Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[alexf380]

I'm losing the plot! thanks for checking anyway.

 

[TimboM]

I'm losing the plot! thanks for checking anyway.

No problem.
92018 did the Southbound Highlander last night, so pretty sure that's what would've been parked up. 023 was on the Lowlander Edinburgh portion again.

 

[trainophile]

So, tonight's the night. Anyone know what's on the Fort William this evening, and as I don't really do Class numbers, is it a good one?

 

[TimboM]

So, tonight's the night. Anyone know what's on the Fort William this evening, and as I don't really do Class numbers, is it a good one?

No idea what you've got tonight, but as you're currently running 1 minute early I'd class it as a "good one"!

[Edit: looks like you've got the Class 66 / Class 73 double-headed combo tonight. 66739 providing most of the power; 73968 keeping you warm(ish).]

After that, not 100% sure, but looks like you have 92023 taking you on from Edinburgh - I'd say that's definitely a good one

 

[work-traveller]

Do the northbound services (Inverness service tonight in my case) still pick up newspapers in the morning? Presumably at Waverley, in the same way that the Cornish Sleeper picks up the Times at Plymouth.

Also, are the people who put the bacon rolls in the microwave (sorry - the chefs) amenable to un-booked requests for breakfast?

Experience shows that some are bright, polite, chatty and helpful whilst a few seem irritated by the presence of passengers.

 

[najaB]

Also, are the people who put the bacon rolls in the microwave (sorry - the chefs) amenable to un-booked requests for breakfast?.

They are, as much as they can be because the breakfast stock is picked up en-route based on the orders. So they may or may not have some going spare, so to speak.

 

[trainophile]

No idea what you've got tonight, but as you're currently running 1 minute early I'd class it as a "good one"!

[Edit: looks like you've got the Class 66 / Class 73 double-headed combo tonight. 66739 providing most of the power; 73968 keeping you warm(ish).]

After that, not 100% sure, but looks like you have 92023 taking you on from Edinburgh - I'd say that's definitely a good one

Thank you, it was. No complaints about the traction, but I had to be moved to a two berth in coach Y as there was no running water in W! Luckily I didn't have to share, but it felt much more cramped with the extra bunk overhead.

On the way back tonight, I have had a lovely time in FW and will be sorry to leave.

Btw I did manage to wash my hair at the sink, with the help of my trusty enamel travel mug - I figured they expect people to do so as the little bottle of wash gel provided was for body and hair . The basins are quite a decent size actually.

 

[TimboM]

Thank you, it was. No complaints about the traction, but I had to be moved to a two berth in coach Y as there was no running water in W! Luckily I didn't have to share, but it felt much more cramped with the extra bunk overhead.

On the way back tonight, I have had a lovely time in FW and will be sorry to leave.

Btw I did manage to wash my hair at the sink, with the help of my trusty enamel travel mug - I figured they expect people to do so as the little bottle of wash gel provided was for body and hair . The basins are quite a decent size actually.

Glad you've had a good trip so far - hopefully the journey back is also pleasant and uneventful.

It's occurred to me now you were going Northbound TO Fort William on Tue night and I was telling you the Southbound traction FROM FW...

As these things pan out the 66/73 pair I (mis)quoted the other day is actually the one taking you Southbound tonight. On Tue night it was the same 73, but a different 66 (66735). Assuming you came up from south of the border, Freightliner 90042 was the traction for the WCML part.

Not totally sure what wil be hauling South after Edinburgh tonight, but likely to be a 92 - 92023 possibly.

 

[trainophile]

I'm back in Euston . I didn't realise there's no lounge in the morning going south, and we would have breakfast delivered to our room. Luckily I woke early and was washed (in cold water!) and dressed by the time it arrived.

Great guy looking after coaches W and Y, he seemed to be everywhere and working constantly.

Overall verdict... a great experience but they need to get the water problems sorted out.

 

[TimboM]

I'm back in Euston . I didn't realise there's no lounge in the morning going south, and we would have breakfast delivered to our room. Luckily I woke early and was washed (in cold water!) and dressed by the time it arrived.

Great guy looking after coaches W and Y, he seemed to be everywhere and working constantly.

Overall verdict... a great experience but they need to get the water problems sorted out.

The staff are good, the old coaching stock less so - but brand new ones are due next year.

92014 was your trusty steed on the Edinburgh-Euston leg.

 

[Scotrail84]

I'm back in Euston . I didn't realise there's no lounge in the morning going south, and we would have breakfast delivered to our room. Luckily I woke early and was washed (in cold water!) and dressed by the time it arrived.

Great guy looking after coaches W and Y, he seemed to be everywhere and working constantly.

Overall verdict... a great experience but they need to get the water problems sorted out.

You can request your breakfast in the lounge, at least the Aberdeen and Inverness portion passengers can.

 

[Scotrail84]

Do the northbound services (Inverness service tonight in my case) still pick up newspapers in the morning? Presumably at Waverley, in the same way that the Cornish Sleeper picks up the Times at Plymouth.

Also, are the people who put the bacon rolls in the microwave (sorry - the chefs) amenable to un-booked requests for breakfast?

Experience shows that some are bright, polite, chatty and helpful whilst a few seem irritated by the presence of passengers.

No, the only special cargo conveyed on the Sleepers now are the boxes of langoustines and other crustaceans from Inverness to London for sale at extraordinary prices in the restaurants of London.

 

[Scotrail84]

Oban seats sold out for tonight.

Last night 47 739 failed and 1B16 was cancelled between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

 

[Scotrail84]

I'm back in Euston . I didn't realise there's no lounge in the morning going south, and we would have breakfast delivered to our room. Luckily I woke early and was washed (in cold water!) and dressed by the time it arrived.

