ATW Bubble Car 121

[PHILIPE]

ATW Bubbles is bust again. About three weeks now.

 

[fgwrich]

ATW Bubbles is bust again. About three weeks now.

Do you ever get the feeling that whilst it's good to be a trier, it's also sometimes time to call it a day with that poor thing? :roll:

 

[tom1649]

ATW Bubbles is bust again. About three weeks now.

It's probably sick of running that short shuttle all the time. Needs to escape onto the mainline to clear a few cobwebs out. If only...

 

[12CSVT]

ATW Bubbles is bust again. About three weeks now.

Do you ever get the feeling that whilst it's good to be a trier, it's also sometimes time to call it a day with that poor thing? :roll:

Maybe they could borrow the steam railmotor from Didcot (only joking)

 

[anthony263]

Maybe they could borrow the steam railmotor from Didcot (only joking)

Watch now we will see ATW hiring it in although I think it would be very popular with the enthusiasts etc.

 

[Searle]

ATW Bubbles is bust again. About three weeks now.

dammit, I'm off over there in a fortnight

 

[welshpax]

There is a 153 working the diagram today,

@Serale, let me know the day you come down and I will let you know if it is running

 

[Requeststop]

On the 21st of Feb during my UK rail tour 153 312 was running the Cardiff Bay shuttle.

 

[WillPS]

Meant to say about this - I saw a Chiltern liveried Bubble at Nottingham station last week - seemed to be taking a load of EMT drivers on board. Any idea what that was about?

 

[RPM]

Meant to say about this - I saw a Chiltern liveried Bubble at Nottingham station last week - seemed to be taking a load of EMT drivers on board. Any idea what that was about?

It's Chilterns route learning bubble car 960014, currently on loan to EMT who need to get a load of drivers to sign various bits of diversionary route.

 

[WillPS]

It's Chilterns route learning bubble car 960014, currently on loan to EMT who need to get a load of drivers to sign various bits of diversionary route.

Ahhah, related to the Station closure - thought it might be!

 

[anthony263]

Meant to say about this - I saw a Chiltern liveried Bubble at Nottingham station last week - seemed to be taking a load of EMT drivers on board. Any idea what that was about?

I am sure I read somehwere that Chilterns blue liveried class 121 is on hire to emt for route learning.

 

[RPM]

I am sure I read somehwere that Chilterns blue liveried class 121 is on hire to emt for route learning.

No it is the blue & grey route learner that EMT have hired. However the blue passenger bubble is also being used for route learning by Chiltern on the Leamington - Coventry - New Street route in advance of a forthcoming blockade at Dorridge. I think at the same time some drivers are also learning the road through to Crewe to facilitiate class 67 transfers.

 

[Searle]

There is a 153 working the diagram today,

@Serale, let me know the day you come down and I will let you know if it is running

Thanks, will do if I remember. If it is a 153, there's not much I can do about it. Never been to Cardiff so I'll be having a bit of an explore even if it isn't a bubble car in action

 

[Nottm]

I keep seeing the Bubble Car in Nottm. It looks so out of place when it's sat in the station! No. is 960014.

 

[TGVDUDE]

Had a text earlier saying today was its last day in service for good!

 

[Rich McLean]

Such a shame, but unfortunately it was out of traction more than it was in, so I suppose they had to bite the bullet

 

[anthony263]

Looks like it is true lads looks to be off to Chiltern to be used as spares for their bubble cars

 

[12CSVT]

Had a text earlier saying today was its last day in service for good!

Quick - get it up to the East Lancs for tomorrow's DMU gala.

If only.....................

 

[Requeststop]

"Bubbles" seem to be newsworthy at the moment. My RAIL magazine 717 arrived yesterday and there are 2 items on "Bubbles" Page 23: South Devon Railways W55000. and Page 27: Chilterns 121020 away from home at Leamington Spa as posted earlier by RPM and Anthony 263

 

[TGVDUDE]

Was hoped it would go to a good home, shame it'll be a spares job, had a thought a pres line could use it for mainline connections like Swanage in the future

 

[anthony263]

Was hoped it would go to a good home, shame it'll be a spares job, had a thought a pres line could use it for mainline connections like Swanage in the future

Pity the Lynfi loop at Tondu is able to be used by passenger trains a additional shuttle running between Bridgend (Platform 3) and Maesteg in addition to the hourly Maesteg - Cardiff/Cheltenham trains would have been great.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

It would have been great as a shuttle between Helsby and Ellesmere Port.

 

[anthony263]

Confirmed today by sources at ATW & Chiltern that Arriva's class 121 has been sold to Chiltern as a source of spare's for their class 121's

 

[gazthomas]

Do you think a Parry People Mover would be viable for this shuttle? (Maybe a stretched one?)

 

[tom1649]

Do you think a Parry People Mover would be viable for this shuttle? (Maybe a stretched one?)

Not much point when the line's going to be electrified.

 

[gazthomas]

Not much point when the line's going to be electrified.

Fair point!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Not much point when the line's going to be electrified.

Fair enough, but surely a 313/315 will be overkill on the Butetown?

 

[anthony263]

Fair enough, but surely a 313/315 will be overkill on the Butetown?

True maybe the branch should be converted to tram-train and extended to serve other parts of Cardiff Bay.

 

[tom1649]

Would it not be possible to run through services to Cardiff Bay after electrification?