Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[TimboM]

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

Of the 5 other "Sleeper" locos currently in London tonight, they're all out of action/unavailable. 86101 was in effect the standby loco but there's already been another failure tonight apparently (90047) so it had to step in on 1S26 - one of those nights unfortunately!

90047 failed earlier (was due on 1S26) and replaced by 86101.
92010 is stopped at Willesden for repair AFAIK.
92018 is stopped at Willesden for exam AFAIK.
87002 is out of action (has been for a more than 2 months).
92028 did the Lowlander ECS, so was trapped on the blocks at Euston behind the Lowlander (which only left at 23:34, so even if a driver who signed to MK was available it would not get there quicker than the 90 from Crewe). Also 028 couldn't be left on the back of 1S26 and hitch a ride as they're not permitted to run the (loaded) Sleeper with a 92 on the back due to the way its braked (or not) when T'n'T.

 

[GW43125]

Confirmed by sight from a friend 86101 has indeed taken 1S26.

 

[TimboM]

Confirmed by sight from a friend 86101 has indeed taken 1S26.

It'll probably overtake 1S25 at MK Central whilst they're busy hooking 90043 up.

Edit: touch and go - wonder if they'll let 1S25 get going and run ahead of it...? (A: Yes they did - just!)

 

[TimboM]

1Z99 (90043) has arrived at MK Central (00:13)...

1S25 on its way again 160 mins (2h 40m) late...

...then had to go via Birmingham as WCML shut by then for engineering so another c.10 mins lost by Crewe. Recovered a little to 113 Late at Edinburgh, largely thanks to the 30 mins allowance in timings at Beattock on a Sunday night for potential Single Line Working.

 

[jon0844]

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.

Sheesh, where's the willingness to improvise in the railway industry?!

They could have done this and been on their way in minutes...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-41212203

(BBC Story: Seized van in Sandwell had string to operate wipers)

 

[Mag_seven]

1Z99 (90043) has arrived at MK Central (00:13)...

1S25 on its way again 160 mins (2h 40m) late...

...then had to go via Birmingham as WCML shut by then for engineering so another c.10 mins lost by Crewe. Recovered a little to 113 Late at Edinburgh, largely thanks to the 30 mins allowance in timings at Beattock on a Sunday night for potential Single Line Working.

How come all the fun and games with the sleeper always happens when I'm asleep.

 

[TimboM]

How come all the fun and games with the sleeper always happens when I'm asleep.

Clue is in the name

Looks like HS4.5 has made it to the Highland Line a few decades early - RTT (and other info sources) are reporting 1S25 made it to Dalwhinnie just 19 Late having left Dunblane 112 Late. That's approx. 80 miles in 20 mins - a 240 mph Class 67...!?

 

[Mag_seven]

Clue is in the name

Looks like HS4.5 has made it to the Highland Line a few decades early - RTT (and other info sources) are reporting 1S25 made it to Dalwhinnie just 19 Late having left Dunblane 112 Late. That's approx. 80 miles in 20 mins - a 240 mph Class 67...!?

Aye I saw that as well - either the world diesel speed record has been broken or there has been a mistaken manual input into TRUST at Dalwhinnie.

I know what my money's on.

 

[Kite159]

I wonder if the Fort William part will get overtaken on route by the 08:21 to Oban/Mallaig (currently just past Westerton)?

 

[TimboM]

Aye I saw that as well - either the world diesel speed record has been broken or there has been a mistaken manual input into TRUST at Dalwhinnie.

I know what my money's on.

67022's gone one better now and turned into a DeLorean - leaving Blair Atholl well over an hour after it left Dalwhinnie...

 

[crehld]

Well I was on the Aberdeen portion from Crewe last night. The train arrived at Crewe about 02:20. Having to wait around Crewe in the wee hours of the morning is a pretty dire experience. Staff on board were great, very apologetic and explained the windscreen wiper situation - everyone seemed understanding. An unexpected divert via Birmingham also added to the delay apparently. We got into Aberdeen at 09:00. I didn't have to be in Aberdeen until 10:30 so I'm not too fussed by the experience, and I'm satisfied by the knowledge that I'll be getting a full refund on my ticket - that broken windscreen wiper will be costing them a lot I feel!

 

[Mag_seven]

I wonder if the Fort William part will get overtaken on route by the 08:21 to Oban/Mallaig (currently just past Westerton)?

Looks like it did at Craigendoran Jn. I wonder if the punters on board were told about that so they could change on to the 08.21 at Dumbarton?

 

[TimboM]

Well I was on the Aberdeen portion from Crewe last night. The train arrived at Crewe about 02:20. Having to wait around Crewe in the wee hours of the morning is a pretty dire experience. Staff on board were great, very apologetic and explained the windscreen wiper situation - everyone seemed understanding. An unexpected divert via Birmingham also added to the delay apparently. We got into Aberdeen at 09:00. I didn't have to be in Aberdeen until 10:30 so I'm not too fussed by the experience, and I'm satisfied by the knowledge that I'll be getting a full refund on my ticket - that broken windscreen wiper will be costing them a lot I feel!

...yes, there was an engineering possession on the WCML between Rugby and Stafford. 1S25 should've got through before the possession was taken, but due to the delay had to go the longer way round. Meant a further 10 mins were lost, whereas if it'd had a clear run up the WCML a good few minutes would likely have been recovered by Stafford/Crewe.

1S26 was routed via Birmingham from the outset and its path/timing was altered accordingly - looked like 1S25 took 1S26's path (1S26 was held for a few mins at MK Central to allow 1S25 to get going in front of it). 1S26 then followed about 10 mins behind.

