Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[BRX]

It would've been interesting if it had been anything else.

Indeed, well it has delivered us to edinburgh on time and 92014 is waiting to take us forward.

Shunts are taking place on N side of the station, has always been the S side when I've watched this before.

 

[TimboM]

Shunts are taking place on N side of the station, has always been the S side when I've watched this before.

Is that maybe to do with the ECML diversions?

 

[BRX]

Is that maybe to do with the ECML diversions?

That's what I wondered; perhaps the track layout allows an easier eastward departure from there.

Arrived on time (actually early) this morning. The 87 took us in from wembley. Passed lowlander ecs on the way out, 90042 on the wembley end, 92032 on the euston end.

 

[BRX]

Are drivers expected to go any more gently when in charge of a sleeper train? Often when I'm on the sleeper there isn't the impression of much care being taken. Not so much the shunts at edinburgh but regular stops at stations and so on, with the train being brought to an abrupt halt. This morning on the way into euston there was a sharp stop at a signal which caused a fellow passenger to whack her head into the wall.

I wonder if there are skills which have been lost as a result of the decline of loco hauled passenger trains.

 

[47271]

Is that maybe to do with the ECML diversions?

Also bear in mind that Waverley P12 is closed now for work, there was an engineering train in there this morning, and that P5 and P6 under extension are also adjacent to the south through lines. They could just be keeping the shunt clear of overnight possessions in the station itself.

 

[signallerscot]

Shunting for M16/S25 is always done on the north side when they're diverted via the East Coast, nothing new here. That's not to say the platform closures aren't causing issues stabling sleeper locos and stock...

 

[Scotrail84]

Southside shut for possessions after 1C11 leaves. 1M16 and 1S25 will use north side of Waverley for up to 2 years, except on a Friday or any other night when the isolation is cancelled.

 

[TimboM]

Shunting for M16/S25 is always done on the north side when they're diverted via the East Coast, nothing new here. That's not to say the platform closures aren't causing issues stabling sleeper locos and stock...

Southside shut for possessions after 1C11 leaves. 1M16 and 1S25 will use north side of Waverley for up to 2 years, except on a Friday or any other night when the isolation is cancelled.

Thanks for the info. Is this why the locos are being seen stabled more often now in the siding between P16 and P17?

 

[TimboM]

1S26 (North Lowlander) due to be hauled by 87002 tonight still hasn't departed (25 mins late now). Trust there's not an issue with the 87...?

There's just been a light loco move onto the front of the train - hopefully 87002 having been held up for some reason moving over from where it brought the Highlander ECS in (rather than a rescue loco).


UPDATE: there was an issue with the 87 - leaky cab apparently. Was replaced by 90042 (which unsurprisingly recovered the 42 min delay before it'd reached Stafford).

Shame for all those booked on especially for the 87 to then get a Skoda

 

[CosherB]

Divine retribution for all of that GBRf marketing hype!

 

[TimboM]

Divine retribution for all of that GBRf marketing hype!

There's certainly a distinct irony that it has no problems when bailing out 92s/90s last minute, but when it's advertised as a "special" haulage it fails.

I'm sure there'll be an operational reason, but a bit of a shame 86401 that's sat at Willesden couldn't have been the substitute loco.

Personally I'd have preferred the 92 that was trapped on the blocks

 

[Scotrail84]

Thanks for the info. Is this why the locos are being seen stabled more often now in the siding between P16 and P17?

Yes, they are using the mid road. Ft william coaches go to craiggy sometimes as well.

 

[jopsuk]

Going south from Stirling on Thursday night (leading to the confusing situation of having a ticket marked as valid on the 8th actually being valid for boarding just after midnight, so on the 9th- I've double checked!). Last time I was on a sleeper north of Edinburgh or Glasgow was about 1989! Think at that time the Inverness sleeper didn't couple to anything and ran to Kings Cross. Think this may be the first time I've ever caught a sleeper from an intermediate station

 

[TimboM]

Going south from Stirling on Thursday night (leading to the confusing situation of having a ticket marked as valid on the 8th actually being valid for boarding just after midnight, so on the 9th- I've double checked!). Last time I was on a sleeper north of Edinburgh or Glasgow was about 1989! Think at that time the Inverness sleeper didn't couple to anything and ran to Kings Cross. Think this may be the first time I've ever caught a sleeper from an intermediate station

Hope it's a good trip. Last time I was travelling from Stirling on the Sleeper I decided against having to hang around in what I suspect is a pretty quiet (and cold!) station with not much to do until midnight and instead got a day train down to Glasgow, had dinner in a reasonable Italian near the station, then got the Lowlander.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

There is a reasonable Indian restaurant not far from the station in Stirling. Slow service IIRC, but you won't be in any hurry...

 

[alexf380]

Could someone please tell me what's on the front of tonight's NB Highlander out of Euston? I'm in the Inverness seats and was running a tad late!

Thanks,
Alex

 

[TimboM]

Could someone please tell me what's on the front of tonight's NB Highlander out of Euston? I'm in the Inverness seats and was running a tad late!

Thanks,
Alex

I'm 90% sure it's 92018, but hopefully someone can confirm for definite.

It's either that or 92033 (all other CS 92s are in Scotland [or Loughborough, again... 92023!]). 92033 was down to do the Lowlander ECS, though (and also worked ECS last night)... but I think that was 87002 in the end, so maybe 033 had some sort of issue (or change of plan for whatever reason).

