2 car, Virgin Super Voyger at Crewe ?

[CheshirePaul]

I was at Crewe this evening and in platform 8 was 221144 in a 2 car formation.

Does any one know why and what are Virgin's plans for it, will they really run passenger services using a 2 car super voyger and if so what routes would they use it on ?

 

[ainsworth74]

Virgin used the center vehicles from that unit to increase the length of the remaining 221s to 5-car units. It doesn't work in passenger service and I don't think it could anyway as the Driving vehicles are missing something (a compressor maybe?) that is needed for them to operate.

 

[Crossover]

They have used 221144 to lengthen 3 other units from 4 to 5 car, so all their 221's are now 5 car variants.

I think the two DM's are going to be kept in standby and if they are anything like the Meridians, I don't think it is possible to operate 2 DM's on their own without any of the other carriages

EDIT: Had a feeling someone may beat me to it

 

[WestCoast]

Send it to Northern, they'll take anything

 

[driver9000]

I had heard a rumour of this move happening but with a 57 dragging them. Maybe they have given them a run out to keep them in working order if they can run under their own power? I bet convincing the TMS it was a good idea was fun!

 

[Nym]

Where they coupled to anything else?

Could be being used for a charter?

 

[Crossover]

As ainsworth74 said, I also have a feeling that they may be lacking a compressor that actually prevents them being used on their own (maybe someone will be able to confirm this)

I know there was a thread a little while ago about a 2 car Meridian (due to maintenance) and it was said it couldn't operate in such a formation.

That said, I wouldn't mind seeing said 2 car Super Voyager!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Isn't there a two-car 221 knocking about Central Rivers?

 

[CheshirePaul]

They were fully coupled togeather like any normal dmu, 57 314 was also in crewe so may be did pull them. I was aware that the 3 normal carrage units had been used to make all 221's 5 car,

Just thort it a bit stange to see it in a station platform when i thort they were in storage as back up units and had been coupled togeather like in mini super voyger.

 

[Crossover]

Isn't there a two-car 221 knocking about Central Rivers?

Probably the same one

 

[CheshirePaul]

picture of it :

 

[scotsman]

A 57 did haul them, a friend of mine saw it in Crewe today

 

[37402]

Virgin used the center vehicles from that unit to increase the length of the remaining 221s to 5-car units. It doesn't work in passenger service and I don't think it could anyway as the Driving vehicles are missing something (a compressor maybe?) that is needed for them to operate.

CZ staff have rigged up a compressor set up inside one of the vehicles so it can be used and kept in working order. Destined for Crewe LNWR apparently.
As for what TMS thinks of it - there are frequent hissy fits coupling two sets together, christ only knows what two cars makes it do!

 

[transportphoto]

picture of it :

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't that pic also show the 57?

 

[Nym]

Could use them for charters, or Oxenhome - Windermere?

 

[strange6]

picture of it :

lol Not the best value for money running! They would be packed out in no time!

 

[CheshirePaul]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't that pic also show the 57?

Yes 57314 was in the same platform but was not attached to it.

 

[Dreadnought]

They have used 221144 to lengthen 3 other units from 4 to 5 car, so all their 221's are now 5 car variants.

221144 only had 2 intermediate trailers which were removed and one added to each of 221142 & 221143 to make them 5 car units. The other 4 car set, 221141, is used by XC.

 

[northwichcat]

I think the best solution for it is for Virgin to run the hourly Crewe-Chester shuttle that interworks with the London-Chester service nad use it on that. Then it'd be a suitable capacity, provide identical interiors for all Crewe-Chester services plus free up a Sprinter for elsewhere.

 

[Crossover]

221144 only had 2 intermediate trailers which were removed and one added to each of 221142 & 221143 to make them 5 car units. The other 4 car set, 221141, is used by XC.

My mistake - you are indeed correct. Thats what happens when you try typing too quick without thinking properly first!

 

[Pumbaa]

Dragged from CZ to Crewe. Destined from Crewe LNWR to be used for staff training, much like the undamaged vehicles from 390033.

 

[tbtc]

If this couldn't work "alone", could it operate if coupled to a (normal) Voyager?

 

[185]

Stick a 153 in it! All we'd need then would be Top Gear's 'Captain Slow' James May to drive it to complete the effect.

 

[voyagerdude220]

There are plans to use the 'mini 221' on a short length charter, according to this week's Rail mag.

 

[cj_1985]

If this couldn't work "alone", could it operate if coupled to a (normal) Voyager?

that would probably make too much sense.... so it will probably never happen

 

[BrummyBoy]

Give it to XC to attach to a Voyager.

 

[Pumbaa]

No it can't work alone or as a Voyager 'add-on' for extra capacity - Bombardier did some brief work determining what would have to be done, but decided it took too long and cost too much to be viable. Has to be dragged everywhere and depending on how the 57 is feeling that morning depends whether or not the 221 cars get any form of power at all.

 

[tbtc]

No it can't work alone or as a Voyager 'add-on' for extra capacity

Cheers for confirming.

To concentrate on the positives, I suppose we have a spare couple of caps that Bombardier could try putting a pantograph coach in between...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It was still there this morning between 0900-0930, I don't know what has happened since, I forgot to look this evening (the 57 was still there too - is that the new ATW livery on it?).

 

[Pumbaa]

Destined from Crewe LNWR to be used for staff training, much like the undamaged vehicles from 390033.

See above...!