Pendolino Drags?

[317666]

Hi all,

Would just like to ask whether any Holyhead - Euston services are still 390s dragged by 57s from Holyhead to Crewe? I was looking at fares from Bangor to Euston, and noticed that Coach J was offered as a reservation, which is a 390 First Class coach.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

As far as I remember, on Saturdays only, the 08.50 Euston - Holyhead and 14.38 Holyhead - Euston are still worked by a Class 390, and so are dragged by a Class 57 between Crewe and Holyhead.

 

[craig87034]

Hi all,

Would just like to ask whether any Holyhead - Euston services are still 390s dragged by 57s from Holyhead to Crewe? .

The Ronnie on the Pendo drag is saturdays only

0850 Euston-Holyhead from Crewe
1436 Holyhead-Euston to Crewe

 

[317666]

Ok, thanks everyone

 

[Crossover]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but are they still the same (albeit with the return working leaving at 1438)?

 

[AlterEgo]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but are they still the same (albeit with the return working leaving at 1438)?

Yep - just the one working on the Saturday. The 0850 has quite heavy loadings, even in First, on a Saturday, at least as far as Chester. I travelled to Colwyn Bay in April, in First, seeing as it was free (!)

You'll get about ten minutes in Crewe if you want to watch the 57 couple up to the Pendo. It's quite interesting watching it for the first time.

 

[Crossover]

Yep - just the one working on the Saturday. The 0850 has quite heavy loadings, even in First, on a Saturday, at least as far as Chester. I travelled to Colwyn Bay in April, in First, seeing as it was free (!)

You'll get about ten minutes in Crewe if you want to watch the 57 couple up to the Pendo. It's quite interesting watching it for the first time.

Thanks AlterEgo

If I did it, it would just be Crewe to Chester (just working out how well it fots into a potential day trip)

If I were to do it, would definitely be wanting to watch them coupling them up. Seen a Pendo hauled in to Crewe by Thunderbird before (when there was a drag on a, I think, Sunday) but back then didn't really think much about it and just went to get on without thinking too much about watching them remove the 57

 

[Crossover]

Been on the drag today
Heavily loaded is understatement of the year I think...never expected it to be so full!

Alstom Pendolino came in ready to go (with the hatch open and coupler out) as it pulled in. There was one ever so optimistic lad who asked if it was going to work this week :P
I guess the fitters must be used to there being some attention for this working.

Got it on the return too from Llandudno Junction - it left Crewe with its front hatch closed (eventually!) but the back one was still open and coupler still fully extended!

A couple of questions (well, three) if anyone can help.

Does the loco fully haul the Pendo or does it feed power to the motors so the Pendo can essentially assist?
When getting off at Chester I noticed someone was in the front Pendo cab - does someone remain in there to do door, as well as other, duties?
I was led to believe the drag also incorporated a change of loco, leaving one down at Holyhead. However today it was 57 308 "Tin Tin" both ways - is this normal or did they not bring the loco up from Holyhead today for some reason?

 

[317666]

I believe the Pendo is completely hauled - when I was on a drag, the traction motors couldn't be heard whilst the 57 was powering, but once we were under the wires I could hear the traction motors of the 390 quite clearly.

 

[Crossover]

I believe the Pendo is completely hauled - when I was on a drag, the traction motors couldn't be heard whilst the 57 was powering, but once we were under the wires I could hear the traction motors of the 390 quite clearly.

I guessed as much but to be honest, from on the train you can't hear them that much anyway so what I heard may just have been the noise of the wheel-rail interface - thought it was worth asking though so thanks for your response

 

[mbonwick]

AFAIK the 57 can only supply hotel power to the pendo for Air con, lights etc. So it's completely hauled.

Someone has to stay in the cab of the 390 while it's being dragged - something to do with doors and the TMS I think.

 

[Pumbaa]

Yes it's double manned from the 390 cab, to release the doors and keep an eye on the TMS.

 

[AlterEgo]

I was led to believe the drag also incorporated a change of loco, leaving one down at Holyhead. However today it was 57 308 "Tin Tin" both ways - is this normal or did they not bring the loco up from Holyhead today for some reason?

No, the 57 runs around at Holyhead, coupling back onto the opposite end of the Pendo to take it back south.

 

[Chester025]

I was led to believe the drag also incorporated a change of loco, leaving one down at Holyhead. However today it was 57 308 "Tin Tin" both ways - is this normal or did they not bring the loco up from Holyhead today for some reason?

It happens when they put an Arriva 57 (57313 - 57316) on it at Crewe and then at Holyhead it is swapped for the Arriva one off the WAG, this tends to happen about once a month.

 

[AlterEgo]

It happens when they put an Arriva 57 (57313 - 57316) on it at Crewe and then at Holyhead it is swapped for the Arriva one off the WAG, this tends to happen about once a month.

It does happen on an ad-hoc basis dependent on loco availability. I'm not aware it happens with any planning involved. Sometimes it's in both TOCs' interest to use the ATW 57 as it may be in Crewe for whatever reason, and need to get up to HHD for the Premier service.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

AFAIK the 57 can only supply hotel power to the pendo for Air con, lights etc. So it's completely hauled.

Someone has to stay in the cab of the 390 while it's being dragged - something to do with doors and the TMS I think.

Yes it's double manned from the 390 cab, to release the doors and keep an eye on the TMS.

It happens when they put an Arriva 57 (57313 - 57316) on it at Crewe and then at Holyhead it is swapped for the Arriva one off the WAG, this tends to happen about once a month.

Yes, I can vouch for al of the above.

When me and my brother got The Pendo drag on holiday, 57316 passed us on the way up to Holyhead and then, on the way back, it was 57315 doing the business.

There is a driver in the cab of the Pendo as well as a guy working in the 57. I had a bit of a laugh with him on my way to the front

A side question about 57316; has that got a different engine to the other 57s because when I have seen them, they don't "clag" but 57316 was making a whole mess of the Abergele and Pensarn coastline with thick clagging.

 

[Hydro]

A side question about 57316; has that got a different engine to the other 57s because when I have seen them, they don't "clag" but 57316 was making a whole mess of the Abergele and Pensarn coastline with thick clagging.

They're all the same; exhaust emissions are due to a multitude of factors, not merely the engine. You could take half a dozen 37's and see a difference based on maintenance, condition, engine temperature and even age.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

They're all the same; exhaust emissions are due to a multitude of factors, not merely the engine. You could take half a dozen 37's and see a difference based on maintenance, condition, engine temperature and even age.

Okay, thanks for clearing

 

[NightStar]

GidDay All! I just have a quick question? Do they still use the barrier wagons on the Pendo 57 drags?

Robert

 

[ainsworth74]

Nope, the 57s have the same auto-coupler as the 390s so they just couple directly together with the 57 supplying power for things like A/C, lights and such like.

 

[NightStar]

Thankyou for the response! I am hopelessly behind in knowlege of UK rail practice?

Robert

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Done hopelessly bad with 57s this year, only managed one trip from Crewe-Holyhead. Hoping to do it on Saturday.