Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Kite159]

73970

Cheers, saves me a job tomorrow night festering around Dunbarton for it

 

[CosherB]

I see this old idea is getting an airing again .....

http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/more-mk-5s-for-the-far-north

Caledonian Sleeper Chairman Peter Strachan says there is the possibility of more Mk 5s being ordered, should plans for the Far North Sleeper get the go-ahead (RAIL 831).

However, he said that service would likely need revenue support from Transport Scotland. And should there be an order for more stock, TS would need to help fund them.

There is also the option to continue using the existing stock, with Strachan acknowledging that the price could be cheaper because there is likely little further use for the Mk 2/Mk 3 fleet when the new stock arrives.

 

[Far north 37]

90042 on the south end end of the ecs heading to wembley this morning 92018 on the north end was this the highlander ecs

 

[TimboM]

90042 on the south end end of the ecs heading to wembley this morning 92018 on the north end was this the highlander ecs

Yes, it was 5M16 Highlander ECS.

92018 brought the Up Lowlander in earlier (1M11); 86101 took the ECS back for that (5M11) leaving 92018 behind to run round and take 5M16.

I believe 92018 is due an exam. 92044 and 92028 were both moved to Willesden yesterday. My guess would be 044 standing in for 018 for a return trip tonight/tomorrow whilst the latter has its exam.

 

[TimboM]

I see this old idea is getting an airing again .....

http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/more-mk-5s-for-the-far-north

It's a bit of a no brainer for the Chairman of Caley Sleeper to say they'll happily run another Sleeper service if someone else (Transport Scotland) pays for it!

 

[Far north 37]

Yes, it was 5M16 Highlander ECS.

92018 brought the Up Lowlander in earlier (1M11); 86101 took the ECS back for that (5M11) leaving 92018 behind to run round and take 5M16.

I believe 92018 is due an exam. 92044 and 92028 were both moved to Willesden yesterday. My guess would be 044 standing in for 018 for a return trip tonight/tomorrow whilst the latter has its exam.

ah ok surprised 92044 is still running about in triple grey they usually like there locos all uniform gbrf i thought

 

[TimboM]

ah ok surprised 92044 is still running about in triple grey they usually like there locos all uniform gbrf i thought

044 is one of the two operational ones yet to go in for the 'modifications'. I expect it'll get the 'uniform' whenever that happens.

In the meantime it seems to work pretty hard (tunnel runs, china clays, on-hire to DB, Sleepers - and that's just the last couple of weeks!). No time for frivolous paint jobs...

 

[Northhighland]

It's a bit of a no brainer for the Chairman of Caley Sleeper to say they'll happily run another Sleeper service is someone else (Transport Scotland) pays for it!

Aye not thinking anyone will ever pay for it though. Other ways to better link the far north.

 

[TimboM]

92044 is indeed on the Sleepers tonight - lined up for the Down Lowlander (1S26).
90042 on the Down Highlander (1S25).

 

[Far north 37]

92044 is indeed on the Sleepers tonight - lined up for the Down Lowlander (1S26).
90042 on the Down Highlander (1S25).

good bit of detective work pity its too late to try get a decent photo though

 

[TimboM]

good bit of detective work pity its too late to try get a decent photo though

All things being equal it's likely to be back on 1M11 bright and early into Euston Monday morning (1M11 Sun Night/Mon Morning)
...then potentially hauling the Highlander ECS back to Wembley 5M16 Mon Morning

 

[Bald Rick]

It's a bit of a no brainer for the Chairman of Caley Sleeper to say they'll happily run another Sleeper service is someone else (Transport Scotland) pays for it!

Exactly. Indeed he couldn't have said anything else.

 

[StephenHunter]

Well, he could have done Groundskeeper Willie's rant about other Scots ruining Scotland, but that would be silly...

Going back on topic, how long does it take to paint a locomotive anyway?

 

[ainsworth74]

Going back on topic, how long does it take to paint a locomotive anyway?

Depends how big your paintbrush is!

 

[TimboM]

Depends how big your paintbrush is!

And also how big your loco is

With respect to 92044, by the time it was transferred to Loughborough(needing paths, drivers, a 66 etc.); had it's tunnel rings/depot plates removed, holes filled, rusty bits sorted, repainted and then the transfer back to Crewe/Willesden it'd be out of action for a couple of weeks if not more.

