Longest serving motive power on the WHL

[delt1c]

just had a thought and for all the negatives thrown at them the 156 must surely be the longest serving motive power on the WHL.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

just had a thought and for all the negatives thrown at them the 156 must surely be the longest serving motive power on the WHL.

Just gone 29 years since the end of normal class 37 operation on the route though of course the overnight saw 37s at times after that. Ayr to Stranraer has been similarly dominated by 156s since about the same time. But 313s have dominated the Northern City Line (Finsbury Park - Moorgate) all the way back since 1977, ie 41 years. Presumably in steam days there were odd branches worked by the same type, possibly even same loco, for even longer spells than that. And what about Vale of Rheidol?

 

[AndrewE]

Black5s?

 

[theageofthetra]

I would imagine that lines which had stock specifically used due to a severe loading gauge or weight limit would be likely candidates- e.g Hayling Island

I would guess the original cable hauled Glasgow subway stock that ran from opening up until the 70's modernisation will be right up there.

 

[AndrewE]

I would imagine that lines which had stock specifically used due to a severe loading gauge or weight limit would be likely candidates- e.g Hayling Island

I would guess the original cable hauled Glasgow subway stock that ran from opening up until the 70's modernisation will be right up there.

On the West Highland line?

 

[AndrewE]

I would guess the original cable hauled Glasgow subway stock that ran from opening up until the 70's modernisation will be right up there.

I'm sure it was electric when I went about 20 - correction, 40 - years ago just before the old wooden stock was withdrawn - Wikipedia says

in 1935, the existing trains were converted to electric power delivered by a third rail

 

[30907]

Black5s?

Not on the WH I would have thought, because 29 years would take it back pre WW2. Crianlarich-Oban conceivably, though its not technically the West Highland. I am no expert on Scotland, but wouldn't the Glens have had a longer run?

 

[AndrewE]

I thought they were still the workhorses for the Jacobite on the line...

 

[theageofthetra]

I'm sure it was electric when I went about 20 - correction, 40 - years ago just before the old wooden stock was withdrawn - Wikipedia says

I know it was converted to electric it just used the original cable hauled stock.

 

[AndrewE]

I know it was converted to electric it just used the original cable hauled stock.

OK, but "Longest-serving motive power?"

 

[43096]

OK, but "Longest-serving motive power?"

And which bit of "ON THE WEST HIGHLAND LINE" are people struggling with?

 

[AndrewE]

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jacobite_(steam_train)#Steam_locomotives says

The Mallaig Extension of the West Highland Railway ... Regular steam services over the West Highland Line were withdrawn in 1967,...In 1984, British Rail re-introduced a steam-hauled service over part of the line, in an effort to encourage tourism and boost income on the heavily subsidised line. Called the "West Highlander" ... In 1995 following the privatisation of British Rail, the operating licence for the West Highlander trains was granted to the West Coast Railway Company, and they began operating the service that summer under the new name of "The Jacobite"

so I just accepted that the Jacobite is running on the WHL using black 5s. Maybe it's not on the WHL.
Perhaps 43096 could have just pointed out that in his (or common) parlance the WHL only applies to the Oban Branch - or have I misinterpreted that too?

 

[Cowley]

Not on the WH I would have thought, because 29 years would take it back pre WW2. Crianlarich-Oban conceivably, though its not technically the West Highland. I am no expert on Scotland, but wouldn't the Glens have had a longer run?

I think the Glens too.
Introduced in the 1900s and worked up to the early 50s maybe?

 

[Bevan Price]

Not on the WH I would have thought, because 29 years would take it back pre WW2. Crianlarich-Oban conceivably, though its not technically the West Highland. I am no expert on Scotland, but wouldn't the Glens have had a longer run?

The earliest Glens (LNER Class D34) were built in 1913, and some probably worked on WHR for about 45 years. LNER Class K2 2-6-0 worked there for about 35 years. K4 2-6-0 worked for about 21 years; Class B1, K1 & Stanier 5MT 4-6-0s were relative latecomers to the WHR.

 

[muddythefish]

A Glen or K3 pulling some beautiful and comfortable compartment teak stock, probably with a restaurant car, down to a class 156.

A fine illustration of how far this country has fallen......

 

[Macwomble]

A Glen or K3 pulling some beautiful and comfortable compartment teak stock, probably with a restaurant car, down to a class 156.

