Gatwick Express 1984 re-launch

[32475]

My own 1984 journey notes are as follows:
4-4-84 Haywards Heath - Brighton hauled by 73115
9-4-84 Haywards Heath - Brighton hauled by 73120
10-4-84 Brighton - London Bridge hauled by 73101
9-6-84 Victoria - Gatwick hauled by 73105
26-6-84 Victoria - Gatwick hauled by 73103
26-6-84 Gatwick - Victoria hauled by 73142

 

[WesternLancer]

A bit of a side note on the Gatwick Express service: I am sure BA passengers could check in their luggage at Victoria before getting on the train?

Yes, I thought some airline check in (or maybe just BA) was part of the offer right from the start or at least early on - somewhere upstairs on the new deck that was created above the Brighton side of Victoria (which spoilt the platform area and was a bit of a theme for 1980s London station property redevelopment options - eg Fenchurch Street, Charring Cross etc) I can't recall exactly when that work was undertaken / completed.

 

[Romsey]

A press run with a Gatwick Express set including a GUV went around the UK with a 33/1, presumably were compatible

Yes they were compatible, standard 27 way mu controls.

 

[hexagon789]

A bit of a side note on the Gatwick Express service: I am sure BA passengers could check in their luggage at Victoria before getting on the train?

I think so, then it went in the GLV

 

[hexagon789]

Yes they were compatible, standard 27 way mu controls.

That answers my earlier question, thanks.

 

[hexagon789]

The complete recast of the Brighton Line was in May 1978, and that removed the hourly Arun Valley service via Epsom. (Modern Railways, December 1977).

Further recast May 1984, GatEx introduced, Brighton fasts had 4minutes journey time improvement, and the 4 trains an hour Vic to Three Bridges semi fast service was halved. Loads of other changes too. (Modern Railways, May 1984j

There seem to have been a lot of timetable changes in 1984, given the 4 min cut to the Brightons did that essentially mean the GatEx enabled a call at Gatwick to be removed from Brighton services or was it just down to the recast and they way everything slotted in

 

[Bald Rick]

There seem to have been a lot of timetable changes in 1984, given the 4 min cut to the Brightons did that essentially mean the GatEx enabled a call at Gatwick to be removed from Brighton services or was it just down to the recast and they way everything slotted in

It was linespeed improvement works, raising the ruling speed to 80 or 90 from 70(ish) as a result of the resignalling, there was also improved linespeed through the Croydon area and again Preston Park / Brighton. Brighton was largely shut for the best part of 2 months for the remodelling, IIRC.

The main part of the recast was to reduce capacity. Even allowing for the Gatwick expresses, there were 20 fewer trains to London in the peak on the south central. The southeastern division had a smaller recast but similar capacity reduction at the same time.

 

[hexagon789]

It was linespeed improvement works, raising the ruling speed to 80 or 90 from 70(ish) as a result of the resignalling, there was also improved linespeed through the Croydon area and again Preston Park / Brighton. Brighton was largely shut for the best part of 2 months for the remodelling, IIRC.

The main part of the recast was to reduce capacity. Even allowing for the Gatwick expresses, there were 20 fewer trains to London in the peak on the south central. The southeastern division had a smaller recast but similar capacity reduction at the same time.

I'd guess raised from 75 as that was the top speed of Southern EMUs such as the 5BEL sets. It's interesting that the number of services was reduced but presumably this period coincides with a decline in passenger numbers that happened in the mid-1980s

 

[eastwestdivide]

Just before full introduction of the 73+Mk2+GLV sets, they were running them as trial runs, available to the public, including London Bridge-Gatwick trips, which I sampled and photographed. I think the idea was to allow for diversion into London Bridge in the event of engineering works or disruption.
But once the service had launched, did any diversions into London Bridge actually happen? I moved away from the SE around then and lost track for a bit.

 

[bassmike]

Yes the GLV (Class 489) retained two 250hp motors, so that plus the 1,420 of the 73 gave a total 1,920hp.

