Class 350 on a Southern service

[Voyager 2093]

Today at Harrow and Wealdstone @ approximately 10:18 I noticed a Class 350/1 destined for Watford Junction, however underneath the PIS it said Southern Service. Any ideas as to why would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[43074]

A shortage of dual voltage Class 377/2s? The 350/1s did run the Croydon to Milton Keynes service in 2009 because of the delayed delivery of the 377/5s.

 

[Eagle]

Looking on RTT there doesn't seem to be a Watford Junction-bound train that was at H&W at that time. Perhaps the display was just wrongly set? (Southern used to use 350s on the WLL route several years ago.)

I notice there was a lot of disruption on the southern WCML this morning due to a LM train failing at Berkhamsted.

 

[MCR247]

I'd guess it was a wrongly set PIS as the code was never removed

 

[gordonthemoron]

I thought the broken down train at Berkhamsted this morning was a freight train which blocked both fast lines, or so the guard said on the 8:11 Leighton Buzzard to Cowtown

 

[sprinterguy]

I thought the broken down train at Berkhamsted this morning was a freight train which blocked both fast lines, or so the guard said on the 8:11 Leighton Buzzard to Cowtown

Indeed, that is my understanding as well: 4L38 02:15 Daventry to Purfleet being the train involved.

 

[ushawk]

Pretty sure there isnt any shoegear on the 350s so it wouldnt be able to run south of North Pole Jct.

Its most probably a wrong PIS code.

EDIT - it was most probably this service - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P36405/2013/06/26/advanced - 2T31 0934 London Euston to Tring which terminated at Watford Junction after leaving Euston 31 down.

 

[edwin_m]

350/1 were built with shoegear and have operated on the third rail as posted above. There is a plan kicking around to use them for through services between Euston and north of Watford on the DC lines late at night so the other lines can be closed for engineering.

 

[Eagle]

Pretty sure there isnt any shoegear on the 350s so it wouldnt be able to run south of North Pole Jct.

350/1s were built with shoegear (being as they were ordered as 450/0s), and a few of them were leased to Southern to work WLL services to Croydon to cover the shortfall caused by FCC borrowing some of their 377s.

Although I think the shoegear may since have been disabled.

 

[Class377/5]

The shoe gear is tied up (multiple threads over the internet on this) and its the PIS code as a 350/2 was spotted a few weeks ago stating Southern on it.

 

[Alistair G.]

For anyone interested, it was 4L38 on the up fast causing the problems. A loose piece of metal of some sort was protruding from the rear wagon and kept tripping the overheads. After going through northchurch tunnels (and tripping the overheads again) it was decided to ditch him there until people on the ground could secure it. This ruined the morning peak as he didn't move until around 09:40 I think..... And I was the signaller lucky enough to be dealing with it all!... Hate the "Watford" workstation panel!

 

[westcoaster]

The pis on 350's can be manipulated by the driver to show what ever they feel like.

 

[D365]

The pis on 350's can be manipulated by the driver to show what ever they feel like.

But if they intentionally 'funny' it in service, surely they'll get into some kind of trouble? Any PIS can be manipulated by the train crew; its purpose is to give information to passengers on the journey. Therefore staff set it up as such, hence the name...

 

[MCR247]

Any PIS can be manipulated by the train crew; its purpose is to give information to passengers on the journey. Therefore staff set it up as such, hence the name...

Well no not any PIS because for a lot, the majority even, you will only be able to input codes and that's it.

 

[33056]

For anyone interested, it was 4L38 on the up fast causing the problems. A loose piece of metal of some sort was protruding from the rear wagon and kept tripping the overheads. After going through northchurch tunnels (and tripping the overheads again) it was decided to ditch him there until people on the ground could secure it. This ruined the morning peak as he didn't move until around 09:40 I think..... And I was the signaller lucky enough to be dealing with it all!... Hate the "Watford" workstation panel!

So it's your fault then
It moved off just as I went past on 1Y86, we had been crawling from signal to signal on the up slow between Pitstone and Bourne End and arrived into Euston about 40 late

 

[Alistair G.]

Not my fault, just dealing with the mess. Yeah I remember 1y86 as that was trapped eight in the middle of about 8 trains including a tring all sheds in front of it!. At least you it out on the up fast at Bourne end, control suggested keeping that clear from the"1R"'s (virgin peak), but LM pay track access and their punters pay good money to travel too... And I'm the one with the buttons.... So fast line it was!.

 

[33056]

Cheers for that, I was only half an hour late for work in the end (was aiming to be 15 minutes early!) but one of my colleagues was more like an hour late - we started without him

 

[Eagle]

At least you it out on the up fast at Bourne end...

Bourne End? What kind of crazy diversion were you sending them on? :P

 

[Alistair G.]

Bourne end junction is the regular point of up slow to up fast for 1Y86.... No diversion required (despite somebody perhaps suggesting there should have been). Let's just hope for an easier day tomorrow!

 

[Class377/5]

Ironically this week I saw a 313 arrive at Brighton displaying Watford Junction!

 

[Ibex]

"Watford Junction Southern" is not a particularly rare sight. It's a leftover PIS code from their brief stint on the West London Line. I'm sure they'll get around to removing it eventually. 2J47 1734 EUS-WFJ quite often displays Watford Junction Southern.

 

[Voyager 2093]

Gotta love 350s however, far superior to the cheaper Class 377, you can really see the difference in the quality of the two units when on the WCML. 350s are so much better in every aspect.