Harrogate Line delays - 23/11/15

[FrankleyJunction]

Can anyone shed some light on what went on on the Harrogate Line this morning? By all accounts, according to RTT, the RHTT did not run 'cancelled throughout due to a problem with rail adhesion' - which doesn't sound great for an RHTT http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H25233/2015/11/23/advanced. Net result was that 3A15, the VTEC empty tram from Neville Hill - Harrogate got stuck on the bank up to Horsforth, taking nearlyan hour from Wortley junction, and was promptly caped and went round there so 1A15 started from Horsforth as there were at least four Northern workings stuck behind it. That must have been a fair sight to see an HST reversing over Horsforth crossover, not to mention the palaver of changing ends in that location.

So:
How come the RHTT was unable to run?
How come the first unit 2C02 only lost 5 minutes to Horsforth whereas the HST 3A15 lost nearly an hour? Are HSTs very light on their feet as compared with 14x/15x units?

 

[button_boxer]

How come the first unit 2C02 only lost 5 minutes to Horsforth whereas the HST 3A15 lost nearly an hour? Are HSTs very light on their feet as compared with 14x/15x units?

In cases of low adhesion I would assume an MU with distributed traction would do a better job than an HST where all the power goes through a small number of axles.

 

[FrankleyJunction]

I did wonder whether that was the case, to which the counter argument is the HST power car is much heavier than a unit so the downward pressure on the rails should be more, so I'm surprised.

 

[theblackwatch]

The RHTT was worked by a 20 and 66 last night/this morning, rather the usual pair of 20s - 66s can come round Harrogate now (they couldn't for a while), but for some reason the RHTT ran direct back to York after doing its other bits, missing out Leeds-Knaresborough-Leeds.

It caused utter chaos on the Harrogate line - there was no train to York after the 07.08 departure until 08.56, passengers at Harrogate were sent to York via Leeds, those at places like Starbeck and Knaresborough just had to wait.

 

[FrankleyJunction]

So the jets went round at Horsforth today instead of Knaresborough. What's going on. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H25232/2015/11/24/advanced. Evidently worked as service normal

 

[theblackwatch]

After the debacle the other morning. it would appear that it has been decided the 66 can work to Horsforth but not through to Knaresborough (as the RHTT turned round at Horsforth again this morning). Quite why this is I'm unsure, as 66s were used on the loop earlier this month when engineering work took place. The only reasons I can suggest are (1) 66s cannot go round the loop in an anti-clockwise direction, (2) it has been decided Horsforth-Knaresborough doesn't need treating or (3) they don't want a 66 reversing at Knaresborough - I'm pretty sure it could fit behind the signal though without the loco at the York end having to go into the tunnel.