Class 143 to Penzance

[PHILIPE]

Any previous appropriate threads are so long in the tooth now that they have been closed.

Anyway, due to an ongoing signalling problem affecting lines between Exeter and Plymouth and Paignton for most of the day today workings went pear shaped and as a result, 143612 and 143618 worked the following:-

2C43 06 23 Bristol Parkway to Penzance forward from Newton Abbot
2P86 11 41 Penzance to Plymouth
2C47 13 49 Plymouth to Penzance
2C88 16 44 Penzance to Exeter St D.

It is a long time since we had a report of one visting Cornwall.

 

[Rapidash]

You can blooming keep 'em Dibs on the Sprinters for the Metro!

It made for a rather comedic running out the door moment for me this morning. It was funny right up until I saw there was a diversion in the Newton Road along the new bits of road around the junction there.

2hrs10mins on the A380/38. Argh.

 

[PHILIPE]

It's nice to see that somebody has added to what I consider to be an interesting thread. Nobody seems to be interested in what happens in this neck of the woods as compared to some other parts . I think Forum Members are concentrated in pockets round the UK, for example if it had been a similar event in other parts we would have gone onto the second page by now.
An example of this was post Xmas last year when Kings Cross was closed and there was a thread of 5 pages in no time. Paddington happened to be closed as well but not a post.

 

[Rapidash]

Oh, I noticed that while back. Train blocks a route in the north that's sees 12 passengers and a whippet per day = 4 page thread. Branch line into large conurbation conked out for 12 hours in South West, resulting in multiple metro/IC services cancelled...? Nada.

Admittedly the WCML is a bit more serious, for obvious reasons.

 

[DarloRich]

Any previous appropriate threads are so long in the tooth now that they have been closed.

Anyway, due to an ongoing signalling problem affecting lines between Exeter and Plymouth and Paignton for most of the day today workings went pear shaped and as a result, 143612 and 143618 worked the following:-

2C43 06 23 Bristol Parkway to Penzance forward from Newton Abbot
2P86 11 41 Penzance to Plymouth
2C47 13 49 Plymouth to Penzance
2C88 16 44 Penzance to Exeter St D.

It is a long time since we had a report of one visting Cornwall.

aka the mobile equivalent of water boarding!

 

[headshot119]

23 (Just over a quarter of a mile) chains of cable needed to be replaced in the Newton Abbot area after some testing went wrong in the early hours of the morning.

Who signs 143s and also signs down to Penzance?

aka the mobile equivalent of water boarding!

Oh they aren't that bad! Nothings beats a spin up the Valleys in a Pacer.

 

[Blindtraveler]

And noboddy gave me any bluddy warning!

 

[Rapidash]

There were quite a few NR chaps around Torre when I went past on the X46 in the morning, certainly more than I saw around Aller Junction. They were busy scratching their heads looking in cabinets. Managed to get it working again by the time I headed home (1930) which was nice.

 

[yorksrob]

Oh, I noticed that while back. Train blocks a route in the north that's sees 12 passengers and a whippet per day = 4 page thread. Branch line into large conurbation conked out for 12 hours in South West, resulting in multiple metro/IC services cancelled...? Nada.

Admittedly the WCML is a bit more serious, for obvious reasons.

That's because we up here rely on our Western contingent to keep us informed of events in the South West (which means you!)

 

[PHILIPE]

23 (Just over a quarter of a mile) chains of cable needed to be replaced in the Newton Abbot area after some testing went wrong in the early hours of the morning.

Who signs 143s and also signs down to Penzance?

Exeter. The only GWR Depot that now signs 143s, apart from a handful of Bristol men in order to move them whenever they visit PM Depot for things such as tyre turning.

 

[richw]

And noboddy gave me any bluddy warning!

A member of crew gave about an hours notice by posting that he was crewing it down on one of the south west rail Facebook groups. Cue frothing of an unusual train invading Cornwall and photos everywhere on Facebook and Flickr.

 

[ExRes]

I had the experience of a 143/143/150 combo from Exeter to Paignton last week, that was alright, apart from the ludicrously high temperature in the coaches, but I think the excitement on a trip to Penzance would have worn rather thin

 

[Rapidash]

I had the experience of a 143/143/150 combo from Exeter to Paignton last week, that was alright, apart from the ludicrously high temperature in the coaches, but I think the excitement on a trip to Penzance would have worn rather thin

Ah, the Sprogglings Express! I also had the pleasure of it last week. I was amazed that it managed to fill up so much. The front two units were full, and it wasn't much better in the 150 attached when I exited at Newton.

Uh, I think we're a wee bit ot at this point!

 

[Parallel]

Interesting to know that 143s ended up in Penzance today! Bet the people who usually use those services were in for a shock.

