Saturdays Pendo Drag goes into history

[merlodlliw]

So the Pendo Drag is ended, this is what this weeks North Wales Rail newsboard makes of it

Enthusasts who hoped to ride the final Pendolino working to Holyhead on 8 December were disappointed, as Virgin Trains decided that, following problems the previous Saturday, a pair of Voyagers would run on 8 December, as was planned to start on 15 December.

Adam Barnard witnessed 1 December's troubles: '390 049 refused to move after 57 315 coupled to it so 221 116 was dispatched to Holyhead in its place. This then worked back as the 14:38 Holyhead - London as far as Crewe, where it ran into platform 12 and met face-to-face with 390 049 which then continued on to Euston, while 221 116 waited for the arrival of the 15:10 London - Chester worked by 221 104, which arrived at 17:05 instead of the advertised 1647. 221 116 and 221 104 were then coupled to work together to Chester, but this took 3 attempts, as 221 116 didn't really want to play ball. The 16:49 to Chester then left three minutes in front of the Arriva 17:23 to Chester.'

And so, on 8 December the duty was entrusted to 221 118 (formerly Mungo Park) and 221 106 Willem Barents, pictured above by Roly High arriving at Rhyl with the Westbound train.

The three Class 57/3 locos which remained allocated to Virgin and retained their livery (307, 308, 311) have transferred to the DRS fleet, and have ceased to be the maintenance responsibilty of Alstom's Manchester Longsight depot. All are expected to receive DRS livery. 57 307 has already been sent to Eastleigh Works (minus its pink Lady Penelope nameplates which should do well at a charity auction). The future of the four Arriva-liveried locos 57 313 - 316 seems to be uncertain at present.

In future the Class 57/3 locomotives for 'rescue' duty will be hired by Virgin from DRS, and will normally be located at Euston, Rugby, Crewe, Preston and Carlisle stations (the latter being based at Polmadie until April 2013). These will, however, continue to be staffed by Virgin Trains drivers. It has been announced that Virgin Trains are continuing to operate the West Coast Main Line routes, including London - Holyhead, for a couple of years or so, while the Department for Transport gets its act together.

It is reported that the set of Mk3 Coaches liveried in Pendolino style, the so-called 'Pretendolino', has also been deleted from the Virgin Trains fleet - it will be interesting to see whether a charter train operator takes on this rather useful rake.

Incidentally, the Rail Head Treatment Train has now stopped running for the 2012 season, so another chance to photograph a locomotive-worked train is lost.

 

[MCR247]

The pretendolino hasn't been 'deleted from the fleet,' it just isn't running 1K39 anymore

 

[merlodlliw]

The pretendolino hasn't been 'deleted from the fleet,' it just isn't running 1K39 anymore

I think Charlie Hume means the loco pretendolino "WILL BE deleted from the fleet"

 

[MCR247]

But it isn't is it? VT are still using it for charters etc, such as this weekend?

 

[merlodlliw]

But it isn't is it? VT are still using it for charters etc, such as this weekend?

Are you saying its wont be deleted from the fleet at some time,

 

[MCR247]

I am saying that the pretendolino has not been deleted from the fleet like the article states.

Well yes, obviously it is going to be deleted from the fleet at some point, the same with voyagers and pendolinos.

But either way, that is still irrelevant, the article is wrong. It has NOT been deleted from the fleet and so no charter company will be taking it on

 

[merlodlliw]

I am saying that the pretendolino has not been deleted from the fleet like the article states.

Well yes, obviously it is going to be deleted from the fleet at some point, the same with voyagers and pendolinos.

But either way, that is still irrelevant, the article is wrong. It has NOT been deleted from the fleet and so no charter company will be taking it on

Ill pass on your comments to the editor of North Wales Rail Newsboard,like I stated I think Charlie meant "soon to be deleted"

 

[D365]

There's been no announcement on the Pretendolino rake's future yet.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Pendo drags were always stupid idea, a 110 path to Crewe using a 90 with a 47/57 taking over using the pretenilino set would have been a better option.

 

[MCR247]

Neither can work with the DVTs can they? And why was it stupid keeping staff trained on 57s?

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Neither can work with the DVTs can they? And why was it stupid keeping staff trained on 57s?

Well 90s can, but you miss the point. The mark 3 set could have worked a through Euston Holyhead and return job loco hauled with 90 to Crewe and any ETS fitted paraffin can up the coast running round at Holyhead and a loco change back at crewe. The 57s are still needed for rescue jobs.

 

[Wath Yard]

I appear to also be missing the point. How is running a slower service, using stock only Euston crews are trained on, and instead of attaching/detaching a loco at Crewe doing a loco swap less stupid than dragging a Pendolino?

 

[Old Hill Bank]

We are all talking with hindsight now, had the North Wales job had stayed loco/mk3 when the Pendos with tilt were introduced the 110 paths and traction/stock training would not have gone by the wayside. It's to late to cry about it now it's 221s

PS It must be better up the coast timings wise to take 9 mk3s than a pendo!!!!

 

[NSEFAN]

From what I've heard, the Saturday Pendolino drag was always rife with problems, usually caused by the 57 and 390 not talking to each other. If that's the case then it is somewhat ironic that the final drag should fail in this way.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

From what I've heard, the Saturday Pendolino drag was always rife with problems, usually caused by the 57 and 390 not talking to each other. If that's the case then it is somewhat ironic that the final drag should fail in this way.

Thanks I missed that from my previous arguments