FGW 57/6 (and DRS 57/3)s Unreliability

[83G/84D]

And west of Truro had no peak hour morning service.

I think it was a question of getting a train as far west as they could but given that there are other trains running (it followed the sleepers down) the empty stock could only make it to Truro without a delay being incurred on the return service.

Incidentally it has been snowing in West Cornwall since late afternoon so keep your fingers crossed the up sleepers is not affected later!

 

[PHILIPE]

As a result of last night's failure Penzance were a HST short this morning so a 3 car unit was run empty (150/153 combo) Exeter to Truro to form a HST replacement for the 0825 service from Truro.

As far as Bristol TM where an HST took over in case any body was wondering if a 150/153 combo went to Paddington !!!

 

[83G/84D]

Reports elsewhere that the down sleepers last night failed (in Wiltshire), although I have no further details at the moment.

 

[PHILIPE]

1C99 (57603) failed Trowbridge. 57303 (1A40) loco detached at Westbury and sent to Trowbridge to drag to Westbury and then carried on with own train. HST sent from PM to work 1C99 forward from Westbury. The Demic left Westbury at 09 20 this morning for OOC so both sets at the London end and nothing at Penzance for 1A40 tonight. Heavy delays of course and full details of times will be on RTT.
Looks as if problems are cropping up again after a good couple of weeks and 57310 going back to DRS.

 

[fgwrich]

1C99 (57603) failed Trowbridge. 57303 (1A40) loco detached at Westbury and sent to Trowbridge to drag to Westbury and then carried on with own train. HST sent from PM to work 1C99 forward from Westbury. The Demic left Westbury at 09 20 this morning for OOC so both sets at the London end and nothing at Penzance for 1A40 tonight. Heavy delays of course and full details of times will be on RTT.
Looks as if problems are cropping up again after a good couple of weeks and 57310 going back to DRS.

57310 is already back with DRS and is now in Eastleigh Works again.

 

[Topgun333]

This must be doing FGW massive PR damage.

 

[83G/84D]

1C99 (57603) failed Trowbridge. 57303 (1A40) loco detached at Westbury and sent to Trowbridge to drag to Westbury and then carried on with own train. HST sent from PM to work 1C99 forward from Westbury. The Demic left Westbury at 09 20 this morning for OOC so both sets at the London end and nothing at Penzance for 1A40 tonight. Heavy delays of course and full details of times will be on RTT.
Looks as if problems are cropping up again after a good couple of weeks and 57310 going back to DRS.

The compressor on 57603 was the cause of the failure. And just for good measure when 57303 re-attached to 1A40 having rescued 1C99 the train would not move because a parking brake that was applied was overlooked!

57602 working an ECS down from Old Oak Common to Penzance for the up sleepers tonight.

 

[221129]

The ECS is showing as having not left OOC yet... was due off at 1350.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O70498/2015/02/03/advanced

Locos showing as 57602 AND 57306 now.

 

[83G/84D]

The ECS is showing as having not left OOC yet... was due off at 1350.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O70498/2015/02/03/advanced

Locos showing as 57602 AND 57306 now.

Yes just seen that, yet another hire-in. Wonder how this one will fare?! Still not set off as of 1500 hrs!

 

[Ash Bridge]

Yes just seen that, yet another hire-in. Wonder how this one will fare?! Still not set off as of 1500 hrs!

That will be interesting, 600+ miles round trip, surely by the time the ECS arrives in Penzance it will virtually be the Up trains departure time? Would the 57s also require fuelling before the return trip?

 

[Temple Meads]

Wouldn't be surprised if the ECS is caped, and 1A40 runs as a HST throughout tonight.

 

[83G/84D]

Wouldn't be surprised if the ECS is caped, and 1A40 runs as a HST throughout tonight.

There is one at Long Rock depot that worked down this morning vice the sleepers.

 

[221129]

Still hasn't left OOC so I doubt it will run now...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
1A40 tonight will be formed of an HST between Penzance and Plymouth.

 

[83G/84D]

The empty stock for tonight's up sleeper has just passed Southall 302 minutes late. No idea what is working it as the consist has been deleted. It could be 57312 and 57602 on it, I think the plan is to run the ECS to Plymouth (if it makes it that far) and start 1A40 from there. HST running up from Penzance as posted by ollieb.

 

[221129]

57602 & 57312 57306 had ETH problems on OOC

 

[83G/84D]

57602 & 57312 57306 had ETH problems on OOC

So 57306 did not even get off the depot before failing! :roll:

 

[221129]

It would appear not!

 

[83G/84D]

Sleeper ECS followed a Reading to Bedwyn stopper from Reading and has a Paddington to Plymouth HST not far behind it. Progress westbound is somewhat slow. It could have been put away at Newbury Racecourse for the HST to get past.

 

[221129]

Sleeper ECS followed a Reading to Bedwyn stopper from Reading and has a Paddington to Plymouth HST not far behind it. Progress westbound is somewhat slow. It could have been put away at Newbury Racecourse for the HST to get past.

It has a 30 min turnaround at Plymouth so should be okay.

 

[RobShipway]

Could the sleeper stock not operate with a class 43 at each end if there are any spare even if they are just doing 70 - 90mph along the route?

 

[221129]

Could the sleeper stock not operate with a class 43 at each end if there are any spare even if they are just doing 70 - 90mph along the route?

Not this again.... No they can't.

 

[RobShipway]

Not this again.... No they can't.

Sorry, but a better service needs to be provided to the customers as at the rate any train would be going with the issues mentioned in this thread, they would be lucky to get down to Plymouth by 3pm tomorrow afternoon, rather than before 9am tomorrow when it is due to arrive.

Admittedly, the best type of power on the sleeper train for me would be a Class 67 or 68, but at this moment in time a class 70 could do a better job although you would have no train heating though.

 

[221129]

Sorry, but a better service needs to be provided to the customers as at the rate any train would be going with the issues mentioned in this thread, they would be lucky to get down to Plymouth by 3pm tomorrow afternoon, rather than before 9am tomorrow when it is due to arrive.

Admittedly, the best type of power on the sleeper train for me would be a Class 67 or 68, but at this moment in time a class 70 could do a better job although you would have no train heating though.

The cynic in me thinks that FGW are running the sleeper into the ground so they can drop it completely.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Sorry, but a better service needs to be provided to the customers as at the rate any train would be going with the issues mentioned in this thread, they would be lucky to get down to Plymouth by 3pm tomorrow afternoon, rather than before 9am tomorrow when it is due to arrive.

Admittedly, the best type of power on the sleeper train for me would be a Class 67 or 68, but at this moment in time a class 70 could do a better job although you would have no train heating though.

You never know with a class 70

 

[alexl92]

Could they operate it with a [56/60/66/70] but shove a 31/37/47/57 on the back purely for heating/hotel power? I have no idea if that's in any way practical, just suggesting.

 

[Murph]

Could they operate it with a [56/60/66/70] but shove a 31/37/47/57 on the back purely for heating/hotel power? I have no idea if that's in any way practical, just suggesting.

It's been done before with the ETHELs (ETH ex-loco) for the Scottish sleepers. I believe the typical formation was loco-ETHEL-carriages.

 

[221129]

No because the Drivers don't sign the traction...

 

[crewmeal]

I really hope they get these problems sorted by the beginning of the summer timetable.

 

[cjmillsnun]

The cynic in me thinks that FGW are running the sleeper into the ground so they can drop it completely.

Methinks the admiralty would complain.

 

[221129]

Methinks the admiralty would complain.

But if they get it to the point where it is too unreliable then people use other methods of getting to and from London then there is no longer a business case... Of course this is just me being cynical here.