HST Power car used for passenger luggage.

[Master29]

On the Cornishman today the TM announced at Liskeard and Plymouth that if anyone had any large items of luggage and were travelling to Paddington only they were to bring it to the rear power car for storage. She then went on to add that people with camping equipment for Exeter only should also do the same. Strange one that. It could be because coach C was missing and so only a 7 car very busy HST.

Just wondering if this is still normal now as they usually use the section in coach A. I do remember that they did once use the power cars for storage however.

 

[The Growl]

I always thought the HSTs in OpenTTD carrying mail was fictional, but no. Interesting. Wonder how warm the luggage was afterwards.

 

[ainsworth74]

Well that is what the space is there for! Admittedly it isn't always used but it's certainly not uncommon for the likes of VTEC to make use of it. Particularly at the start/end of University terms at places like Durham.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I've seen the power car next to the Guards office and goods storeage space be used in extreme circumstances - on the GWR during the holiday and surfing season, and on the East Coast during the first days of the new student year (that'll be this week, then!) and the peak of the scottish tourism travel period, generally for end to end passengers only (but also, e.g. for Durham students on the last northbound train of the weekend)

 

[Master29]

It clearly does make sense but I was under the impression it just wasn`t done anymore.

 

[The Growl]

Well that is what the space is there for! Admittedly it isn't always used but it's certainly not uncommon for the likes of VTEC to make use of it. Particularly at the start/end of University terms at places like Durham.

I always thought that was equipment like heaters etc, or the engine was just big!

 

[ainsworth74]

I always thought that was equipment like heaters etc, or the engine was just big!

If you ever get the chance have a look through the window in the power car door and you'll see there is loads of room! Hence why one was able to perform this rescue many years ago now

 

[Phil.]

If you ever get the chance have a look through the window in the power car door and you'll see there is loads of room! Hence why one was able to perform this rescue many years ago now

Imagine that happening nowadays......

 

[Mugby]

Isn't the maximum permitted load lettered on every power car? I'm sure it's 1.5 tons.

 

[Requeststop]

On the Cornishman today the TM announced at Liskeard and Plymouth that if anyone had any large items of luggage and were travelling to Paddington only they were to bring it to the rear power car for storage. She then went on to add that people with camping equipment for Exeter only should also do the same. Strange one that. It could be because coach C was missing and so only a 7 car very busy HST.

Just wondering if this is still normal now as they usually use the section in coach A. I do remember that they did once use the power cars for storage however.

A few years ago, when visiting the UK, at Paddington, boarding a service to Penzance, passengers were asked if they were going to Plymouth, they could put their baggage in the rear power car. On arrival at Plymouth there was a great rush to retrieve the baggage. I don't think this is something new.

 

[LowLevel]

FGW/GWR have been doing it forever as far as I know, and VTEC also do checked baggage at busy times.

EMT generally has less of a luggage load but the Skegness HSTs this summer have been running with both powercars and the TGS full of luggage.

Bear in mind that on the first x sets the powercar also has a guard's area in it, the TGS came later.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I always thought the HSTs in OpenTTD carrying mail was fictional, but no. Interesting. Wonder how warm the luggage was afterwards.

Up until late 1996 HSTs on the WCML regularly conveyed Royal Mail letter bags in the power car luggage areas whilst employed on (at least) Euston-Manchester services.

 

[Ianno87]

FGW/GWR have been doing it forever as far as I know, and VTEC also do checked baggage at busy times.

EMT generally has less of a luggage load but the Skegness HSTs this summer have been running with both powercars and the TGS full of luggage.

Bear in mind that on the first x sets the powercar also has a guard's area in it, the TGS came later.

Yes, at busy times VTEC ask Edinburgh passengers at Kings Cross to check their luggage into the DVT. At Edinburgh, there is plenty of dwell time/turnaround time to unload the luggage at relative leisure, unlike the stops along the way.

 

[Highland37]

I am really hoping that Scotrail adopt this practice as space for bikes is very limited. It would make sense to use it.

Mind you, 2 years on from Aberllio starting, you still can't book bikes online.

 

[Phil.]

Isn't the maximum permitted load lettered on every power car? I'm sure it's 1.5 tons.

As I asked when I went on an HST course on 1977. How do you weigh what's going in there?
No satisfactory answer because there isn't one

 

[ainsworth74]

Bear in mind that on the first x sets the powercar also has a guard's area in it, the TGS came later.

Wasn't that after a mixture of complaints from the guards that it was too noisy and also that the doors had a habit of opening at 125mph?

 

[AnonymousUser1]

As I asked when I went on an HST course on 1977. How do you weigh what's going in there?
No satisfactory answer because there isn't one

guess the same as the people loading vans for a living have to ...

 

[cjmillsnun]

Wasn't that after a mixture of complaints from the guards that it was too noisy and also that the doors had a habit of opening at 125mph?

Certainly the former, not sure about the latter.

 

[Groningen]

Nice, but what if the storage and the place where you sit are total opposite. So than you have to walk 2 along the whole train.

 

[JamesRowden]

As I asked when I went on an HST course on 1977. How do you weigh what's going in there?
No satisfactory answer because there isn't one

Gravity means that the ride height has a (theoretically) linear relationship to the load.

 

[387star]

In 2006 I went on a school trip to Scotland and at kings cross gner allowed us to all put our bags in the power car

 

[NotATrainspott]

I am really hoping that Scotrail adopt this practice as space for bikes is very limited. It would make sense to use it.

Mind you, 2 years on from Aberllio starting, you still can't book bikes online.

Abellio ScotRail Cycle Innovation Plan

In our HSTs, which will be deployed on the key InterCity routes commencing December 2018, there will be space for cycles in the former luggage compartment in the motor vans.

 

[pdeaves]

Just last Friday I saw railway people unloading luggage from a power car at Paddington. The unfortunate thing was the railwayman left standing forlornly with a solitary unclaimed suitcase!

 

[welshpax]

Many years ago, early 90's I was on a peak hour service from Paddington to Cardiff which was full and standing. At the time there was a seat at the back end of the power car and I was allowed to sit there all the way from Paddington to Cardiff as long as I was quiet and tried not to be seen the other passengers standing in the 1st Class vestibule. Couldn't imagine this happening nowdays

 

[VT_Valenta]

There has been a few things going on in the SW this weekend. There's a food festival at Exeter as well as Lockdown Festival which could explain the use for camping equipment etc.

 

[ScotTrains]

A company has been using the power car space to convey freight. Not sure what routes they are still operating on.
http://intercityrailfreight.com/

 

[Ash Bridge]

A company has been using the power car space to convey freight. Not sure what routes they are still operating on.
http://intercityrailfreight.com/

Shellfish i.e. live lobsters from Penzance to London, commenced last November reported on at the time by BBC Southwest TV although not certain if it's still in operation.

 

[richw]

A company has been using the power car space to convey freight. Not sure what routes they are still operating on.
http://intercityrailfreight.com/

Shellfish i.e. live lobsters from Penzance to London, commenced last November reported on at the time by BBC Southwest TV although not certain if it's still in operation.

With the small amounts it can carry in a HST I've always suspected it to be little more than a publicity stunt....

 

[Master29]

With the small amounts it can carry in a HST I've always suspected it to be little more than a publicity stunt....

It seems absolute bull droppings from what I can see of it. "Their specialist passenger freight trains" ??.. What do they use, converted MTU engined 08`s ??

 

[jopsuk]

With the small amounts it can carry in a HST I've always suspected it to be little more than a publicity stunt....

similar to the fish that goes up from Inverness to London on the Sleeper