Freightmaster on SPL

[Master Lord]

Hello all. I need help on the following:
The times on the freight master book: What do they mean- Say 4S25 S21:40 Class 66 EWS. It goes on the Sutton Park line. Does the time mean the time it REACHES the Sutton Park line, or, is in the MIDDLE of the Sutton Park Line, or, in the middle of the entire journey. I hope you are all having a good holiday.

 

[robertbishop]

I assume this is on the Water Orton table. This working goes west, so the S denotes it goes onto the Sutton Park line after going through Water Orton station, at 21:45. All the times are for the location of the table, i.e. Water Orton station. I do apologise if I have assumed wrongly.

 

[Master Lord]

Thank you. So if it's travelling west it will arrive earlier than the time and if it's travelling east it will arrive slightly later than the time (Washwood heath junction)

 

[robertbishop]

No, all the times are for Water Orton station, they give no clue as to when they go 'onto' or 'off' the Sutton Park line at Park Lane Jn. The letters are only there to give a clue of where they come from or go to.

 

[Master Lord]

I see. The name (Water Orton) is on all the times and the S simply means it passes through the SPL. That is extremely useful. I understand now. There will be Steamers in the park tomorrow so it's going to be a busy day!

 

[Freightmaster]

I'm not sure exactly what the question is, but if you are looking at
the Water Orton timetable in the printed version of Freightmaster,
that is simply a list of freight services booked to pass Water Orton,
and the 'letter codes' you refer to indicate the route taken by each
train either side of Water Orton (e.g. to/from Whitacre Junction).

So while trains with an next to them in the Water Orton timetable
will indeed take the Sutton Park line, it is not an exhaustive list of all
trains booked to take the SPL, as some trains use the Castle Bromwich
to Park Lane curve so do not pass Water Orton.

Such trains include sleepers from Washwood Heath to Bescot,
empty coal trains from Rugeley to Stoke Gifford, the Berkeley
to Crewe flask train and a couple of intermodal trains.

Because of this, the only way to get the full picture of freight traffic
on the SPL is to refer to the Walsall FMonline timetable.


Hope this helps,

MARK

 

[Master Lord]

My question was just to verify how to use the book times. Thanks

 

[Freightmaster]

My question was just to verify how to use the book times. Thanks

No problem.

The point I was trying to make was that while the Water Orton timetable
in the book highlights some trains which take the Sutton Park line, there
are almost as many Sutton Park freights which are not listed, so it is by
no means a complete list.

Anyway, I have sent you a PM with some helpful info...

MARK