And so it came to pass.......

[mumrar]

......that as of 00:16 on 13th December 2008, 1 year 1 month and 2 days since the start of CrossCountry, that I shall no longer be diagrammed to work London Micland Cross-City services. These were worked by us under a cross cover agreement that saw Nottingham (EMT) and Worcester (LM) working CrossCountry services and New St (XC) and Leicester (XC) covering LM and EMT work for a transition period. At 23:43 I started the last cross cover service, the 23:35 New St-Longbridge out of platform 10b. The delay was down to the forming working, 22:36 New St-Lich TV awaiting a conductor, another Cross Country one delayed in from Stansted by a car on the line at Three Horse Shoes, but that's another story. All went uneventful until a rather loud and 'refreshed' gentleman shouted at Longbridge that "I would not let him off the train at Northfield". Quite how I managed to let everyone elase except him off remains a mystery to me, but I think his 'refreshment' and travelling with a friend who wanted Longbridge meant he wasn't ready to alight in time. As it was my last hurrah, I thought dammit and offered him a lift home in my car from Longbridge, anything to stop his whingeing. What a dubious end to over 11 years as a conductor on the famed Cross-City line!

It makes official the demise of my traction knowledge card, which while never huge, did contain firstly 150/1, 150/2, 153, 156, 158, 310, 323 followed by 150/1, 150/2, 153, 156, 158, 170/1, 170/3, 170/5, 170/6, 323, 350. Now it just reads 170/1/3/5/6. Until harmonisation is considered for Conductors (some drivers at XC already are) this is how it shall remain, the only forseeable changes being that we will get some of LMs 170s when they get 172s.

Far more worrying, after 13th December, the curtain will be brought down on 129 years of train operation over the 20 chains of the Stourbridge Town branch. It is to be replaced by a Parry People Mover (little more than a single car 142 with a car big car engine!). Except it isn't, not right away. The PPM is not ready and so it will be a bus service to start.

Progress people, progress (and don't even start me on the Walsall-Wolves service!)

 

[87015]

Will you be able to cope without the excitement of the CrossCity Mr. Wilson??!

Another remnant Central Trains practise also came to an end on Friday:

 

[westcoaster]

also for iirc the third time, it was also the end for the fcc 317's on the tl side

 

[37412]

Far more worrying, after 13th December, the curtain will be brought down on 129 years of train operation over the 20 chains of the Stourbridge Town branch. It is to be replaced by a Parry People Mover (little more than a single car 142 with a car big car engine!). Except it isn't, not right away. The PPM is not ready and so it will be a bus service to start.

Progress people, progress (and don't even start me on the Walsall-Wolves service!)

Had a spin on the town today, 153334 doing the honours and carrying a headboard both ends. If I knew how to post a picture I would but I don't!

 

[EE Type 3]

Had a spin on the town today, 153334 doing the honours and carrying a headboard both ends. If I knew how to post a picture I would but I don't!

Upload them to imageshack, then copy and paste the Hotlink for forums (1) into your post.

 

[37412]

Upload them to imageshack, then copy and paste the Hotlink for forums (1) into your post.

Sorry sailed straight over my head How do i upload to Imageshack?

 

[EE Type 3]

Sorry sailed straight over my head How do i upload to Imageshack?

http://imageshack.us/

Click the 'Browse' button.

Select the file.

Change the size, 800X600 is good for forums.

Tick both of the boxes aswell.

Then paste the link as per above post.

 

[37412]

Right, thanks to Mr EE Type 3 for the gen on how to do this, couple of shots of 153334 peforming the last duties on the Stourbridge Jn - Stourbridge Town workings, did the branch on the morning while en route to the SVR but didn't bother with a phot due to rain, on my return however the unit was carrying a headborard each end so grabbed a few shots while changing trains.

 

[Phoenix]

Quite sad really how the Midlands traction is changing Rapidly soon we will have Hardly any if no 321's and the Stourbridge services well PPM's aren't exactly trains.
What's next well the 150's are due to leave the Snow hill lines.
And also no 153+170 to Stafford (bumpiest ride ever!!!)
Well Im glad I covered all these things ever the last year.

 

[djw1981]

I;d have thought that with the current rolling stock shortage, and the fact that the Stourbridge branch is not exactly requiring a 75mph unit, releasing a unit and using an alternative is a good thing. This is surely the best plan for the railways - giving appropriate resources to each route, and using compatible technologies as a feeder from lcoal communities to main railheads.

 

[Ascot]

What's next well the 150's are due to leave the Snow hill lines.

I for one will be glad of 172s on the line. No more springs sticking up you, freezing coaches or super hot heating, many people will let a 150 go just to get a Chiltern in summer purely for the comfort.

 

[Techniquest]

Glad I did the Stourbridge Town line back in August now for the last time, same for Stafford to Rugeley onto that little spur off the mainline and Wolves to Walsall (I doubt I'll ever have use for that 1936).

Shame I never got a 321 to Walsall, never found one on those workings

Having a headboard on a 153 seems slightly bizarre but funky. Ta for posting those photos 37412. At least one crank managed to do it.

So many changes on one day, t'was impossible to cover it all really (I wish I had gone to Stourbridge now to cover it for the final time, but what can you do).

