Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[TimboM]

Some photos of 92028 on the beds at Crewe last night over on my Flickr:

https://flic.kr/p/217SUGE
https://flic.kr/p/217SUKA
https://flic.kr/p/Z849mE

Or a video of it coming in (full fans) and leaving if you prefer that sort of thing...

 

[87015]

But things went downhill from then. The Inverness portion broke down between Dalwhinnie and Kingussie, blocking the HML.

Inverness been rescued by 66xxx and forward 220odd late.

Aberdeen and Fort Bill portions both delayed by loco (739xx) faults too, rectified with delay, so a full house of issues.

 

[TimboM]

Inverness been rescued by 66xxx and forward 220odd late.

Aberdeen and Fort Bill portions both delayed by loco (739xx) faults too, rectified with delay, so a full house of issues.

Slight sense of irony that 92028 was the only one on the Highlander that behaved

 

[bb21]

So after you saw 92018 on the Lowlander to Carstairs, it ran back to Waverley, took 1M16 to Euston and hence was in London for 1S26 north last night.

Working hard indeed.

So let me get my head around the up lowland workings as I don't normally use it. After arrival at Carstairs Friday night, the rake was shunted in the opposite direction after only a few minutes' delay, not enough time for the loco to swap ends. The shunt was for quite a while, about four minutes, but at low speeds. I assume pushed by the loco?

Only after that was I assume the attachment of the Glasgow portion and then forward to London. Is this shunt standard process? Given that the Glasgow portion did not arrive after the Edinburgh portion Friday night, or so TRUST would have you believe, and the Glasgow portion went in front in the direction of travel, seems a little odd to me.

 

[TimboM]

Working hard indeed.

So let me get my head around the up lowland workings as I don't normally use it. After arrival at Carstairs Friday night, the rake was shunted in the opposite direction after only a few minutes' delay, not enough time for the loco to swap ends. The shunt was for quite a while, about four minutes, but at low speeds. I assume pushed by the loco?

Only after that was I assume the attachment of the Glasgow portion and then forward to London. Is this shunt standard process? Given that the Glasgow portion did not arrive after the Edinburgh portion Friday night, or so TRUST would have you believe, and the Glasgow portion went in front in the direction of travel, seems a little odd to me.

I believe the "usual" approach is the Edinburgh portion arrives first from the East, loco on the West end (facing Glasgow as it were). The Glasgow portion then comes in from the West and runs past 1C11 (Edinburgh portion) on the adjacent line and then switches onto the same line so it's now in front of it (in the direction of travel to Euston). The Edinburgh portion is then shunted back onto the rear of the Glasgow, propelled by the EDB portion loco still attached at the other end. The EDB portion loco is then detached and usually remains in Carstairs overnight to then attach on to the back of 1S26 in the morning and take half of it away Eastwards as 1B26.

 

[bb21]

Thanks. That makes sense now.

 

[47271]

Inverness been rescued by 66xxx and forward 220odd late.

Aberdeen and Fort Bill portions both delayed by loco (739xx) faults too, rectified with delay, so a full house of issues.

And it may be that there'll be a saga with the southbound Highlander tonight - they were already notifying passengers at lunchtime that it'll be leaving Inverness an hour late at 2145. No reason given.

 

[marks87]

And it may be that there'll be a saga with the southbound Highlander tonight - they were already notifying passengers at lunchtime that it'll be leaving Inverness an hour late at 2145. No reason given.

A replacement loco being sent but no available path to get it there on time perhaps?

 

[TimboM]

A replacement loco being sent but no available path to get it there on time perhaps?

Cannot see any likely looking paths into Inverness (or out of Craigentinny). I'm not quite sure what options there are - other than fixing up 67003 (which is maybe what they're doing) - or if it still has ETS available, use a 66 for the traction with the 67 for the train heat?

The 73/9s had a difficult night last night and what I think was the only 'spare' in Edinburgh (73966) is currently running up to Aberdeen to take 1B16 as the loco on 1A25 this morning had issues (73968 IIRC). Interestingly it's scheduled to get there 2 mins before 1B16 is booked to depart, but then looks like it'll be waiting a while at Edinburgh anyway.

The Colas 47 is on an errand down in Doncaster currently, so that's not an option.

So realistically it's fix up 67003, or DB supply a replacement 67, but not sure where from at short notice. 67007 is up in Inverness, but on RHTT duties (3S95) and given a lot of current issues are due to railhead conditions, wouldn't be a wise move to pull 67007 off this.

 

[Carntyne]

And it may be that there'll be a saga with the southbound Highlander tonight - they were already notifying passengers at lunchtime that it'll be leaving Inverness an hour late at 2145. No reason given.

Crew rest surely?

 

[TimboM]

Electric traction tonight is looking like (subject to last minute shuffles/TOPS inaccuracies etc):

1S25 North Highlander - 90042
1S26 North Lowlander - 92033
(Euston ECS - 86101)

1M11 South Lowlander - 92018
1M16 South Highlander - 92014*
1C11/1B26 Carstairs portion - 92028*
(Glasgow ECS - 87002)

*Apparently 028 and 014 are switching over, 014 taking the Lowlander ECS to EDB then 1M16, 028 working Carstairs portion instead.

North of Edinburgh diesel traction would appear to be...
73966 heading to Aberdeen light engine to assist/relieve 73968 that had issues this morning;
73967 + 73971 are at Fort William; and...
Inverness ECS is showing as having 67003 allocated, so suggests that's been fixed...?

