signallerscot
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Correct all sleeper stock now rotates through Alstom Wembley and Polmadie, with heavy repairs at Knorr Bremse Glasgow Works and Kilmarnock as required. ScotRail at Inverness don't undertake maintenance work on it any more.
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Caledonian Sleeper discussion
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Correct all sleeper stock now rotates through Alstom Wembley and Polmadie, with heavy repairs at Knorr Bremse Glasgow Works and Kilmarnock as required. ScotRail at Inverness don't undertake maintenance work on it any more.
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TimboM
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Knowledgeable folk (e.g. Scotrail84) on here have confirmed this bit at least is correct/the plan - the reason being the stock ends up at either of the two main depots its serviced at each day (Polmadie/Wembley) so any teething problems can be resolved.
The Highlander (north) involves two 8-coach sets split across Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness making any issue resolution more tricky.
However, the same rotation employed by ScotRail would still work for Polmadie, even if it isn't strictly necessary.
A full set ends up there every morning, so all that's now needed is a single swap in London (i.e. up Highlander because the following night's down Lowlander).
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TimboM
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Not quite sure what you're referring to coming back down... however, 86401 (Polmadie/Glasgow ECS loco) is showing overdue a B exam on TOPS (not that TOPS is 100% accurate!) so there's a possibility that it's going up for 86401 to come back the other way on 1M11 tomorrow night (in which case 101 would stay in Scotland).
That said, it may just be due to some issue in using the 92 and 86101 subbed in late notice and will just come back on 1M11 tomorrow. I had thought 86401 went to Craigentinny for anything that can't be sorted at Polmadie itself, but maybe a B Exam needs to be done at Willesden..?
EDIT: 86101 returned on 1M11 last night, and 92023 (which I suspect was the originally booked loco for Wed night) has moved to "X" on TOPS, so suspect 86101 was just standing in due to 023 having some sort of issue. 86401 still in Scotland.
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Today 73970 which was on a Polmadie-Kilmarnock move was commandeered to rescue 56094 which had failed on the Grangemouth- Prestwick oil train. No photos on Flickr yet but I'me sure there will be some soon....
That sounds heavy!
TimboM
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Pocket rockets those 73/9s
This pic from two days ago of the 56 with empties suggests its a relatively short train (11 TTA tanks I think): https://flic.kr/p/XKMsLn (not mine) They're about 40-45 tonnes each I believe, so probably looking around the 500-600 tonne mark with the dead 56 too.
The 73 was itself standing in on the Kilmarnock ECS move for 47749 which is still stranded at Barnetby after its oil leak on the GBRf tour at the weekend, so has been kept busy by failing Colas locos today.
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ScottDarg
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Spoke to the driver of 73970 at Kilmarnock today. They ended up in 115 late and got held up further on the return by a 66 for Drax and a passenger arrival, despite hoping to be able to couple and go.
They dropped 56094 at Monkton where 56302 took it and the empties back to Grangemouth.
They dropped 56094 at Monkton where 56302 took it and the empties back to Grangemouth.
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It may not be maintained in Inverness but it certainly still goes there!
Far north 37
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It may not be maintained in Inverness but it certainly still goes there!
seen as the post was referring to maintenance i meant none returns for that purpose obviously sleeper stock still goes there
I did say that the maintenance wasn't done at Inverness now, that the rotation could be the same, just with maintenance done elsewhere.
This arrangement would make it easier when the Mk5 stock comes into service for the maintenance to be split, 2 x 8 car Mk2/3 sets for the highland (split however in Edinburgh) and 2 x 8 car Mk5 sets for the Lowland. Each set would still be able to rotate through the works on the same pattern as before, albeit on two separate diagrams.
This arrangement would make it easier when the Mk5 stock comes into service for the maintenance to be split, 2 x 8 car Mk2/3 sets for the highland (split however in Edinburgh) and 2 x 8 car Mk5 sets for the Lowland. Each set would still be able to rotate through the works on the same pattern as before, albeit on two separate diagrams.
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TimboM
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Slightly grainy video of the new Mk5 stock heading to Velim for those who've not seen it linked elsewhere.
https://www.facebook.com/alan.spencer.14/videos/10214968097062458/
Per info from Scotrail84 earlier in the thread, the "test rake" of five coaches comprises:
1x Brake
1x Lounge
1x SLEP
1x SLE
1x SLED
(Not in that order; looks more like Brake or Lounge / Sleeper / Sleeper / Brake or Lounge / Sleeper)
https://www.facebook.com/alan.spencer.14/videos/10214968097062458/
Per info from Scotrail84 earlier in the thread, the "test rake" of five coaches comprises:
1x Brake
1x Lounge
1x SLEP
1x SLE
1x SLED
(Not in that order; looks more like Brake or Lounge / Sleeper / Sleeper / Brake or Lounge / Sleeper)
Clansman
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Great to see what the future will bring. Hopefully, we'll be seeing more of them as testing commences. Very quirky looking coaches I have to say.
Now back to reality.
Seats and Lounge both locked out of use on the Southbound Inverness tonight.
Now back to reality.
Seats and Lounge both locked out of use on the Southbound Inverness tonight.
xc170
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Takes a lot of equipment to get showers, individual air conditioning, etc. working.
copernicium112
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Am I right in thinking the Sleeper is being diverted to King's Cross on Saturday morning as Euston is shut? And if so, how are they shortening the rakes?
