HST on New North Main Line

[oversteer]

Sat on a diverted Chiltern train into Paddington and a FGW HST set just went past somewhere near Hanger Lane. What was it doing on that little branch ?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Where's the North Main Line? I know where Hanger Lane is, I certainly have never called it anything like that!

 

[Yorkswatcher]

There is some empty FGW HST that go along that line through Perivale no idea what the line is called.

 

[Max]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_North_Main_Line

It runs between Greenford and Paddington via Hanger Lane (alongside the Central Line). It was used during the Reading blockade at Christmas to divert HSTs out of Paddington towards Banbury.

 

[fgwrich]

The New North Mainline is the name of the Great Central Railway and Great Western Railway Joint line from London Paddington / OOC To the 'Chiltern Mainline - as we know it today - at South Ruislip.

Heres the Wikipedia article :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_North_Main_Line

As for the ECS HST - First Great Western do use the line fairly regulary to turn around HST Sets - Ie, from Paddington / Old Oak Common, up on the New North Mainline / Acton-Northolt Line to Greenford, down towards West Ealing West / Hanwell using the triangle, and back to Paddington / The Oak.

 

[yorkie]

Sat on a diverted Chiltern train into Paddington and a FGW HST set just went past somewhere near Hanger Lane. What was it doing on that little branch ?

They go via Peivale / Castle Bar Park to get turned to be in the correct formation. It's not that uncommon. They should really do it more often though as the last three FGW HSTs I caught were in wrong formation!

 

[starlightEXPRESS]

Given its usefulness in turning HST sets, is the NNML likely to be included in the GWML electrification so that the IEP can be similarly turned?

 

[oversteer]

Ahh that makes sense, they can go in a circle back to Paddington.

So, why does a HST get turned around? To even out wear on wheels etc? (Do all trains have this problem?)

 

[LexyBoy]

Ahh that makes sense, they can go in a circle back to Paddington.

So, why does a HST get turned around? To even out wear on wheels etc? (Do all trains have this problem?)

Mostly to get them back in the correct formation (i.e. FC at the London end). This might be necessary due to diversions, for example if Gloucester is omitted on a Cheltenham service, or an HST from the Cotswold run returns to London via Cheltenham, or there's signalling problems at Oxford causing the power station curve to be used by Oxford trains (just examples familiar to me, I'm sure there are more common reasons for sets to get reversed!).

Same for all intercity trains where FC is supposed to be at a particular end, though I'm sure some routes are more prone to this than others.

 

[yorkie]

Where's the North Main Line?

I don't think there was a line known as the "North Main Line" but at the time that the "New North Main Line" opened, there were already established lines out of Euston and King's Cross, plus the line out of Marylebone had just recently been completed, the FGW route toward the North was convoluted and the GCR were arguing with the Metropolitan, so the GCR & GWR got together to build a new line, I believe it was simply called the New North Line because it was new at that time and they couldn't think of any other name.

There is quite a lot of information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_North_Main_Line

 

[IanXC]

Sorry Yorkie - just couldn't resist!

...the FGW route toward the North was convoluted...

FirstGroup are like a zombie in a b-movie. They just won't die!!!!!. Grrrr!.

Certainly are! Why have I got the image of a silent, black and white zombie film in my head?!

Not sure Churchwood would have put up with zombies messing around with his Stars, and I know The Great Bear wouldn't have put up with it.

I'll get my coat.

 

[tsubaki]

did WSMR ever use this line for diversionary purposes? I seem to remember coming into London via some incredibly arcane route which backed onto a tube station at one point.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

did WSMR ever use this line for diversionary purposes? I seem to remember coming into London via some incredibly arcane route which backed onto a tube station at one point.

yes, they did - I remember one journey on WSMR , last Oct (I think) when this route was used, or at least part of it as we ened up in Marylebone and not Paddington.....very interesting it was!