Night Riviera

[kingqueen]

I travelled the Up Night Riviera last night. RealTime Trains says that whilst I was asleep, there was some shenanigans at Reading with two trains being combined?!

Main Train: 1A50 2145 Penzance to London Paddington Departing on 14th March 2024

Reading Main Line West pass 0354
Reading [RDG] platform 15 0355 0415Service joins with 0A50 from Reading
Service gains coaches here, stops to drop passengers off only
Reading Main Line East pass 0416

"Extra" Train: 0A50 0349 Reading to Reading

Reading [RDG] platform 2 0349
Pathed as Diesel locomotive at 75mph
joins with 1A50 towards London Paddington
Reading Main Line West pass 0350
Oxford Road Jn pass 0351
Reading Sig T2804 0352½
Service reverses here
Oxford Road Jn pass 0401
Reading Main Line West pass 0403½
Reading [RDG] platform 8 0405

What?! 3 different platforms at Reading - 15, 2, 8 - and it goes in a circle, and joins, and what the heck happened here?

 

[D6975]

The 'extra train' is just the light engine 57 being attached to the rear so that it can haul the empties back to Reading from Pad.

 

[kingqueen]

Ah, got you, thank you.
"Service gains coaches here" is a bit inaccurate then!

 

[greyman42]

I am surprised you slept through it!

 

[dk1]

Ah, got you, thank you.
"Service gains coaches here" is a bit inaccurate then!

To be fair it’s no different as will just be another vehicle on the back to the driver albeit with slightly different braking characteristics.

 

[geoffk]

I see that tonight's up Riviera 1A50 is a class 800. There was a message in our user group, sent at 17.19, that 57605 was a failure at PNZ. Best of luck to those expecting to sleep and presumably they can claim back the berth fee. GWR has four 57/6 (is that right) and I assume others are at Reading, one of which is needed to take the stock in and out of Paddington.

 

[Trainguy34]

I see that tonight's up Riviera 1A45 is a class 800. There was a message in our user group, sent at 17.19, that 57605 was a failure at PNZ. Best of luck to those expecting to sleep and presumably they can claim back the berth fee. GWR has four 57/6 (is that right) and I assume others are at Reading, one of which is need to take the stock in and out of Paddington.

I assume you mean 1A50, sounds like a fun one.

Wonder if it's going to go at 125 or go at 75 Mph?

 

[geoffk]

I assume you mean 1A50, sounds like a fun one.

Wonder if it's going to go at 125 or go at 75 Mph?

Yes 1A50. According to RTT, scheduled stop at Reading to attach rear loco has been cut to one minute!

 

[Trainguy34]

Yes 1A50. According to RTT, scheduled stop at Reading to attach rear loco has been cut to one minute!

Wouldn't be Suprised if it doesn't stop and the loco goes straight to Reading depot after coming off the Down Sleeper (1C50).

Edit: Purely speculation but couldn't they have put a HST on it or would it not be cleared for some routes. Might be to do with driver hours of purely simplicity however.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Wouldn't be Suprised if it doesn't stop and the loco goes straight to Reading depot after coming off the Down Sleeper (1C50).

Edit: Purely speculation but couldn't they have put a HST on it or would it not be cleared for some routes. Might be to do with driver hours of purely simplicity however.

The Castle HSTs are not cleared between Reading and Paddington.

 

[trebor79]

The Castle HSTs are not cleared between Reading and Paddington.

Ludicrous.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Ludicrous.

It would also be stretching it to find crew to do the whole way I'd imagine, only a couple of depots sign them now.

 

[dk1]

It would also be stretching it to find crew to do the whole way I'd imagine, only a couple of depots sign them now.

Yes it would be difficult to roster/diagram crews to HSTs now at the London end. The writing is on the wall out West too.

 

[Trainguy34]

From a look it was running 40 minutes early into Reading, still waited until 4 however. Looks like everyone was off by 6.30 as it left at 6.40 but ran to North Pole Depot instead of Reading Traincare.

 

[trebor79]

It would also be stretching it to find crew to do the whole way I'd imagine, only a couple of depots sign them now.

Yes and that's understandable but for the stock itself not be cleared over a route it ran on for decades...

 

[Ashley Hill]

Yes and that's understandable but for the stock itself not be cleared over a route it ran on for decades...

Different doors and different class. The old HST clearances won’t count as bizarre as that sounds. Only Plymouth drivers could take one east of Exeter now.

 

[co-tr-paul]

57604 on big G Exam at Plymouth so not in use. Daily requirement of 3 locos.
605 had coolant issues hence IET.
Whilst IETs have been used for planned Network Rail and coaching stock failures, first time in around 2 years cancellation because of 57 failure.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Which DRS 57 is on hire at the moment.

 

[co-tr-paul]

None. 312 is directly on hire from ROSCO. Only been to PZ once so far !

 

[irish_rail]

Different doors and different class. The old HST clearances won’t count as bizarre as that sounds. Only Plymouth drivers could take one east of Exeter now.

With Plymouth drivers signing all the way to London , it could technically happen , though practically speaking it won't.

 

[FGW_DID]

57312 is the LTV thunderbird loco. If it is borrowed for Sleeper duties, it will mostly be used as Pilot Loco so it doesn’t stray far from Reading / LTV land.

 

[Express380]

57312 is down for the Penzance tonight is this correct please?

 

[FGW_DID]

57312 is down for the Penzance tonight is this correct please?

Yes, 57312 will be on the down Sleeper tonight.

 

[DimmaTec]

The 'extra train' is just the light engine 57 being attached to the rear so that it can haul the empties back to Reading from Pad.

Out of curiosity, what happens at Penzance? Is the train propelled into Long Rock?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Yes,propelled to Long Rock.

 

[D6975]

They used to use the 08 to take it to Long Rock, but I'm not sure if they have an operational 08 down there any more.

 

[co-tr-paul]

They used to use the 08 to take it to Long Rock, but I'm not sure if they have an operational 08 down there any more.

08645 very operational !

 

[Express380]

08645 very operational !

Barely used now though from what I've seen but could be wrong

 

[irish_rail]

Barely used now though from what I've seen but could be wrong

Get used more or less daily I think within Long Rock, but appearances at the station not so common but do occasionally occur.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Definitely used daily especially mornings.