DBS Traincrew Route Knowledge

[Whistler40145]

I have always wondered what the Route/Traction Knowledge is for DBS Depots?

e.g. Retro Railtours Southend trip, how many sets of Traincrew will be required & which depot knows the route to Southend & have Traction Knowledge of Class 31s?

 

[Whistler40145]

Obviously, either nobody knows the answer to my Thread, or aren't interested in answering me!

 

[9K43]

If the train starts at Leeds City it may have been sent over night to Neville Hill Depot , or even in the down stagings at Healey Mills.
If it has been up at NH then it can enter Leeds City with no RR required.
If it was at HM the train can access City Station then RR within the station.
At one time, HM drivers all signed Class 31's and drove them for many years prior to thier demise.
HM drivers/guards have RK over the first bit of the route, eg, Leeds via the LNW to Dewsbury via Thornhill LNW Jct upto Huddersfield then onto Stalybridge then make a left towards Guide Bridge then another left at GB onto Stockport.
After that I recon the either Toton crews or Birmingham Crews will take it down south.
My RK would finish at Crewe, after that its back to bed.
On the return working, it would be the reverse of the outward.
The drivers involved with this train may have been sent to a location where they could refresh the class 31's and the route over which it would be going.
The lead in time for the train plan will have been made months ago, giving the train planners ample time to send crews road/traction learning will in advance of the train running.
Advance planning for DBS/EWS would be something new to them.

 

[BestWestern]

My understanding has always been that the freight depots maintain quite an imprtessive array of route knowledge, due to the generally higher distances covered in comparison to passenger train Drivers. Obviously freight operations are dictated by market forces rather than a service pattern and so there would have to be a great deal more flexibility, including presumably the ability to get the blokes out signing whichever routes and traction are required on a fairly regular basis. At some TOC's it's very much the other way around, with Drivers signing enough to get them out productive and then trying to find the time to catch up with everything else as and when they can!

 

[Whistler40145]

Thanks Bestwestern

I was trying to find out which DBS Depots Traincrew have Route Knowledge & Sign Class 31s East of Wembley via Crouch Hill & Barking to Southend.

Do Acton Traincrew have this knowledge?

 

[Hydro]

Thanks Bestwestern

I was trying to find out which DBS Depots Traincrew have Route Knowledge & Sign Class 31s East of Wembley via Crouch Hill & Barking to Southend.

Do Acton Traincrew have this knowledge?

DBS IM crew will have route and traction knowledge for 31's. I'd be surprised if they weren't involved with this.

 

[Whistler40145]

Thanks Hydro

So, could DBS IM men work all the way?

 

[Whistler40145]

It's not like the days of Man Vic men signed nearly everything & anywhere!

Or on The Whisky Galore when Stratford men worked Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

I think Birmingham men worked the Pathfinder tour with 31190+31601 from Intl to Sheffield via Stafford, Northwich & Chinley, so they may work Leeds-Wembley via WCML?

 

[Hydro]

In theory, I suppose so. I don't know whether they will or not to be honest, seeing as that's not really their line of work. I'm not too au fait with their contractual obligations to working other trains than those in the IM contract.

 

[33056]

Why the worry about which depot will work this train? DBS will find / have someone - either by route conducting a driver who signs the traction but not the route or even, possibly, specially training somebody on the locos and / or route. They do things like that all the time, for example there are currently drivers route learning / refreshing the Euston - Watford DC lines specifically for the forthcoming engineering works.

 

[Whistler40145]

Wasn't worried 33056, just curious!

 

[Whistler40145]

DBS Doncaster men have dealings with Charter Trains, so expect their involvement & Warrington Arpley men sign the WCML to London & Immingham men may well be involved.

 

[9K43]

Peak Forrest Drivers have RK into Leeds, via Huddersfield, Thornhill LNW Jct, through Dewsbury, Morley and Leeds Whitehall Jct to Engine Shed Jct then onto Stourton with
6E17.
You are right about Warrington men, also Doncaster have Drivers with extensive RK all over the system.

 

[Whistler40145]

Thats very interesting, what time does 6E17 run?

If the Eastbound 6E17 turn is late Friday night or early hours of Saturday, the Traincrew could then work the tour Westbound, but of course they have to sign 31s & have RK to Stockport!

 

[9K43]

Thats very interesting, what time does 6E17 run?

If the Eastbound 6E17 turn is late Friday night or early hours of Saturday, the Traincrew could then work the tour Westbound, but of course they have to sign 31s & have RK to Stockport!

The driver concerned would have to return the ety train back to PF.
This train would run as 6M17.
The route takes it from Leeds Stourton, and it can go via Huddersfield or make a left at Turners Lane Jct, near to Wakefield Kirkgate Station.
Then onto Crofton to take Hare Park Junction onto the main GN line.
At South Kirby Jct the train makes a right turn onto the S and K.
Past the site of Wath Road Jct at Wath, onward then to Sheffield Midland , through the tunnels back to PF.
PF men had RK into Hunslet East through Leeds City Station with a Cement train from Earles.
The train RR at Neville Hill through subs L783/784 down to Hunslet East.

 

[Whistler40145]

So we can take PF Drivers out of the equation?

All will be decided by which Depots Traincrew has RK from Barrow Hill to Leeds?

This could bring Doncaster or Toton Traincrew into the equation?

Are we saying that PF Drivers will only work the Charter Train if a second set of Traincrew travel in the back cab of the loco on 6E17 or travel as Passengers on a TPE service from Manchester Piccadilly to Leeds?