Ivo's Adventures: The *First Class* Great Escape

[Ivo]

WARNING!

LONG READ!

N.B.: All five sections have been merged into one PDF file.

 

[MCR247]

The 170 would have struggled up Lickey due to their crap accerlation.

Also, isn't Bromsgrove at the top?

 

[Ivo]

The 170 would have struggled up Lickey due to their crap accerlation.

Also, isn't Bromsgrove at the top?

I can't remember

A quick look through my AA Atlas suggests that the village of Lickey is closer to Brum than Bromsgrove, so probably not.

To confirm: Bromsgrove is at the bottom; Blackwell (near Barnt Green) is at the top.

 

[MCR247]

Oh right

 

[Ivo]

A little comparison between 150s (which are not permitted on the Lickey) and 170s (which are)...

Empty:

150: 286hp per 35.8t car = 7.99 hp/t
170: 422hp per 45.1t car = 9.36 hp/t

When fully laden (seating only, assume 70kg per person):

150: 60-70 pax. per car = 4.2-4.9t per car
170: 60-70 pax. per car = 4.2-4.9t per car

(so basically the same)

150: 286hp per 40.7t car = 7.03 hp/t
170: 422hp per 50.0t car = 8.44 hp/t

So in that sense there isn't actually a lot of difference between the two. An empty 150, which isn't all that unlikely on a quiet run from Worcester towards Bromsgrove, compares quite well to a laden 170 as in my report. It's just a heavy load that could cause porblems (almost 15% less power).

Let us now introduce the other regular on the Lickey, the Voyager (I'll take a 5-car 221 for sake of argument):

Empty:

221: 750hp per 56.6t car = 13.25 hp/t
150: 286hp per 35.8t car = 7.99 hp/t
170: 422hp per 45.1t car = 9.36 hp/t

When fully laden (seating only, assume 70kg per person):

221: 60-70 pax. per car = 4.2-4.9t per car
150: 60-70 pax. per car = 4.2-4.9t per car
170: 60-70 pax. per car = 4.2-4.9t per car

(so basically the same)

221: 750hp per 61.5t car = 12.20 hp/t
150: 286hp per 40.7t car = 7.03 hp/t
170: 422hp per 50.0t car = 8.44 hp/t

Says it all.



N.B.: All values are approximate only.

 

[sprinterguy]

I refute the slur against my beloved 323s! They’re phenomenal commuter trains! Given that I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that you can have local trains more than two carriages in length, in my opinion 323s are fantastic.

Wolverhampton’s not bad either. It has a Wetherspoons near the station, a Supertram (even if it does only reach the peripheral of the city centre), as well as a rock bar and some cracking gig venues, which isn’t bad going given its’ proximity to the all consuming force that is Birmingham. I wouldn’t deign to examine some of its’ residential areas, but it’s got a canny city centre and that’s good enough for me.

A very interesting report you’ve written there. It gave me a bit of light entertainment during my lunch break.

Given that 150s aren’t allowed to run over the Lickey, I wonder what the deal is with the 153s, which do (or did until the December timetable change) run that way on a daily basis, yet have a lower power to weight ratio than a 150. I wonder if it’s the case that the 153s are only allowed to take on the Lickey whilst in multiple with a 170, which is what their one diagram asks of them?

I’ve done the Lickey climb on the 170+153 formation as well as a solo 170, and it does seem to be a colossal struggle to get up speed from the Bromsgrove stop. The Crosscountry services from the Cheltenham direction have the added benefit of generally getting a good run up to the bank, as they are already at line speed at the start of the climb.

 

[MCR247]

How did you find out the weights?

 

[Deerfold]

Part 1: Prior to The Great Escape

Interested to hear of your difficulties buying the ticket - I had problems at Euston. First I was asked what my destination was. Then if I wanted a Single or Return. Then he tried to charge me £20 for a standard version.

 

[sprinterguy]

How did you find out the weights?

I got them from the Platform 5 DMU pocket book, it’s hopefully reliable enough to furnish me with some decent information in this instance.

 

[MCR247]

Haha, I got my ticket from Moor St and the chiltern staff asked where we were going, although not like he was asking the destination for a ticket, just curious and wondering what we were going to do

Nice staff, chiltern

 

[Ivo]

Haha, I got my ticket from Moor St and the chiltern staff asked where we were going, although not like he was asking the destination for a ticket, just curious and wondering what we were going to do

Nice staff, chiltern

There's only one vendor at Bath like this, which is a right shame. I asked him if I could do it there and he said he didn't think it was possible, and even if it was he wouldn't know how to. Don't know the guy's name, but he's a good example for ohers to look to. Unlike most here.