The coaches were classified 488; 488/2 for the two-car, /3 for the three-car.

Hence my revious question-- did the g l v's ever move the coaches without the loco on the other end (shunting or whatever)?

 

[hexagon789]

Hence my revious question-- did the g l v's ever move the coaches without the loco on the other end (shunting or whatever)?

No idea, but the issue would be no cab at the other end.

 

[30907]

I'd guess raised from 75 as that was the top speed of Southern EMUs such as the 5BEL sets.

They were long gone though, and BR era stock had been allowed to travel at 90 since the mid 60s.

 

[Taunton]

It was linespeed improvement works, raising the ruling speed to 80 or 90 from 70(ish) as a result of the resignalling, there was also improved linespeed through the Croydon area and again Preston Park / Brighton. Brighton was largely shut for the best part of 2 months for the remodelling, IIRC.

The Gat Ex conductors in the early 1984 days used to do a bit of a chatty commentary, and I recall two separate occasions southbound when they said, sounding quite proud, that it was such a fast service and we would just hit 100mph before Gatwick. This was using the Quarry Line and crossing over at Horley. I rather doubted it, although it did seem notably speedy, and although the stock was on 100mph bogies the loco and DVT were not.

 

[Bald Rick]

The Gat Ex conductors in the early 1984 days used to do a bit of a chatty commentary, and I recall two separate occasions southbound when they said, sounding quite proud, that it was such a fast service and we would just hit 100mph before Gatwick. This was using the Quarry Line and crossing over at Horley. I rather doubted it, although it did seem notably speedy, and although the stock was on 100mph bogies the loco and DVT were not.

And the line speed is only 90, and has never been higher there!

 

[Rick1984]

Why where handbrakes fitted to a lot of the carriages?

 

[hexagon789]

They were long gone though, and BR era stock had been allowed to travel at 90 since the mid 60s.

So no linespeeds raised then or simply PSRs raised in some areas up to 80 or 90 but without the overall linespeed actually changing?

 

[hexagon789]

Why where handbrakes fitted to a lot of the carriages?

Presumably so they wouldn't roll away when parked loose in a depot

 

[30907]

So no linespeeds raised then or simply PSRs raised in some areas up to 80 or 90 but without the overall linespeed actually changing?

Sorry, don't know the specifics - Bald Rick probably has the details.

 

[hexagon789]

Sorry, don't know the specifics - Bald Rick probably has the details.

Thanks anyway

 

[Bald Rick]

Sorry, don't know the specifics - Bald Rick probably has the details.

I don’t have the details, but I’m reasonably sure linespeed were raised, both ruling, and specific PSRs at some junctions.

 

[seaviewer]

Can't recall but not that I remember (I think my mum, who was a daily Brighton line commuter at the time, would have moaned if that had been the case - but it may have affected other services eg outer london suburban? that I would not have been aware of). Remember services like Eastbourne - Lewes - London were then I think hourly - not half hourly like they became in the 1990s etc, so presumably there was capacity available.

Your query about where services were cut to fit in the GX services had me delving into the timetables again. See attachment.(Standard station codes, plus AV for Arun Valley and CE for Coastway East) I have defined a rush hour as 17.00-18.00 at East Croydon. There were 22 services heading through to Gatwick in 1978 and exactly the same number in 1988. Brighton, Reigate and W Worthing had services cut to fit in GX, plus Arun Valley services diverted from the Sutton route.

 

[WesternLancer]

Your query about where services were cut to fit in the GX services had me delving into the timetables again. See attachment.(Standard station codes, plus AV for Arun Valley and CE for Coastway East) I have defined a rush hour as 17.00-18.00 at East Croydon. There were 22 services heading through to Gatwick in 1978 and exactly the same number in 1988. Brighton, Reigate and W Worthing had services cut to fit in GX, plus Arun Valley services diverted from the Sutton route.

Interesting to see that - nice research!

 

[TheSel]

Sunday 22 June 1986. 73111