A fine illustration of how far this country has fallen......

That's progress ...or is it?

 

[Mag_seven]

My first ever memory of the WHL was behind a class 27. <sniff>

 

[route:oxford]

A Glen or K3 pulling some beautiful and comfortable compartment teak stock, probably with a restaurant car, down to a class 156.

A fine illustration of how far this country has fallen......

No, it shows how far engineering and ethics have come.

Whilst you are yearning for the days when colonial slaves slaughtered Orangutans and hacked down great forests across indonesia for their white masters in their quest for hardwood to build railway coaches - many normal people now find those activities abhorent.

If the engineers, back in the early 20th century, were capable fo building powerful diesel or petrol engines that could be slung under rail coaches that would meet the performance of a steam train - they wouldn't have bothered with steam trains.

 

[Class313:)]

Exactly. And for hells sake STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 156s. OK they're not amazing, but they do the job

 

[Highland37]

Just. If you look at many lines in the rest of Europe, you see that the 156s are a long wat past their scrap-by date. That said, their bike storage is the best there is.

 

[Grannyjoans]

Anyone who complains about 156's needs to experience years of 150s first then suddenly 156s seem great

 

[Class313:)]

Anyone who complains about either should try getting on a 313 on the NCL in morning peak

 

[route101]

Still think the 156s are superior for views compared to the 158s.

 

[30907]

I thought they were still the workhorses for the Jacobite on the line...

If you mean Black 5's, yes they are, and TBH I hadn't realised just how long the service had been running (over 30 years) - but in terms of continuous service and in any case the Glens win.

 

[AndrewE]

If you mean Black 5's, yes they are, and TBH I hadn't realised just how long the service had been running (over 30 years) - but in terms of continuous service and in any case the Glens win.

If the black 5s were in use before the end of steam and have been in use for 30 years since their return, then they are likely to become the longest serving motive power at some time in the not too distant future...

 

[muddythefish]

No, it shows how far engineering and ethics have come.

Whilst you are yearning for the days when colonial slaves slaughtered Orangutans and hacked down great forests across indonesia for their white masters in their quest for hardwood to build railway coaches - many normal people now find those activities abhorent.

If the engineers, back in the early 20th century, were capable fo building powerful diesel or petrol engines that could be slung under rail coaches that would meet the performance of a steam train - they wouldn't have bothered with steam trains.

What a silly post. I was merely pointing out the differences between the comfort of rail travel back in the 1930s compared to the abominations we are forced to travel in now.

As far as the travelling public is concerned, engineering has gone backwards and continues to do so. Who would consider a ghastly Meridian or Voyager better than an HST or Mark 3 coach?

 

[InOban]

Anyone who complains about either should try getting on a 313 on the NCL in morning peak

But the Oban portion of the 8.21 ex QS, leaving Crianlarich in summer with 100 standing PAX plus their backpacks and bikes takes some beating...

 

[GusB]

No, it shows how far engineering and ethics have come.

Whilst you are yearning for the days when colonial slaves slaughtered Orangutans and hacked down great forests across indonesia for their white masters in their quest for hardwood to build railway coaches - many normal people now find those activities abhorent.

If the engineers, back in the early 20th century, were capable fo building powerful diesel or petrol engines that could be slung under rail coaches that would meet the performance of a steam train - they wouldn't have bothered with steam trains.

Oh for goodness sake. I don't think anyone is yearning for the days of colonial slavery, the slaughter of Orangutans or the hacking-down of the great teak forests of Indonesia. Is it wrong to cast one's mind back to the days when one could travel a reasonably long distance in comfort? There's no reason why we should not enjoy the same levels of comfort these days in this, the 21st century.

May I have a wee toke on whatever it is you happen to be smoking?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Oh for goodness sake. I don't think anyone is yearning for the days of colonial slavery, the slaughter of Orangutans or the hacking-down of the great teak forests of Indonesia. Is it wrong to cast one's mind back to the days when one could travel a reasonably long distance in comfort? There's no reason why we should not enjoy the same levels of comfort these days in this, the 21st century.

May I have a wee toke on whatever it is you happen to be smoking?

They ought to bring back the Oban Mexican Bean... that'll stop any silly arguments!

 

[brel york]

Let’s beat ourselves up over things we had no control or involvement with lol