Cumbrian Coast Loco Hauled Stock

[Shaw S Hunter]

Top & Tail is going to be extremely expensive. Having to hire two 68's instead of one 37. Hiring a DRS Driver to drive the 68 but they will still have to pay the Northern driver as well. This is going to be a very expensive service. I think if they're going to hire two 68's they can put them to much better use elsewhere than the Cumbrian Coast.

It will be expensive, no doubt. But by keeping them on the Cumbrian Coast the size of the attendant problems/risks is minimised somewhat. It's also reasonably close to DRS' own facilities meaning maintenance and troubleshooting can happen quite quickly. Just where else did you have in mind?

 

[Tringonometry]

Top & Tail is going to be extremely expensive. Having to hire two 68's instead of one 37. Hiring a DRS Driver to drive the 68 but they will still have to pay the Northern driver as well. This is going to be a very expensive service. I think if they're going to hire two 68's they can put them to much better use elsewhere than the Cumbrian Coast.

Good analysis.

The only point I'd make is that at least the guards on the coast sign the stock already. If you used them elsewhere then you'd incur guard training costs.

In other news: I'm downloading lots of podcasts to my phone to while away the time on some long trips on the cushions.

 

[Loop & Link]

Barrow are learning 158s. Workington will remain Kings of the Coast.

No Northern drivers are learning 68s because it's not worth the cost of training 60 drivers for a short-term solution.

Do you still have that token job to Lancaster still? It’s only 1 SX run now isn’t it?

 

[Tringonometry]

Do you still have that token job to Lancaster still? It’s only 1 SX run now isn’t it?

That's right. I expect that'll go in May - cascades and timetable changes permitting.

 

[Loop & Link]

That's right. I expect that'll go in May - cascades and timetable changes permitting.

Thanks, bit of a shame that, there was a SO job a few years ago to Lancaster (WK1100, if i recall?)

 

[Tringonometry]

Thanks, bit of a shame that, there was a SO job a few years ago to Lancaster (WK1100, if i recall?)

There's still a Saturday LAN trip. That'll go too, obvs.

Shame. I like the Furness Coast.

 

[Cumberlandkev]

Had a great run down the coast on the 1156 Carlisle - Lancaster today until we ground to a sharp halt about a mile out of Lancaster and blocking the WCML. Limped into Lancaster at 20mph arriving 28 late. 37402 - air problem we were told.

 

[RAPC]

Just got on the 08:45 from Grange, heading to Preston. 68017 and 68018 on duty.

 

[87015]

Had a great run down the coast on the 1156 Carlisle - Lancaster today until we ground to a sharp halt about a mile out of Lancaster and blocking the WCML. Limped into Lancaster at 20mph arriving 28 late. 37402 - air problem we were told.

If that’s the recent WCML issue I’m thinking of was an AWS “fault” on the DBSO - it wasn’t cancelled...

 

[Tringonometry]

If that’s the recent WCML issue I’m thinking of was an AWS “fault” on the DBSO - it wasn’t cancelled...

I've done that in 37424 (558) because the new-fangled TPWS/AWS unit isn't loud enough and also sounds 'wrong' for the loco environment.

I was only delayed for a couple of minutes, though. *polishes halo*

A couple of the DBSOs have temperamental AWS/TPWSs. Every now and again they decide they feel like going off, or don't feel like resetting. Or both. That's a legit fault, not a "fault".

 

[xotGD]

Just got on the 08:45 from Grange, heading to Preston. 68017 and 68018 on duty.

Same pair out today, along with 37402. Definitely more cranks than normals on the 68s.

 

[Iskra]

Anyone able to confirm what LHCS should be out this Saturday please? Is it still as per the Frequently Requested Diagrams Thread?

RTT has the timing load on the 1156 off Carlisle as a DMU. I know they don't always mean much, but that's a little concerning for me.

Do we know which are supposed to be 68's and which 37 if LHCS is running?

 

[47802]

Anyone able to confirm what LHCS should be out this Saturday please? Is it still as per the Frequently Requested Diagrams Thread?

RTT has the timing load on the 1156 off Carlisle as a DMU. I know they don't always mean much, but that's a little concerning for me.

Do we know which are supposed to be 68's and which 37 if LHCS is running?

At present the Carlisle Starter is Normally the 68 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which means the Saturday 11-56 will normally be the 37 but of course there is always the possibility that may get changed due to disruption of one sort or another.

 

[Iskra]

At present the Carlisle Starter is Normally the 68 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which means the Saturday 11-56 will normally be the 37 but of course there is always the possibility that may get changed due to disruption of one sort or another.

Thanks for the information. It's a long way to go to get a numb-bum unit down the coast.

 

[47802]

Thanks for the information. It's a long way to go to get a numb-bum unit down the coast.