 

[Scotrail84]

I'm 90% sure it's 92018, but hopefully someone can confirm for definite.

It's either that or 92033 (all other CS 92s are in Scotland [or Loughborough, again... 92023!]). 92033 was down to do the Lowlander ECS, though (and also worked ECS last night)... but I think that was 87002 in the end, so maybe 033 had some sort of issue (or change of plan for whatever reason).

018 is on southbound 1M16.

 

[TimboM]

018 is on southbound 1M16.

Bit odd - 014 was showing as being in Edinburgh Waverley today having worked 1S25 north last night; and 92018 in Willesden having worked 1M16 south last night. So tonight thought it was 014 heading south on 1M16 and 018 going north on 1S25? (With the 2x F/Liner 90s (90042/45) working the Lowlanders, 92038 on the Lowlander Edinburgh portion and 92010 on Polmadie/Glasgow ECS...)

 

[Scotrail84]

Bit odd - 014 was showing as being in Edinburgh Waverley today having worked 1S25 north last night; and 92018 in Willesden having worked 1M16 south last night. So tonight thought it was 014 heading south on 1M16 and 018 going north on 1S25? (With the 2x F/Liner 90s (90042/45) working the Lowlanders, 92038 on the Lowlander Edinburgh portion and 92010 on Polmadie/Glasgow ECS...)

Train lists are showing it as having 018 on it. Will update once I get a chance to find out exactly what is hauling it.

 

[Scotrail84]

Can confirm 014 is on 1M16, a mistake with train list incorrectly stating that 018 is the booked motive power.

 

[TimboM]

Can confirm 014 is on 1M16, a mistake with train list incorrectly stating that 018 is the booked motive power.

Cool, good to know I hadn't lost the plot!

I think 014 and 018 "switched places" on Sun night which may be why things are showing incorrectly?

018 was in Waverley Sat/Sun having brought the Highlander north on Fri night, so would ordinarily have taken it South on Sunday. However, it was at the buffers in that siding between P16/P17 and 92014 (which I believe brought in the Edinburgh portion ECS) ended up doing 1M16.

 

[alexf380]

So 018 on 1S25? Can confirm it was 90045 brought the empties in from Willesden.

 

[Scotrail84]

Cool, good to know I hadn't lost the plot!

I think 014 and 018 "switched places" on Sun night which may be why things are showing incorrectly?

018 was in Waverley Sat/Sun having brought the Highlander north on Fri night, so would ordinarily have taken it South on Sunday. However, it was at the buffers in that siding between P16/P17 and 92014 (which I believe brought in the Edinburgh portion ECS) ended up doing 1M16.

No idea about sat/sun loco swaps but I can tell you that siding at Waverley is called the mid road.

 

[TimboM]

So 018 on 1S25? Can confirm it was 90045 brought the empties in from Willesden.

Yes, confirmed as 018.
90045 then worked 1S26 (Lowlander north) after it'd brought your ECS in.

No idea about sat/sun loco swaps but I can tell you that siding at Waverley is called the mid road.

Ok, cool, I shall use the correct (and far shorter) term in future

 

[Sarahs_Railway]

To confirm all of the above posts I have posted pics of some of the CS locos involved in last nights ops. FL 90042 brought in 1M11, the Up Lowland; 86401 took those empties from EUS; 92014 headed 1M16 the Up Highlander. Later in day 92018 was on the Mid Road at EDB. Link below as always. Freightliner 66 also sitting in EDB - there for engineering or was it the Thunderbird? No sign of a 67 and 67 014 which was formerly Thunderbird was at Newcastle Central today.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149563882@N07/

 

[TimboM]

To confirm all of the above posts I have posted pics of some of the CS locos involved in last nights ops. FL 90042 brought in 1M11, the Up Lowland; 86401 took those empties from EUS; 92014 headed 1M16 the Up Highlander. Later in day 92018 was on the Mid Road at EDB. Link below as always. Freightliner 66 also sitting in EDB - there for engineering or was it the Thunderbird? No sign of a 67 and 67 014 which was formerly Thunderbird was at Newcastle Central today.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149563882@N07/

Thanks for sharing - good photos. Those 92s need a wash! I've answered your red tail lights question (I think...!)

I'd be a little surprised if the F/liner 66 was a Thunderbird for VTEC - more likely part of the engineering work on-going at Waverley as you suggest. DB have the Thunderbird contract and I don't think 66s are suitable for hauling 225 sets (if indeed they even can?). The 125mph alleged top speed of the 67 is somewhat mythical but they can do 100mph plus and even they struggle with the timings - a 66 with a top whack of 75mph would fall way behind. No ETS either. Did you get its number?

I think the Thunderbird contract involves 3 (or 4?) locos at strategic locations along the ECML - one you'd always expect in/around Kings Cross so the others probably rotate sometimes as to which of the key locations over the rest of the route they are. Or the EDB one was hiding...?!

 

[GW43125]

I think the Thunderbird contract involves 3 (or 4?) locos at strategic locations along the ECML - one you'd always expect in/around Kings Cross so the others probably rotate sometimes as to which of the key locations over the rest of the route they are. Or the EDB one was hiding...?!

AFAIK (and from my own observations on my last trip), I think they're at King's Cross, Doncaster, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Though there are so many locos at Doncaster it may not have been a thunderbird.

 

[GW43125]

I can tell you that siding at Waverley is called the mid road.

May I ask also what's the siding next to P10 called?

 

[signallerscot]

May I ask also what's the siding next to P10 called?

The Klondyke.