Former Grand Central HSTs now with EMT

[CC 72100]

Quite unusually in this case it's a simple briefing sheet for the drivers and an actual course day for guards - the trailers are significantly different whereas the powercars are closer to being 'phone a friend if it breaks' territory.

Ignorant question here - could it have theoretically been possible to use GC power cars and more familiar and conventional ex-GWR coaches? Think there are, what could be made into, complete conventional ex-GWR sets in store at Ely, and having been HST Mark 3s right from the off would likely be more familiar to the current EMT fleet.

There probably is a good reason why not, I just need to be enlightened on why!

 

[Domh245]

All of the off lease GWR coaches are either due for conversion for Scotrail, or are the 'offcuts' such as the TRFBs

 

[CC 72100]

All of the off lease GWR coaches are either due for conversion for Scotrail, or are the 'offcuts' such as the TRFBs

Fair enough - knew there would be spare TRFB and TGS vehicles, but wasn't sure about the TS/TF as obviously 1 sets worth of GWR TS will give Scotrail 1.25 sets worth of required vehicles.

 

[43096]

All of the off lease GWR coaches are either due for conversion for Scotrail, or are the 'offcuts' such as the TRFBs

In particular, there are no TF vehicles spare, as GWR have one per set, so these all go to ScotRail.

 

[cactustwirly]

In particular, there are no TF vehicles spare, as GWR have one per set, so these all go to ScotRail.

But surely a TF could be converted from a TS with some new seats.

 

[43096]

But surely a TF could be converted from a TS with some new seats.

It could. But why would you when the GC sets have TFs.

 

[cactustwirly]

It could. But why would you when the GC sets have TFs.

The GC coaches need a refurbishment anyway.
So it'll make more sense to convert a standard TS, as all the SDO equipment will be standard, so it'll easier & cheaper for EMT to maintain.

 

[43096]

The GC coaches need a refurbishment anyway.
So it'll make more sense to convert a standard TS, as all the SDO equipment will be standard, so it'll easier & cheaper for EMT to maintain.

Well perhaps you'd like to offer your services to Angel and EMT, then, as you clearly know more about it than they do.

 

[Domh245]

It looks like the coaches are in normal EMT livery rather than any slightly modified one (assuming the photographed test train isn't running with coaches from the main fleet)

https://twitter.com/HstEnviro/status/998214263796879360

 

[XCTurbostar]

Theyre not the same.. the newer ones don't have an orange line and the TRFB still has a blue roof.

 

[fgwrich]

Theyre not the same.. the newer ones don't have an orange line and the TRFB still has a blue roof.

Indeed, I wonder if it's been done as a Vinyl job then rather than a repaint, as the TRFB still retains it's FGW Blue roof and window band.

 

[mallard]

I travelled on one of these sets this morning. (1C92 07:31 Derby - St. Pancras). Leading loco was 43468, didn't get the rear, but presumably it was 43467 as per the test train.

The train was formed of 6 Mk3s; 4xTS (no TGS), 1xTRFB, 1xTF. Coach 'A' was missing logos, but otherwise the external paint job looked "finished" (again, appears to be the exact same train as yesterday's test run).

Interior wise, everything was in GC grey, no sign of Stagecoach primary colours, except for large posters proclaiming that they'll inflict that upon us eventually. Seats were actually soft, unlike the rest of the EMT fleet where the IC70s feel like they've been stuffed with concrete; presumably that won't last either.

 

[59CosG95]

I travelled on one of these sets this morning. (1C92 07:31 Derby - St. Pancras). Leading loco was 43468, didn't get the rear, but presumably it was 43467 as per the test train.

The train was formed of 6 Mk3s; 4xTS (no TGS), 1xTRFB, 1xTF. Coach 'A' was missing logos, but otherwise the external paint job looked "finished" (again, appears to be the exact same train as yesterday's test run).

Interior wise, everything was in GC grey, no sign of Stagecoach primary colours, except for large posters proclaiming that they'll inflict that upon us eventually. Seats were actually soft, unlike the rest of the EMT fleet where the IC70s feel like they've been stuffed with concrete; presumably that won't last either.

Interestingly enough, two of the coaches are ones that I've not seen numbered before - 41207 & 42584. Perhaps they're converts from LHCS?

 

[Domh245]

Interestingly enough, two of the coaches are ones that I've not seen numbered before - 41207 & 42584. Perhaps they're converts from LHCS?