Great guy looking after coaches W and Y, he seemed to be everywhere and working constantly.

Overall verdict... a great experience but they need to get the water problems sorted out.

He's a decent bloke. Been on the sleepers for years.

 

[TimboM]

Last night 47 739 failed and 1B16 was cancelled between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

So much for the trusty 1960s traction :cry:

 

[Scotrail84]

So much for the trusty 1960s traction :cry:

Ran out of oil, reliably informed that the loco has been repaired although it did not feature on 1A25 today.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Unsurprisingly Oban seats sold out, no doubt with bashers however what a morning for them weather wise.

 

[Clansman]

Water problems on the Glasgow Sleeper today also. Had a berth at the very front behind 92014 (I think that was it) and the water was colder for every berth closest to the loco for some reason - although I don't think anyone got was lucky enough to have the privilege of hot water on this train.

 

[TimboM]

Water problems on the Glasgow Sleeper today also. Had a berth at the very front behind 92014 (I think that was it) and the water was colder for every berth closest to the loco for some reason - although I don't think anyone got was lucky enough to have the privilege of hot water on this train.

Yes, was 92014 on the Northbound Glasgow Sleeper last night.

I suspect this will be a fault with the carriage rather than anything to do with the loco as such - presumably the (hot water) tank is at one end and the further away from it the colder the water is if it's not working properly?

There's a report a few posts up of no water in a carriage a few nights ago. Not sure of the diagrams or if it's the same coach. One thing's for sure the new rolling stock is definitely needed!

 

[Scotrail84]

Unsurprisingly Oban seats sold out, no doubt with bashers however what a morning for them weather wise.

Surprisingly no, they were in the berths from Euston.

 

[Scotrail84]

Yes, was 92014 on the Northbound Glasgow Sleeper last night.

I suspect this will be a fault with the carriage rather than anything to do with the loco as such - presumably the (hot water) tank is at one end and the further away from it the colder the water is if it's not working properly?

There's a report a few posts up of no water in a carriage a few nights ago. Not sure of the diagrams or if it's the same coach. One thing's for sure the new rolling stock is definitely needed!

Disagree, the current stock is fine if they repair the faults but i think a wind down will start.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Disagree, the current stock is fine if they repair the faults but i think a wind down has started.

Fixed that for you.

Agree entirely on stock too.

 

[47271]

I understand that the Inverness section was short formed by one sleeper this week 'for maintenance in a quieter period', to quote a regular user who was told this by the crew. There's no disputing that this is a quiet time of year, but whether this a sign of a wind down on the mk3s, or preventative work as completely the opposite, it's hard to say.

And, yes, I'm hearing quite a few comments on cabin water at the moment: very low pressure to the point of a tiny dribble being the main one.

 

[trainophile]

Just out of curiosity, would a passenger who had to be moved to a 2-berth cabin, due (in this case) to lack of water, be entitled to any sort of refund, as the 2-berths are "standard class" I believe, even if that passenger has single occupancy?

I would very much doubt it as apart from the extra berth there is no difference, however it felt much more cramped with the overhead bunk looming into the already compact space.

 

[AlterEgo]

Just out of curiosity, would a passenger who had to be moved to a 2-berth cabin, due (in this case) to lack of water, be entitled to any sort of refund, as the 2-berths are "standard class" I believe, even if that passenger has single occupancy?

I would very much doubt it as apart from the extra berth there is no difference, however it felt much more cramped with the overhead bunk looming into the already compact space.

Just fold the bunk back up after taking the sheets off; it can be done manually, or I'm sure the steward wouldn't mind.

 

[Liam]

Just out of curiosity, would a passenger who had to be moved to a 2-berth cabin, due (in this case) to lack of water, be entitled to any sort of refund, as the 2-berths are "standard class" I believe, even if that passenger has single occupancy?

I would very much doubt it as apart from the extra berth there is no difference, however it felt much more cramped with the overhead bunk looming into the already compact space.

All the berths are the same, if you have a first class ticket the top bunk is folded away.

 

[trainophile]

I didn't think of that, but anyway there was a ladder lying on the top bunk, that would have had to go somewhere. The attendant never mentioned the possibility of folding it away, just said "I'm afraid there's two bunks in here" as he showed me into the cabin. (This was not the nice chap I referred to earlier, it was on the northbound trip.)

In the 1st Class cabin, if there was a folded away top bunk it must have been extremely flush into the wall, as there was no indication of there being one, although I did notice fittings for supporting the outer ends of one, but assumed they were a relic from when there were two berths in there. I'm trying to remember if there was an upper end shelf, to suggest an upper bunk was available, but can't say I can recall one.

 

[TimboM]

I didn't think of that, but anyway there was a ladder lying on the top bunk, that would have had to go somewhere. The attendant never mentioned the possibility of folding it away, just said "I'm afraid there's two bunks in here" as he showed me into the cabin. (This was not the nice chap I referred to earlier, it was on the northbound trip.)

In the 1st Class cabin, if there was a folded away top bunk it must have been extremely flush into the wall, as there was no indication of there being one, although I did notice fittings for supporting the outer ends of one, but assumed they were a relic from when there were two berths in there. I'm trying to remember if there was an upper end shelf, to suggest an upper bunk was available, but can't say I can recall one.

Yes, it folds away into a recess. The "First" and "Standard" berths are no different physically.

 

[trainophile]

Well well . Wonder why that wasn't suggested then. Too much trouble?

 

[philthetube]

Disagree, the current stock is fine if they repair the faults but I think a wind down will start.

Fixed that for you