Ormskirk shuttle

[L+Y]

My local line, and I've always wondered: where does the assigned DMU come from and go to at the beginning and end of the day? Does it stable at Preston station, or is it off to Blackpool or Newton Heath?

I've seen on occasion the last diagram of the night be replaced by an incoming DMU from the last Colne service; is this regular practice?

 

[Bletchleyite]

In the late 1990s it used to join a long train of DMUs formed up at Preston (in platform 2, if I recall) which headed south, I guess to Newton Heath, around 2315. Don't know if that's still the case, though.

 

[berneyarms]

Looking at Realtime trains, the train appears to originate at Newton Heath at 04:15, arriving at Preston at 05:19, before starting in service at 06:25 to Ormskirk.

The last train of the day (22:56 ex-Ormskirk) operates to Blackpool North where it stables.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looking at Realtime trains, the train appears to originate at Newton Heath at 04:15, arriving at Preston at 05:19, before starting in service at 06:25 to Ormskirk.

The last train of the day (22:56 ex-Ormskirk)

That's quite an improvement, when did it change? It used to be 2136 off Preston and 2215 off Ormskirk.

 

[berneyarms]

Well it's been like that for 2 years at least!

 

[furnessvale]

In the late 1990s it used to join a long train of DMUs formed up at Preston (in platform 2, if I recall) which headed south, I guess to Newton Heath, around 2315. Don't know if that's still the case, though.

As an aside, my brother was a Preston driver who used to collect the train of DMUs from NH to go to Preston. Sometimes, one or two engines used to be out of action and my brother would refuse to take the train.

"How many engines do you need?" was the stock reply. NH couldn't (or wouldn't) grasp that at Preston the train would split and immediately one or two units would be failures before turning a wheel.

At the time NH fitters were far more interested in servicing taxis on nights for beer money than maintaining trains. I wonder if they still do?

 

[dave87016]

AFAIK when its a 142 the train originates Newton Heath, works empty to Preston then does Ormskirks all day before finishing up at Blackpool North and usually does Colnes the following day

 

[driver9000]

AFAIK when its a 142 the train originates Newton Heath, works empty to Preston then does Ormskirks all day before finishing up at Blackpool North and usually does Colnes the following day

The unit is sourced from Newton Heath regardless of what class it is.

 

[dave87016]

The unit is sourced from Newton Heath regardless of what class it is.

Yes I know the unit is sourced from Newton Heath regardless I was pointing out the diagram of what it usually does when its 142 operated , as 153 don't work Colne diagrams I don't know where the 153 finishes up

 

[driver9000]

Yes I know the unit is sourced from Newton Heath regardless I was pointing out the diagram of what it usually does when its 142 operated , as 153 don't work Colne diagrams I don't know where the 153 finishes up

It goes to Blackpool as per the diagram. 153s tend to go on the Clitheroe empties the next morning.

 

[PHILIPE]

I think we need to establish if is DIAGRAMMED for a 142 or 153. That is the key to answering the query

 

[driver9000]

I think we need to establish if is DIAGRAMMED for a 142 or 153. That is the key to answering the query

I'm pretty sure it's gone back to a 153 now after a few years of being booked a 142. However the last trip is worked by a different unit which comes off the Colne circuit. Both end up at Blackpool though.

 

[samj]

Are you sure they swap units over at Preston? I can't see any indication of that happening on RTT, although might be wrong!

 

[driver9000]

Are you sure they swap units over at Preston? I can't see any indication of that happening on RTT, although might be wrong!

That's how it was worked until recently anyway. The 22:00 arrival from Colne went to Ormskirk and the unit that had come off the Ormskirk line went ECS to Blackpool. I will admit to be being a bit out of touch with it the days.

 

[voyagerdude220]

A quick look on trust last week shows that it's been formed of a 142 from the first through to the last service every weekday, apart from one day when the 142 had a fault and was replaced with a 156 part way through.

 

[television]

The Ormskirk service is 142/540 diagram & does indeed start at NH at 0415 with 2 other 142's attached. These split at Wigan NW. The Ormskirk bound proceeds ECS to Preston for the 0625 to OMS. The other 142's that were detached at Wigan NW go empty to Southport via Wigan Wallgate. The Ormskirk service is now booked a 142 until further notice. The 153 that was used on it until the 17th July now works a diagram in Cumbria to provide extra capacity being coupled to 153/35 diagram for most of the day.

 

[L+Y]

A somewhat linked query: Steam this month makes mention of mooted through running between Ormskirk and the Ribble Steam Railway, but I can't see this elsewhere, and it makes me raise an eyebrow at the thought of RSR trains being allowed anywhere near the WCML, even on a Sunday! Has anybody else heard of this?