XC HST

[me123]

Does anyone know what's going to form the 09:00 Glasgow to Penzance tomorrow?

That's running today, with the PNZ-DEE working tomorrow IIRC.

 

[First ScotRail]

I presume XC are using Trolley's any idea of how they are working? They the same design at FTPE's new ones?

 

[me123]

I think they are using trolleys (couldn't tell you which type) but on the NXEC hire-outs, they're also using the buffet.

 

[devon_metro]

Ok then, what about the hired set which is currently forming the 09:00 Glasgow to Penzance, as I type?

It is not hired. Hired sets are SO!!

The current set is 007 and 184. Both XC powercars!

 

[P156KWJ]

I presume XC are using Trolley's any idea of how they are working? They the same design at FTPE's new ones?

I went on the EMT set on 9V57 today and it was an old VT trolley, no buffet at all, all SO and FO coaches.

also, anyone know why after sheffield the service was diverted back north on to the freight-only barrow hill loop, to chesterfield, was worried i was on the wrong train hock: was a mystery tour though

 

[37402]

I went on the EMT set on 9V57 today and it was an old VT trolley, no buffet at all, all SO and FO coaches.

"We are sorry, but the trolley is unable to travel through the train today, please fight your own way down to First Class at the other end of the train to make your purchases."

XC (or rather DaFT who are pulling the strings) have decided that it is too expensive to offer food and drink so have dressed it up as "the survey says that people want it brought to them". So it's goodbye to the buffet cars in both the HSTs and shops in the Voyagers, goodbye to hot food and goodbye to chilled food and drinks. Probably better to bring your own food when travelling with XC from now on...

 

[First ScotRail]

I bet the catering staff are loving heaving a trolley upand down a busy train whilst they are usually cosy in their shop! Not for much longer...The old VT trolleys cant hold much...i see a problem coming...

 

[P156KWJ]

I bet the catering staff are loving heaving a trolley upand down a busy train whilst they are usually cosy in their shop! Not for much longer...The old VT trolleys cant hold much...i see a problem coming...

yes they're rubbish, I use one for when I'm doing the catering at the GCRN (it's an old virgin one too) and all they have is 2 baskets on the front (which I use one for displaying snacks on offer and the other for tea/coffee/hot chocolate making stuff like spoons, the cup dispensers, a tap, water boiler and plumbing, and the baskets below where I actually give the people their products (I'm anal on how I display things and hate it when someone just takes something like a bag of crisps that's on display
you'd be suprised that one of those trolleys with the water boiler and pipework is worth about £4-500 hock:

 

[Techniquest]

The trolleys on XC HSTs aren't up to the job as they just don't hold bugger all. Practically empty on 9S66 last Friday up to Bristol, where they loaded up a bit and got all of 3 sandwiches to last to Brum. They were gone by Cam and Dursley. Cue a call to Rail Gourmet for them to get more on. Dodgy trolleys too, which had problems circumnavigating the end of the train and refused to reverse at one point! Then there's the difficulty in having enough hot water to keep a train full of passengers going, and having no cold drinks annoyed my endlessly on 9V57 on the same day. Putting up with rather warm Coke was not part of my plan, but the weather causing problems put a stop to a Spar move!

Quite simply, I believe the trolley service is an absolutely awful idea.

Did 9S66 and 9V57 from Tiverton Parkway to Cheltenham Spa and Cheltenham Spa to Tiverton Parkway respectively last Friday. 007 and 184 were, quite simply, monsters. I'll not soon forget the very lively departure of 9S66 from Cheltenham. The sound on the video is nowhere near as good as the real thing was, but it gives you a damn good idea. Mind, he was 28 minutes late by that point.

