SWT 455 in Waterloo International (199x?)

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello,

I am asking here because I saw it in an old magazine form 1990, but I can't find it and I think I binned it .

Basically, can anyone remember the day when an SWT (Old SWT obviously, in the old colours) 455 went to Waterloo International? I remember seeing the picture with it next to a 373, and was in connection for something (it was so that passengers could get to wherever this place was from the eurostar to the 455 without having to go to the domestic platforms).

It was for people who came from France, don't know if they were normal passengers, executives, VIPs or whatever for the train.

All I'd like to know is when did it run, where to and why?


Cheers,

James.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I have heard of domestic trains going in there in an emergency.

I was actually signaled into platform 24 one day as I was coming back from Reading on a slammer,the signalman thought my train was an ED.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

A slammer into platform 24? You didn't stop and wonder why the Alphanumeric display was showing 24?

Wonder how the punters explained at the gates there weren't trying to get in from paris on a TC

But apart from emergency trains, I know this did go into the international platforms for a reason, but I really can't remember why.

 

[Thewanderer]

I'm sure JP stopped before hand and questioned the route with the signalman.

I seem to recall, after the 96 Tunnel fire a pair of 455's were used to ferry passengers to Gatwick Airport for onwards flights to their destination.

The Wanderer.

 

[Juniper Driver]

A slammer into platform 24? You didn't stop and wonder why the Alphanumeric display was showing 24?

errrrr I did stop.

Sometimes it's not easy once I was doing 90mph realised I had a green when I should be crossing over into Farnborough and Eastleigh respectively.

Managed to stop at both but realised at both quite late.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

sorry I thought you meant you were signaled and went into 24 itself, my mistake

bet it was easier stopping at the waterloo one at 20 odd mph rather that 90

 

[Coxster]

Sometimes it's not easy once I was doing 90mph realised I had a green when I should be crossing over into Farnborough and Eastleigh respectively.

Managed to stop at both but realised at both quite late.

I should hope so too - especially in the case of the former

 

[jv3531]

SWT can use international platforms if required but platform staff must be in attendance at all times on every door to assist passengers due to the larger than normal gaps. This reason is part of the works which will need to be carried out before domestic services can use it on a regular basis.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I should hope so too - especially in the case of the former

What I mean I was signalled through both,signalling error.Perfectly safe but we would both had been in trouble,signaller for signalling me wrong and me for taking it.