The Coal Grinder Tour 01/10/2011

[truckman060473]

I have heard rumours about the direction the locos will be facing on this trip. It is meant to be double head DRS 37's with a DRS 66 at the rear. It is supposed to run via Tondu (nr Bridgend) which would require a reversal. Another reversal at Llandeilo Jn (nr Trostre) brings the 37's back to the head of the train for its trip to Gwaun Cae Gurwen (GCG). If it cannot be pathed via Tondu, then would it mean the 66 would be heading the train to GCG, which is what I've heard?

 

[fgwrich]

I can't tell you anymore than you probably already know, but a quick look on Pathfinders website came up with this:

After picking up through the West Midlands and Severnside stations the requested route for the day beyond Newport is:

•Cardiff Central - Barry - Aberthaw - Bridgend - Tondu Area (reverse) - Aberbaiden - Margam OVE - Port Talbot - Neath - Landore - Cockett - Llandeilo Jn Area (reverse) - Genwen Loop - Hendy Jn - Pantyffynnon - Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Branch* (reverse).
•Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Branch - Pantyffynnon - Swansea District Line - Jersey Marine Jns - Burrows Junction* (reverse) - Cwmgwrach Branch* (reverse).
•Cwmgrach Branch - Jersey Marine South Jn (reverse) - Dynevor Jn - Port Talbot - Bridgend - Leckwith Loop - Ninian Park - Cardiff Central - Newport and then as per pick up stations back to Crewe

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Not sure why a 66 is required at all.

No reason why the 37s can't double head to say East Usk, then go in to t'n't around South Wales.

 

[truckman060473]

I can't tell you anymore than you probably already know, but a quick look on Pathfinders website came up with this:

After picking up through the West Midlands and Severnside stations the requested route for the day beyond Newport is:

•Cardiff Central - Barry - Aberthaw - Bridgend - Tondu Area (reverse) - Aberbaiden - Margam OVE - Port Talbot - Neath - Landore - Cockett - Llandeilo Jn Area (reverse) - Genwen Loop - Hendy Jn - Pantyffynnon - Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Branch* (reverse).
•Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Branch - Pantyffynnon - Swansea District Line - Jersey Marine Jns - Burrows Junction* (reverse) - Cwmgwrach Branch* (reverse).
•Cwmgrach Branch - Jersey Marine South Jn (reverse) - Dynevor Jn - Port Talbot - Bridgend - Leckwith Loop - Ninian Park - Cardiff Central - Newport and then as per pick up stations back to Crewe

Yes, seen that. This is what it is supposed to be doing but I heard there may be a problem at Tondu, which then means no reversal. It has been planned to allow the 37's to be heading the train when entering the freight branches and the 66 to pull it out of the branches. Diesel Railtours 2011 shows which loco is meant to be heading the formation for a given branch trip, but all that could change.

 

[markjp]

I telephoned at 13:30 today to see where my ticket was and was told that the tour had been postponed `until a later date'. Thats it.

The Tees Goblin is already full so it looks like a Sainsbury's trip instead. Brilliant!!

 

[table38]

From a purely selfish point of view, it'd suit me if it were postponed as I wanted to do the Coal Grinder but had already booked on the Tees Goblin.

Mind you, I've not had the tickets for the Tees Goblin yet either, but I see on the UK Railtours site that:

THE LEVEL CROSSING ISSUE THAT CAUSED DELAY IN SENDING OUT TICKETS HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND ALL IS NOW WELL

I initially imagined UK Railtour's Offices stranded the wrong side of a faulty level crossing and unable to send any post, but more careful reading reveals it was just a delay in getting the final timings

(Footnote - jut to be clear, the ticket delay I'm talking about is the UK Railtours Tees Goblin tour - I've no information about Pathfinder's Coal Grinder)

 

[Dreadnought]

Mind you, I've not had the tickets for the Tees Goblin yet either

Mine turned up to day so they are en route as we speak!

 

[table38]

Coal Grinder cancellation confirmed on the Pathfinder Site now.

Postponement of The Coal Grinder Railtour Saturday 1st October 2011
28/09/2011 13:28

It is with considerable regret that I write to advise you that the above railtour excursion has been postponed as of lunchtime today, Wednesday.

This is due to problems raised just a few days ago with both the highlighted routing in South Wales (although the Gwaun-cae-Gurwen branch was OK) and the availability of Class 37 locomotives subsequent to the windscreen incident during the course of our 'Buffer Puffer 9.0' excursion on the 17th September.

As soon as we have sorted out a new date of running (almost certainly next Spring), we will contact you again, hopefully by the end of October, to advise you.

The Pathfinder team are pretty gutted by this 'last minute' situation and hope that you will be patient with us whilst we re-base arrangements.

Finally, I appreciate that this last minute postponement will come as a great disappointment to you but, I hope that you can understand that we tried everything in our power to get things sorted out for this coming Saturday and that you will still join us for this outing to South Wales during Spring 2012.

Peter Watts

Incidentally, the windscreen incident for those who don't know was the driver's side windscreen blowing in when 37510 passed through the up slow single line tunnel north of Berkhamstead. The driver managed to stop, then bring the train into Berkhamstead station where an ambulance attended.

 

[markjp]

If its do do with the class 37's going through Tunnels then thats interesting. The Network Rail test train has been operating all week with a pair of 37's around Didcot and the South. Did it go through a tunnel? I bet it did.

