Redhill traction

[387star]

Why is there often a class 455 in the bay at night? Is this used as an in service train or does it run ecs

Secondly am I correct southern drivers drive the turbos which berth in the sidings off the Tonbridge line? How far do they sign and why no gwr Redhill driver depot?

 

[JN114]

A few years ago there used to be a Redhill - Victoria service in the early hours formed 4/455. I suspect this one does something similar.

Redhill drivers (in a certain link, I don't know exactly which) sign 16x traction and the entire route between Redhill and Reading - both the Southern Region platforms and the main station. There's a handful of GWR services they work - generally towards beginning and end of day. Post privatisation Redhill lost its work to Reading, and all N Downs services were worked by Reading drivers - the first trains off the sidings worked by drivers who taxied from Reading. Then a few years ago one of the very early Reading blocks (2010?) saw no access to Reading for Turbos on the North Downs, so they were route cleared for and serviced at Selhurst for a couple of weeks. This required SN drivers, so they went the whole hog to reduce taxi costs and keep useful traction knowledge in case it's required again and trained them on the road to Reading.

 

[westcoaster]

I suspect it might be SN drivers all day on certain services otherwise it would require drivers to pass from one end to the other to cover the service.

 

[JN114]

I suspect it might be SN drivers all day on certain services otherwise it would require drivers to pass from one end to the other to cover the service.

Some Reading drivers do pass to/from Redhill for N Downs work.

Typically (although it does vary) there are 6 Redhill driver diagrams that work GWR services on a weekday, 4 on both Saturdays and Sundays. These are split evenly between booking on to cover units off Redhill LHS and first services from that end in the morning, and last services and units on to Redhill LHS overnight.

 

[Sunset route]

Why is there often a class 455 in the bay at night? Is this used as an in service train or does it run ecs

Secondly am I correct southern drivers drive the turbos which berth in the sidings off the Tonbridge line? How far do they sign and why no gwr Redhill driver depot?

It's a back working off the Caterham to Redhill ECS worked throughout by a Redhill Driver as Redhill crews work some Caterham services. The unit has to go somewhere to be stabled overnight and the driver needs to get back to their Home Depot, then the unit forms 2P09 to Victoria in the morning.

 

[Sprinter153]

Link 1 Redhill drivers are the ones that sign Reading and 16x traction. A couple in Link 2 have also gained knowledge as a contingency. It's a smashing depot actually, I'm a former Redhill guard and the Southern drivers were a pleasure to work with.

 

[Deepgreen]

As the ex-Post Office bay at Redhill is soon to be removed, will this 455 still stable in the vicinity?

I regularly chat with one of the Southern drivers from Redhill who works the North Downs line.