 

[me123]

I;d have thought that with the current rolling stock shortage, and the fact that the Stourbridge branch is not exactly requiring a 75mph unit, releasing a unit and using an alternative is a good thing. This is surely the best plan for the railways - giving appropriate resources to each route, and using compatible technologies as a feeder from lcoal communities to main railheads.

I take it you have seen the Parry People Mover? It's a tad small, but it does look like it will do the job. The passenger numbers aren't huge, but hopefully they won't be too concentrated at the peaks.

 

[Techniquest]

The PPM *should* manage, but I've never seen the Stourbridge line at peak times. Agreed with djw1981, it should be seen as a good thing that the 153 has been released to go elsewhere. I'm told the new LM Worcester to Gloucester services will utilise this newly released 153, although how true that is remains to be seen of course! If it is, I'll find it a lot easier to finish my LM 153s for haulage!

 

[Phoenix]

The PPM *should* manage, but I've never seen the Stourbridge line at peak times. Agreed with djw1981, it should be seen as a good thing that the 153 has been released to go elsewhere. I'm told the new LM Worcester to Gloucester services will utilise this newly released 153, although how true that is remains to be seen of course! If it is, I'll find it a lot easier to finish my LM 153s for haulage!

I think Even if the unit was full it would not be a long wait till the next usually only takes about two minutes to get down and about 3 to get up.

 

[Techniquest]

More like 5 minutes up, 4 minutes down I'd say. Not got the TT to check now. Frequent service though, every 15 minutes!

 

[me123]

Booked 3 mins in each direction on the PPM, with a Super-Quick turn around! A ten-minutely frequency, in fact. Of course, that's when it actually starts...

 

[Techniquest]

Quicker to get the mileage in on it then if it's every 10 minutes! They're doing the same sort of thing with the Cardiff Bay shuttle apparently, from 4 to 5 trains an hour! Seems excessive to me!

 

[Phoenix]

I think the point is that basically with the stourbridge shuttles with the PPM if journey times can be made into a 10 minute round trip then there is not much neeed for major capacity.
Honestly I feel that one the PPM has had it's first year in service a few other Branch lines will turn to the PPM and maybe even some Preserved lines looking to start weekday revenue earning services.
There the Improved pacer basically a bus on wheel but well............Decent.

 

[Techniquest]

Can't really call them decent unless you've actually travelled on them though! They might ride just as badly as 142s. Looking forward to travelling on them, although when is anyone's guess...

 

[me123]

Quicker to get the mileage in on it then if it's every 10 minutes!

Yes, all 58 chains of it:? Which is, of course, a grand total of 1 mile 26 chains in 10 minutes.

 

[Techniquest]

So that's over 1,800 single trips you'd have to do to clear the PPM for 1,000 miles...Fun!

 

[Phoenix]

So that's over 1,800 single trips you'd have to do to clear the PPM for 1,000 miles...Fun!

You have one defiantly warped definition of fun mate!!
But yeah as soon as the PPM is ready ill do a few trips.
We should do a meet!!!! (obviously riding on otherstuff)

 

[37412]

The PPM should work its first service on the Stourbridge Branch next Saturday, whether it does or not remains to be seen, its a bus all this week :roll:

 

[Techniquest]

You have one defiantly warped definition of fun mate!!
But yeah as soon as the PPM is ready ill do a few trips.
We should do a meet!!!! (obviously riding on otherstuff)

Not suggesting I'm going to do that any time soon mind!

A meet might be a good idea, although not until January or something. Give the thing time to 'bed in' and get a plan together.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The PPM should work its first service on the Stourbridge Branch next Saturday, whether it does or not remains to be seen, its a bus all this week :roll:

Excellent, bring the damn thing on. Been waiting long enough for it to actually do some work.

 

[Phoenix]

Not suggesting I'm going to do that any time soon mind!

A meet might be a good idea, although not until January or something. Give the thing time to 'bed in' and get a plan together.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Excellent, bring the damn thing on. Been waiting long enough for it to actually do some work.

Well yeah not just the PPM just like 2 round trips then I dunno whatever people wanna do I mean there are some specific pieces of track I need but there not so easy to get mainly the Stechford-Aston line the Whitacre-Kingsbury branch and finally the Sutton park (but you need a kettle to get onto that line)

 

[Techniquest]

All those bits you mention are non-passenger-serviced, so doing them would be a bit difficult!

 

[37412]

Excellent, bring the damn thing on. Been waiting long enough for it to actually do some work.

I presume you realise there is more than one? It's not the original PPM that worked the line (999 900) which I had one Sunday and never heard the last of it! The new PPM's will be 139001 and 139002 and will alternate on services I believe so you will need to visit the branch more than once to get them both in!

 

[Techniquest]

I presume you realise there is more than one? It's not the original PPM that worked the line (999 900) which I had one Sunday and never heard the last of it! The new PPM's will be 139001 and 139002 and will alternate on services I believe so you will need to visit the branch more than once to get them both in!

Damn, I never got 999900 in. Oh well.

I had heard there was more than one, going to be quite irritating getting them both. I reckon I'll have the same luck with them as I do with the SPT shuttle service between Queen Street and Central. ALWAYS get the same damn Solo! I'll probably always get the same damn PPM when I do the Town branch too...

 

[Phoenix]

All those bits you mention are non-passenger-serviced, so doing them would be a bit difficult!

The Whitacre branch apprently isn't there is 2 services that use it I have only seen a service going along their once.
But yes the other two are not easy.