Perhaps more to do with DRS saying no loco's available.

Will look for the newsflash tomorrow that says all Class 37's banned from passing through tunnels.

Come on Pathfinder, that can't be the reason.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

The issue is probably DRS 37 availability more than anything with the imminent start of the RHTT season.

Folks, I thought it was initially reported that the window was sucked out in the tunnel, but later confirmed that a brick had been dropped through the window?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Along with the pathing problem in South Wales, I think the other reason may be, as Drimnagh Road says, the lack of 37s and 37510 being out with a broken window (unless it's back in traffic now?) I wouldn't have minded TnT 66s throughout for the track but a new destination would have had to come up I think.

As regards to the 37s, the Ousing Dove is likely to be canned too apparently, according to PF.

 

[Dreadnought]

Folks, I thought it was initially reported that the window was sucked out in the tunnel, but later confirmed that a brick had been dropped through the window?

Window was blown into the cab whilst passing through Northchurch tunnel on the Up Slow (single bore tunnel) reportedly due to a pressure build up.

Window was apparently unbroken which would confirm that it had not been hit by any objects prior to the incident.

 

[NightatLaira]

A brick just 'fell out' of the tunnel ceiling and just happened to go through the vertically orientated windscreen window of a 37? That, or an anarchist, or just the wind?

I've never heard of windows being 'sucked out before' when leading a service a the front? Or was it trailing at the rear? And if so - what was the ambulance called for?

 

[junglejames]

It wasnt a brick. It was a pressure build up going through a single bore tunnel at 80mph. Obviously the seals or whatever were weak. The window itself was intact, but did have cracks in it. Probably from where it hit the driver. Looking at it, there is no chance a brick came through it. Plus the window surrounds are perfect. No bits of glass sticking out or anything.
The loco was the leading loco at the time, with the window being the leading window.
Ambulance was called as it is very likely the window has hit the driver. So severe injuries were possible. Including possible head injuries. This needs to be assessed. I wouldnt want to be hit by one of those windows at 80mph. Also the driver was extremely shocked.

Thankfully there were no injuries, and he was just very shocked.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I've never heard of windows being 'sucked out before' when leading a service a the front? Or was it trailing at the rear? And if so - what was the ambulance called for?

The window wasnt sucked out. It was pushed in by the air pressure. Straight into the driver.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Booked on Tees Goblin. This was always gonna happen. Why they can't co-ordinate dates better is beyond me. I'm sure many booked for one tour on Saturday would have liked to have done the other too!

 

[Drimnagh Road]

As regards to the 37s, the Ousing Dove is likely to be canned too apparently, according to PF.

Confirmed that there are no 37s available to work the Ousing Dove. I'm not sure if this means that the tour is still actually running or not. Nothing on Pathfinder website so far.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I'd be happy with the 66 to carry on from Crewe or just another 66 onwards maybe, I'm more into the Class 60 part!

 

[Dreadnought]

I'm more into the Class 60 part!

All 13 miles of it!

 

[Drimnagh Road]

Not a chance of me going over to do 66s, I'm out of this one! Only spent £25 on return flights so no major loss.

 

[theblackwatch]

Not a chance of me going over to do 66s, I'm out of this one! Only spent £25 on return flights so no major loss.

I've heard a couple of other Classes suggested as possible alternatives to the 37s.

 

[Chester025]

Pair of 50s would be nice!

 

[TGVDUDE]

I have heard rumours about the direction the locos will be facing on this trip. It is meant to be double head DRS 37's with a DRS 66 at the rear. It is supposed to run via Tondu (nr Bridgend) which would require a reversal. Another reversal at Llandeilo Jn (nr Trostre) brings the 37's back to the head of the train for its trip to Gwaun Cae Gurwen (GCG). If it cannot be pathed via Tondu, then would it mean the 66 would be heading the train to GCG, which is what I've heard?

for the record when I saw times for the tour a few days before the postponement, there was time at Margam on the return from Cwmgrach for a run/round, let's hope for better luck next round!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

All 13 miles of it!

Might be required though. Hopefully the sheds are required but usually I am not fussed if a 66 goes vice 37. bad luck? yeah but 1. My money for getting there, overnighters etc is not wasted 2. it's required track that interests me and 3. it's usually a good social day out!

 

[markjp]

I agree, I just want it to run. I have tickets to get me to Birmingham to meet it which cost me enough to get drunk on so even if its class 66 all the way I am fine with that. They have plenty of notice this time so we should hear a `its on' OR AN `ITS OFF' soon (hint, hint pathfinder).

Its good track, a good social day and the railtour scene has been in a bit of a tizzy of late with cancellations. We don't want to get to the stage where people don't book for fear of wasting cash.

 

[table38]

Confirmed that there are no 37s available to work the Ousing Dove. I'm not sure if this means that the tour is still actually running or not. Nothing on Pathfinder website so far.

Update for 'The Ousing Dove' railtour running on Saturday 15th October
11/10/2011 13:43

It has been confirmed to us this lunchtime that x2 37 locomotives for this Saturdays trip are being made available, which means that traction types will remain as advertised.

We are yet to received validated timings and operating details from Network Rail and DB Schenker but we are aiming to get tickets in the post First Class tomorrow. The website will be updated with the validated timings as soon as we receive them.

Once again thank you for your continued support.