Non-Existent Freight Trains

[221129]

HI all
On open train times there were various Frieght Trains for today showing as passing TVP but on arrival at the station and speaking to the Person in the ticket office it appeared that they didnt exist Can someone tell me why this is ??

Thanks
Ollie

 

[Wath Yard]

Because that website shows paths, not trains. Some paths are only used at certain times of the year, e.g. RHTTs, some services only run as required and some are just there but are never used. There can also be multiple paths for the same service, and only one will be used on any particular day.

 

[221129]

Oh i see i thought it showed trains that actually run

 

[ntg]

Just a quick question while it's being discussed, how do you view the freight services passing any give station, e.g. Finsbury Park? I can't seem to fine the option of the site anywhere.

 

[221129]

you clikck normal in the right hand top corner

 

[Phil6219]

The trick is to learn which trains run and then use OTT to get the exact timings at a location you prefer (for example I tend to want to go to Wigan and there is no timings for that station on Freightmaster, whilst I can take the times north and south of there and just add & subtract ten minutes I can simply find out the workings and use Open Train Times to get an exact timing for Wigan).

There are a lot of paths on there which will probably never see a freight working again as the traffic dried up a long time ago and it is easier to leave the path "live" because of the paperwork involved and perhaps because there is the possibility of traffic resuming.

Open Train Times is a very powerful tool if you know what's actually going to be running, it's also really handy for light engine moves as these are generally unlisted in published timetables.

Phil

 

[221129]

How can i tell if they are in use or not

 

[Hydro]

How can i tell if they are in use or not

Basically, you can't without a bit of further digging. A path for a train can exist in the system right up until as close as a day (IIRC) before it's due to run, and then the operator can then cancel the path. A path for a fictional "6X00" could show a route, timings et al yet not show "CANC" until quite close to when it's "supposed" to run. FOC's in particular like to keep paths. We sometimes run in the path of a cancelled/non-existent freight if it's cancelled in good time/known it doesn't run.

Freightmaster seems to have a good handle on what actually runs versus what doesn't.

 

[221129]

Thankyou

 

[Wath Yard]

Either observation or from checking info posted on gen sites. TOPS reports are regularly posted and you can soon get a feel of what runs, what runs occasionally, and what never runs. For those that run on request, again the info from gen sites can be used to check if it is running on any particular day.

 

[221129]

Do you have any links to these sort of sites please ??

 

[Wath Yard]

For your part of the country there is a Yahoo group called West Country Gen. I don't live down there so I don't use it but I understand it is pretty good. Do a search in Yahoo groups and you should find it.

 

[221129]

OK thanks mate

 

[Wath Yard]

It's actually called South West Rail Gen:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/SWRG/ (from the sticky on this forum of gen sites)

 

[221129]

Cheers

 

[Freightmaster]

Basically, you can't without a bit of further digging.

Make that a lot of further digging!

My full time job is to check every freight train each week to keep track
of which trains run and which don't, and even after doing so for the past
18 years without a break, I still find it hugely challenging, especially when
it comes to coal/stone trains... :-x

Freightmaster seems to have a good handle on what actually runs versus what doesn't.

You have just summed up perfectly the answer to the common question
of "why should I pay to subscribe to Freightmaster Online these days when
opentimes lists freight paths and is free of charge??"

Basically, there is a world of difference between the accuracy and
usefulness of 'raw data' and timetables which are created and updated
by hand, and luckily for me, I have over 1,000 customers who agree!


Regarding the issue of Freightmaster only featuring the most
popular 100 locations, I am also happy to provide 'bespoke' tables
for people who subscribe, so if the OP of this topic was to sign up,
I could do him a one off timetable for Tiverton Parkway, and he
could then refer to the Taunton table to keep it up to date.


I hope this clarifies the situation, but I would be pleased to
answer any further questions by PM...


MARK

 

[221129]

Ok thanks it seems like a good thing to do and subscribe to frieghtmaster

 

[Phil6219]

Ok thanks it seems like a good thing to do and subscribe to frieghtmaster

I would definitely recommend it, it really is a useful tool for our hobby. There is even a printed book with times in which is handy to carry around - providing you keep it updated with a trusty pencil

Phil