Saphos Trains 2018

Probably and hopefully mostly turned off like it was last week.

 

Saphos' stated policy is to have the diesel on the back of all trains so you may well be in luck.

 

I'm a bit confused. If the 47 was switched off on the return, what was providing power for the air conditioning on the mark 2s? Or is there also a generator car? Otherwise it would have started to get a bit warm inside.....

 

There are powerful reasons why there wouldn't have been any doubts about the 47's contribution, or lack of it on the southbound run, to the 2010 "Pride of Swindon" outing with 5043. The late Mike Notley's contribution to VT's "5043 Return of a Legend" bookazine clearly recounts that "Bob Meanley wanted an honest and impartial observer to travel on the diesel and monitor what was happening.......I found myself in the secondman's seat of the leading cab of the Class 47 at the rear of the train".

The account of the day's proceedings quite clearly states that "As we left Platfotm 3 at Carlisle shortly after 3 o'clock, the diesels power controller was in the "Off" position and stayed until we reached Hellifield". No guesswork. No hearsay. No judgements based on empirical evidence/ acoustics.

For most purists, (and I guess Bob Meanley), this appears to have provided the very minimum acceptable level of witness observation/ oversight/ scrutiny to authenticate what proved to be a wholly exceptional run. And, as Mike Notley wrote "if I hadn't been monitoring the diesel personally, this is a performance I would have had a great trouble in believing".

I'm not seeing or reading any evidence that the monitoring of Saphos outings is, or is about to get, that much more fastidious to elevate the performance commentary/ assessment to the level of authentication demanded on that particular VT run.

(This isn't, incidentally, in any sense a criticism of what Saphos does or aims to achieve. Just a challenge to the risk that claims of performance might be made on the basis of shaky evidence).

 

A few points.

It was quite a cool day, maybe 18 degrees.

The Mk 2s they use have door windows which were open a lot of the time.

It was pretty warm in a couple of the coaches when the sun came out.

It certainly wasn't switched off all the way back.

No diesel would be preferable in my book but I suspect you then wouldn't have a trip to Cardiff.

 

As far as I know a 47 can be running and heating and not providing power and in terms of traction it is off. I believe 47's then have an engine 'on' notch on the power handle or first notch if you like. Its just about enough power to move itself along light engine. It can't pull anything but on the rear of a train it would take its own weight and reduce the drag.

 

So how do they get a train away from rest?

 

Why we are so sceptical of these claims is that 5043 is accepted to be one of the finest engines on the mainline. A Class 7+ yet on the Northbound run up the Marches on the 11th March 2017 with load 11 it took the castle 11m 56s from Maindee West to Cwmbran; on a dry day on 25th March 2017 with load 10 it took 14m 38s to get from Cwmbran to Abergavenny; then from Abergavenny to Pontrilas 10m 57s with 11, 11m 19s with 10. Diesel doing nothing? I think not.

Add to that, one of the last 13 coach trains to tackle the Marches was Tornado on the 12th May 2012. 60163's times were: Maindee North to Cwmbran 11m 44s; Got checked at Little Mill so split time: Cwmbran to LMJ 8m 6s then LMJ to Abergavenny 12m 34;' AGV to Pontrilas 12m 13s.

On the return, Sutton Bridge Jn to Church Stretton 19m 12s; Hereford to Tram Inn 10m.

 

Will be my first trip on Sunday, booked in First Class from Westbury.

Daft question, for those who have done first class, what is it like? Do people turn up in smart/casual or just anything goes? I'm one of those where if I wear a button shirt, black trousers/black jeans and shoes and everyone else is in a t shirt and jeans I'll feel like the odd one out

 

No, only the Belmond/Northern Belle requires smart dress. I've done first class/dining several times and worn shorts and T shirt.

 

I can't see them turning you away. Not everyone looks at the T&C's ! Unless they've got doorman on, I wouldn't be too worried.

 

Well tell me when you are doing premier dining in shorts and t shirt and I'll make sure I'm not on the same train as you! When I pay a lot of money to take my wife on a premier dining experience I don't expect to be sat beside/opposite someone who looks like they are dressed, ie in shorts, for a cheap night out in a pub. In my experience (maybe limited) ladies like to dress up for the occasion in premier dining and not made to feel uncomfortable by attire worn by those who can't be bothered.

 

A liitle confused by the stock working - on arrival at Bristol tomorrow there is a light engine move to Barton Hill
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10697/2018/06/22/advanced
before the stock continues to SPM via Bristol West,
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10696/2018/06/22/advanced
suggesting it will be 34052 and 47s inside and on the rear, but on Sunday it appears that 34052 comes of SPM
separately
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54971/2018/06/24/advanced
from the train
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54975/2018/06/24/advanced

 

I suspect that LE move to Barton Hill will be the 66/67 that'll probably drag the consist from Crewe to Bristol going on previous LSL stock/LE moves. Could be wrong, though.

 

Surely much of it is down to how hot the weather is? Given that it is tonight forecast to be 30c plus by middle of next week, might it not be you "feeling uncomfortable" in your jacket and tie or whatever?

 

Do I take it a Mankini is not acceptable wear ?

 

I agree that allowing for the weather is important and I would not be wearing a tie. But as someone who lives in shorts most of the year there are times and places where seeing someone's hairy legs is not, IMO, appropriate.

 

FWIW, I tend to wear a shirt (no tie or jacket) and black trousers regardless of the class I'm travelling it. While I have seen others in shorts and t-shirts, it doesn't feel right to be that casual, but that's just my opinion.