 

[yorkie]

I went on the EMT set on 9V57 today and it was an old VT trolley, no buffet at all, all SO and FO coaches.

also, anyone know why after sheffield the service was diverted back north on to the freight-only barrow hill loop, to chesterfield, was worried i was on the wrong train hock: was a mystery tour though

You should have asked the friendly guard! He said the radio had failed on the leading cab so they had to run it round. He said it would be fixed in Penzance tonight. (he'd better be right.. I am posting this from a loft conversion thanks to someone kindly allowing access to their wifi in Penzance, providing the laptop is next to the window I just about get a signal!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I am going to be on it Camborne to Bristol Temple Meads this Friday, will be in TGS.

you need to be at the rear then as the set got turned round. will look out for you!

 

[BlueGrey]

Does anybody know what kind of MTU engines (I thought I saw somewhere there are more than one type) are going to be on the XC refurbished PCs? Are they likely to make any noise at all?

 

[5872]

Does anybody know what kind of MTU engines (I thought I saw somewhere there are more than one type) are going to be on the XC refurbished PCs? Are they likely to make any noise at all?

If its the same as FGW and NXEC, expect no thrash :grin: :roll:

 

[theblackwatch]

If its the same as FGW and NXEC, expect no thrash :grin: :roll:

You must get your ears checked - I've been linesiding recently and can hear the NXEC ones approaching from some 1/2 mile to mile away.

 

[devon_metro]

Indeed. Its all froth when people say MTUs make no noise - they do!

 

[P156KWJ]

Indeed. Its all froth when people say MTUs make no noise - they do!

well yeah I'd be worried if there was no noise at all!

 

[djw1981]

43166 s/b at 1400 at Newcastle today.

 

[Max]

They are quite noisy at high speeds, but it's just when they accelerate from low speeds that you can barely hear anything.

 

[class 313]

They are quite noisy at high speeds, but it's just when they accelerate from low speeds that you can barely hear anything.

VP185s are a bit of both, the rumble of the MTU and the scream (at higher speeds) of a Valenta.

 

[me123]

Indeed. Its all froth when people say MTUs make no noise - they do!

I've haeard some MTUs that are just as rateable as Valentas! 43208 comes to mind

 

[Techniquest]

Indeed. Its all froth when people say MTUs make no noise - they do!

I was recently(ish) heard to be saying:

"Who the f**k said MTUs were quiet, eh?"

(this being as 43040 was idling on the rear of a service to Paddington at Bristol TM)

Some MTUs are rather noisy, 071 being one of my favourites on that front. Then again, some are absolutely awful, like 309.

Put a good driver up front and he will make those MTUs perform properly. Quiet? I don't believe it. Quieter, yes, but not silent!

 

[class 313]

NXEC MTUs seem to sound better, well It did at Leeds. Was rather rateable!

 

[djw1981]

166 leading 0850 ex EB today

 

[voyagerdude220]

So is the Saturday 09:40 Newcastle-Newquay always going to be an XC/ ex MML set, and if so, is it always going to be non-MTU HST power cars?

Are any of the services definately going to be formed of a double non-MTU powered set?

Also, did yesterday's 1V29/1M28 have the MTU at the Standard Class, or First Class end? Does anyone know what the fault was with the train yesterday morning, causing it to be 20 late off the Picc?

Thanks in advance for any info...

 

[yorkie]

They will be MTUd some time this Summer. No-one seems to know when but 'get them while you can' applies if you want Valentas!

 

[Techniquest]

101 and 103 allegedly due off Brush in the next couple of weeks...

 

[devon_metro]

101 and 103 (I think) are both at Brush

 

[Techniquest]

With "sometime in June" being the quote going round t'internet at the moment. I'd personally guess that we have approximately...3 weeks left of totally Valenta-fitted HSTs on XC.

 

[djw1981]

So its taking about 6 weeks to do each pair? How about the carraige refurb? I assume that we could end up with MTU'd PC pulling the unrefurb stock for a bit - some more 'mix n match' liveries at EC!

 

[Techniquest]

I would imagine that to be the case. We shall have to wait and see.

In the meantime, I'm back to planning desperate moves to get a pair of Valentas out of Glasgow!

 

[Jim]

43290 with a good bloke up the front, did start to challenge some SPM driven Valentas, last summer!