Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Liam]

That's a point. From memory it was £1.70 for tea/coffee and you get a little shortbread with it.

Sometimes there is no charge.

I can't sleep on the beds, so I usually take the seated sleeper. It's very comfortable and never seen it too busy. I usually get a double seat to myself.

 

[MylesHSG]

@Robb, that stop now makes sense. I am wondering if the loco or electrics needed a reset as powere went off a minute or 2 after stopping before then coming back on and the service restarting. The stop woke me and it was as a result that I noted the power outage.

Sounds like a class 92 that needed resetting.

 

[Bletchleyite]

2 things I would say about the caly seats. 1, MK2s so breaking noise. 2, the heat and AC is an odd, tempremental non standard system and can often be to hot or to cold!

Does anyone know *why* they have that odd system (which involves alternating a blower between the ceiling and the floor about every 5-10 seconds) rather than the standard Mk2 one? Is it something to do with keeping electric radiators outside the passenger compartment for fire safety reasons?

 

[GW43125]

That's a point. From memory it was £1.70 for tea/coffee and you get a little shortbread with it.

Thanks-is there a buffet/lounge on the Fort Bill portion after the shunt at Edinburgh?

 

[najaB]

Thanks-is there a buffet/lounge on the Fort Bill portion after the shunt at Edinburgh?

I've never done the Fort Bill portion but it's my understanding that a lounge car is added at Edinburgh.

 

[GW43125]

I've never done the Fort Bill portion but it's my understanding that a lounge car is added at Edinburgh.

I'd be seated so I presume it'd still be a case of go up to the buffet?

Having looked at a video I took of the sleeper arriving at FTW about 18 months ago, I note the (4-carriage) formation was is as follows:

• 2xSleeping
• "AU4E" (brake of some description)
• "AJ1F"

Could someone please shed some light on whether this is the usual formation, what the AU4E and AJ1F carriages are, and where I'm likely to be if I book seated from London?

 

[najaB]

I'd be seated so I presume it'd still be a case of go up to the buffet?

Yes, the lounge car is also the buffet. As far as I know the formation north of Edinburgh is 2/3 Sleepers (2 in winter, 3 in summer), 1 lounge and 1 seated car. Bear in mind that seated passengers have to change carriage at Edinburgh as they share a carriage from Euston heading northwards.

 

[GW43125]

Yes, the lounge car is also the buffet. As far as I know the formation north of Edinburgh is 2/3 Sleepers (2 in winter, 3 in summer), 1 lounge and 1 seated car.

Excellent, though when it becomes a service train at Edinburgh, where do all the punters go?

 

[najaB]

Excellent, though when it becomes a service train at Edinburgh, where do all the punters go?

Again, I've never done it myself but reports on the forum are that there aren't that many - it's a 0450 departure from Edinburgh, most people are still in bed.

 

[GW43125]

Again, I've never done it myself but reports on the forum are that there aren't that many - it's a 0450 departure from Edinburgh, most people are still in bed.

This is true.

 

[marks87]

But in answer to the question, they're accommodated in the normal seated sleeper coach.

So if you're inclined to go to Fort Bill at that time in the morning, you can travel in (what is essentially) a first class seat for a standard class fare.

 

[GW43125]

But in answer to the question, they're accommodated in the normal seated sleeper coach.

So if you're inclined to go to Fort Bill at that time in the morning, you can travel in (what is essentially) a first class seat for a standard class fare.

It looks like it's actually a pretty good deal for £27 then!

 

[43096]

I'd be seated so I presume it'd still be a case of go up to the buffet?

Having looked at a video I took of the sleeper arriving at FTW about 18 months ago, I note the (4-carriage) formation was is as follows:

• 2xSleeping
• "AU4E" (brake of some description)
• "AJ1F"

Could someone please shed some light on whether this is the usual formation, what the AU4E and AJ1F carriages are, and where I'm likely to be if I book seated from London?

If you book a seat from London you'll have to change vehicles at Edinburgh, as the seated vehicles from Euston go through to Aberdeen and Inverness. The Fort William seat vehicles are added at Edinburgh, so it is only the 2/3 sleepers that go through Euston-Fort William.