 

[LeylandLen]

Yes 1S26 was routed via Coventry, Birmingham Int, then Aston and Bescot and Portobello Jnc to join the WCML. Presume 1S25 had proceeded it. A nice detour for the delayed passengers !

 

[Kite159]

Looks like it did at Craigendoran Jn. I wonder if the punters on board were told about that so they could change on to the 08.21 at Dumbarton?

Didn't hear anything, but I leapt off at Dumbarton with a feeling it would get looped in that loop. As a result the units are just arriving into Fort William now and the sleeper will probably be sitting at Tulloch for a Glasgow bound service to pass it

 

[Mag_seven]

Didn't hear anything, but I leapt off at Dumbarton with a feeling it would get looped in that loop. As a result the units are just arriving into Fort William now and the sleeper will probably be sitting at Tulloch for a Glasgow bound service to pass it

Just out of interest had you planned to be on the CS service or did you just take advantage of its late running?

It would have been a nice civilised start for anyone who wanted a loco hauled run up the WHL line without having to catch it at its silly o'clock normal time.

 

[Adam0984]

Just seen colas 47749 heading through Doncaster with a virgin liveried coach with a CS coach S letter on the exterior on this movement from Polmadie to Doncaster Decoy
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97564/2017/09/11/advanced

 

[Scotrail84]

Yes 1S26 was routed via Coventry, Birmingham Int, then Aston and Bescot and Portobello Jnc to join the WCML. Presume 1S25 had proceeded it. A nice detour for the delayed passengers !

On a Sunday night 1S26 and 1M11 are both almost always routed via Birmingham.

There is also 30 - 40 minutes make up time Between Abington and Beattock as it is timed for Single line working which usually doesn't happen as well.

 

[Kite159]

Just out of interest had you planned to be on the CS service or did you just take advantage of its late running?

It would have been a nice civilised start for anyone who wanted a loco hauled run up the WHL line without having to catch it at its silly o'clock normal time.

My original plan was to be on it as far as Rannoch before the 156s took me onto Mallaig, however i decided to do Rannoch last night in order to have a later start this morning.

Noticed it was running mega late this morning and had a rough idea of doing it to Tulloch, but decided against it as the units weren't that far behind (and a good decision it turned out to be).

I assume 73970 will be on the Fort William portion all week now?

 

[Scotrail84]

Didn't hear anything, but I leapt off at Dumbarton with a feeling it would get looped in that loop. As a result the units are just arriving into Fort William now and the sleeper will probably be sitting at Tulloch for a Glasgow bound service to pass it

12:55 the sleeper arrived in Ft William, 3 hours late

 

[Scotrail84]

My original plan was to be on it as far as Rannoch before the 156s took me onto Mallaig, however i decided to do Rannoch last night in order to have a later start this morning.

Noticed it was running mega late this morning and had a rough idea of doing it to Tulloch, but decided against it as the units weren't that far behind (and a good decision it turned out to be).

I assume 73970 will be on the Fort William portion all week now?

They tend to rotate them every other night.

 

[TimboM]

They tend to rotate them every other night.

Not disagreeing with you regarding the usual pattern, but for at least the last couple of weeks it's been 970 on Fort William, 967 on Aberdeen and 971 at Craigentinny (barring a swap between 967 and 971 over the last weekend in August).

Probably means they'll all shuffle round tonight

 

[TimboM]

Just seen colas 47749 heading through Doncaster with a virgin liveried coach with a CS coach S letter on the exterior on this movement from Polmadie to Doncaster Decoy
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97564/2017/09/11/advanced

It was the woefully tatty ex-Virgin Mk2 Brake coach #9507 that's been used as a substitute Fort William day coach for some time. Hopefully this was it going back to whence it came.

 

[MadCommuter]

Reported elsewhere that 86101 was in charge of 1M11 last night.

 

[Mag_seven]

Reported elsewhere that 86101 was in charge of 1M11 last night.

Not unexpected as it worked 1S26 on Sunday night.

 

[CosherB]

It was the woefully tatty ex-Virgin Mk2 Brake coach #9507 that's been used as a substitute Fort William day coach for some time. Hopefully this was it going back to whence it came.

You'd have thought Serco would have asked Riviera if their stand-in carriages could have been vinyled for the length of time they've been in service on the CS. There would have been a veneer of smartness externally at least ....

 

[TimboM]

You'd have thought Serco would have asked Riviera if their stand-in carriages could have been vinyled for the length of time they've been in service on the CS. There would have been a veneer of smartness externally at least ....

Probably hired-it last minute "short term" to fill a gap in an emergency and then several months later...

Looks like 47749 is bringing something back from Burton Wetmore Sidings later on 5Z48 to Polmadie http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97567/2017/09/12/advanced - so perhaps that will be smarter one?
It's going via Derby RTC where it appears to be dropping of coaching stock of some sort (not sure if that's the same ex-Virgin coach it still has with it).

 

[Mag_seven]

Probably hired-it last minute "short term" to fill a gap in an emergency and then several months later...

Looks like 47749 is bringing something back from Burton Wetmore Sidings later on 5Z48 to Polmadie http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97567/2017/09/12/advanced - so perhaps that will be smarter one?
It's going via Derby RTC where it appears to be dropping of coaching stock of some sort (not sure if that's the same ex-Virgin coach it still has with it).

Smart looking BR liveried BSO - a few photos on Flickr - just put 47749 into the Flickr search facility and sort by date uploaded.

EDIT: Coach number reported elsewhere as being 9526

 

[Scotrail84]

Multiple track circuit failures in the Milnthorpe area 1M11 at a stand.

 

[Scotrail84]

On the move now.