Portsmouth Direct Line

[GNERman]

Afternoon all,

This thread is in conjunction with Railworks, but makes more sense to be in this forum.

First, what part of the PDL do SWT Class 455's operate on? I've heard that they are banned from operating south of Haslemere, and sometimes operate the Haslemere terminating services. Is this true? Do or have they ever operated to Portsmouth?

Next, what is based at Fratton Depot? I presume 444's and 450's, anything else?

Do HC 450's operate on the PDL?

What freight operates on the route?

Finally, what are the general formations of the Fast and Slow SWT services to and from Waterloo???

Thanks

 

[adtrainz]

I think 455s only go to Guildford, I've never heard of one going to Haslemere.

There are 444s and 450s at Fratton, as well as a 158?

I have seen a HC 450 at Portsmouth, but it was operating as a 12 car with other normal units.

Formations can be found on this website (Slows to PMS)

http://www.no450.co.uk/schedule.htm

Guildford trains are not shown.

 

[swt_passenger]

455s are cleared from Woking to Haslemere in the sectional appendix.

I believe they have only been used in passenger service on very rare occasions during snow disruption.

Fratton stables SWT 450, 444, 158, 159 and FGW 158 (sometimes 150s vice 158).

There are no specific units actually allocated to Fratton though.

 

[robertbishop]

Afternoon all,

This thread is in conjunction with Railworks, but makes more sense to be in this forum.

First, what part of the PDL do SWT Class 455's operate on? I've heard that they are banned from operating south of Haslemere, and sometimes operate the Haslemere terminating services. Is this true? Do or have they ever operated to Portsmouth?

Next, what is based at Fratton Depot? I presume 444's and 450's, anything else?

Do HC 450's operate on the PDL?

What freight operates on the route?

Finally, what are the general formations of the Fast and Slow SWT services to and from Waterloo???

Thanks

455s only go to Guildford via Effingham, so technically don't cover any of the 'Portsmouth Direct Line'. Never heard of one going south of there, but they do run ECS down to Bournemouth via Basingstoke.

Fratton is home to most of the mainline SWT stock, 450s, 444s, 159s, 158s, and the FGW stock that comes from the west, 150s and 158s.

HC 450s sometimes mix in with regular 450s, so some may go down to Portsmouth. I have got on one to Basingstoke from Hook, so they are not restricted to Reading/Windsor.

In the way of freight, there is an oil train from Holybourne on the Alton line near Bentley to Fawley in Dorset which goes via Ash, the PDL and Fareham. Anything other freight is one-off engineering trains.

As Waterloo is one of the busiest London terminals it would be difficult to tell you all of the "fast/slow" services, but put simply:

Weymouth/Bournemouth: 5/10 car 444
Basingstoke/Alton: 4/8/12 450
Portsmouth Direct: 450s/444s
Portsmouth via Basingstoke: 4/8 450
Woking: 455
Reading: 4/8 458 or 450
Windsor: 4/8 458 (?) or 450 or 455
Chessington/Effingham/Epsom/Dorking: 4/8/12 455s
Hounslow/Weybridge circulars: 4/8 450
Weybridge via Staines: as above
Exeter/Gillingham/Salisbury/Bristol: 3/6/9/10 158s and 159s

And that's just from Waterloo!

 

[MCR247]

Portsmouth via BSK is as much 444 as it is 450 IIRC

 

[thefab444]

HC 450s sometimes mix in with regular 450s, so some may go down to Portsmouth. I have got on one to Basingstoke from Hook, so they are not restricted to Reading/Windsor.

Only occasionally if there has been disruption or stock shortage. 450/5s are only booked on Hounslow loop, Windsor and Weybridge services.

In the way of freight, there is an oil train from Holybourne on the Alton line near Bentley to Fawley in Dorset which goes via Ash, the PDL and Fareham.

Fawley is in Hampshire.

Windsor: 4/8 458 (?) or 450 or 455
Chessington/Effingham/Epsom/Dorking: 4/8/12 455s
Hounslow/Weybridge circulars: 4/8 450
Weybridge via Staines: as above

Windsor services are entirely operated by 450/5s. There are no booked 12 car 455 workings.

Not sure what you mean by Weybridge circulars - they are the Weybridge via Staines services!

 

[Paul180]

Well here is a 455 going through Godalming http://youtu.be/7dkF5cHitQ8 Ok it's not in service.

 

[robertbishop]

Only occasionally if there has been disruption or stock shortage. 450/5s are only booked on Hounslow loop, Windsor and Weybridge services.

Well I'm speaking from experience, and I have seen several at Basingstoke.

Fawley is in Hampshire.

I guessed, and thought my chances of it being in Dorset were pretty good.

Windsor services are entirely operated by 450/5s. There are no booked 12 car 455 workings.

I got the idea of 455s at Windsor from somewhere.

Not sure what you mean by Weybridge circulars - they are the Weybridge via Staines services!

Is there not a service from Waterloo to Waterloo via Staines and Weybridge?

He did say "general", but I've been clearly outplayed here. Sigh.

 

[thefab444]

Well I'm speaking from experience, and I have seen several at Basingstoke.

Oh, I'm not saying 450/5s don't run to Basingstoke, I believe they have reached Weymouth on occasions and I've had one or two on the Poole stopping runs, but they are not booked on these routes in service.

I got the idea of 455s at Windsor from somewhere.

455s used to operate the Windsor services until a few years back.

Is there not a service from Waterloo to Waterloo via Staines and Weybridge?

No. There is a Waterloo - Waterloo via Richmond and Hounslow (or v-v) service, and a Waterloo - Weybridge via Hounslow/Staines service.