Penistone Line traction

[northwichcat]

Isn't there a slight clearance issue with 158s stopping at Penistone station, whereby if it's stops in the wrong place it gets stuck?

Just realised this is an old thread where I'd already said that. I just looked at the posts from yesterday before replying.

 

[tbtc]

He has always told me the main problem with 158s on there is timekeeping. With the close proximity of stations and slow doors apparently you can lose a lot of time and struggle to claw it back

This is true - though there are a lot of threads that suggest them for frequent stopper services (which they would be unsuitable for).

They shouldn't really work the Penistone line, but Nothern's diagrams/ interworking baffles me...

 

[northwichcat]

This is true - though there are a lot of threads that suggest them for frequent stopper services (which they would be unsuitable for).

The problem is really what services are they ideal for?

Liverpool-Norwich fits the description of the type of route they were designed for but the passenger loads at intermediate stations cause delays.

The other day a 142 filled in for a 156 on the 08:17 Manchester-Chester. On that particular service a lot of people alight at Knutsford, which isn't scheduled to have the train stopped longer at it than any other station. Usually if it's the booked 156 or a 150 it can depart on time if it arrived on time but only having 3 doors to board/alight delayed the train slightly. I noticed exactly why that was - the Pacer may have wider doors but people still alight one after the other by the time there's a double step and a door down.

 

[Crossover]

That is true I believe but not clearance, just stopping position. My friend regularly drives the route and got stuck in the bend at Penistone with a 158 on a wet autumn day. The unit was going nowhere so the service was cancelled and had to await the following service to couple up and give it a push (an yes it coupled on that bend!!). He has always told me the main problem with 158s on there is timekeeping. With the close proximity of stations and slow doors apparently you can lose a lot of time and struggle to claw it back

Interesting information - thanks shedman

I have to say I didn't think it would be clearance problems as surely, even a slight clearance problem would ban a unit from working a line (not anyone would like a train slightly scraping along a platform edge, for example! :P)

Just realised this is an old thread where I'd already said that. I just looked at the posts from yesterday before replying.

It is yeah. Just when I was on said service, I recalled there being a discussion about it on here and about whether it was worked by 158's or not, so since I was on one (I posted later as I couldn't find the thread on my phone) I bumped the thread to add to the discussion from last year, since I thought it was still topical