Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Rick1984]

Enjoyed my first trip on Friday from Glasgow to Euston.
Few technical questions.
The class 86 was at the buffer end Glasgow. Would this just have been used to bring the carriages into the platform? A freightliner class 90 new livery was on the front.
How many carriages is the attendant reasonable for? I assume our excellent bacon rolls would be cooked in lounge and brought to cabin.


Our host was very friendly. Unfortunately pretty much hit the sack straight away so didn't get to lounge for haggis and whisky.
Quite hard to time your consumption of refreshments before you board the sleeper! Did sleep right through though! Also more comfortable than i imagined with nice bedding

 

[adrock1976]

Enjoyed my first trip on Friday from Glasgow to Euston.
Few technical questions.
The class 86 was at the buffer end Glasgow. Would this just have been used to bring the carriages into the platform? A freightliner class 90 new livery was on the front.
How many carriages is the attendant reasonable for? I assume our excellent bacon rolls would be cooked in lounge and brought to cabin.


Our host was very friendly. Unfortunately pretty much hit the sack straight away so didn't get to lounge for haggis and whisky.
Quite hard to time your consumption of refreshments before you board the sleeper! Did sleep right through though! Also more comfortable than i imagined with nice bedding

The 86 would have been used to bring the set from Polmadie depot. It is then uncoupled from the coaches.

As a general rule of thumb, I believe the attendants are responsible for 2 coaches each - perhaps somebody else could confirm if that is the case?

 

[Rick1984]

Cheers. Pretty much what I thought.
Couple pictures of the locomotives
https://image.ibb.co/hg9xCv/20170707_074018.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/cMyqXv/20170706_225713.jpg

 

[najaB]

Cheers. Pretty much what I thought.

A handy hint - when you've got such large pictures it's better to post a link to them (e.g. on Flickr) rather than the actual photos.

 

[47271]

Yes, one host per two sleeper coaches plus a team leader in the lounge.

 

[Rick1984]

Don't envy that job

 

[Rick1984]

A handy hint - when you've got such large pictures it's better to post a link to them (e.g. on Flickr) rather than the actual photos.

Yeah sorry about that I've sorted them now

 

[najaB]

Don't envy that job

Which job, Sleeper Host? It's not that bad from chatting with a few of them - they weren't happy with Serco particularly when last I was onboard but that was probably about a year ago now.

 

[Rick1984]

Yes sleeper host. Must be hard work at times!
I'm guessing it goes sleeper pantry-sleeper coach.
There compartment similar to a cabin?

 

[TimboM]

STP (0Z73) in tomorrow for a possible 73/9 move from Craigentinny to Loughborough Brush:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00718/2017/07/10/advanced

A similar move last week was cancelled, but with 73971 having returned to Craigentinny earlier today after its trip to Brush for the fitting of the new Dellner coupling then more likely the move tomorrow will happen for whichever loco is next in.

Also would appear that 73971 isn't rushing off to the Czech Republic just yet for testing with the new Mk5 stock.

 

[fgwrich]

I know it's been asked before and probably some to death a little (sorry!) but can anyone tell me the formation in coach letters of the highlander? I'm off to Fort Bill next month and am in coach Z which I don't think I've come across before.

 

[Lrd]

I know it's been asked before and probably some to death a little (sorry!) but can anyone tell me the formation in coach letters of the highlander? I'm off to Fort Bill next month and am in coach Z which I don't think I've come across before.

Coach Z is the loco, right next to the blower fans of the 92, then the engine of the 73 after changing at Edinburgh. Good luck getting some sleep

 

[fgwrich]

Coach Z is the loco, right next to the blower fans of the 92, then the engine of the 73 after changing at Edinburgh. Good luck getting some sleep

I've just re-read the email and thankfully it's Coach X. Close enough!

 

[TimboM]

STP (0Z73) in tomorrow for a possible 73/9 move from Craigentinny to Loughborough Brush:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00718/2017/07/10/advanced

A similar move last week was cancelled, but with 73971 having returned to Craigentinny earlier today after its trip to Brush for the fitting of the new Dellner coupling then more likely the move tomorrow will happen for whichever loco is next in...

73966 is the loco going in - running just over an hour late currently.

 

[BRX]

Coach Z is the loco, right next to the blower fans of the 92, then the engine of the 73 after changing at Edinburgh. Good luck getting some sleep

The 73/9s are really very quiet.

Going up to Fort William behind one a couple of months ago, it almost sounded like it was still working off a third rail.

 

[TimboM]

Coach Z is the loco, right next to the blower fans of the 92, then the engine of the 73 after changing at Edinburgh. Good luck getting some sleep

I've just re-read the email and thankfully it's Coach X. Close enough!

Coach X is the ECS loco left behind in the siding in Euston isn't it?

Actually, a night camping in an 86/87 probably isn't all that bad a prospect...!

 

[paul1609]

The 73/9s are really very quiet.

Going up to Fort William behind one a couple of months ago, it almost sounded like it was still working off a third rail.

Seconded, My work digs are about 100 yards from the WHL in the Garelochead area, even with the window open I often don't hear the sleeper passing since its gone over to the 73/9s

 

[fgwrich]

Coach X is the ECS loco left behind in the siding in Euston isn't it?

