Failed HT 180 last night

[Aictos]

All fun and games last night when 1H06 came to a screaming halt just before Ponsbourne Tunnel in the Cuffley area, bringing nearly 6 hours of major disruption with it.

Bearing in mind there was engineering works on the Welwyn route between Potters Bar and New Barnet meant a rail replacement bus service in operation between these two stations with a train shuttle service between New Barnet and Kings Cross calling at limited stations, a train shuttle service between Potters Bar and Welwyn Garden City calling at limited stations, a train shuttle service between Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage only and a hourly service all stations between Welwyn Garden City and Peterborough.

Not counting of course the diverted Cambridges/Kings Lynns/Peterboroughs via Hertford North nor the hourly train shuttle service between Hertford North and Kings Cross or even the rail replacement bus service between Hertford North and Stevenage!

Working at Welwyn Garden City, I kept a eye on what was happening to see how it would affect Welwyn Garden City.

Everything via Hertford at a stand while the Thunderbird came up from London to drag the 180 to clear the line, no problems until some passengers trapped on a FCC service decided it was in their best interests to force the doors open, que BTP having to come out to assist in securing the area.

Hertford had nothing for 4 hours because of the disruption, I myself went down to Kings Cross to assist using a train, a out of service bus, taxi and finally a train again!

Last I heard GC helped out big time by coupling up to the failed HT and dragging it to Stevenage where it left it in Platform 3 and then continued on it's journey while the HT waited for a Thunderbird to drag it to Doncaster.

I don't know what 180 it was though that failed other then what it was working last out of London.

Anyone else affected by the fun and games last night?

 

[Nick W]

I did wonder why the train showed no signs of movement even over an hour after the rescue locomotive had apparently coupled up.

Is there any reason the FCC train wasn't held at a station given there are a fair few on that route, or if it was too late, taken backwards to a station?

 

[Aictos]

I did wonder why the train showed no signs of movement even over an hour after the rescue locomotive had apparently coupled up.

Is there any reason the FCC train wasn't held at a station given there are a fair few on that route, or if it was too late, taken backwards to a station?

There were problems coupling the 67 to the HT 180 so I believe the GC 180 was used.

As to your second query, don't know.

 

[jopsuk]

I still haven't fully worked out what was going on in the morning (though it makes more sense that evening's craziness was unconnected). A housemate, travelling back from london on a later train, took three hours (all on one train) from Kings Cross to Cambridge).

Earlier in the day there's been a fatality at Knebworth- apparently the 1100 to Glasgow from KGX. That would have been a Mrk4/91 set yes? This caused diversions via Hertford to start rather earlier than planned (I was on the 1115 from Cambridge). Shortly before we headed off down the loop, in the Stevenage area, I saw an EMT HST (with at least one powercar in Midland Mainline colours) being towed northbound by a 67 (in royal colours).

Not really much more that could have gone wrong, was there?

NXEA were being the usual chocolate teapots on the Cambridge route- I'm sure it can't be beyond the wit of man on a Saturday to strengthen four car services to eight cars when the Kings Cross line is going posterior over mamaries?

 

[Mojo]

I was on the lowland sleeper last night which went via the Hertford Loop and thankfully managed to avoid any disruption!

It sounds nasty though and I wouldn't have liked to be caught up in it. I was held behind a failed freight train for 40 Min last week and that was enough for me!