Well the last 2 attempts I tried to get the 37 from Preston just before the 68's tuck over one of the diagrams both ended in failure, the 1st attempt the West Coast was shut between Carnforth and Lancaster, and second attempt my connecting train was delayed by signalling issues around Halifax.

 

[_toommm_]

Well the last 2 attempts I tried to get the 37 from Preston just before the 68's tuck over one of the diagrams both ended in failure, the 1st attempt the West Coast was shut between Carnforth and Lancaster, and second attempt my connecting train was delayed by signalling issues around Halifax.

Go to Leeds in the morning, take the 8:30 Leeds to Carlisle then the 11:56 37 to Lancaster. Really good day.

 

[47802]

Go to Leeds in the morning, take the 8:30 Leeds to Carlisle then the 11:56 37 to Lancaster. Really good day.

Thanks already done that specifically wanted some pic's in Preston and then travel up to Barrow will have another go soon although its a bit more difficult now being limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I was photographing and videoing 37's in the late 80's when Sprinters were taking over, its mind boggling to think you can still get one in 2018 complete with Large Logo even if it isn't for much longer but then that seems to have been the case for more than 20 years

 

[_toommm_]

Thanks already done that specifically wanted some pic's in Preston and then travel up to Barrow will have another go soon although its a bit more difficult now being limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I was photographing and videoing 37's in the late 80's when Sprinters were taking over, its mind boggling to think you can still get one in 2018 complete with Large Logo even if it isn't for much longer but then that seems to have been the case for more than 20 years

Well at least one 37 is purportedly here until the end of the year, so at least we can enjoy it on the one or two sunny days Britain has.

 

[gnolife]

Anyone know what services, if any, are expected to be loco hauled next Monday and Thursday during the strikes?

 

[1D53]

No Loco hauled on strike days.

 

[gcmozart]

I am starting to plan a trip for May (probably Friday 11th or 18th) and trying to work out which journeys will be 37 hauled. The Frequently Requested Diagrams thread still lists both diagrams as being 37 hauled, but I get the impression from this thread that that is not the case.

Is there anyway of knowing or having a reasonably good guess which will be 37 hauled this far in advance?

Apologies if this has been answered before, but I didnt see the info when looking through this thread.

 

[xotGD]

Adding to the questions, can anyone advise based on past experience can we expect the loco-hauled services to run on Good Friday and Easter Monday?

 

[158820]

The TopnTail 68s are now on 1 set. The one that starts MonWedFri at Carlisle. The other set remains 37/dbso.
I am also plannning a trip and it is giving me a headache.

 

[47802]

I am starting to plan a trip for May (probably Friday 11th or 18th) and trying to work out which journeys will be 37 hauled. The Frequently Requested Diagrams thread still lists both diagrams as being 37 hauled, but I get the impression from this thread that that is not the case.

Is there anyway of knowing or having a reasonably good guess which will be 37 hauled this far in advance?

Apologies if this has been answered before, but I didnt see the info when looking through this thread.

As has been stated before the 68 Hauled train starts the ex Carlisle diagram Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the 37 Hauled train is Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Obviously there is no 100% certainty that this could not be changed at some point.

There has been adverse press about School Children being late for School on the morning Carlisle-Preston Working which could be why they have chosen to maximise the 68's on that working

 

[gcmozart]

Thanks for that I am going to try to combine a trip up from Kent via the Settle to Carlisle line and come back down the Cumbrian coast. The 14:35 from Carlisle is the best option for me so it looks like I am in luck on Fridays for that being 37 hauled.

 

[xotGD]

Thanks for that I am going to try to combine a trip up from Kent via the Settle to Carlisle line and come back down the Cumbrian coast. The 14:35 from Carlisle is the best option for me so it looks like I am in luck on Fridays for that being 37 hauled.

See if you can do it the other way round and get both loco-hauled sets: Preston - Barrow then Barrow - Carlisle, followed by a southbound run on the 'express' on the S&C.

 

[gcmozart]

See if you can do it the other way round and get both loco-hauled sets: Preston - Barrow then Barrow - Carlisle, followed by a southbound run on the 'express' on the S&C.

what is the "express" ?

 

[47802]

what is the "express" ?

15-06 off Carlisle is limited stop probably not a bad idea as the number of stops on the other trains can be a bit tedious if your going all the way to Leeds

 

[gnolife]

what is the "express" ?

The 1506 from Carlisle, which calls at Appleby, Kirkby Stephen, Settle, Skipton, Keighley, Bingley, Shipley and Leeds only

 

[DanNCL]

Would I be right in thinking that the 68 is on diagram 1 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and on diagram 2 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays?

With the strikes on Monday and Thursday this week, does that mean that the 68 will actually be on diagram 1 on Tuesday (27th March), and on diagram 2 on Wednesday (28th March)? Or will the loco hauled diagrams be unaffected by the strikes?