Scotrail84
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73 970 on the C11 and B26 runs.
TimboM
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92028 also moved up to Polmadie early hours of this morning and reported to be on the Polmadie-Glasgow Central ECS moves tonight.
First time 028's been a) north of the border and b) attached to coaching stock in c.2.5 years I believe.
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TimboM
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Yes, into KGX on Saturday morning, out of KGX on the Sunday evening - diverted via ECML. Also in three portions due to platform length - not sure of the exact formations, but Highlander is being split in two, so presumably that'll be straightforward and 2x standard 8-coach sets. Presumably the Lowlander will be reduced in length accordingly - IIRC KGX can take 13 coaches plus the two locos, so will need to lose three coaches.
Times available via RTT if required.
Saturday morning 26/08/2017
From Glasgow and Edinburgh 1E35
From Inverness 1E39
From Aberdeen and Fort William 1E43
Sunday evening 27/08/2017
To Inverness 1S66
To Aberdeen and Fort William 1S70
To Edinburgh and Glasgow 1S72
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87015
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All planned to be covered with 92s as well!
gingerheid
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I've just got hold of a 1986 winter Passenger Timetable.
It was fascinating and a first a little sad to see timetables for some of the things I've read fascinating reminiscences about here; the Stranraer - Ayr - Kilmarnock - Dunfries - London sleeper, and of course the Glasgow / Edinburgh - Inverness sleeper.
But then I looked at the timetables for earlier in the day, and it's them that made me realise just how much we shouldn't want to return to those times!
I see that, yes, Inverness used to have 3 sleeper trains a day to on 4 routes... but only 5 other trains to the central belt during the rest of the day (or two, both around 5pm, on Sundays) and that your journey time was going to be 4h+.
Maybe the 12 trains a day we have now (that will get you there in about 3.5ish hours) aren't so bad? Maybe the absence of internal sleepers should only make our nostalgic hearts a little sad and not our logical ones? Certainly, I don't think we should be wishing those times back!
It was fascinating and a first a little sad to see timetables for some of the things I've read fascinating reminiscences about here; the Stranraer - Ayr - Kilmarnock - Dunfries - London sleeper, and of course the Glasgow / Edinburgh - Inverness sleeper.
But then I looked at the timetables for earlier in the day, and it's them that made me realise just how much we shouldn't want to return to those times!
I see that, yes, Inverness used to have 3 sleeper trains a day to on 4 routes... but only 5 other trains to the central belt during the rest of the day (or two, both around 5pm, on Sundays) and that your journey time was going to be 4h+.
Maybe the 12 trains a day we have now (that will get you there in about 3.5ish hours) aren't so bad? Maybe the absence of internal sleepers should only make our nostalgic hearts a little sad and not our logical ones? Certainly, I don't think we should be wishing those times back!
Does anyone know if these are historic East Coast Sleeper headcodes? They seem a little obscure in choice to have been chosen for this occasion.
TimboM
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Going to be a very interesting 3 hours or so this Saturday morning at the Cross. Looks like up to 5 CS locos will be on view (assuming no 90's or GBRF liveried 92's)!
Yes, they are. Nod to the past
Oh excellent. I like this a lot!
At the risk of going off topic, presumably the gaps represent some other historic sleeper services?
87015
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TimboM
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There's paths in for ECS locos for each service - first two (for Glasgow and Inverness stock) from Willesden TMD. Third one (for Aberdeen service) is from Hornsey Signal K440 (just north of Finsbury Park). There's a reverse at that signal to work round to Wembley, so presumably most of the ECS moves will be T'n'T. The fact the last one comes in from that signal suggests the loco taking the Inverness stock out will detach there and run back in for the Aberdeen? Guessing that's where you've got the probable 5 locos from...
I suspect there'll be some tatty grey F/liner 90 action involved somewhere along the line, plus also Triple Grey 92044 in the mix and/or GBRf 92032 may do an ECS turn too. There's only 5 CS-liveried 92s out and about currently (including 023 currently stopped at Willesden) and some will be in Scotland/heading North so unlikely all will be at the Cross, although the 3 bringing the services in could feasibly be CS 92s. If they stayed in the current rotation it'd be 92033, 92010 and 90047 - but they get chopped and changed around a fair bit so probably be something different by Fri night/Sat am.
87002 hasn't worked since the very start of July and has been "X" on TOPS the last three weeks, so not sure whether that'll be in action for the weekend. So 86101 may need some company on the ECS duties.
Will certainly be an A/C loco fest - not to mention the usual VTEC Class 91s and possible hire-in DB 90 (if that's still happening).
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Scotrail84
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I have been advised that a 90 with an 86 will be on 5C11 as the 86 needs to go to Craigentinny tonight.
TimboM
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This is for tonight presumably? There's only 92s in Scotland today (010/014 at Polmadie; 018 at Waverley AFAIK); so presumably it'll head across with whichever 92's doing 5C11/1C11 etc. (was 92010 last night).
Think 86401 is due a B Exam (hence 67, 73/9 and 92028 doing ECS recently).
Should mean 92028 on the Polmadie<->Glasgow Central ECS for bit.
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That is exactly how I derived the figure 5!
While we are on the subject of numbers, there will be four GBRf operated passenger trains between Peterborough and Finsbury Park on Saturday morning, the three sleepers plus a GBRf operated railtour (planned to be hauled by 66779):
http://www.ukrailtours.com/product/a-great-day-out-to-bath-or-bristol/
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