Anyone know what this working was?

[david_g]

I think this was the Voyager I saw passing Aston this afternoon http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H37014/2016/10/22/advanced

It was during halftime at Villa Park and the timing on RTT at Aston is about right but the route is unusual to say the least. RTT also seems confused on some timings too.

 

[168lover]

I think this was the Voyager I saw passing Aston this afternoon http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H37014/2016/10/22/advanced

It was during halftime at Villa Park and the timing on RTT at Aston is about right but the route is unusual to say the least. RTT also seems confused on some timings too.

This working is a RHTT working which is a loco and each end sandwhiching a few blue wagons that fire out a mixture of sand and water in the railhead to stop the build-up of leaves.

 

[DarloRich]

I think this was the Voyager I saw passing Aston this afternoon http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H37014/2016/10/22/advanced

It was during halftime at Villa Park and the timing on RTT at Aston is about right but the route is unusual to say the least. RTT also seems confused on some timings too.

It wasnt a Voyager! It is an RHTT. Runs several times a week at present. Real time trains get confused as it shuttles back and forth cleaning all of the lines. That version even takes a spin along the Marston Vale.

It is hauled by 2 class 66's from our good friends at Deutsche Bahn which run at each end of a couple of wagons carrying water tanks and a pump. They run on behalf of NR to wash leaf residue off the tracks.
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This working is a RHTT working which is a loco and each end sandwhiching a few blue wagons that fire out a mixture of sand and water in the railhead to stop the build-up of leaves.

not much sand these days - tends to be high pressure water only

 

[david_g]

Doh, of course the working in RTT is a RHTT.

Doesn't explain what the Voyager was doing there though. I'd assumed it was a Cross Country ex Manchester service on a divert via the Chase line or the back way into New Street from Wolverhampton or Bushbury but nothing is showing on RTT. Either it is missing from RTT for some reason or (more unlikely) London Midland had managed to borrow the hot spare & crew from New Street for a working to Rugeley TV and back and I saw the return working which followed the RHTT through Aston.

London Midland were not having a happy time on services through New Street yesterday afternoon with cancellations all over the place due to crew shortages. The queues at Aston for services in both directions after the game were pretty long.

 

[PHILIPE]

The only thing I can think of is that due to 1E52 1347 Southampton to Newcastle starting ex Birmingham New St at 1630 it could have been the set for this going round in a circle to keep it out of the way of New St until nearer the time and platform available. It was intended to start it at Reading but this did not materialise so could have run ECS to New St. Not everything, especially short notice alterations such as this one, appears in Real Time Trains. Much discussion has already taken place on the Forum re what appears and what does not appear in RTT and for whatever reason.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Doesn't explain what the Voyager was doing there though. I'd assumed it was a Cross Country ex Manchester service on a divert via the Chase line or the back way into New Street from Wolverhampton or Bushbury but nothing is showing on RTT. Either it is missing from RTT for some reason or (more unlikely) London Midland had managed to borrow the hot spare & crew from New Street for a working to Rugeley TV and back and I saw the return working which followed the RHTT through Aston.

No CrossCountry crew sign the Chase Line (the closest they get is the various diversionary routes between New Street and Wolves and the Trent Valley). As PHILEPE says, it could have been just getting the unit out of the way at New Street until it was required (the Lifford Curve at Kings Norton is also used for similar purposes on occasion).

 

[david_g]

Yes, the going round the circle to fill in some time/get out of the way and not appearing on RTT sounds likely.

Thanks all.