As for the weights, I will concede that I used Wikipedia. However, its source was the same one as used by sprinterguy.

~~~ NEXT TIME ~~~

A certain meal forms the basis for the first half of the next wander, with the added incentive of dropping by the Primrose Hill area (courtesy of LOROL). Then, on Saturday, you can catch me touring the deep west of Wales, courtesy of the West Wales Day Ranger and including the famous fasts to Fishguard Harbour and the Carmarthen and Swansea avoiding lines...

 

[Aictos]

That was actually interesting reading, makes me wish I wrote up my travels from the last few years I joined the railways but I've never been good at writing stories.

 

[Ivo]

Thank you to those thus far who have taken the time to read all 6,500 words and been so encouraging. I have done similar things before, but as mentioned never in this manner.

I've just had a quick flick the separate files, because obviously when I wrote them they were as one (it was 2.7MB, which is too large for the limits on here), and noticed how poor the picture locations are in the edited versions. They looked so much better in the whole thing...

My finger still hurts if I touch it

 

[ainsworth74]

My finger still hurts if I touch it

Then you should learn to type with more than one finger!

Good read, thanks Ivo

 

[mumrar]

Just a couple of points from having read above, Bromsgrove is at the bottom of the Lcikey, Blackwell at the top (I type this sat with my 3-year-old at Vigo in the car!). I am not aware of any ban of 150s on the Lickey, they used to run all the time, and on Sundays when they operate on Herefords, unless they use some secret line between Droitwich and Kings Norton, they are most definately NOT banned from the Lickey by themselves.

 

[Ivo]

Just a couple of points from having read above, Bromsgrove is at the bottom of the Lcikey, Blackwell at the top (I type this sat with my 3-year-old at Vigo in the car!). I am not aware of any ban of 150s on the Lickey, they used to run all the time, and on Sundays when they operate on Herefords, unless they use some secret line between Droitwich and Kings Norton, they are most definately NOT banned from the Lickey by themselves.

I'm sure I read it somewhere... (Probably on Wikipedia though, so it can't necessarily be relied upon.) Having said that though, being local you ought to know, so I'll take that advice with gratitude.

My thanks also goes to the Mod/Admin who merged all of the separate posts into one. Given the large File size, I wasn't sure it would be possible (2MB being the limit) so it seemed easier to post them one-by-one.

 

[mumrar]

I'm sure I read it somewhere... (Probably on Wikipedia though, so it can't necessarily be relied upon.) Having said that though, being local you ought to know, so I'll take that advice with gratitude.

Don't just take my word for it, take my picture for it too!

www.trainpics.net/p59468448.html

That was in 2009 due to a closed signalbox, but like I say, I'm sure on a Saturday or Sunday it's possible to find them. I'll maybe look on Saturday as I know they at least used to have a 'shopper' diagram with one that does a couple of Bromsgrove to New Street runs (possibly empty from New Street back).

 

[Ivo]

Thank you for that Good a reason as any for a cancellation I suppose...!

I have however found my source (and yes, it was Wiki):

"The trains were banned from using the Lickey Incline, south of Birmingham, in the early 2000s, because they could no longer cope with the gradient. This meant that the units which operated the Worcester to Birmingham via Lickey route were put on the Snow Hill Lines, swapping places with some Class 170s, which had operated on the Snow Hill Lines. This also helped reliability, as 150s could keep to the tight "stop-start" timetables better than 170s, due to their superior acceleration."

This would suggest that their previous engines had weakened to the point that they could no longer cope with the Incline, but since refurbishment, it isn't an issue.

 

[mumrar]

This would suggest that their previous engines had weakened to the point that they could no longer cope with the Incline, but since refurbishment, it isn't an issue.

Cheers for the source link, although it is still totally incorrect. I've worked on the units from 1997-2007 and for all that time they have operated on services up and down the Lickey but of course with the arrival of 170s the unit diagrams were recast. Now that I work for CrossCountry I don't sign 150s of course, but I'm sure I see the Saturday turn running still, they are certainly on Hereford runs on a Sunday.

I also have no recollection of 170s working on the Snow Hill lines, I'd have to check with (former) colleagues from Worcester and Stourbridge depots, but the 170s were used at full stretch from introduction on the Liverpool-Norwich, Nottingham-Cardiff and the Liverpool-Stansted Airport diagrams. I don't think there would have been any left after fulfilling those routes.

 

[Ivo]

