Class 458s in Fratton yard

[K.o.R]

Just saw a pair of 458s in the loop siding at Fratton. That's a bit out of their normal stomping grounds isn't it?

 

[winks]

It certainly is !

 

[swt_passenger]

IIRC there were a few test runs to/from the Portsmouth area following 458/5 conversion. It could just be some sort of testing following maintenance.

 

[700007]

I know the SWR fleet has a thing for occasionally going to places way off their usual grid. 707s were tested on the Portsmouth Direct quite a bit, 455s have made it to Weymouth (not in passenger service thankfully, that would have been horrible!) and the diesel fleet has been spotted at various locations around the network.

 

[fgwrich]

Those 707s still seem to turn up in Service at Reading on various occasions. I was quite surprised to see one sat in platform 6 on Friday!

I presume it’ll be a Farnham driver who has taken that down there, unless anywhere else drives them on the Pompey Direct?

 

[43096]

Those 707s still seem to turn up in Service at Reading on various occasions. I was quite surprised to see one sat in platform 6 on Friday!

I presume it’ll be a Farnham driver who has taken that down there, unless anywhere else drives them on the Pompey Direct?

1935 Waterloo-Reading is booked for a single 707 and is the only booked working. It goes back empty.

 

[pompeyfan]

458s are receiving door mods on a 2 weekly cycle, it’s a booked regular move, however usually it’s only 1 unit.

Led to believe it’s a Waterloo/Wimbledon driver, although they wouldn’t sign the depot or Fratton East junction so I’d assume there’s a pilot.

A few times the 458 has had to go via Eastleigh due to planned engineering works, as far as I’m aware no depot has knowledge of 458s and via Botley so who drives that, I don’t know.

 

[Georgeo]

The reason they are at Fratton is because Bournemouth is too busy with all there regular units plus all of the 442s, there isn't any space for them to do the work so the maintenance is carried out at Fratton

 

[HeelBurton]

458s are receiving door mods on a 2 weekly cycle, it’s a booked regular move, however usually it’s only 1 unit.

Led to believe it’s a Waterloo/Wimbledon driver, although they wouldn’t sign the depot or Fratton East junction so I’d assume there’s a pilot.

A few times the 458 has had to go via Eastleigh due to planned engineering works, as far as I’m aware no depot has knowledge of 458s and via Botley so who drives that, I don’t know.

I’ve done it twice. I was due to be piloted by a Northam DI when it was going to be diverted but they cancelled the move due to disruption and I went to Farnham instead at Brookwood.

Usually, it would be Wimbledon on a departmental turn.

 

[pompeyfan]

I’ve done it twice. I was due to be piloted by a Northam DI when it was going to be diverted but they cancelled the move due to disruption and I went to Farnham instead at Brookwood.

Usually, it would be Wimbledon on a departmental turn.

Ah that’s interesting, how do you get round the depot issue, as I’ve seen them come in and out the East end as well as the back road, so I’d guess someone joins either at Fratton or Havant?

 

[HeelBurton]

The DI would have piloted me in. I was looking forward to the experience to fair. I was told it would be back road we would go into the depot from. Well that was what I had on the schedule. But was told alterations could happen and to contact Havant when arrive into their area.

 

[pompeyfan]

Oh I see, so the DI joined your train up near Wimbledon and would have piloted you the whole way. Does that work the same if you’d have come down the direct instead?

 

[HeelBurton]

Oh I see, so the DI joined your train up near Wimbledon and would have piloted you the whole way. Does that work the same if you’d have come down the direct instead?

I sign the direct, so I guess the precaution of him joining at Woking was if we went via Eastleigh. I don’t sign pass Brookwood, but I sign Basingstoke Barton Mill and Long valley (from when I did company days in 2015)

He had already spoken to control and when I pulled into Woking I was told to clarify with the signaller that we was ok to go via Eastleigh. We said yes obviously, and continued, then was told it was so bad they didn’t want us to attempt the journey, so I dropped the DI at Brookwood and took it to Farnham reception road and passed back.

There’s a few moves like this I get informed of now and again because I volunteer for such. There’s an Aldershot via Chertsey move on Thursday then back to Woking; to test some sidings there.

These moves or special ECS are very pre organised but the slight bit of disruption they just cancel. Unless it’s a Saturday night takeaway thing at Hampton court, where of course, run without fail and the driver is carefully selected for his speaking line

 

[pompeyfan]

Always interesting to speak to those involved. Can’t help but think perhaps it would have made more sense for a select few Wimbledon drivers to learn Fratton depot. Is there any links that sign both Portsmouth and Poole, or is it either 1 or the other up that way? Just thinking an in fill via Botley wouldn’t take long either.

 

[HeelBurton]

Wimbledon departmental sign Poole and Portsmouth.

Always interesting to speak to those involved. Can’t help but think perhaps it would have made more sense for a select few Wimbledon drivers to learn Fratton depot. Is there any links that sign both Portsmouth and Poole, or is it either 1 or the other up that way? Just thinking an in fill via Botley wouldn’t take long either.

Wimbledon porterbrook drivers sign Pompey and Poole. I’m not sure they sign Fratton depot I’ll have to check, it’s unlikely as when Waterloo picked the work up we mirrored what they signed. In theory now any driver who goes into link 2 at Waterloo will have Portsmouth and Poole on their card, unless they sign off the former, but we can’t learn Botley. This is just the state of things at the moment. Crews not signing diversionary routes. Don’t let me start on that.

 

[pompeyfan]

Agreed the less said about diversionary routes the better. Yesterday was a good example of that. Even something as simple as Basingstoke signing the top of the triangle to Havant would assist!

Nice to see we’ve managed to keep this subject on topic

 

[HeelBurton]

Agreed the less said about diversionary routes the better. Yesterday was a good example of that. Even something as simple as Basingstoke signing the top of the triangle to Havant would assist!

Nice to see we’ve managed to keep this subject on topic

Lol agreed mate.

True. I think it’s the first 458 move I’ve seen at fratton since June. Might be mistaken though. Can’t imagine there will be many more.

 

[pompeyfan]

There’s a Facebook page, along the lines of railways around Portsmouth which documents regular moves of the 458 stock into and out of Portsmouth, as well as 37 test trains etc. There’s been on going moves all through the autumn.

 

[HeelBurton]

Wow. So I guess it’s probably not just is that do them then. I’ll have to do some digging

 

[pompeyfan]

Pictures movements on 04/11, 17/11 and 04/12.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rtportsmouth/