HS1 Southfleet Junction.

[Kentish Paul]

I noticed when passing yesterday that both up and down tracks connecting Southfleet and Fawkham junctions had some shine on them. Have the Ashford to Victoria ECS runs restarted or has something else passed by?

The tracks had been rusty for several weeks.

 

[user15681]

I'll have a look in a minute, but I hadn't noticed any shine myself. I certainly don't think the Wednesday only ECS runs to Victoria have restarted. Sometimes when there's a late night engineering possession at, say, Sittingbourne, the last few Faversham highspeeds of the day will be turned early, run up to Swanley then down to Ashford via Fawkham and Southfleet. I'm not sure if that's happened recently, could have done.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Looking on realtimetrains for 21st March (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/XXO/2014/03/21/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt)
There's a St Pancras-Singlewell Loop-Swanley and back via HS1 to Ashford in the middle of the day (listed as three workings, all 5Z something headcodes, timed for Cl. 395)
Also on the 20th and the 19th.

 

[user15681]

Looked today and you're right, if you look closely there is a small amount of shine. I wasn't aware of the above runs posted by eastwestdivide, but they're most likely the moves responsible. Would have run 17th and 18th too, so all 5 week days last week.

As for what it was doing, I haven't a clue. It wasn't to turn round the unit, not an empty move to reposition the unit, not a rescue unit as it ran 5 days and didn't join any units. It could be route refreshers/learners for Southfleet to Fawkham Jns, effectively replacing the Victoria ECS runs, but stopping at Swanley, although I don't know that.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Thanks All for the replys.

Temple. Thanks for confirming my eyesight was still working !

On a side note, coming home on the 16:40 ex St Pancras we passed a 12 car 395 sitting in the up Lenham loop. No Eurostar chasing it and the 17:13 up ex Ashford running on time.

Was this normal diagram/timetable ?

 

[user15681]

Yes, this was a normal diagram.

5J53 (Ashford Down Sidings to St Pancras International, which forms 1J54 STP to MAR) is a 12 car diagram and stops at Lenham loop at 1713. This allows 1J51 (Dover Priory to St Pancras International, the 1713 ex Ashford as you say) to pass it at 1717. 5J53 then leaves the loop at 1721.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Once again thanks for your detailed information.

On a side note why did they choose J for the letter code on HS1 trains. Is it the same for North Kent ones after Ebbsfleet.

I see that the "main line" trains from Ashford to London are only class 2. :cry:

 

[user15681]

No problem!

I'm not sure why J was chosen, probably one of only a few letters not being used elsewhere. The north Kent ones that leave at Ebbsfleet use F (1FXX), presumably F for Faversham.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Thanks Temple,

I'm sure headcodes are a thread and more on there own !

As a 30 year resident of Penzance, 1V70. The "Cornishman".

Never could remember it in the other direction.

 

[Bald Rick]

First run was the other day (can't remember which, possibly Friday) Rather predictably there was a wrong side track circuit failure.

 

[TEW]

I see that the "main line" trains from Ashford to London are only class 2. :cry:

The faster of the two services to Victoria via Maidstone East are Class 1 trains.

 

[TheJRB]

The faster of the two services to Victoria via Maidstone East are Class 1 trains.

The morning and evening peak services on the Tonbridge to Ashford line which don't call at London Bridge are Class 1 trains too (1W9x for up trains and 1R9x for down trains). This includes the 16:57 Charing Cross to Ashford which is all stations from Tonbridge and formed of 2 x 465/9 units!