Grand Central Discussion

[wensley]

They've got a small number if Mk. 2s, though they don't seem to have bothered retrieving the one at Darlington since it joined the fleet.

That Mk2 at Darlington is in the hands of Advenza's administrators AFAIK. GC don't actually own any Mk2s but have 3 un-converted loco-hauled Mk3s at Long Marston.

 

[theblackwatch]

That Mk2 at Darlington is in the hands of Advenza's administrators AFAIK. GC don't actually own any Mk2s but have 3 un-converted loco-hauled Mk3s at Long Marston.

Given that Advenza only leased this coach, why on earth would it be in the hands of the company's administrators! :-? It is now part of the GC fleet.

 

[wensley]

Given that Advenza only leased this coach, why on earth would it be in the hands of the company's administrators! :-? It is now part of the GC fleet.

I wasn't aware of this. I shall try and find out the exact details about the Mk2 fleet...

 

[theblackwatch]

I wasn't aware of this. I shall try and find out the exact details about the Mk2 fleet...

To be honest I'm not expecting them to be used in service given that they are in the barrier vehicle pool.

 

[wensley]

A senior source within GC confirms the vehicles are for barrier use only but are not owned by GC

 

[tbtc]

Sometimes, yes, and sometimes, no.
I think kwvr45's point was that EC, or any other well-stocked operator has much more scope to provide a replacement at short notice, and at a useful location.

By way of example, an EC HST developed some power car problems on the Inveness run a couple of weeks ago (driver noticed leading PC cutting out occasionally. Even if the PC developed a permanent fault, it could have managed to keep going at less than 125mph, but timings would have begun to suffer as the day progressed. He reported the issue and control planned a solution). EC were able to provide a full replacement HST to pick up its diagrams and they planned a swap on one of the double length platforms at Waverley.
Not only did EC have the right stock available in the right place, but they even managed to have duplicate seat reservation tickets ready in place on all
seat-backs. Passengers were all advised of the simple transfer to an identical train set a short walk down the same platform with staff ready to assist.

Now there's a great deal of work required to make these seamless swaps work, and no further time was lost during the swap, but the crucial difference is nothing to do with franchisee vs open access, nor one company vs another, its simply having enough stock available ready for service.

That's a fantastic example; I wish the press highlighted these kind of efforts that the railways do (not just putting on a spare train, but even doing the little details like the seat reservations) - that's the kind of tale that never gets reported
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That Mk2 at Darlington is in the hands of Advenza's administrators AFAIK. GC don't actually own any Mk2s but have 3 un-converted loco-hauled Mk3s at Long Marston.

The one in the green Great Western livery (With the "tagging")?

 

[Royston Vasey]

43068 was admitted to Brush on 27th April, over 2 months ago... reviewing the Railway Centre's MTU feature reengineering can take as little as a couple of months.

Any idea when 43968 (as is alleged!) is going to emerge?

 

[Pumbaa]

43068 was admitted to Brush on 27th April, over 2 months ago... reviewing the Railway Centre's MTU feature reengineering can take as little as a couple of months.

Any idea when 43968 (as is alleged!) is going to emerge?

Its not just being MTUed - shedload of other stuff being tried out on it as well. No-ones really sure what exactly because no-one officially knows. Not even the people making the decisions

 

[theblackwatch]

The one in the green Great Western livery (With the "tagging")?

That's the one.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Any idea when 43968 (as is alleged!) is going to emerge?

43903 I understood it to be!

 

[Pumbaa]

That's the one.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


43903 I understood it to be!

068 and 080 become 903 and 904?

 

[Royston Vasey]

Its not just being MTUed - shedload of other stuff being tried out on it as well. No-ones really sure what exactly because no-one officially knows. Not even the people making the decisions

Ah, just read your post in the 5 x 180 thread! Cheers!

 

[wensley]

068 and 080 become 903 and 904?

Correct. The PCs at Brush are having a full overhaul with September/October being floated in terms of a return date.

 

[BOSCH]

GC don't actually own any Mk2s but have 3 un-converted loco-hauled Mk3s at Long Marston.

That will be the "Marcroft 3" which are back with GC and are actually in service and have been for around a couple of weeks !!

