Class 319 on a Brighton run

[James Wake]

The delayed 1726 East Croydon to Brighton was a pair of 319s tonight. Is that normal now?

 

[ainsworth74]

Perhaps I'm behind the times but I thought that 319s were still fairly regular on the runs down to Brighton?

 

[James Wake]

They are rare now, it comes off the diagram that is at Wimbledon at 0800, which when I saw it last week was a pair of 377s.

 

[Phil.]

I thought that the Brightons were all the new ones but obviously the 319s occasionally escape.
Confucius him say, "Old train better than no train".

 

[JonathanH]

There will have had to be some changes from today because the Bedford to Three Bridges circuits take longer with stops between Gatwick and East Croydon.

 

[AndrewE]

Confucius him say, "Old train better than no train".

Definitely, but I also say "Old train often better/more attractive than new train." Give me an HST or any loco-hauled set over a Diesel multiple unit any day
(and that includes Pendolinos, with the pantograph crashing down above your head at every neutral section - if you are reserved into the wrong place) - I miss the 309's, not that they were around here for long!
I'm sure I'm not alone...

 

[ainsworth74]

They are rare now, it comes off the diagram that is at Wimbledon at 0800, which when I saw it last week was a pair of 377s.

Ah, like I said, behind the times!

 

[swt_passenger]

This closed thread from back in May reflects the fact that 319s 'all the way to Brighton' were quite rare even then: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116076&highlight=brighton

 

[TEW]

There are more 319s to Brighton again in the new timetable. Not sure if that particular service is booked one but they are booked there at least a couple of times a day now.

 

[thameslink2000]

319454+319002 were the pair on 1550 ex Bedford/1835 ex Brighton. I believe these are indeed booked to be 319 in the new timetable.

 

[MCSHF007]

1550 ex Bedford/1835 ex Brighton. I believe these are indeed booked to be 319 in the new timetable.

The only other return SX 319 booked working is 10:10 ex Bedford, 13:05 ex Brighton

 

[Gareth4949]

Does anyone have details of the 377 diargrams for thameslink, it would be good to know if the 6:29 haywards Heath to Bedford service is a 377 or a 387

 

[Crossover]

Definitely, but I also say "Old train often better/more attractive than new train." Give me an HST or any loco-hauled set over a Diesel multiple unit any day
(and that includes Pendolinos, with the pantograph crashing down above your head at every neutral section - if you are reserved into the wrong place) - I miss the 309's, not that they were around here for long!
I'm sure I'm not alone...

Just on a side point, thats the VCB (Vacuum Circuit Breaker) opening/closing, not the pantograph crashing down (if it does crash down, there are bigger issues!)

 

[Bald Rick]

There was a pair on the 1602 ex Brighton last night which almost caught me out. Temporary thing evidently, 12 x 387s tonight.

 

[MCSHF007]

Does anyone have details of the 377 diargrams for thameslink, it would be good to know if the 6:29 haywards Heath to Bedford service is a 377 or a 387

Booked 8 car 387

 

[bengley]

Until the timetable change there was only one daily late evening 319 return working to Brighton. In theory now there will be more, as they should no longer work Three Bridges services, as they cannot call at Purley, Coulsdon South or Merstham (so if one ends up on a TBD service, these stops will have to be cancelled).

 

[causton]

Until the timetable change there was only one daily late evening 319 return working to Brighton. In theory now there will be more, as they should no longer work Three Bridges services, as they cannot call at Purley, Coulsdon South or Merstham (so if one ends up on a TBD service, these stops will have to be cancelled).

Why is that? No mirrors/monitors?

 

[bengley]

Why is that? No mirrors/monitors?

I can't remember in which direction, but Coulsdon S & Merstham don't have them in one direction only (they do in the other direction).

Purley dispatchers don't sign 319s.

 

[RichJF]

I can't remember in which direction, but Coulsdon S & Merstham don't have them in one direction only (they do in the other direction).

Purley dispatchers don't sign 319s.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's northbound.

 

[bengley]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's northbound.

I think you're right. I seem to remember reading they have them in the 'down' direction only.

 

[tsr]

I think you're right. I seem to remember reading they have them in the 'down' direction only.

Correct - and, theoretically, further issues in the opposite direction at Horley and Salfords quite possibly preventing calls there even if they wanted to!

 

[RichJF]

So back in the day when Connex/South Central Trains used to run 319's via Redhill to Horsham did they carry a guard to enable services to call at these stations?

 

[ExRes]

There was a pair on the 1602 ex Brighton last night which almost caught me out. Temporary thing evidently, 12 x 387s tonight.

Now that's what should be rostered in the peak, I reckon a 48 car should cope pretty well

 

[sarahj]

Now that's what should be rostered in the peak, I reckon a 48 car should cope pretty well

Even with 48 car everyone would be either at the back, from Brighton, coaches 3 and 4 from the heath and all of Gatwick around 2 doors in the middle, and all tutting about overcrowding. Meanwhile coaches 2,5,6, etc etc would have one man and a dog.

 

[tsr]

So back in the day when Connex/South Central Trains used to run 319's via Redhill to Horsham did they carry a guard to enable services to call at these stations?

I believe they did. 319s also used to travel via Dorking from what I've been told, and ran on the WCML - both with guards.

Apparently, some guards didn't like working them very much because of the need to return to the cab for dispatch and the fact that you could lock yourself in (or out, I forget which) of the train very easily.

 

[craigybagel]

I can't remember in which direction, but Coulsdon S & Merstham don't have them in one direction only (they do in the other direction).

Purley dispatchers don't sign 319s.

Dispatchers sign traction? Sounds strange to me and I used to be one! Albeit not in DOO land.

 

[bengley]

Dispatchers sign traction? Sounds strange to me and I used to be one! Albeit not in DOO land.

You have to be trained on each class of stock which you dispatch, yes!

 

[craigybagel]

You have to be trained on each class of stock which you dispatch, yes!

Interesting..... Where I was we were trained for 3 basic types (power doors, slams doors with cdl and slam doors without cdl), plus we had local instructions for certain types of stock (Virgin Pendolino's we always had to use the RA display, but not Voyagers, for example), but within those rules we could despatch anything and everything that turned up.

 

[Antman]

Yes I do remember being told by a member of staff that 319's couldn't stop at Purley, Coulsdon South or Merstham, there are still a few of them to be seen on the Brighton line

 

[physics34]

I believe they did. 319s also used to travel via Dorking from what I've been told, and ran on the WCML - both with guards.

Apparently, some guards didn't like working them very much because of the need to return to the cab for dispatch and the fact that you could lock yourself in (or out, I forget which) of the train very easily.

being extremely picky, only between Dorking and Horsham did they have a guard

Incidentally, a couple of guards hurt their necks whilst working these and 456s by accidentally opening the cab door whilst having there head out of the window!!! Must of been out of habit as with 455s you can do this without any danger of injury!