I was under the impression that most if not all of the GC HST fleet was converted from LHCS

 

[59CosG95]

I was under the impression that most if not all of the GC HST fleet was converted from LHCS

As was I - I think these may be further converts. Originally GC had 41201-206, 42401-409 and unmodded TSBs 40424, 40426 and 40433. I certainly don't recall 41207 (or 42584) existing.

 

[nicjoynson]

Do the ex-GC fleet have captive diagrams or are they used ad-hoc alongside the other EMT HSTs?

Nic

 

[Domh245]

Do the ex-GC fleet have captive diagrams or are they used ad-hoc alongside the other EMT HSTs?

Nic

Captive diagrams

5C92 0711 XEP-DBY
1C92 0731 DBY-STP
1D24 1005 STP-NOT
5D24 1216 NOT-XEP
5B79 1814 XEP-NOT
1B79 1945 NOT-STP
1D81 2200 STP-NOT
5D81 0030 NOT-XEP
—
5C52 1231 XEP-SHF
1C52 1359 SHF-STP
1M56 1650 STP-COR
1P71 1837 COR-STP
1F73 2031 STP-DBY
5F73 2218 DBY-XEP

Although there is a possibility (but no confirmation) that the power cars may end up working alongside the other HST powercars.

 

[43055]

As was I - I think these may be further converts. Originally GC had 41201-206, 42401-409 and unmodded TSBs 40424, 40426 and 40433. I certainly don't recall 41207 (or 42584) existing.

Some of the coaches have been renumbered as they have been converted from first to standard class or standard to first class to get the disabled toilet in the first class vehicle compared with standard class when they was with grand central.

 

[cactustwirly]

Captive diagrams

5C92 0711 XEP-DBY
1C92 0731 DBY-STP
1D24 1005 STP-NOT
5D24 1216 NOT-XEP
5B79 1814 XEP-NOT
1B79 1945 NOT-STP
1D81 2200 STP-NOT
5D81 0030 NOT-XEP
—
5C52 1231 XEP-SHF
1C52 1359 SHF-STP
1M56 1650 STP-COR
1P71 1837 COR-STP
1F73 2031 STP-DBY
5F73 2218 DBY-XEP

Although there is a possibility (but no confirmation) that the power cars may end up working alongside the other HST powercars.

Just to add, these are Monday - Friday only

 

[nat67]

Interestingly enough, two of the coaches are ones that I've not seen numbered before - 41207 & 42584. Perhaps they're converts from LHCS?

Do you mean 42384 as that's a EMT conversion from 41078.

 

[WillPS]

So, out of interest, do these still have the mid-20th century photography and the board games on the tables?

 

[Defiance149]

Do you mean 42384 as that's a EMT conversion from 41078.

There's been some renumbering - 42584-86 from 41201-03 and 41207-09 from 42403/06/09.

 

[59CosG95]

There's been some renumbering - 42584-86 from 41201-03 and 41207-09 from 42403/06/09.

Indeed - just saw @43096's post on WNXXforum about the same topic, and the point was made that the converts from 42403/42406/42409 were due to them having PRM-compatible toilets fitted. It stood to reason that 3 TFs would be converted to TSs in exchange.

 

[43074]

On the 1650 from St Pancras now, and I didn't actually realise what a state the GC coaches are in internally! Granted EMT are refurbishing them, but to say they look dated would be an understatement, even compared to EMTs own fleet with the same seats...

 

[hexagon789]

Are the TSs still in the GC 64-seat layout and if so will they be altered to EMT's standard 74 search layout at all?

 

[43074]

Yes they are, and judging by the artists impressions of the refurb it looks like the configuration is staying the same.

 

[hexagon789]

Yes they are, and judging by the artists impressions of the refurb it looks like the configuration is staying the same.

So, not a particularly elaborate refurb then, I won't complain about the better legroom mind you!

 

[43096]

Indeed - just saw @43096's post on WNXXforum about the same topic, and the point was made that the converts from 42403/42406/42409 were due to them having PRM-compatible toilets fitted. It stood to reason that 3 TFs would be converted to TSs in exchange.

It should be pointed out that the disabled toilets are not compliant with the PRM-TSI, though. They were originally LHCS TSOs converted with disabled access toilets in InterCity days.

 

[43096]

So, not a particularly elaborate refurb then, I won't complain about the better legroom mind you!

I suspect the work done so far is just to get them back into service as they are needed now. It will be interesting to see what the third set is like when it emerges.

 

[hexagon789]

I suspect the work done so far is just to get them back into service as they are needed now. It will be interesting to see what the third set is like when it emerges.

Definitely. I do hope they keep the roomier layout personally, may not be great for capacity but can't have everything.