Saphos 2024

Presumably nowhere for the diesel to run round at Fairwater Yard or Taunton Station.

 

Not so. A locomotive can round quite easily at Taunton. [BJ]

 

It’s not an easy mistake to make. It’s been a thing on the Southern for decades. It’s the first time for years that a TOC has tried to run a MK3 with long swing links on the Southern. It’s not a daily occurrence.

The picture of the coach appears to show it has short links but it was still taken off which therefore points to a paperwork issue.

If this had been WCR this forum would of called them cowboys and amateurs. We all know that is true.

 

I did not say a daily occurance. I’ve said I’ve known it happens with TOCs who run daily. IE regular operators. XC have to my knowledge at least twice in the past tried sending a HST down there with long links, only to be told no the closer it got that way.

I don’t think anyone but yourself has mentioned WCR unless I’m looking in the wrong place

 

No they haven't, but I suspect like me many had the same thought as @Walker .

 

Short Swing Link and Long Swing Link HST trailers had coding on TOPS to that effect. I don't know whether loco hauled mark 3's were also coded for swing links.
This is where nothing beats years of experience and a good memory in train planning or a control office. If there had been a safety incident, the RAIB would have been all over LSL planning and Wessex Route control for not checking the formation. If the coach is coded differently to how it is equipped, a whole new trail then starts with vehivle owners, leassees and the Rolling Stock Library....
When HST's started running through to Poole or Bournemouth it was a regular task in Wessex Control to check all southbound HST's.
( For those who are unclear there is a risk that a long swing link would touch the third rail.)

Cheers, Neil

 

There’s trying to push it as those at 10A do then there’s honest mistakes such as this though isn’t there?

 

Blimey, what speed was that doing to coast from the end of the wires at Crewe to Llandudno junction!

John

 

Saphos tour to Kingswear stuck at Westbury with brake problems (again?). Saw it leave Woking at 0557 (my other half and her sister are on the train) with class 47's front and rear. Arrived at Westbury on time but is already 50 minutes late. Is this the same rake which caused the Castle to stall some weeks ago?

 

That was Vintage.

 

At least being at Westbury it's not blocking the main line. <BJ<

 

Yes, thank you

 

Yes that's true but this is taking an eternity to sort out and there are many people, my partner and sister included who have booked a boat trip in Dartmouth. Bring back the mark 1's

 

On the move now 72 mins late. Departed Westbury heading for Bristol presumably to avoid reversal. <BJ>

 

Bristol? It's booked via Castle Cary on the direct line to Taunton for the steam loco to attach.

 

Yes, and to make matters worse, it's following the 2T11 Frome to Bristol TM stopper .

The signallers have sensibly allowed the 2T11 run into the UP platform at Bath to allow the charter to overtake. <BJ>

 

Making a London train late...

 

This is turning into a nightmare for those on board. I pose the question that if the diesel is already attached on the back of the train, then reversal at Westbury is a straight forward maneuver which beggars belief why they should send it via Bristol especially as the train was stuck at Westbury for over an hour. The time available if the train was on time at Kingswear to spend in and around Dartmouth is 3 hours 20 minutes. It's going to be a lot less now. Time will be made up at Taunton station but nevertheless I fear a very late arrival at Kingswear.

 

Im sure it is far from a nightmare. Having been onboard when Britannia sat down for 3 hours in Shalford Cutting last August, I can guarantee the onboard team will be doing their upmost to keep everyone informed and well fed and watered.

There is obviously a reason why the Bristol route has been opted for, otherwise it wouldn’t have been done. It’s not exactly cheap to change route and paths, etc.