I just realised that my first name appears in the very first paragraph

It also appears once elsewhere, towards the end when discussing the word "will".

 

[thefab444]

Interesting read.

But I think you use (on a scale of 1 - 10, 9) too many brackets in your writing (when you could make it flow more with commas). Unless this is not intended to be a literary piece, in which case forget I said anything.

 

[Ivo]

Interesting read.

But I think you use (on a scale of 1 - 10, 9) too many brackets in your writing (when you could make it flow more with commas). Unless this is not intended to be a literary piece, in which case forget I said anything.

I had been starting to think the same thing actually, so I am more than happy to accept this. Usually when I criticise my own work, others discount said criticism, so when they agree I know it is an area to improve.

Anyway, if I may direct everyone back to the first post please. I have uploaded a slightly revised PDF version. I have changed some minor mistakes (such as a caption which suggested I had stopped at Polesworth :?), but have retained the Lickey 150 references to make it flow more easily.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Ivo - I suggest you take a trek upto Vigo Bridge if you like 170s. There is nothing better than watching a LM 170 struggle from its standing start at Bromsgrove and hearing the MTUs pounding away with the fan on overdrive

 

[Techniquest]

I've not yet read the trip report, although I am looking forward to the read. As for 150s on the Lickey, I've had 150002 down it, but never had one going up. When heart-of-wessex and I first went there on 28th December 2009, we saw (I believe) 150243 going up to Tyseley (or at least that's what we assumed). Obviously empty, so what the deal is there I'm not sure.

Anyway, I mainly replied before reading the .pdf to mention that, unless the air intake grills on the 170s (mumrar might know what their actual name is) is clogged up with leaves, then you aren't as likely to get that infamous howl. Once you get to leaf fall season, then you're onto a winner if you want that howling sound!

EDIT: Just finished reading the .pdf, looks like it was quite the adventure! An excellent idea writing it all up as you go along, otherwise it's incredibly easy to forget little things that make the trip report a more lively read. Although you may find a pen and notebook an excellent alternative to writing up stuff as you go during a Standard Class adventure

Surprised you don't enjoy the 323s, I love 'em. That sound they make is great fun, always look forward to a ride on a 323! As for the 350s, I can see why you got bored of them. I got bored on the 350/2 I was on from start to finish earlier this month, Birmingham to Liverpool never felt so long!

In terms of your writing style, I can see the point about brackets use, however I think I got quite into the report, visualising clearly the day as it was going along, therefore I can't really say I noticed too much overuse of brackets. I got to the end and noticed the bit about 'will' and was lost. An in-joke by the looks of things. As for who lives in Sutton Coldfield, no idea on that one, but that's off-topic. There's a number of SPG errors I could point out, but that's being far too picky. Generally speaking, an excellent read which I found to be most enjoyable. As I type this at home, having not gone out on a leisure trip of my own for some weeks, I have to admit to being most envious!

I look forward to reading more of your trip reports in the future

 

[Ivo]

Thank you for the kind words Any errors were, of course, unintentional. And as for Sutton Coldfield, I don't know if it is still true but it used to be a sort-of "second" base for a certain company I don't like from Sunderland.

As for "will"? I doubt I have ever written 6,000 words without using "will" at least once before...!

 

[Techniquest]

I see, still dunno who the company from Sunderland is (shows I don't keep tracks of your posts!), but merr.

I understand the "will" thing now, it must be rather unusual to not use the word when writing at such length! No doubt any errors were unintentional, quite easy to do when writing out such long stories!

 

[sprinterguy]

I see, still dunno who the company from Sunderland is (shows I don't keep tracks of your posts!), but merr.

It may, just possibly, be Arriva

 

[Techniquest]

Ahhhh! Of course it is! Ivo needs to take a leaf out of my book then. I used to passionately dislike Arriva, but I've grown to find that, generally speaking, ATW can actually do the job and run trains on time these days. 4 years ago, no such luck but I'm rarely on a delayed ATW train now. I think I got just one late runner, 8 minutes late, and one 2 minutes late last week, in the last 12 or so ATW runs I've been on. Far better than 100% delayed as it was for me a few years back!

 

[Ivo]

It's not just ATW though; the primary Arriva antagonist is a bus company...

 

[Techniquest]

I must be lucky then, having never had to experience their bus operations!