Class 68 - Leeds Midland Road

[DarloRich]

On Saturday 22nd January I happened to be passing Midland road on the train and though I saw a glimpse of a DRS class 68 at that site. Is that accurate? If so what was it doing there?

 

[fgwrich]

At a guess, It could be there for Tyre Turning?

 

[DarloRich]

At a guess, It could be there for Tyre Turning?

Didn't think of that. doh.

 

[PennineSuperb]

TPE regularly send Class 68’s which are participating in light loco Driver training for fuel to Leeds Midland Road too.

 

[DarloRich]

TPE regularly send Class 68’s which are participating in light loco Driver training for fuel to Leeds Midland Road too.

thanks - that makes sense.

 

[ohgoditsjames]

One was seen in Sheffield too apparently, why would that be?

 

[Fokx]

One was seen in Sheffield too apparently, why would that be?

Driver training for the South route

 

[Iskra]

One was seen in Sheffield too apparently, why would that be?

TP have been doing driver training runs over the Hope Valley for future services

 

[ohgoditsjames]

TP have been doing driver training runs over the Hope Valley for future services

Didn’t realise they were going to end up on the Hope Valley!

 

[Iskra]

Didn’t realise they were going to end up on the Hope Valley!

Courtesy of the residents of Scarborough

 

[ohgoditsjames]

Courtesy of the residents of Scarborough

Will that be at the cost of the 185’s? We’ve not enjoyed the doubled up 185’s for long and the 68’s have less seats.

 

[Trainfan2019]

Courtesy of the residents of Scarborough

What's happened with Scarborough then? Thanks.

 

[Iskra]

Will that be at the cost of the 185’s? We’ve not enjoyed the doubled up 185’s for long and the 68’s have less seats.

Maybe a bit of both, @Watershed may be able to confirm?

I think 5 car trains will be adequate. 6 carriage services usually have plenty of room. Class 185’s have a very inefficient layout and there can’t be that much difference when you account for all the cab space and duplicated first class and toilets in a 6 car formation.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2022 ==

What's happened with Scarborough then? Thanks.

Well-publicised noise complaints from local residents about the noise of class 68’s when idling at the newly constructed depot there, have led to their withdrawal from that depot and thus they need a new home.

As a Sheffield resident, I’m very happy about loco-haulage on the Hope Valley.

 

[hexagon789]

I think 5 car trains will be adequate. 6 carriage services usually have plenty of room. Class 185’s have a very inefficient layout and there can’t be that much difference when you account for all the cab space and duplicated first class and toilets in a 6 car formation.

Identical First Class - 30 vs 30, but a Mk5A set has 73 fewer Std Class seats than two 185s. (261 vs 334).

Nevertheless as a Mk5A set can't be divided and run as a single 3-car unit... you get the gist.

 

[Trainfan2019]

Thanks for the info about the Scarborough noise issues Iskra. Thinking back to last week, I thought it was strange when I saw a video on Youtube with a class 68 in Sheffield.
Would be great going through hope valley loco hauled.

 

[Spaceship323]

Didn't think of that. doh.

Don't DRS use Roberts Road (Doncaster) for tyre turning? They sent 2 88's there the other week

 

[ohgoditsjames]

Is there an eta on when we can expect to see the 68’s in service on the Hope valley?

Edit: Found the answer in the 68 diagram thread!

 

[DarloRich]

TPE regularly send Class 68’s which are participating in light loco Driver training for fuel to Leeds Midland Road too.

thanks - that makes sense.

 

[alexl92]

Maybe a bit of both, @Watershed may be able to confirm?

I think 5 car trains will be adequate. 6 carriage services usually have plenty of room. Class 185’s have a very inefficient layout and there can’t be that much difference when you account for all the cab space and duplicated first class and toilets in a 6 car formation.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2022 ==


Well-publicised noise complaints from local residents about the noise of class 68’s when idling at the newly constructed depot there, have led to their withdrawal from that depot and thus they need a new home.

As a Sheffield resident, I’m very happy about loco-haulage on the Hope Valley.

Ohhhh no. So they'll no longer serve Leeds? I haven't had chance to have a ride on one yet (haven't had any reason to travel across the Pennines or to York recently)... can't see when I'll get the chance.

 

[Iskra]

Ohhhh no. So they'll no longer serve Leeds? I haven't had chance to have a ride on one yet (haven't had any reason to travel across the Pennines or to York recently)... can't see when I'll get the chance.

I don’t know, maybe they might run a token diagram to retain competence for staff on that route in case things change in the future.

I’ve also not managed to do a 68 on a Mk5 set yet, which is why I’m happy they are coming to Sheffield. Been meaning to do a South Pennine Day Ranger for ages, but the Scarborough Branch shuttles made that pointless in terms of 68 haulage. So, at least they will be consistently running on the SPDR patch again making them more accessible and better value for enthusiasts

 

[Fokx]

Ohhhh no. So they'll no longer serve Leeds? I haven't had chance to have a ride on one yet (haven't had any reason to travel across the Pennines or to York recently)... can't see when I'll get the chance.

There will still be Class 68’s to/from Leeds. Liverpool to Scarborough (and the variations there of’) will remain until December 2022.

2x 68’s are planned for the South route from May
6x from December (with Liverpool extension)

The remainder will then form either Manchester to Saltburn,
(Liverpool) Manchester to Scarborough or (Manchester) Liverpool to Hull

 

[alexl92]

Thank you!

 

[Pinus contorta]

The 68 noise problem is not just in Scarborough. I remember the residents around Barrow LMD were all up in arms about them idling in the early hours when they were in use on the Barrow to Carlisle service a couple of years ago.

 

[sjpowermac]

thanks - that makes sense.

68034 was at Leeds Midland Road on Saturday for fuel. It has been working off York on driver training trips. Pic here of it back at York.

 

[Iskra]

The 68 noise problem is not just in Scarborough. I remember the residents around Barrow LMD were all up in arms about them idling in the early hours when they were in use on the Barrow to Carlisle service a couple of years ago.

I think that was 37’s in use with Northern.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2022 ==

There will still be Class 68’s to/from Leeds. Liverpool to Scarborough (and the variations there of’) will remain until December 2022.

2x 68’s are planned for the South route from May
6x from December (with Liverpool extension)

The remainder will then form either Manchester to Saltburn,
(Liverpool) Manchester to Scarborough or (Manchester) Liverpool to Hull

68’s for everyone then

 

[Nym]

When all the ETS rafts get replaced that is...