Caledonian Sleeper discussion

[Scotrail84]

I take it people for Queen St would of been told to get off at Dalmuir . When i took it from Fort William to Glasgow , a fair few got off at low level

Yes, Dalmiur then a bus or train if there is one into pst. Its set down only southbound and pick up only Northbound.

 

[Scotrail84]

When was the last , the sleeper or loco hauled scotrail services ? Not seen a charter for ages in Queen St

Probably the mid nineties since queen street seen regular loco hauled trains to/from Aberdeen and Inverness.

 

[TimboM]

To save me searching through 100's of posts, can anyone tell me what the performance of the 73/9s is like now? I know there were some serious doubts about whether they would be suitable for the job or not, so wondering what the current status is.

That good they still use a 67 on the Inverness.

In fairness the 67 is being used as it's the "courtesy loco" to cover the absence of 73969 whilst it's being repaired after VTEC rearranged one of the cab ends of 969 in Craigentinny in Dec 2016. The Inverness will have 2x 73/9s on in due course, so makes sense to use the 67 (solo) on this portion as means only 2 other 73/9s are needed for Aberdeen/Fort William - handy whilst locos are still going through Brush for the mods (as per @ScottDarg 's info).

969 is due for release imminently and 970 not far behind, so I suspect it will not be too long until the 67 returns to DBC and the North of Edinburgh portions are 100% 73/9 worked.

In terms of your original question, the 73/9's performance outside of leaf-fall season is very good; in leaf-fall season it's not great at all! The 73/9s suffered repeated wheelflats in the Autumn and at one point there was only one working with round wheels. I fully expect GBRf will not be sitting on their hands with this, though, and will be looking at ways the issue can be mitigated ahead of next Autumn.

Prior to the trials of Autumn, Caledonian Sleeper was top of the PPM charts for two months running (across all TOCs) - more impressive considering how one service being significantly delayed can disproportionately impact the CS figures for a period. This performance wouldn't have been achieved if the 73/9s (and 92s) were still being iffy.

 

[Scotrail84]

1. The northbound provides a Kingussie to Inverness morning commuter service, the southbound runs outside commuter time. But if I lived in Carrbridge I'd be a bit annoyed by the inconsistency.

2. It comes as part of the Sleepover Kit. Other than that, I think that the fragrance is supposed to help you sleep!

How many people in Carrbridge would regularly use the sleeper? It has 5 northbound and 6 southbound services mon-sat with 4 each way on Sunday. Thats not bad!

 

[Highlandspring]

The 73s certainly still have their issues, mostly with loss of power usually caused by traction motors tripping out. Last proper class 73 failure I dealt with was complete loss of air due to a compressor fault.

 

[gazthomas]

Is the Highland Breakfast nice?

 

[47271]

How many people in Carrbridge would regularly use the sleeper? It has 5 northbound and 6 southbound services mon-sat with 4 each way on Sunday. Thats not bad!

Oh I know, it isn't a busy station. My point is that if I lived in the village and knew that I could get off the sleeper there rather than driving back from Aviemore then I'd like to be able to get on as well!

 

[InOban]

Yes, Dalmiur then a bus or train if there is one into pst. Its set down only southbound and pick up only Northbound.

Surely if it ran via Shotts it went through Central LL? Any passengers could be dropped off there. Save on taxis.

 

[Chrism20]

Surely if it ran via Shotts it went through Central LL? Any passengers could be dropped off there. Save on taxis.

Maryhill, Coatbridge, Mossend and down onto the Shotts line would avoid the need to go Central or Queen St

 

[Mag_seven]

When was the last , the sleeper or loco hauled scotrail services ? Not seen a charter for ages in Queen St

There have been hauled Network Rail test trains, but I guess that's not what you are looking for.

 

[Scotrail84]

Surely if it ran via Shotts it went through Central LL? Any passengers could be dropped off there. Save on taxis.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60079/2018/01/02/advanced

 

[Scotrail84]

When was the last , the sleeper or loco hauled scotrail services ? Not seen a charter for ages in Queen St

Qst isn't a practical station for charters due to its restricted platform lengths, also they have to be T and T as you can't run single locos round as theres no ERS anymore.

 

[InOban]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60079/2018/01/02/advanced

I suppose they sent it that way because the driver wouldn't have signed for Central LL. When Maryhill was blocked they sent a freight through Central.

 

[gcmozart]

Is the Highland Breakfast nice?

I would say it's not particularly nice

 

[47271]

I would say it's not particularly nice

Agree, a microwaved cooked breakfast isn't something to look forward to.
The regulars generally go for the smoked salmon and scrambled egg as the safest hot option.

 

[Dr Hoo]

The last time that I used the sleeper (a few months ago as a more recent attempt was cancelled) the scrambled egg and smoked salmon was the worst that I had ever had on a train.

Pleased to get some 'proper food' in a cafe at Carrbridge!

 

[47271]

The last time that I used the sleeper (a few months ago as a more recent attempt was cancelled) the scrambled egg and smoked salmon was the worst that I had ever had on a train.

Pleased to get some 'proper food' in a cafe at Carrbridge!

Fair enough, the phrase I used was 'safest hot option', but I have heard that they can get it badly wrong sometimes. There are one or two attendants who make a particularly good job of it.

