Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Sarahs_Railway]

Well it certainly looks like being an interesting weekend at either end of the CS runs. I will have to look at the timings and see if I can squeeze in a trip to EDB.

Meantime 92018 was stabled opposite Platform 7 at EDB this afternoon. Apologies for this shot looking similar to earlier posts but this was the first time I had seen 018 anywhere other than on the Mid Road which is not an ideal location to photograph will all the MU workings going on both sides.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/149563882@N07/35926642463/in/dateposted-public/

 

[Scotrail84]

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.

Thats what I was told, an 86 or 87 will lead into Waverley tonight on the ECS to be detached then run light to Craigentinny depot. This of course could change though.

 

[Sarahs_Railway]

I have been looking at RTT trying to sort out how the Up workings are going to be arranged.

I assumed that the Glasgow Central to King's Cross would work as a curtailed (i.e. 13 coaches against 16) throughout with a 92 or a Skoda up front.

The Inverness section will run as a full set utilising the 92 that work the previous Down Highlander.

The Fort William and Aberdeen sections will join at Edinburgh. However that leaves it a loco short as no light loco working is listed under CS.

Am i right in assuming from this that an ECS working will still take place from Polmadie to Waverley as well as to Glasgow Central thus supplying the extra 90 or 92?

Apologies if I am being very thick and missing something obvious.

 

[TimboM]

Thats what I was told, an 86 or 87 will lead into Waverley tonight on the ECS to be detached then run light to Craigentinny depot. This of course could change though.

Makes sense - will be 86401 (87002 has been stopped at Willesden for weeks and 86101 is on ECS duties at Wembley).

The 92 (010) will be on the back apparently (ready to take 1C11 without having to run round). "Mons Meg" going to Craigentinny for exam as suspected.

 

[TimboM]

I have been looking at RTT trying to sort out how the Up workings are going to be arranged.

I assumed that the Glasgow Central to King's Cross would work as a curtailed (i.e. 13 coaches against 16) throughout with a 92 or a Skoda up front.

The Inverness section will run as a full set utilising the 92 that work the previous Down Highlander.

The Fort William and Aberdeen sections will join at Edinburgh. However that leaves it a loco short as no light loco working is listed under CS.

Am i right in assuming from this that an ECS working will still take place from Polmadie to Waverley as well as to Glasgow Central thus supplying the extra 90 or 92?

Apologies if I am being very thick and missing something obvious.

Yes - or at least if previous ECML diversions are anything to go by. The Lowlander is still split with 8 coaches (or whatever the reduced number will be) going to Glasgow and the Edinburgh portion from Polmadie to Waverley on the ECS move (so passengers can board).

Difference is the Glasgow "portion" (1M11) heads via Edinburgh and "picks up" the EDB coaches, rather than meeting at Carstairs as usual.

So I'm assuming the same as you, i.e. a 90/92 takes the Waverley ECS then is available to work the extra Highlander train down to KGX.

If this is the case not sure what happens then with the Northbound Lowlander Edinburgh coaches though (which is going via ECML->EDB->GLC) as the Northbound Highlander is one train as far as Edinburgh as normal. Does the Lowlander stay as one into Glasgow and remove the need for an extra Waverley-Polmadie ECS loco, or does another one run out from Mossend/Polmadie to collect the stock?

 

[Scotrail84]

As if by magic 401 leads into Edinburgh.

 

[Scotrail84]

92 028 light through Carstairs routed towards Edinburgh.

 

[TimboM]

92 028 light through Carstairs routed towards Edinburgh.

Collecting some (duff?) coaches I'm guessing?

 

[Scotrail84]

Collecting some (duff?) coaches I'm guessing?

May have worked 1M16 south. 1M16 also has a dead mk2 lounge attached to the rear going for repairs at Wembley. The 92 move could well be a positioning move for Friday nights capers with the x3 down the ECML.

 

[TimboM]

May have worked 1M16 south. 1M16 also has a dead mk2 lounge attached to the rear going for repairs at Wembley. The 92 move could well be a positioning move for Friday nights capers with the x3 down the ECML.

Went back to PO on 5Z26 0142 Edinburgh Waverley to Polmadie Carriage Maintenance Depot by all accounts. Was only at Waverley for 24 mins around the time 1M16 was departing.

92018 on 1M16 as planned.