 

[Vulcan]

I was at Berwick yesterday, 2 grand central 43s came thorugh light engine from the Scotland direction, both sounded very MTU-ish and not vey Paxman-ish. I tried to get a photo of them, but with no coaches they were properly shifting. I can't remember their numbers either

 

[fireincairo]

I was on a Grand Central train today, 16:50 from Kings Cross to Sunderland and about an hour into the journey it ground to a halt, shortly after someone came over the intercom to tell us that a window had been smashed. I think it towards the front of the train as I was in Coach C and staff were scuttling forwards with brushes and dustpans.

They managed to get it all sorted at we arrived in York about 10 minutes late.

 

[wensley]

I was at Berwick yesterday, 2 grand central 43s came thorugh light engine from the Scotland direction, both sounded very MTU-ish and not vey Paxman-ish. I tried to get a photo of them, but with no coaches they were properly shifting. I can't remember their numbers either

The numbers were 43065 and 43123 returning from Craigentinney where they had had their tyres turned. Both still have valenta engines.

 

[Vulcan]

Are you sure? They really didn't sound like Paxman engines.

 

[Lampshade]

Are you sure? They really didn't sound like Paxman engines.

43065 never seems to, but it's definitely a Valenta.

 

[Kingfisher200262]

That will be the "Marcroft 3" which are back with GC and are actually in service and have been for around a couple of weeks !!

In addition to the Marcroft 3, there are six unrefurbished Sovereign / GC Mk III coaches at Long Marston. Three are HST trailers, TGS vehicles, painted numbers 44065, 44088 & 44089. The other three are LHCS TSOs, painted numbers 12058, 12104 and 12165.
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43065 never seems to, but it's definitely a Valenta.

I think it has something to do with the type of turbocharger that is fitted to some of the GC Valentas. All of the power cars had the original turbos replaced with Siemens 256 blowers, but with some engines getting swapped out relentlessly over the past couple of years, some now have original type blowers (SA084).

I suspect the MTUish sounding ones have Siemens turbos.

 

[Vulcan]

Ah, well its just not a valenta to me unless its screaming like a jet engine.

 

[Techniquest]

43065 never seems to, but it's definitely a Valenta.

She sure as heck sounded awesome back in January, brought back some very happy memories of thrashing away on the GWML for me

 

[wensley]

Diagrams This Week:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday

1N25 0818 KINGSX - SUNDRLND 1224
1A62 1230 SUNDRLND - KINGSX 1605
1N28 1650 KINGSX - SUNDRLND 2037

Tuesday/Thursday

1A60 0641 SUNDRLND - KINGSX 1031
1N26 1127 KINGSX - SUNDRLND 1454
1A63 1730 SUNDRLND - KINGSX 2109

 

[Aictos]

Just quickly knowing HSTs and 180s are freely swapping on the Sunderland diagrams, I'm travelling up to Bradford on Saturday picking up the first Northbound service, I'm guessing it's 99% going to be a 180 but is there any chance of a HST being used?

 

[Crossforth]

If it was a HST, which it has been, it will only go as far as Wakefield Kirkgate due to the fact that the HSTs are not cleared for the whole route (I don't know how easy it is to clear them for the route)

 

[Aictos]

If it was a HST, which it has been, it will only go as far as Wakefield Kirkgate due to the fact that the HSTs are not cleared for the whole route (I don't know how easy it is to clear them for the route)

Damn, sure would have been nice to get a HST still never mind the 180s seem to be quite comfortable

 

[Crossforth]

Damn, sure would have been nice to get a HST still never mind the 180s seem to be quite comfortable

Yeah, it would be great to see a HST in Bradford Interchange

 

[wensley]

There is no chance of a HST being on the first train of the day North for Bradfords and it is highly unlikely that a HST will be on the Bradford route in the forseeable future.

 

[4SRKT]

Why aren't HSTs cleared for the route? Surely there's no difference in length or overhang between a Mk III coach and a 180. Or for that matter a 158 coach, which have been operating at Greetland for years.

 

[Crossforth]

I'm only going by what other people have said else where but I do agree with you in that sense

 

[4SRKT]

You are correct about them not being cleared, but I've wondered why myself. There must be other places with tight clearances/sharp curves that Mk IIIs are allowed on.