At some point it will need to be in Brush for a couple of months or more for the full "modifications" and also some hefty metal work on each buffer beam for the new Dellner couplings (no point doing this after a nice new paint job) so makes sense to do any new livery then. It's evident it's well utilised at the moment and seems to behave itself, so doesn't really stack up for GBRf having it out of action for weeks just for a cosmetic paint job. In the meantime, there's not a lot wrong with the classic Triple Grey

 

[TimboM]

86101 took in 5S95 (Highlander ECS) approx. one hour late to Euston and is reported to be on 1S26 tonight. TOPS suggested 90047 was the booked loco - indicating it has failed (again!) and the 86 has subbed-in.

Meanwhile, 92028 worked the Lowlander ECS 5S96 - first time 028's been in Euston for getting on 2.5 years.

 

[LeylandLen]

1S25 has been stopped at Milton Keynes for 45 mins ..Im told 92014 has failed and rescue loco being sent from Crewe eta 0050

 

[adrock1976]

86101 took in 5S95 (Highlander ECS) approx. one hour late to Euston and is reported to be on 1S26 tonight. TOPS suggested 90047 was the booked loco - indicating it has failed (again!) and the 86 has subbed-in.

Meanwhile, 92028 worked the Lowlander ECS 5S96 - first time 028's been in Euston for getting on 2.5 years.

I saw 90047 at Carstairs Friday morning when I was heading southbound on the 05:40 Glasgow Central - London Euston via Trent Valley Railway.

TOPS had it right if that helps.

 

[GW43125]

1S25 has been stopped at Milton Keynes for 45 mins

Make that an hour...
Delay has now been attributed as a train fault

*EDIT* I've noted you've just edited your post.

Says in the berths at Milton Keynes "FAIL 1S25".

 

[crehld]

1S25 has been stopped at Milton Keynes for 45 mins ..Im told 92014 has failed and rescue loco being sent from Crewe eta 0050

Well looks like those of us waiting at Crewe are in for a long night then...

 

[Fred43123]

92014 has a wiper fault and is awaiting rescue, 1Z99 eta 00:45.

 

[GW43125]

Well looks like those of us waiting at Crewe are in for a long night then...

Spare a thought for the poor buggers at Preston

 

[TimboM]

92014 has a wiper fault and is awaiting rescue, 1Z99 eta 00:45.

90043 is the rescue loco apparently.

I'm not familiar with routes around MK - but presumably there's no "triangle" to turn 92014 if they're sending a loco all the way from Crewe.

 

[LeylandLen]

Spare a thought for the poor buggers at Preston

Hope its free coffee and biscuits for those waiting en route ..

 

[GW43125]

90043 is the rescue loco apparently.

I'm not familiar with routes around MK - but presumably there's no "triangle" to turn 92014 if they're sending a loco all the way from Crewe.

The closest electrified routes to allow turning are probably either Camden way or the Perry Barr loop I'd have thought. If it's a wiper issue they can't exactly do much though.

 

[GW43125]

Hope its free coffee and biscuits for those waiting en route ..

Or longer in bed!

In other news, 1Z99 has just passed Nuneaton. Not going anywhere near as fast as most trains go down there of course due to the speed limit on the light loco.

 

[TimboM]

The closest electrified routes to allow turning are probably either Camden way or the Perry Barr loop I'd have thought. If it's a wiper issue they can't exactly do much though.

Several months back 014 had a wiper issue and they turned it somewhere - can't remember where off the top of my head... think it was further south.

Agreed, though, that if it's actually raining it's not something you could do anyway if the wiper's bust.

 

[TimboM]

In other news, 1Z99 has just passed Nuneaton. Not going anywhere near as fast as most trains go down there of course due to the speed limit on the light loco.

Slight crumb of comfort is 1Z99 is now 31 "Early" at Rugby, meaning ETA at MK is now c.00:20 - there's another 5 mins at least of "allowances" in the timings, so could well make up more time.

 

[crehld]

Do they not have recovery / standby locos in London. Surely that's closer than Crewe?

 

[tellytype]

I was at least hoping for "EPIC FAIL" on OTT Describers

Heard its a wiper failure....I'm sure the person who told me this will be along in a minute!
*EDIT* Ah, scrolled up - someone beat me to it ha