 

[GW43125]

If you book a seat from London you'll have to change vehicles at Edinburgh, as the seated vehicles from Euston go through to Aberdeen and Inverness. The Fort William seat vehicles are added at Edinburgh, so it is only the 2/3 sleepers that go through Euston-Fort William.

I know this.

 

[GW43125]

Gen from a friend: 92038 on 1M11 tonight.

 

[alexf380]

92023 currently in the Motorail bay at Edinburgh. Did it haul the northbound Highlander this morning?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It looks like it's actually a pretty good deal for £27 then!

Isn't a regular all-tables 2+2 BSO being used at the moment due to a shortage of working 2+1 seated versions?

 

[GW43125]

Isn't a regular all-tables 2+2 BSO being used at the moment due to a shortage of working 2+1 seated versions?

It does say "day carriages" on the website. I hope not.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It does say "day carriages" on the website. I hope not.

Unless they've sorted the problems out, yes:

(pic of an IC liveried Mk2 BSO and FO at Waverley on the Cally - note Class 185 Stop sign and 73s proving it's not 1990 again )

 

[GW43125]

Oh. What's up with the sleeper ones?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh. What's up with the sleeper ones?

ISTR one issue being excessive wheelflats, but I don't know if there are others.

Personally I'd rather the 4+table layout for that stretch anyway. It won't be fully loaded in most cases, and I can actually vaguely sleep leaning over onto the table unlike in a regular seat.

 

[TimboM]

Sounds like a class 92 that needed resetting.

It was 92038 (as yet unmodified) - if it was a reset of the 92 needed, I wonder if it was something that won't be an issue once it's been through Loughborough..??

 

[TimboM]

92023 currently in the Motorail bay at Edinburgh. Did it haul the northbound Highlander this morning?

Apparently 92018 hauled the Northbound Highlander and is at Edinburgh at the moment (presumably taking the Southbound tonight).

I believe 92023 brought the Lowlander Edinburgh portion up from Carstairs (a.07:19), then took the ECS back to Polmadie (d.08:18).

So you might have seen 92023 in the hour it was there between coming in and going out? Or possibly they've switched them around and 018 took the ECS back and 023 stayed in Edinburgh for the Highlander Southbound tonight.

 

[6Z09]

Next four Friday nights to Fort William diverted to Oban.

 

[alexf380]

Apparently 92018 hauled the Northbound Highlander and is at Edinburgh at the moment (presumably taking the Southbound tonight).

I believe 92023 brought the Lowlander Edinburgh portion up from Carstairs (a.07:19), then took the ECS back to Polmadie (d.08:18).

So you might have seen 92023 in the hour it was there between coming in and going out? Or possibly they've switched them around and 018 took the ECS back and 023 stayed in Edinburgh for the Highlander Southbound tonight.

Very much could be mistaken but it was 023 I saw in the bay with no coaches around as I arrived on the 08:54 from Tweedbank.
Either way it's great to see another turn has gone over to 92 operation.

 

[trainophile]

Next four Friday nights to Fort William diverted to Oban.

Why? .....

 

[Blindtraveler]

Engineering work.

 

[trainophile]

Engineering work.

Oh fair enough. I didn't think of that .

 

[TimboM]

Very much could be mistaken but it was 023 I saw in the bay with no coaches around as I arrived on the 08:54 from Tweedbank.
Either way it's great to see another turn has gone over to 92 operation.

Could well be that 018 and 023 'swapped' then, with 018 taking the ECS back. 023 did the Lowlander Edinburgh portion all/most of last week I believe, so probably due a longer run. Will probably become clearer tonight depending on which one does what in the reverse direction.

In terms of 92 'turns'; there were still two of the "main" runs done by a F/L Class 90 last night - it's just been switched around this week with a 90 and 92 doing each of the Lowlander and Highlander, rather then 2x 90s on the Highlander and 2x 92s on the Lowlander like last week. 92s have been doing the Edinburgh portion. I expect it won't be long until more turns are operated by 92s though - GBRf are slowly but surely getting them through Loughborough for the modifications and then back onto the Sleepers.

 

[TimboM]

...92023 is showing as being in Polmadie this evening and 92018 parked up at Edinburgh still. Would suggest it was 018 you saw, but wouldn't want to distrust your eyesight!