And so it came to pass.......

[Techniquest]

Whitacre Junction to Coleshill Parkway you thinking of? Yes that does have booked passenger services, although a couple of those have now been re-routed/altered to not do it (the 1540 Reading to Derby is one of those that have been changed, which is what I did it on back in the summer).

 

[EE Type 3]

Why didn't they just park some Mark 1s on the line, then passengers just walk from The Junction into Town, wang a buffet car in and hey, a resturant too!

 

[37412]

Why didn't they just park some Mark 1s on the line, then passengers just walk from The Junction into Town, wang a buffet car in and hey, a resturant too!

Suggestion would be declined, isles not wide enough for wheelchairs!

 

[EE Type 3]

Suggestion would be declined, isles not wide enough for wheelchairs!

Bugger, thought I was onto a winner there

 

[Phoenix]

It should be preserved and just use a DBSO and class 47 for the services.

 

[37412]

It should be preserved and just use a DBSO and class 47 for the services.

I suppose it could have become a heritage operated branch such as Cardiff Bay and the Lymington Line and run with a 121. A 47 and DBSO - Rancid, i'd walk it!

 

[Techniquest]

I dunno, I'd probs do it for the line in the book (if I needed it) and for the novelty, but I'd not want to do it much.

 

[Phoenix]

I suppose it could have become a heritage operated branch such as Cardiff Bay and the Lymington Line and run with a 121. A 47 and DBSO - Rancid, i'd walk it!

That was abit of a crude idea but I would agree with the idea of a 121.
Preferably the one at tyesely which used to operate out of tyesely anyway.

 

[Techniquest]

Agreed with the idea of doing a Cardiff Bay with the Stourbridge Town line, certainly would appeal to those who like first-gen units.

 

[Phoenix]

They should do what the LTM does and one in a while run a heritage unit for the day.

 

[P156KWJ]

It should be preserved and just use a DBSO and class 47 for the services.

that'd be stupid, why have an 80mph loco on a line consisting of 58 chains?

 

[Phoenix]

that'd be stupid, why have an 80mph loco on a line consisting of 58 chains?

Yeah abit late mate as I admitted that to be a crude idea.

 

[djw1981]

Why the need to do 1000 miles in it - even the PPM driver might not clear that in 3 months!

Yes I have seen the PPM images and think that for such 'feeder services' they are ideal, especially for flat lines where tramification is considered at the moment and where only a short interconnecting service is required.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

that'd be stupid, why have an 80mph loco on a line consisting of 58 chains?

I'm sure I've heard of freight trains longer than that....

 

[Techniquest]

Why the need to do 1000 miles in it - even the PPM driver might not clear that in 3 months!

Always been the goal of a basher, to clear something for the magical thou, ie a thousand miles. Not sure where the 1,000 miles target started or owt, but it's the standard.

 

[37412]

Had a 10 minute change (ended up being 20 due to delays) last night at Stourbridge on my way home from the Severn Valley and the town branch was still being operated by buses and apparently will be for the 'foreseeable future' however long that may be!

 

[MCR247]

I think that PPMs would be good for possibly Sudbury serivces
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Actually the route might be to long for that

 

[P156KWJ]

Or the Colchester to Colchester Town shuttles (not Walton-on-the-naze ones) as it'a a waste having a 4-car 321 on that route with first class but then again, they all come from the same pool so it'd be difficult diagramming them

 

[Mojo]

Or the Colchester to Colchester Town shuttles (not Walton-on-the-naze ones) as it'a a waste having a 4-car 321 on that route with first class but then again, they all come from the same pool so it'd be difficult diagramming them

The shuttles only run hourly so it's not really much of a loss - and as they mix with mainline traffic it probably wouldn't be allowed.

 

[Phoenix]

Let's just say that PPM's will not end up on the mainline at all.
They are basically buses on wheels.
They are perfect for small branch lines and show how we have slowly evolved from the wickham railbus to the PPM with increased technology and increased seating (I hope)
I think also they would be perfect for the running of commuter services on Preserved railways and community rail projects even for small scale operations such as Industrial railways and the resurrection of former branchlines.

 

[mumrar]

Whitacre Junction to Coleshill Parkway you thinking of?

Surely you mean Kingsbury Junction to Coleshill Parkway, as every single Leicester and Stansted service traverses Whitacre to Coleshill.

 

[Techniquest]

Aye, you'll be right there. Curse my poor memory of the network!

 

[P156KWJ]

The shuttles only run hourly so it's not really much of a loss - and as they mix with mainline traffic it probably wouldn't be allowed.

half hourly to be precise why couldn't some sort of system be implimented though - look at the Tyne and Wear metro, that runs on the same tracks as NR trains, and a big part of NET in Nottingham is controlled by Trent PSB from Basford to Hucknall? I just think 4 carriages could be put to use at peak to maybe strengthen Walton and Clacton services (if they get heavily loaded that is) or the London area NXEA services.

 

[Phoenix]

To be honest I think EMU wise there is going to be enough cascading to suit most electrified lines seen as though the 313's will be available.

 

[mbonwick]

But the 313s will be what? 30 years old? Nobody is going to want them, they're better off scrapping.

 

[Phoenix]

But the 313s will be what? 30 years old? Nobody is going to want them, they're better off scrapping.

Class 86
Class 20

Why???

Both classes that have lasted way more than 30 years and lest us not forget the HST which is 30 I believe.It would be so easy to scrap any very old unit but what is the point in buying the things if when they are still making money some thinks "well they still work well but oh well lets scrap them"
Plus we need the capacity still in this country and until a mass production of new Emu's takes place im sorry but our crappy 30 year old units will have to do.

 

[Z12XE]

I just think 4 carriages could be put to use at peak to maybe strengthen Walton and Clacton services (if they get heavily loaded that is) or the London area NXEA services.

Just take out Bob Russell (MP for Colchester) and then the service can be axed - it was him who wanted it in the first place, the original Bid Spec didn't have the service in.

Although I'd hope that a replacement service which is a little more useful would take over, such as through services from elsewhere.

 

[Techniquest]

lest us not forget the HST which is 30 I believe

33 years old this year! Hopefully they'll make at least 40!

 

[Phoenix]

33 years old this year! Hopefully they'll make at least 40!

Don't see why not with these engine replacements the name of the HST lives on.
Honestly HST's are gonna last a seriously long time.

 

[Bighat]

Just take out Bob Russell (MP for Colchester) and then the service can be axed - it was him who wanted it in the first place, the original Bid Spec didn't have the service in.

Although I'd hope that a replacement service which is a little more useful would take over, such as through services from elsewhere.

Err...........Bob Russell was elected by the good burgers of Colchester to represent their needs.

WHO elected you?

 

[Techniquest]

Don't see why not with these engine replacements the name of the HST lives on.
Honestly HST's are gonna last a seriously long time.

Damn straight! The question is how long in frontline service though!