Nothing compares for awfulness with the cooked breakfast produced in Scotrail days.

 

[JModulo]

Seen on a Facebook group this morning that one of the seated MK2 brake coaches has had its droplight window on a door covered over with a piece of aluminium riveted onto it, the same one which has been running around with a piece of perspex previously. Surely it can't be that hard to get the parts?

 

[Scotrail84]

Seen on a Facebook group this morning that one of the seated MK2 brake coaches has had its droplight window on a door covered over with a piece of aluminium riveted onto it, the same one which has been running around with a piece of perspex previously. Surely it can't be that hard to get the parts?

Both are still in traffic and pose no safety risk.

It is hard to source parts, some of the parts in the MK2's are 1950s technology and its very hard to source parts these days. Theres not that many Mk2's lying about that are good for spares.

 

[Essexman]

Is the Highland Breakfast nice?

Sadly no.

 

[leightonbd]

I would say it's not particularly nice

Sad but true. The bacon is OK, the rest is too stodgy.

The real drag is that the little pots they serve the tea in are just too small.

 

[marks87]

Both are still in traffic and pose no safety risk.

It is hard to source parts, some of the parts in the MK2's are 1950s technology and its very hard to source parts these days. Theres not that many Mk2's lying about that are good for spares.

It also might be the case that a while a proper repair is possible, there’s no knowing what else might happen when the door is dismantled to do it.

Better to just make a temporary-but-safe fix than risk triggering a more serious problem that would take a vehicle out of an already stretched fleet.

 

[Kite159]

Sorry if already mentioned but it appears the Queen Street High Level diverts have appeared on RTT

London to Queen Street
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60110/2018/04/01/advanced

Queen Street to London:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60098/2018/04/01/advanced

I guess the pause at Falkirk High is to do with a route conductor change?

 

[marks87]

Is that the first ever scheduled passenger services to/from Euston from/to Glasgow Queen Street?

 

[delt1c]

Is that the first ever scheduled passenger services to/from Euston from/to Glasgow Queen Street?

No, Many years ago the Fort William sleeper used to be detaching from the Euston to Inverness sleeper at Mossend then tripped to Queen St to be attached to the 06.00 Queen St to Fort William service. This could produce any available traction from Mossend and I once had a 20 on it ( how many sleeper services had 20's). The Fort William service conveyed a Resturant Car from Queen St and we renowned for serving the finest breakfast on the Network

 

[Dr Hoo]

Is that the first ever scheduled passenger services to/from Euston from/to Glasgow Queen Street?

Not sure about 'advertised' but I well recall a seated overnight journey from Euston to Fort William in the 1970s that ran via Mossend, curve round to Gartcosh, Springburn, Cowlairs, another loco put on the rear, 'pulled' down into Queen Street, before being combined with an early morning departure to the West Highland complete with restaurant car.

 

[marks87]

No, Many years ago the Fort William sleeper used to be detaching from the Euston to Inverness sleeper at Mossend then tripped to Queen St to be attached to the 06.00 Queen St to Fort William service. This could produce any available traction from Mossend and I once had a 20 on it ( how many sleeper services had 20's). The Fort William service conveyed a Resturant Car from Queen St and we renowned for serving the finest breakfast on the Network

Not sure about 'advertised' but I well recall a seated overnight journey from Euston to Fort William in the 1970s that ran via Mossend, curve round to Gartcosh, Springburn, Cowlairs, another loco put on the rear, 'pulled' down into Queen Street, before being combined with an early morning departure to the West Highland complete with restaurant car.

Interesting, thanks. I did wonder about some of the sleeper services in days gone by, but wasn’t sure if they were from King’s Cross.

The “advertised” point is interesting; was Queen Street a valid destination for someone boarding at Euston? Or was it (in theory anyway) the same as the Edinburgh stop on the current Highlander?

 

[Scotrail84]

Sorry if already mentioned but it appears the Queen Street High Level diverts have appeared on RTT

London to Queen Street
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60110/2018/04/01/advanced

Queen Street to London:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G60098/2018/04/01/advanced

I guess the pause at Falkirk High is to do with a route conductor change?

No, Sleeper guards sign the E and G as a diversion, same with shotts and Bathgate.

 

[xotGD]

No, Many years ago the Fort William sleeper used to be detaching from the Euston to Inverness sleeper at Mossend then tripped to Queen St to be attached to the 06.00 Queen St to Fort William service. This could produce any available traction from Mossend and I once had a 20 on it ( how many sleeper services had 20's). The Fort William service conveyed a Resturant Car from Queen St and we renowned for serving the finest breakfast on the Network

There was also at least one season where The Clansman reversed into Queen St before heading off to Inverness.

Regarding Class 20s, they used to use one at FW to shunt the sleeper coaches onto the stock that had just arrived from Mallaig - I once did that to scratch the 20. Didn't some 20s get fitted with through steam pipes to allow a 37+20 combo on the FW Sleeper? Also, the Euston - Stranraer would get a 20 attached to the front of the 47 at Ayr.

 

[Kite159]

No, Sleeper guards sign the E and G as a diversion, same with shotts and Bathgate.

But do the drivers sign the route into Queen Street High Level?