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CAF class 197 Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.

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LNW-GW Joint

LNW-GW Joint

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197 010 out today on Crewe-Llandudno Jn runs calling all stations (3Q11).
I also see on RTT there is a Crewe-Chester-Hereford path in there (3V78), but cancelled today. (might not be or a 197 of course).
Platform car-stop signs* for class 197s are now fully visible at some stations (Flint and Helsby I noticed, not Chester), replacing whatever was there before.
5-car signs for 221/Mk4 sets are still there, but 158/175 signs have gone.
But my 158 appeared to ignore the new stop positions...

* on expensively-installed new posts, not the economical clip to a handy lamp post...
 
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Philip

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I haven't seen a 197 at Manchester yet, I'm assuming they have been there and over all the booked routes?

And is the current plan for Manchester to Chester/North Wales for all services to be 197s by December, or more likely a mix of 175s and 197s into next year?
 
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craigybagel

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LNW-GW Joint said:
197 010 out today on Crewe-Llandudno Jn runs calling all stations (3Q11).
I also see on RTT there is a Crewe-Chester-Hereford path in there (3V78), but cancelled today. (might not be or a 197 of course).
Click to expand...
As discussed a few posts above, this is a path for a MKIV training train - but in practice it's never used, with training taking place on service trains instead now there's no shortage of them.
LNW-GW Joint said:
Platform car-stop signs* for class 197s are now fully visible at some stations (Flint and Helsby I noticed, not Chester), replacing whatever was there before.
5-car signs for 221/Mk4 sets are still there, but 158/175 signs have gone.
But my 158 appeared to ignore the new stop positions...

* on expensively-installed new posts, not the economical clip to a handy lamp post...
Click to expand...
It's a transition period over the next while with boards slowly getting replaced. No harm in using the former stopping points though which drivers should know from their route knowledge. Some stations have been left with no boards at all temporarily.
Philip said:
I haven't seen a 197 at Manchester yet, I'm assuming they have been there and over all the booked routes?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure to be honest. If they have it's only from the Chester direction - from Crewe they've only been as far as Wilmslow so far. Plenty of time yet though - the MKIVs are booked in and out of Manchester both ways from December (albeit only as ECS over Chat Moss) and they haven't been yet either.

Philip said:
And is the current plan for Manchester to Chester/North Wales for all services to be 197s by December, or more likely a mix of 175s and 197s into next year?
Click to expand...
I suspect the latter but there's nothing been confirmed publicly yet. The North Wales & Manchester diagrams are mostly fairly self contained so it's not too hard to do a gradual transition there.
 
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sw1ller

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LNW-GW Joint said:
197 010 out today on Crewe-Llandudno Jn runs calling all stations (3Q11).
I also see on RTT there is a Crewe-Chester-Hereford path in there (3V78), but cancelled today. (might not be or a 197 of course).
Platform car-stop signs* for class 197s are now fully visible at some stations (Flint and Helsby I noticed, not Chester), replacing whatever was there before.
5-car signs for 221/Mk4 sets are still there, but 158/175 signs have gone.
But my 158 appeared to ignore the new stop positions...

* on expensively-installed new posts, not the economical clip to a handy lamp post...
Click to expand...
I’ve seen the 197 stop boards at Chester P4, still bagged over. Any new stop boards that have had the bags removed are not yet official. We’re meant to be getting extra training on the new stop markers, so for now, we’re just going about things as usual.
 
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Philip

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A 175 just came through Manchester as ECS, apparently going to Longsight according to the RTT website.
 
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Geeves

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Philip, from postings on here I believe 175 exams are being done at Longsight now rather than Chester due to the impending arrival of many many CAFs
 
DBS92042

DBS92042

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197008 has been moved from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe Basford Hall by 66551 (+HHA barriers) today
 
_toommm_

_toommm_

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FrodshamJnct said:
197 stop markers now uncovered at Frodsham. Might be on for the end of the month as planned…
Click to expand...

They've been out at Helsby for a while too. IIRC you've currently got 153 S, 150S, then 2-6 197 S at the end of the platform.I presume the former two are optimised for the platform hump.
 
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warwickshire

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Just out of interest. The 197s on the North Wales services more or less and the route to Manchester Piccadilly they will be taking over and running on replacing the 175s. Apart from the odd branch line. And Chester depot being the first main depot they are being kept and maintained at. Plus the train Crewe depots, with Chester and the other North Wales depots involved as well.
Is quite similar to When First North Western first started the 175s. Back in 2000. Where as back then it was a few at Manchester Piccadilly that signed the 175. It's a few at Crewe that sign 197s.
Sometimes interesting to see how similar things can occur like here North Wales involving the 197s versus 175 back in the year 2000. However though let's TFW more than sure they will use 197s to best advantage say keep 175s that little longer. However though 197s wise rather than run a solo unit.
Run as a double unit where needed to stop any short forms or overcrowding on any popular services. Unlike other Tocs for example Abeillo Anglia and a 5 car 720.
 
Jacob Porrett

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Realtime Trains | 6Q97 1639 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. | 12/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 6Q97 1639 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. on 12/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
90047+66509 (in new colours) are hauling 197006 from Wolverton to Crewe. This means that there are no more 197s at Wolverton.
 
Jacob Porrett

Jacob Porrett

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Last edited:
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Mollman

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Jacob Porrett said:

Realtime Trains | 6Q97 1639 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. | 12/09/2022

Real-time train running information for 6Q97 1639 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe Bas Hall S.S.M. on 12/09/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
90047+66509 (in new colours) are hauling 197006 from Wolverton to Crewe. This means that there are no more 197s at Wolverton.
Click to expand...
Nice photo from Flickr (not mine):
https://flic.kr/p/2nLjhTC
Good to see an electric loco being used.
 
Jacob Porrett

Jacob Porrett

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Today 66953 dragged 197006 into Donnington RFT from Crewe Basford Hall SSM and took 197024 from Donnington RFT to Crewe Basford Hall SSM. Both headcodes were 6Q98.
 
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Defiance149

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As I understand it, six more 197 cars were moved by road from Donnington to Wolverton at the start of September, possibly a 2-car and a 4-car.
 
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L401CJF

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I noted at least 5 stabled at Chester yesterday. I didnt catch all of the numbers, but could see 3 in the yard and a pair in 6car formation in the parcels bay. Of the numbers I did catch 197102 was part of the 6 car in parcels, I'm sure 197002 was one in the yard. Others obscured by 175s. Also noted another on the usual staff training runs up the coast in platform 2.
 
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Peter Sarf

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Defiance149 said:
As I understand it, six more 197 cars were moved by road from Donnington to Wolverton at the start of September, possibly a 2-car and a 4-car.
Click to expand...
This nasty habit of sending rail vehicles by road worries me. Are they not rail worthy ?.

I suppose they could be incomplete vehicles, but from Donnington ?.
 
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