Trivia: Wired Stations served mostly by Diesels

[341o2]

Is third rail permissible, because the Lymington branch is electrified, but (usually) is served by a 158 weekdays, 450 weekends/Bank holidays

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not quite sure what you're talking about?

The reason a DMU is used on the Chathill Flyer is that the reversing siding it uses is not electrified, I believe.

 

[Andrew Nelson]

The reason a DMU is used on the Chathill Flyer is that the reversing siding it uses is not electrified, I believe.

Not that it comes from the Metro Centre then?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

As a general point but keeping within the spirit of the thread and not venturing too far OT I hope ---- you can see someone like Grayling arguing this way: "We pay to electrify, it goes way over budget and time, there is loads of disruption, compensation payments , and you end up running diesel under the wires anyway - no point in having an electrification programme -total waste of money and extremely poor BCR".

Or words to that effect. I have been out of the UK too long and this thread has opened my eyes. And I am a number 1 proponent of sparks especially 50 Hz 25 kV AC OHLE.

 

[SeanG]

Not that it comes from the Metro Centre then?

The fact that Northern has no EMUs at Heaton (and as said many times on here before, it wouldn't make sense to) is the main reason

 

[steamybrian]

Needham Market on the Ipswich- Norwich line is only served by cross country DMUs

 

[james60059]

Not sure if entirely relevant but Platform 7 at Nuneaton has overhead power cables but is only ever used by CrossCountry's Birmingham - Leicester/Stansted services which of course are Class 170 Turbostars

 

[Marton]

Thirsk does obviously.
As would Chester-Le-Street.
(Northallerton has some VTEC)

The thread is “mostly”. what proportion is that. GC (10 per day) and TPE (4 per hour) are all diesel. VTEC has 2 diesels.

I make it 78/99 diesel.

 

[gg1]

Not sure if entirely relevant but Platform 7 at Nuneaton has overhead power cables but is only ever used by CrossCountry's Birmingham - Leicester/Stansted services which of course are Class 170 Turbostars

If we are counting individual platforms, the north facing bay at Wolverhampton counts, I highly doubt it's ever seen an EMU even just for stabling. I suppose it might have occasionally been used to stable electric locos in BR days, although the main stabling sidings were where platform 4 is now.

 

[Lemmy99uk]

It was an absolute mystery why that bit of route was electrified. Even if it was needed for a diversion from a very short and plain bit of the WCML, no such crews would sign it.

As a WCML Guard in the 80s, I can assure you that signing the ‘Earlestown diversion’ was the norm.

It was often used during engineering possessions - especially on the sleeper services.

 

[Timrud]

Platforms 1-4 at St Pancras

 

[greyman42]

That has always struck me as the laziest electrification gap that requires the use of DMUs - a couple of hundred yards of missing wires prevent EMU use. Really should wire it (or make the service more useful by continuing it on to Berwick or beyond).

Which couple of hundred yards are you referring to?

 

[LowLevel]

The reason a DMU is used on the Chathill Flyer is that the reversing siding it uses is not electrified, I believe.

That and you'd have to ship a local electric unit from Edinburgh or Leeds to cater for it!

 

[30907]

Which couple of hundred yards are you referring to?

Post #32 answers.

 

[IslandDweller]

Carnforth is wired but in normal circumstances never has electric services.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Post #32 answers.

The Chathill services turn back at Crag Mill, which Quail shows as juiced (I would be amazed if you had any loops unelectrified on the ECML). As others have said, the fact the evening service runs to / from the Tyne Valley line and Heaton has no EMU allocation anyway are the reasons for it being a DMU.

 

[Elecman]

Carnforth, the Barrow platforms are wired but no electric trains call there

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Chathill services turn back at Crag Mill, which Quail shows as juiced (I would be amazed if you had any loops unelectrified on the ECML). As others have said, the fact the evening service runs to / from the Tyne Valley line and Heaton has no EMU allocation anyway are the reasons for it being a DMU.

I wonder has it been wired more recently? This thread (post #2) is where I seem to have got it from:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/newcastle-morpeth-chathill.35665/

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I wonder has it been wired more recently? This thread (post #2) is where I seem to have got it from:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/newcastle-morpeth-chathill.35665/

Fair enough, the only thing I can see in Quail that tallies with that is the Cripple Siding at Belford, which is basically a siding at Crag Mill and is indeed bereft of OHLE. Looking through RTT and the Rules of the Route though I cannot see why is routed there specifically (if it indeed is, no platform or line designation is offered for wherever it ends up), unless they prefer to keep the loops booked empty in case anything on the mainline requires them. I would be very surprised though if that was the be all and end all that precluded an electric unit forming the Chathill Flyer for whatever reason.

Edit - Looking a bit deeper, it appears as though that Cripple Siding goes by the name of Belford Tamper Siding, which is a separate timing point to Crag Mill Loops. I am a bit confused with it now!

 

[transmanche]

There's also the rather unusual situation of Sunderland station, which is wired (at 1500V DC) - but all the National Rail trains which serve it are diesel-powered.

 

[class303]

Carstairs-Edinburgh was much the same, with just the highland sleeper being electric.

Was used semi-frequently when East Coast used to go to glasgow a good few times a day.

 

[xotGD]

Stations such as York, Newcastle and Carlisle are mainline hubs where all of the local services are DMUs* rather than EMUs, with only electric traction on (some) InterCity services. Any more in that category? Norwich?

*and diesel loco and stock in the case of Carlisle

 

[swaldman]

Does Haymarket count as "mostly diesel", at least until the new Edinburgh-Glasgow EMU stock arrives? Queen Street as well, for that matter.

 

[Agent_Squash]

In the North West; Davenport, Woodsmoor, Hazel Grove, Fairfield, Gorton, Ardwick, Manchester Oxford Rd, Deansgate, Manchester Airport, West Allerton, Mossley Hill, Leyland, Preston and Longport all have far more diesels than electrics calling.

I'd be surprised if Preston has more diesel services than electrics now. May 2018 timetable changes will make it majority electric for certain.

 

[Stopper]

Does Haymarket count as "mostly diesel", at least until the new Edinburgh-Glasgow EMU stock arrives? Queen Street as well, for that matter.

It’s still mostly diesel, however it’s served by 4tph each way on the Bathgate line which are all electrics. 1tph each way on the E-G line are also electrics, as are the Ayr services along with a few Pendolinos and TPE 350’s. There’s a fair amount of electrics there, about half of the south platforms. In a few years, the south platforms should be entirely electric.

 

[DavidGrain]

Aston to Stetchford line in Birmingham. A freight only route but wired for diversions off the Trent Valley Line of the WCML
Soho Loop Line also in Birmingham but the line does take some electric services.

 

[Jim Jehosofat]

Is platform 6 at Norwich still the only platform there without OHL?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I'd be surprised if Preston has more diesel services than electrics now. May 2018 timetable changes will make it majority electric for certain.

Windermere service will still be diesel until the 769 arrives.
Blackpool North - Manchester/Airport etc will switch to electric.
Liverpools already electric
Barrow diesel
Ormskirk/Blackpool South diesel
Leeds/Calder Valley type diesel

OT but -- Many freights still diesel

 

[DavidGrain]

Carstairs-Edinburgh was much the same, with just the highland sleeper being electric.

I did Birmingham to Edinburgh on this line last year on a Pendo

 

[hexagon789]

Is platform 6 at Norwich still the only platform there without OHL?

I believe so