&S, the 1730 is a 5 car set on a Saturday and is usually pretty busy, that's the last one for the daytrippers. Generally the daytrippers tend to travel out on the 0955 Jolly Fisherman and back on the 1730 Jolly Fisherman, both avoid Grantham and both are 5 car sets SO, 4 cars SX.

Also, the DMUs only go to Nottingham, right, not to Derby? Hardly encouraging day trippers, is it?

Its not a hardship to change at Nottingham, and there are a number of unadvertised through services that traincrew let passengers know about, 2102 Skegness - Nottingham forms 2310 Nottingham - Leicester for example. Also on Sundays there are through Mansfield and Derby services that are advertised and are for daytrips.

Could EMT spare another HST to go over and depart c 18.30, or are there no paths, even if they had one spare?

There isn't really the demand from daytrippers, the HST runs to take the demand away from the huge numbers of holidaymakers who travel down for a week.

Incidentally, the Sunday service on this route outside the summer 15-16 weeks is pretty dire, isn't it? that includes the Nottingham-Grantham section too. Does the local traffic demand die off so sharply?
xxx

Yes, it does, with the exception of the 1410 off Skegness which is booked anything between 4 and 6 cars when Butlins have their big weekends on, they can leave full with 6 cars, but that's the only one that needs that capacity.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Not usually, F&S, the 1730 is a 5 car set on a Saturday and is usually pretty busy, that's the last one for the daytrippers. Generally the daytrippers tend to travel out on the 0955 Jolly Fisherman and back on the 1730 Jolly Fisherman, both avoid Grantham and both are 5 car sets SO, 4 cars SX.
............

Thank you for comprehensive answers. This name "Jolly Fisherman" is, I presume, a slang (railwayman's?) name for the Grantham-avoiding train?

 

[D6975]

When I saw this service at Nottingham last year, the 11: xx Skeg-Derby terminated at Nottingham and went back to Skeg at 14: xx, so must have come back out of Skeg early evening. Do they do this regularly, or would it have been because of a special event.

 

[High Dyke]

God, imagine spending a week in Skegness! The horror!!!!!

Used to do it every year when i was a young 'un. It could've been worse... Blackpool!

When the return working passed me yesterday it had about 20 passengers on by the look of it. Many were sat in the first class seats. Perhaps operating a further return service in the afternoon/evening would be of benefit to the public, but it will come back to staffing availability.

Used to do the return 20's from Skeg - Boston most Sundays and change there for the Skeg - Cambridge Cl.37

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thank you for comprehensive answers. This name "Jolly Fisherman" is, I presume, a slang (railwayman's?) name for the Grantham-avoiding train?

It isn't a term i use. Trains that used the Grantham avoider were locally known as 'over the link', though that has diminished somewhat with all trains routed over the line since Barkston Jn closed.

 

[Welshman]

The "Jolly Fisherman" was the name of a rotund, beaming character dancing along the sands at Skeggy without a care in the world, who appeared on a poster issued, I think, back in GN days, with the slogan "Skegness is so bracing!"

The poster survived into British Railways times, and, if I remember rightly, the name was then used in the 1980s for a daily excursion during the summer from Leicester and Nottingham to Skegness, which catered for day trippers.

It was usually hauled by 2 cl. 20 locos, and as such, became popular with rail enthusiasts as well as day-trippers, as it provided a welcome change from the dmus which usually plied the line.

And it did use the link, or the Grantham cut-off.

 

[High Dyke]

The "Jolly Fisherman" was the name of a rotund, beaming character dancing along the sands at Skeggy without a care in the world, who appeared on a poster issued, I think, back in GN days, with the slogan "Skegness is so bracing!"

The poster survived into British Railways times, and, if I remember rightly, the name was then used in the 1980s for a daily excursion during the summer from Leicester and Nottingham to Skegness, which catered for day trippers.

It was usually hauled by 2 cl. 20 locos, and as such, became popular with rail enthusiasts as well as day-trippers, as it provided a welcome change from the dmus which usually plied the line.

And it did use the link, or the Grantham cut-off.

History here: http://jollyfisherman.co.uk/jolly-fisherman-history.html