450 + 444

[Oracle]

When we were at Brockenhurst this evening at around 20.37 a Weymouth train came in with a 450 heading 444022 I think it was. I assume that the 450 ran to Weymouth then? I have not seen that combo before as usually it has been the 444 (ex-Weymouth) with the 450 in front added on at Bournemouth.

As regards Brockie,the 9th February sighting of a 444 at mid-day remains my only observation of any Down train to run into P4 from the Southampton direction.

 

[Ilove165's]

450 detaches at Bournemouth, 444 continues to Weymouth and connects with the 450 back at Bournemouth

 

[Oracle]

Cheers. Do they ever run to Weymouth?

 

[thefab444]

Yes, the 1235 Waterloo - Weymouth, and whatever return that forms (the 1603?) is booked 4 450, with the return 4 450 as far as Bournemouth.

The return of the 1520, the 1905 ex Waterloo, is as far as I know, 4 450 beyond Bournemouth? At least according to the announcements, as this then forms the 2210 Weymouth - Eastleigh?

 

[devon_metro]

Cheers. Do they ever run to Weymouth?

I've travelled on one of the dreaded things from Weymouth to Bournemouth before restoring my sanity and joining the leading 444. Bring back the pigs!!!

 

[PhilipW]

As 450s are Suburban units with 3+2 seating, it is unbelievable that SWT would even consider running them on their premier line all the way to Weymouth. To travel such a distance in a 450 would be enough to put anyone off train travel.

There is already enough rumpus about SWT running them on the Portsmouth line.

Yes, I know that SWT don't have enough 444s, only 45 of them; they have only themselves to blame for that. Regretably the planned new build for SWT seems to be more 450s rather any any additional 444s (or similar). Sad really.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Short of 444's obviously.Running 9 cars seems to be becoming more and more usual now.

They ran the slam doors and 57's down to Weymouth so I don't see what the problem is here.

 

[Oracle]

I mentioned a while back I saw a 3 x 450 heading Up from Southampton and about to go through the tunnel...first and only time. Must have been ECS.

 

[thefab444]

Yes, I know that SWT don't have enough 444s, only 45 of them; they have only themselves to blame for that. Regretably the planned new build for SWT seems to be more 450s rather any any additional 444s (or similar). Sad really.

I'm pretty certain most of the blame can be laid at the door of the DfT r.e. lack of 444s. As far as I am aware, it is not possible to order any more 444s as the "jigs" for the bodyshells were destroyed. A 450 with a 350/1 style interior would be possible though, an "LC" 450?

 

[Juniper Driver]

I'm pretty certain most of the blame can be laid at the door of the DfT r.e. lack of 444s. As far as I am aware, it is not possible to order any more 444s as the "jigs" for the bodyshells were destroyed. A 450 with a 350/1 style interior would be possible though, an "LC" 450?

Yeah I've heard that as well and about the 5 car HC units.

 

[MCR247]

Is that 444 that got hit by the tree ok yet?

 

[thefab444]

I think so, although several have had incidents of that nature.

Having bashed a 350/1 last week, I have to say that legroom was notably less than on a 444... are Midlanders shorter than us?

 

[Matt Taylor]

444022 in another 9 car job.
http://matthew-taylor.fotopic.net/p57147623.html

SWT wanted 132 450s in the first place, the DfT said no and cut it to 110 and promptly gave the spare capacity to LM in the form of the 350s. SWT do have themselves to blame for getting rid of the 442s which has caused the transfer of 450s to the Pompey line, but insanity like sending a 10x444 to Alton twice a day does not help.


Matt

 

[thefab444]

444s to Alton are what could loosely be described as "buzzfire".

Currently the following 444 diagrams run to Alton:

1A11 0653 Waterloo - Alton, booked 5 car 444
1A17 0825 Waterloo - Alton (this is formed off the 0650 Southampton Airport Parkway - Waterloo), booked 10 car 444
1A49 1625 Waterloo - Alton, booked 5 car 444

1A24 0844 Alton - Waterloo, booked 5 car 444
1A30 1014 Alton - Waterloo, booked 10 car 444
1A62 1814 Alton - Waterloo, booked 5 car 444

I'm pretty sure the 1114 or 1144 Alton - Waterloo and respective inbound working used to be booked 444 but is now 450.

The majority of the peak period services are formed 12 car 450 in the morning, however, only the 1453 Waterloo - Alton (not sure why!) and 1755 Waterloo - Alton are 12 car 450 in the evening peak. This is mainly for the benefit of Woking, Aldershot and Farnham passengers, as neither the platforms at Ash Vale nor Alton can take anything more than a 8 car 450 (so 10 car 444s a bit wasted here), and Bentley can only take a 4 car 450. Not too sure on West Byfleet, but as a number of the peak trains don't stop here it doesn't matter so much... why do Alton trains call at West Byfleet anyway?!

There also a number of diagrams for Basingstoke stopping services formed of a 5 car 444, namely:

2L51 1642 Waterloo - Basingstoke
2L61 1912 Waterloo - Basingstoke

2L10 0454 Basingstoke - Waterloo
2L14 0554 Basingstoke - Waterloo
2L22 0752 Basingstoke - Waterloo
2L72 2024 Basingstoke - Waterloo

The 1412 Waterloo - Basingstoke also used to be booked 5 car 444.

 

[Juniper Driver]

444022 in another 9 car job.
http://matthew-taylor.fotopic.net/p57147623.html

SWT wanted 132 450s in the first place, the DfT said no and cut it to 110 and promptly gave the spare capacity to LM in the form of the 350s. SWT do have themselves to blame for getting rid of the 442s which has caused the transfer of 450s to the Pompey line, but insanity like sending a 10x444 to Alton twice a day does not help.


Matt

You only say that SWT were to blame for getting rid of the 442's but they had their reasons.I think replacing them with 444's was a good move crew training wise.

Yes I miss the piggies and driving them but in my twenty year history of driving I had many more breakdowns on 442's compared to every other unit I have ever driven.(touchwood)

My Wessex Electric Driving Career=1992-2007.
Slam Doors 1989-2004