Cornish Branches

[Eagle]

Out of interest are there any scheduled 158 services west of Bristol now (SWT excepted)?

West in what sense (Portsmouth to Cardiff is usually a 158)?

 

[Goatboy]

West in what sense (Portsmouth to Cardiff is usually a 158)?

Down towards Devon and Cornwall

 

[Drsatan]

Down towards Devon and Cornwall

Last Monday I noted a 158 working the 1740 St James Park to Paignton. I'm not sure what diagram brought it down to Devon though.

Under Wessex Trains, 158s used to be fairly common in Devon: in 2006 I saw one on the Barnstaple branch. They used to work services from EXD to PNZ too.

 

[richw]

Last Monday I noted a 158 working the 1740 St James Park to Paignton. I'm not sure what diagram brought it down to Devon though.

Under Wessex Trains, 158s used to be fairly common in Devon: in 2006 I saw one on the Barnstaple branch. They used to work services from EXD to PNZ too.

In 2006 the Falmouth branch was booked as a 158 for a few months

 

[Drsatan]

In 2006 the Falmouth branch was booked as a 158 for a few months

Makes a change from the 150/1 (or 153) that's booked on the branch! I'm fairly certain that 158s ceased to be used on PLY-PNZ, EXD-PNZ and 'Devon Metro' services since they were required for 3-car 158 formations on CDF-PMH services.

150/1s certainly aren't suitable traction for the 0600 PNZ-CDF, the 0828 SuO BRI-PNZ or the 16:44 PNZ-EXD! Under BR a few 158s would have been transferred to Laira or Exeter depot to cover for any shortfall.

 

[Birdbrain]

Just spent a week down in Cornwall based in Truro. Always good to see the branch lines doing well, even in winter. Falmouth branch was replacement buses but some trips even needed two coaches as loadings were high. Shame there was no guard on the coaches though because it looked as though it was a free ride for anyone unless you were travelling from Truro. The only problem was the 150's on the Plymouth-Penzance services. Boarded the 1527 truro to plymouth which was full and standing throughout, so much so that it missed the connection at plymouth to the paddington service. These services are much more suited to 158's shame there isn't any available!

 

[richw]

Just spent a week down in Cornwall based in Truro. Always good to see the branch lines doing well, even in winter. Falmouth branch was replacement buses but some trips even needed two coaches as loadings were high. Shame there was no guard on the coaches though because it looked as though it was a free ride for anyone unless you were travelling from Truro. The only problem was the 150's on the Plymouth-Penzance services. Boarded the 1527 truro to plymouth which was full and standing throughout, so much so that it missed the connection at plymouth to the paddington service. These services are much more suited to 158's shame there isn't any available!

The rail replacement coaches are always a free ride when they're on the branch lines, Not normally a ticket check at Truro neither.

 

[Goatboy]

Under Wessex Trains, 158s used to be fairly common in Devon: in 2006 I saw one on the Barnstaple branch. They used to work services from EXD to PNZ too.

Yup, such a shame.

I know I bang this particular drum a lot but I really mourn the loss of 158's on the services I frequently use. They are such great units for passengers - quiet for a DMU, comfortable and suitable for medium length journeys.

None of which applies to the junk FGW inherited from London Midland and which now operate most of the services which you used to get a 158 on.

 

[DaveHarries]

On the subject of through trains to Cornish Branchlines, due to a revised service and some unit shuffling on 1st January 2013, the 12:54 Plymouth to Gunnislake will be starting from CARDIFF CENTRAL. Basically The 09:00 Cardiff to Plymouth that normally runs before forming the 13:53 Plymouth to Penzance is running through to Gunnislake.

That will be good won't it? I can picture the scene at Cardiff as the announcement rings out: "The next train from Platform 2 will be the 0900 First Great Western service to Gunnislake..." and all the Welsh people who have never been past Bristol, let alone down to Plymouth, will be asking: "Where's Gunnislake, boyo?"

At the moment the 06:00 Penzance to Cardiff is a 150.

I have seen this arrive at Cardiff. With 30+ stops en-route it can't be a very comfortable trip!

Out of interest are there any scheduled 158 services west of Bristol now (SWT excepted)?

What about FGW? I have seen Class 158s between Cardiff and Taunton.

Talking of pubs near junctions, I was sitting with the family in the garden of the one next to Liskeard not long ago listening with great amusement to the landlord describing the relative attributes of his latest barmaid to one of his regulars in less than gallant terms

I would like to have been party to that conversation too.

Dave

 

[PHILIPE]

There are no 158s available to work in the West of England so 150s have to work them. After 2006 DaFT sent 12 FGW 158s away to Northern and Scotrail and replaced them with 142s and after this Penzance and Par lost traction knowledge of 158s The 142s have now all gone and replaced by 150/1s cascaded from London Midland. The 17 10 St James Park to Paignton is booked for a 158 but this the only one booked West of Taunton. It comes down attached from Bristol to Exeter and returns afterwards.