Synergyman
Member
It would have been the 16:50 ex KGX heading home. It passed in the opposite direction around Brockley Whins at about 20:45 when I was on the 20:30 ex Newcastle to Sunderland pacer.
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Grand Central Discussion
- Thread starter Donny Dave
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It would have been the 16:50 ex KGX heading home. It passed in the opposite direction around Brockley Whins at about 20:45 when I was on the 20:30 ex Newcastle to Sunderland pacer.
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BOSCH
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Twas me !!:grin:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
That would probably be 43080,she awaits a partner for mileage runs,lol,
adambro
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Anyone able to confirm if the 1735 from London departed on time? Because it doesn't stop anywhere until York which is hours away I can't track it down on LDB.
1D53
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On time.
adambro
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Cheers, I'll be going to intercept it on route in about 40 minutes and hopefully get some reasonable photos but the weather is a bit dull so I'll probably have to use my fast prime which makes things slightly more challenging than using a zoom. I'll see.
1D53
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1D53
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Its running a bit early so be prepared 8)
Code:
Timetabled Expected
Peterborough Pass 1826 1818
WRNGTNJ Pass 1830 1822
Spalding Pass 1846 1838adambro
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I'd better finish eating and get in the car then, thanks for the info guys.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wow, now that was a little bit of excitement for my Saturday evening. Drove to Stowgate crossing, straight over then turned round to cross again to park up. As I was crossing the second time I looked to my left (towards London) and saw a HST coming at me. As soon as I'd come across for the second time the lights were going and barriers lowering. So as soon as I got over it was on the brakes, handbrake on, ignition off, out of the drivers door, round to the passengers and then opening my camera bag as quickly as I could praying that I didn't have my 70 - 200mm zoom on it, luckily I didn't but it wasn't my fast prime either. As soon as I had the camera in my hands I made the dash a few meters to the crossing, switching the camera on as I go, to see the HST less than 100 meters away and closing fast. Straight onto the shutter, point it in the approximate right direction and hope. Realise I'm not in a mode where I can get continuous shooting, dam. Get as many shots as I can and then... relax.
Got back and checked my photos, typically none are particularly good, the low light and my lack of preparation didn't help, but still it was good fun, just should have set off earlier.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wow, now that was a little bit of excitement for my Saturday evening. Drove to Stowgate crossing, straight over then turned round to cross again to park up. As I was crossing the second time I looked to my left (towards London) and saw a HST coming at me. As soon as I'd come across for the second time the lights were going and barriers lowering. So as soon as I got over it was on the brakes, handbrake on, ignition off, out of the drivers door, round to the passengers and then opening my camera bag as quickly as I could praying that I didn't have my 70 - 200mm zoom on it, luckily I didn't but it wasn't my fast prime either. As soon as I had the camera in my hands I made the dash a few meters to the crossing, switching the camera on as I go, to see the HST less than 100 meters away and closing fast. Straight onto the shutter, point it in the approximate right direction and hope. Realise I'm not in a mode where I can get continuous shooting, dam. Get as many shots as I can and then... relax.
Got back and checked my photos, typically none are particularly good, the low light and my lack of preparation didn't help, but still it was good fun, just should have set off earlier.
1D53
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Told you it was running early 
Hope you can render the photos useable
Hope you can render the photos useable
Last edited:
adambro
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Well there we go, not terrible but not at the standard that I'd like either. Not sure what the weird green spot is in the first two photos is. Haven't played about in the Gimp yet but of course if I spent enough time using that I'd be able to improve them a little.
For anyone who cares the leading power car is 084 by the looks of things, no idea which is on the rear.
adambro
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If it had been just a couple of minutes slower I'd have had chance to change to my fast prime or play around with my short zoom to find the best settings for the conditions.
Any other GC runs on the JL this weekend or anything else more interesting than the regular EMT services on the line? PM if not appropriate for this thread. Cheers.
Any other GC runs on the JL this weekend or anything else more interesting than the regular EMT services on the line? PM if not appropriate for this thread. Cheers.
1D53
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I like them!
Jordy
Established Member
Same time next week
Nice shots!
Nice shots!
Sir_Clagalot
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*cough* Of course we left KGX on time... I was sat on the other side of the train so I didnt see you at Stowgate! A nice run, early all the way, just spoilt by the scroat at Gainsbro who thought "Ooo, Big Train, Let's throw a stone at it, Aint I clever?" Er, no, you're not clever, just Stupid.
Sir_Clagalot
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I think there was a lot of slack in the timings for that bit! We did get checked a couple of times, but despite that we seemed to be early all along the Joint.
That's the problems these days, the TTs have so much slack to save the TOC's arses when it all goes tits up!
Donny Dave
Established Member
Did you expect anything else from the residents of Gainsborough?
Andrew Tiffin
Member
Well, some of you haven't been up to the northern terminus of the Grand Central route.
Tom B
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Indeed, it's almost as bad as Scunthorpe. Stay away from Park Springs...
Donny Dave
Established Member
Scunthorpe is tame compared to Gainsborough. That's why Northern only send Pacers that way
THE man at the helm of a troubled rail company has apologised to customers after a turbulent first six months.