I would expect a few more ECS run-outs (and poss a 5C11/1C11/1B26/5B26 circuit) before 028 was let loose on a full trunk run

 

[TimboM]

VSTP path 0Z90 in for 90044 heading back to Basford Hall. Only came down on Thursday. (Over)due a B Exam per TOPS. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O21724/2017/08/23/advanced

Path in tomorrow that could be used for a replacement 90 coming the other way, although all the ones at Basford Hall are showing as stopped for exam/repair today, so will see if one is ready for then.

 

[snakeeyes]

Wednesday 23rd Aberdeen sleeper, the mk2 seated coach was out of service due to a problem with the toilet.
We were put on the cross country train to Edinburgh, then had to wait for the Inverness and Fortwilliam portions to arrive.
As the Aberdeen portion arrived at Waverley first we we allowed to board the lounge car.
Alot of messing about.

 

[Scotrail84]

Wednesday 23rd Aberdeen sleeper, the mk2 seated coach was out of service due to a problem with the toilet.
We were put on the cross country train to Edinburgh, then had to wait for the Inverness and Fortwilliam portions to arrive.
As the Aberdeen portion arrived at Waverley first we we allowed to board the lounge car.
Alot of messing about.

Would you rather you were bused to London?

 

[87015]

Would you rather you were bused to London?

Keeping on top of basic coach maintenance or utilising the Aberdeen barcar for seated passengers would seem to be somewhere in the middle. Would have been other working toilets on the train you'd hope...

 

[Scotrail84]

Keeping on top of basic coach maintenance or utilising the Aberdeen barcar for seated passengers would seem to be somewhere in the middle. Would have been other working toilets on the train you'd hope...

1, there was no issue with the actual toilets on that coach, it was smell related. Unable to find the source of said smell.

2, Theres not enough seats to accommodate all passengers in the lounge throughout the night plus you can't dim the lights and the staff take their breaks in the lounge and in the morning 1st class passengers have breakfast in the lounge if they wish.

 

[Jay92044]

Is it likely to be skoda 47 on 1s25 and dyson 33 on 1S26 tonight please?

Cheers.

 

[Jay92044]

Is it likely to be skoda 47 on 1s25 and dyson 33 on 1S26 tonight please?

Cheers.

 

[TimboM]

Is it likely to be skoda 47 on 1s25 and dyson 33 on 1S26 tonight please?

Cheers.

If the rotation of the last 8 nights continues then it will be these two locos and that way round. There's always the possibility of changes though.

That said, there's not a whole lot of other options at the moment. Of the locos in/around Willesden/Wembley, 92023 has been stopped for a week or so now, so probably not available. 92032 did the ECS at Euston last night/this morning. 87002 hasn't worked in weeks and 86101 usually does the ECS and only tends to be used on full runs in 'emergencies'.

The only other option I could see is if F/Liner sent a 90 down (currently one short after 90044 went back yesterday) but all the ones at Crewe Basford Hall are still showing stopped for exams/repair etc., so not sure there'll be one forthcoming today. There are STP paths in today for a 90 swap, and 047 is showing it's due an exam on TOPS, but would need at least one if not two coming the other way if 047 was going back.

Perhaps 92032 is getting a run out after all if they end up short on 90s...? (with the ECS moves a bit of a test run) (or 86101?)

UPDATE: as per posts below, 90042+044 are on way to Willesden from Freightliner. Likely 047 will go back the other way later, so possibly one of these 90s will work 1S25 tonight.

 

[Mag_seven]

0Z92 is go - wonder what's on it.......

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03113/2017/08/24/advanced

 

[TimboM]

0Z92 is go - wonder what's on it.......

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03113/2017/08/24/advanced

It'll be a replacement 90 - 016, 042-044 are the ones at Crewe this morning.

UPDATE: Reported as 90042+044. Presumably 047 going the other way later on 0Z86.

 

[Mag_seven]

It'll be a replacement 90 - 016, 042-044 are the ones at Crewe this morning.

UPDATE: Reported as 90042+044. Presumably 047 going the other way later on 0Z86.

Through Hemel 12.22 - also 87002 viewed outside Willesden TMD so maybe she will be back on the ECS for this weekend.

 

[TimboM]

Through Hemel 12.22 - also 87002 viewed outside Willesden TMD so maybe she will be back on the ECS for this weekend.