Also, anyone travelling on the 16:44 Penzance - Exeter would have spent three hours on a pacer. Ouch!!

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Interesting to know that 143s ended up in Penzance today! Bet the people who usually use those services were in for a shock.

Also, anyone travelling on the 16:44 Penzance - Exeter would have spent three hours on a pacer. Ouch!!

Trips from Nunthorpe to Carlisle and from Lincoln to Hull are both booked as pacer turns that exceed three hours

 

[TEW]

When I did a 143 to Penzance back in 2009 it was working the 0828 Bristol Temple Meads-Penzance, a 5 hour trip!

 

[455driver]

When I did a 143 to Penzance back in 2009 it was working the 0828 Bristol Temple Meads-Penzance, a 5 hour trip!

If its the Sunday train I think you are on about (last SWT service from Penzance?) the 143 worked that service from Exeter because the 150 developed a fault en-route!

 

[TEW]

That is indeed the Sunday. There were a couple of instances of 143s reaching Penzance on Sundays around then though on the early morning services from Bristol, not sure if any of the others worked it throughout.

 

[fgwrich]

To be fair, an FGW 143 on the Cornish Mainline isn't too bad - Their interiors are rather good for stop start stop work and I'd admittedly rather take a pair of 143s on a busy service to PZ than a single or double 153.

Besides, it's not the first time a FGW Pacer has made it to Penzance - 142001 did make it down there when FGW had their small batch at Exeter.

 

[PHILIPE]

Following on from this, another 143 strayed today. 143620 worked 2J93 1520 (FO) Westbury to Exeter St D. Normally, it is worked by a 153 which runs ECS from Bristol TM, but today formed off an STP ECS from Exeter.

 

[Rapidash]

Hopefully that's back in place for the peak? Even the midday service I was on earlier was full and standing :/ Mercifully I wasn't in need of getting the 1622 today. A single Pacer is crush loaded, a Sprinter full and standing. Argh.

Not quite as bad as when it was a 153 on occasion....

 

[iantherev]

Interesting to know that 143s ended up in Penzance today! Bet the people who usually use those services were in for a shock.

Also, anyone travelling on the 16:44 Penzance - Exeter would have spent three hours on a pacer. Ouch!!

Better than no train at all!

 

[PHILIPE]

Hopefully that's back in place for the peak? Even the midday service I was on earlier was full and standing :/ Mercifully I wasn't in need of getting the 1622 today. A single Pacer is crush loaded, a Sprinter full and standing. Argh.

Not quite as bad as when it was a 153 on occasion....

Strengthens 16 23 Exmouth to Barnstaple. As I said, usually 153 and FSX runs ECS from Bristol to Exeter.

 

[iantherev]

Hopefully that's back in place for the peak? Even the midday service I was on earlier was full and standing :/ Mercifully I wasn't in need of getting the 1622 today. A single Pacer is crush loaded, a Sprinter full and standing. Argh.

Not quite as bad as when it was a 153 on occasion....

I blame Christmas! Why do they have to hold it when the shops are full..."

 

[PHILIPE]

Following on from this, another 143 strayed today. 143620 worked 2J93 1520 (FO) Westbury to Exeter St D. Normally, it is worked by a 153 which runs ECS from Bristol TM, but today formed off an STP ECS from Exeter.

Correction. Was 143619, apologies for incorrect number.

 

[Parallel]

Following on from this, another 143 strayed today. 143619 worked 2J93 1520 (FO) Westbury to Exeter St D. Normally, it is worked by a 153 which runs ECS from Bristol TM, but today formed off an STP ECS from Exeter.

I'm not sure what (FO) and STP mean but a pacer in Westbury?

It must've been a while since one was last there!

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I'm not sure what (FO) and STP mean but a pacer in Westbury?

It must've been a while since one was last there!

FO - Friday Only

STP - Short-Term Planning

 

[Rapidash]

I blame Christmas! Why do they have to hold it when the shops are full..."

It's unfortunately like that whatever time of year.It's a busy route with probably a third less units than perfect.

Repeat after me: One Day We'll Have Sufficient Stock To Give Devon A Better Service, adnuaseum, ad infinitum, until the cascade happens. At current speeds, this will be roughly when the sun implodes.

 

[455driver]

It's unfortunately like that whatever time of year.It's a busy route with probably a third less units than perfect.

Repeat after me: One Day We'll Have Sufficient Stock To Give Devon A Better Service,

You really are an optimistic so and so aren't you!

 

[Rapidash]

You really are an optimistic so and so aren't you!

I'm on a Sprinter full of bladderd office workers, chugging on bottles of prosecco. Not exactly the most joyous place for a comparatively sober person