Passengers using Grand Central's Hartlepool to London service have been plagued by delays and cancellations since it was launched just days before Christmas.
Only one of the promised three direct trains a day is currently running and travellers who have bought advance tickets have been ferried by coach or shuttle trains to use rival services from Darlington.But managing director Tom Clift, while saying sorry to customers, insists the company is spending six figure sums to put things right.
This includes the arrival of more used rolling stock so that the full service can also resume at the start of next week.
After winning the right to restore direct London services to Hartlepool in 2006, Grand Central chose to refurbish old rolling stock instead of investing in new trains.
Yet only two of its six power cars, placed at either end of trains to help them reach top speeds, are currently in action.
Mr Clift said: "First of all I would like to say sorry about the current service and I would say that we are working very hard to put the problems right and we are spending six figure sums of money to do that.
"We have received a significant amount of support from people who have used the service and they appreciate what we are trying to achieve.
"When the service is running smoothly the customer response is fantastic.
"They love the leg room, the views, the seats, the customer service and the value for money that we offer.
"The biggest down side has been the reliability of the train service and that has been significantly worse than anybody could have predicted.
"It is annoying to have all the positives in place yet not provide a reliable service.
"We are spending significant amounts of money on major components in the power cars in an effort to make the stock we have as reliable as they can be."
Grand Central has also submitted an application to the Office of Rail Regulation to introduce a fourth service that would leave Hartlepool at around 9.40am returning from London around 7.20pm.
The company, which has 37 front line staff and eight members of staff based in York, hopes to buy four new trains to improve its service.
Mr Clift said: "We spent £500,000 on each power car and they are not running as they should be. We are reviewing the specification of them and we are looking at buying four new trains."
Other criticisms have included the services prices.
A peak journey which includes Monday to Fridays on the 6.46am London King's Cross and the 4.50pm service from the capital will set you back £98.
That figure includes a £15 single-leg supplement for peak travel.
An off-peak return ticket to London King's Cross costs £67.
But Mr Clift revealed that the company wasn't making a profit because of the problems it has had with the refurbished rolling stock.
He said: "No, we are not making a profit and we didn't expect to at this stage.
"Financially we are okay but it is true that the company hasn't grown as much as we would have hoped because of the problems that we have had."
Of its six current power cars, two are undergoing trials and the other two are broken.
Mr Clift added: "The major task is to get the power cars reliable and that will allow the business to grow. We would love to have the four new trains because we are a small company and only run six trains a day.
"When one of those is cancelled it is a catastrophe for us but we are determined to get the service right."
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Troubled-rail-firm-boss-apologises.4212012.jp
Passengers using Grand Central's Hartlepool to London service have been plagued by delays and cancellations since it was launched just days before Christmas.
Only one of the promised three direct trains a day is currently running and travellers who have bought advance tickets have been ferried by coach or shuttle trains to use rival services from Darlington.But managing director Tom Clift, while saying sorry to customers, insists the company is spending six figure sums to put things right.
This includes the arrival of more used rolling stock so that the full service can also resume at the start of next week.
After winning the right to restore direct London services to Hartlepool in 2006, Grand Central chose to refurbish old rolling stock instead of investing in new trains.
Yet only two of its six power cars, placed at either end of trains to help them reach top speeds, are currently in action.
Mr Clift said: "First of all I would like to say sorry about the current service and I would say that we are working very hard to put the problems right and we are spending six figure sums of money to do that.
"We have received a significant amount of support from people who have used the service and they appreciate what we are trying to achieve.
"When the service is running smoothly the customer response is fantastic.
"They love the leg room, the views, the seats, the customer service and the value for money that we offer.
"The biggest down side has been the reliability of the train service and that has been significantly worse than anybody could have predicted.
"It is annoying to have all the positives in place yet not provide a reliable service.
"We are spending significant amounts of money on major components in the power cars in an effort to make the stock we have as reliable as they can be."
Grand Central has also submitted an application to the Office of Rail Regulation to introduce a fourth service that would leave Hartlepool at around 9.40am returning from London around 7.20pm.
The company, which has 37 front line staff and eight members of staff based in York, hopes to buy four new trains to improve its service.
Mr Clift said: "We spent £500,000 on each power car and they are not running as they should be. We are reviewing the specification of them and we are looking at buying four new trains."
Other criticisms have included the services prices.
A peak journey which includes Monday to Fridays on the 6.46am London King's Cross and the 4.50pm service from the capital will set you back £98.
That figure includes a £15 single-leg supplement for peak travel.
An off-peak return ticket to London King's Cross costs £67.
But Mr Clift revealed that the company wasn't making a profit because of the problems it has had with the refurbished rolling stock.
He said: "No, we are not making a profit and we didn't expect to at this stage.
"Financially we are okay but it is true that the company hasn't grown as much as we would have hoped because of the problems that we have had."
Of its six current power cars, two are undergoing trials and the other two are broken.
Mr Clift added: "The major task is to get the power cars reliable and that will allow the business to grow. We would love to have the four new trains because we are a small company and only run six trains a day.
"When one of those is cancelled it is a catastrophe for us but we are determined to get the service right."
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Troubled-rail-firm-boss-apologises.4212012.jp
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