Someone spied 87002 outside the TMD the other day too (with 032 IIRC).

It's still showing "X" (exam/repair) on TOPS and has done for almost a month now, and last worked on 3rd July I believe.

You'd expect they'd want (need!) as many locos as possible available for the weekend with the extra train and ECS moves. The 2x 90s back in the fray will no doubt help.

 

[Mag_seven]

It'll be a replacement 90 - 016, 042-044 are the ones at Crewe this morning.

UPDATE: Reported as 90042+044. Presumably 047 going the other way later on 0Z86.

90047 away from WN on 0Z86 @ 15.15

 

[Jay92044]

If the rotation of the last 8 nights continues then it will be these two locos and that way round. There's always the possibility of changes though.

That said, there's not a whole lot of other options at the moment. Of the locos in/around Willesden/Wembley, 92023 has been stopped for a week or so now, so probably not available. 92032 did the ECS at Euston last night/this morning. 87002 hasn't worked in weeks and 86101 usually does the ECS and only tends to be used on full runs in 'emergencies'.

The only other option I could see is if F/Liner sent a 90 down (currently one short after 90044 went back yesterday) but all the ones at Crewe Basford Hall are still showing stopped for exams/repair etc., so not sure there'll be one forthcoming today. There are STP paths in today for a 90 swap, and 047 is showing it's due an exam on TOPS, but would need at least one if not two coming the other way if 047 was going back.

Perhaps 92032 is getting a run out after all if they end up short on 90s...? (with the ECS moves a bit of a test run) (or 86101?)

UPDATE: as per posts below, 90042+044 are on way to Willesden from Freightliner. Likely 047 will go back the other way later, so possibly one of these 90s will work 1S25 tonight.

Cheers, not great as had both 90042 and 044 before! Only done the beds 4 times since Serco have taken over and had 87002/90042/90044/92018 in that time. So 90047 would of been good, but I would like to increase my dyson miles a bit.

 

[TimboM]

90047 away from WN on 0Z86 @ 15.15

The hired-in Freightliner 90s appear to have been somewhat out of sync with their exam schedules recently and there's been locos spending only a few days or a week or so before having to be swapped over again. I'm sure a few months back they'd get each one for a decent stint.

I guess GBRf get what they're given to a degree and F/liner need to manage their fleet around repairs/maintenance/other demands but does seem to have got a little out of kilter recently.

The two today appear to have just had exams, so they might stay on-hire a bit longer.

 

[Mag_seven]

The hired-in Freightliner 90s appear to have been somewhat out of sync with their exam schedules recently and there's been locos spending only a few days or a week or so before having to be swapped over again. I'm sure a few months back they'd get each one for a decent stint.

I guess GBRf get what they're given to a degree and F/liner need to manage their fleet around repairs/maintenance/other demands but does seem to have got a little out of kilter recently.

The two today appear to have just had exams, so they might stay on-hire a bit longer.

Must be costing GBRf a fortune in light engine moves!

 

[TimboM]

Must be costing GBRf a fortune in light engine moves!

I wonder if there's anything in the hire agreement that if Freightliner are providing locos that need to go back a couple of days later that they cover some of the transfer costs?

Or if not there's some amicable position reached with GBRf as those 90s have been up and down between Basford Hall and Willesden like yo-yos recently!

I suspect either way it's cheaper for GBRf this way than having two locos "full-time" and having the cost of doing their repair/exams etc.

 

[TimboM]

Cheers, not great as had both 90042 and 044 before! Only done the beds 4 times since Serco have taken over and had 87002/90042/90044/92018 in that time. So 90047 would of been good, but I would like to increase my dyson miles a bit.

90044 on 1S25, sorry!
92033 on 1S26.

 

[Jay92044]

90044 on 1S25, sorry!
92033 on 1S26.

Cheers again, how have you got the allocations already can I ask? Would be helpful knowing for future reference.

 

[TimboM]

Cheers again, how have you got the allocations already can I ask? Would be helpful knowing for future reference.

Just saw the pair of them go past Camden Jnc on the 0A25 light engine move into Euston. Nothing particularly technical!

Loco on the front of 0A25 is for 1S25 and the one on the back is for 1S26 (it leaves the 1S25 loco in Euston, runs back to get the Highlander ECS (5S95) from Wembley, then takes 1S26 later on). Barring any traction mishaps between now and then of course.