Actually, a night camping in an 86/87 probably isn't all that bad a prospect...!

I'd take that if I could! Nice and quiet off the juice. And toasty when on it.

In all seriousness though, does anyone know where Coach X is?

 

[TimboM]

I'd take that if I could! Nice and quiet off the juice. And toasty when on it.

In all seriousness though, does anyone know where Coach X is?

Try this post from Scotrail84 http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2961006&postcount=2923

Ironically there is a Coach Z on this list, but no X. However, I believe at the moment there's one extra sleeper coach taken from the "usual" Aberdeen portion and put on the Fort Bill for the summer months (i.e. only 2 sleeper cars go to Aberdeen, 4 go to FW), so I would suspect that's where the 'missing' Coach X comes from. And if they're logically labelled, it'll be the 2nd one from the loxo at Euston.

Either way, you'll have a long walk at Euston!

 

[Chrism20]

...or the worst it could be is the 4th coach down. Either way, you shouldn't have long to walk at Euston, unlike those in the Inverness seats!

Aren't the FW coaches at the front leaving Euston?

It's the last one out of Waverley in the morning so if in order FW should be leading with Aberdeen in the middle and Inverness at the buffers which would mean a very long walk at Euston.

Or am I getting all mixed up?

 

[TimboM]

Aren't the FW coaches at the front leaving Euston?

It's the last one out of Waverley in the morning so if in order FW should be leading with Aberdeen in the middle and Inverness at the buffers which would mean a very long walk at Euston.

Or am I getting all mixed up?

No, I'm getting mixed up and reading Scotrail84's very clear list back-to-front! I've accordingly edited my original post. fgwrich is unfortunately in for a long walk at Euston...!

The upside is he may as well check out the loco whilst he's down there. May also be able to check out the noise (especially if a 92) if he's in the 2nd coach from the front...

 

[Chrism20]

It's a trek down there.

I'd be tempted to turn up with a limp and a walking stick and try and wangle a ride on the Network Rail assistance buggy myself

Then after a nice haggis and half a dozen scotches in the lounge I'd be able to skip down the corridor to my cabin like a new man.

 

[fgwrich]

Thanks Everyone

That's not a problem, I remember from last years trip the Inverness Portion remaining on the blocks. Incidentally how does the lounge set up work for passengers travelling up to Fort Bill? Do we use the Aberdeen lounge upon departure from Euston?

I don't mind the walk at all - I've got the advantage of travelling light anyway, and I'll probably be checking out who's the Dvr anyway (I know a few of them!)

 

[TimboM]

Thanks Everyone

That's not a problem, I remember from last years trip the Inverness Portion remaining on the blocks. Incidentally how does the lounge set up work for passengers travelling up to Fort Bill? Do we use the Aberdeen lounge upon departure from Euston?

I don't mind the walk at all - I've got the advantage of travelling light anyway, and I'll probably be checking out who's the Dvr anyway (I know a few of them!)

Yes, share the Aberdeen lounge from Euston (to Edinburgh).

If you know the driver you could get a lift when they run the loco round from the siding next to P15 to the top of the Highlander - a 5MW assistance buggy if you will

 

[Scotrail84]

Try this post from Scotrail84 http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2961006&postcount=2923

Ironically there is a Coach Z on this list, but no X. However, I believe at the moment there's one extra sleeper coach taken from the "usual" Aberdeen portion and put on the Fort Bill for the summer months (i.e. only 2 sleeper cars go to Aberdeen, 4 go to FW), so I would suspect that's where the 'missing' Coach X comes from. And if they're logically labelled, it'll be the 2nd one from the loxo at Euston.

Either way, you'll have a long at Euston!

That list was done before Aberdeen lost coach N and Ft William gained coach X will be in the Ft William portion until October when Aberdeen will gain their coach N again.

 

[TimboM]

That list was done before Aberdeen lost coach N and Ft William gained coach X will be in the Ft William portion until October when Aberdeen will gain their coach N again.

Does N just change to X, or are the Fort William coaches re-lettered logically (i.e. W / X / Y / Z starting from the loco and working back)?

 

[causton]

There is a diagram on the National Rail website staff section. If I remember, I will get a copy when I am at work in 12 hours or so :P

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A question about the ECML diversions; it was discussed in the past few days about the northbound rakes running via the "Sub" in Edinburgh to get them the right way round following the earlier reversal at Wembley.

Does the southbound go via the "Sub" as well, or does it go straight out onto the ECML via Calton Tunnels?

Also... is this a recent thing or has it always been the case for years and years now that the ECML diversions go via the "Sub"?



The reason I am asking is that around 5 years ago I had a southbound ECML run, and as I always get my head down as early as possible, I am wondering whether I have in fact scratched the "Sub" track without realising it...?

 

[causton]

I have never known to go via the "Sub" and only just read about it after you mentioned it! Never knew it was a thing... I have been southbound this year and that was direct and northbound when Lamington was shut and it did not happen then either, as far as I can remember (which I'm sure I would have!)

 

[Scotrail84]

Does N just change to X, or are the Fort William coaches re-lettered logically (i.e. W / X / Y / Z starting from the loco and working back)?

J, M, and N on the Aberdeen then W, Y and Z on the Ft William.

X will be completely removed from the train but not the actual coach if you see what I mean.