 

[Far north 37]

Slight sense of irony that 92028 was the only one on the Highlander that behaved

any idea what the rescue loco was this morning

 

[ScottDarg]

any idea what the rescue loco was this morning

66598, came off of this empty ballast working which is why it appears as if it's not left Aviemore for 13 hours: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/B28093/2017/11/06/advanced

 

[Far north 37]

66598, came off of this empty ballast working which is why it appears as if it's not left Aviemore for 13 hours: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/B28093/2017/11/06/advanced

ah i see thanks i thought it might of been a loco of one of the engineers workings or the rhtt loco but doubt a driver could of been sourced for that probably

 

[TimboM]

ah i see thanks i thought it might of been a loco of one of the engineers workings or the rhtt loco but doubt a driver could of been sourced for that probably

6K11 (the working Scott's linked) was "stuck" at Aviemore anyway with the Sleeper blocking the line to the South, so one of the 66s from it was an obvious choice.

 

[Far north 37]

6K11 (the working Scott's linked) was "stuck" at Aviemore anyway with the Sleeper blocking the line to the South, so one of the 66s from it was an obvious choice.

yeah seems the most sensible option lucky was there really or things might have got a lot worse possibly

 

[GW43125]

Cally sleeper reporting the following:

• No evening meals on 1M16 (INV portion) tonight

Service currently:

• 1M16 ETD 2115; boarding from 2045 (since departed 2136, 52L but no report since)
• 1B16 "small delay"; actual dep 2219, 36L, making up 3 mins
• 1B01 left on time, but currently 18L Crianlarich.
• 1S25 doing well

 

[ScottDarg]

Cally sleeper reporting the following:

• No evening meals on 1M16 (INV portion) tonight

Service currently:

• 1M16 ETD 2115; boarding from 2045 (since departed 2136, 52L but no report since)
• 1B16 "small delay"; actual dep 2219, 36L, making up 3 mins
• 1B01 left on time, but currently 18L Crianlarich.
• 1S25 doing well

Looks like it's shaping up to be a rough night for the Southbound Highlander, assuming the lack of reports from 1M16 is indicative of it not hitting Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore or Dalwhinnie yet, points it's usually timed at.

 

[Kite159]

Electric traction tonight is looking like (subject to last minute shuffles/TOPS inaccuracies etc):

1S25 North Highlander - 90042
1S26 North Lowlander - 92033
(Euston ECS - 86101)

1M11 South Lowlander - 92018
1M16 South Highlander - 92014*
1C11/1B26 Carstairs portion - 92028*
(Glasgow ECS - 87002)

*Apparently 028 and 014 are switching over, 014 taking the Lowlander ECS to EDB then 1M16, 028 working Carstairs portion instead.

North of Edinburgh diesel traction would appear to be...
73966 heading to Aberdeen light engine to assist/relieve 73968 that had issues this morning;
73967 + 73971 are at Fort William; and...
Inverness ECS is showing as having 67003 allocated, so suggests that's been fixed...?

Based on the state of play currently, a prediction for Friday night's Euston - Glasgow/Edinburgh service

92033 to Carstairs with 92014 to Edinburgh, because my luck with getting required 92s is terrible!

 

[ScottDarg]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O41719/2017/11/06/advanced

I'm led to believe this is 66731 that'll be at the head of 1M16 from Perth onwards, it appears to be doing better than the rest at the moment. I've also seen it reported that it'll lead 1S25 North in the morning.

No change in the progress of 1M16, still no reports at any of the previously mentioned calling points.

 

[Far north 37]

Looks like it's shaping up to be a rough night for the Southbound Highlander, assuming the lack of reports from 1M16 is indicative of it not hitting Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore or Dalwhinnie yet, points it's usually timed at.

seems everythings running well behind time on the highland mainline tonight not just the sleeper

 

[GW43125]

Looks like it's shaping up to be a rough night for the Southbound Highlander, assuming the lack of reports from 1M16 is indicative of it not hitting Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore or Dalwhinnie yet, points it's usually timed at.

Given that it's still not reporting, I think that's a fair assumption.

 

[GW43125]

It's going to be a long night for the punters. Fort Bill portion not seeming too healthy either.

 

[Far north 37]

seems all trains held up around the kingussie area

 

[GW43125]

Caledonian Sleeper have just posted the following on their website:

Service Status - 6 November 2017 23:20. Our Inverness to London Euston service has a technical fault and is currently at Aviemore. We are working on a plan to get guests at intermediate stops to Edinburgh to join the Aberdeen and Fort Wiliam portions. Guest Services are attempting to contact guests now. We apologise for this inconvenience, and we will do all we can for the Highlander to arrive on time into London Euston tomorrow morning. For future travel dates, check your journey here.

So, 35 miles in two hours. Ouch.

 

[Qwerty133]

Caledonian Sleeper have just posted the following on their website:

Embarrassing really, especially considering I doubt there was ever a realistic prospect of 67003 making it to Edinburgh. Should have cancelled the service this morning and arranged for alternative transport or hotels.

 

[ScottDarg]

Caledonian Sleeper have just posted the following on their website:

That answers that then.

Had a feeling it had failed/developed an issue either just outside Inverness or around Aviemore. I suspect the 66 that was meant to meet it at Perth may be heading a bit further North, unless they can get 67003 and its rake back on the move of course.

On the up side, it'll effectively have the HML to itself seeing as the last Northbound to Inverness should have just passed it at Aviemore.

 

[GW43125]

On a lighter note, 1S25 is currently 10E at Madeley Jn.

 

[GW43125]

1H19 (last EDB-INV) has taken an hour to travel Newtonmore to Kincraig-attributed now to "a broken down train".

 

[Ben.A.98]

Sleeper broken down in Aviemore station.

The 67 on the Inverness RHTT has been taken off at Perth and is currently running north to Aviemore.