60007 Downham Mkt -KX 13 Dec 09

Ok, head above the parapet time - Anybody know why this one is now starting from Downham Market instead of King's Lynn as originally advertised? As it happens DM is my local, but booked from KL with my lad for the extra mileage as its only steam one way.

 

I've just looked at the NR site and there are no booked engineering works for the KL - DM section so doesn't look like that's the reason.

 

Gauging problem I believe.

 

But didn't 60007 take part in the Cambridge/Ely/King's Lynn shuttles with (I think) 70000 and 4472 a few years ago? what has changed?

 

IIRC the Cambridge - KL shuttles were 4472, 34027 and 70000. Can't check my photo records as the lab ruined my slides. 60007, 60009 and 70000 were involved in the Bishops Stortford - Ely shuttles a few years later.

 

If anyone has a copy of the cambridge evening news from whenever in 1995 the Bishops Stortford- Ely shuttles were I am in the picture with USA coming through cambridge, aged 4.

 

For info, just received this from RTC:

'The stations have change owing to a gauging problem. The platform we were due to arrive at is no wide enough for the train and we can't use the other as they have other trains stationed owing to it being a Sunday.'

Is that the inflexible big railway rearing its head again? Couldn't the stock be stabled in the other platform for one day? Or am I being too simplistic?

 

That's far too sensible an idea. Can't have common sense plaguing the railways now can we?

 

It does beg the question, did any one ask?
Platform alterations are done at Waterloo, Victoria and Kings Cross on a regular basis to accomodate steam specials.

Regards, Neil

 

Of course, they did. However, it might also have not escaped your notice that FCC having been having weekend 'manning problems', of late.

I might add that, whilst there was no lack of willingness, on a local level, to help, what happens if the shift to do the shunt is not covered (and, in light of the above, that's entirely possible)? Stick to the plan that you know can work.

The issue of station platforms being occupied by stabled stock is by no means restricted to East Anglia; it is one that can pose problems, throughout the network.

And you all think it's so easy planning and running charters.

JS

 

No! I suspect many of us are well aware of the problems of running charters. I, for one, am very grateful of the efforts made to provide routes and timings that are attractive to enthusiasts.

On the other hand, I have seen quite a few examples over the years of obstructive behaviour from jobsworths employed by the railways at all levels.

It is often hard these days to establish the true reasons for apparently bizarre operating decisions.

Your explanations (and the other work that you do!) are appreciated.

Merry Christmas
Alan

 

A serious answer to your question now. Many stations see platforms used as "carriage sidings" on Sundays. At one time a Sunday morning at Kings Cross would see more GNER sets parked up than there were those in service. Platform 8 there seems to have a permanent FCC "gate guardian" these days. All this impacts on such things as specials and even timetabled services. Have lost count of the times I've been on a train held outside KGX waiting for a platform only to arrive and find several platforms occupied by ecs going nowhere.

 

Of course its not going to be easy to plan specials. In this case, does the loco even have to enter the platform as I think it will be dragged from Ely? Always assuming the points aren't going to be fouled by leaving the loco off the end. Of course on a Sunday there is going to be 'spare' stock stabled around the system that these days there aren't sidings to put them into.

But , as has been mentioned,, did anyone ask the right question?

Not intended as criticism, but aren't forums (fora?) intended for discussions?

Still looking forward to the trip.

 

Any reports on progress? Thanks.

 

Arrived Kings Cross about 20 late on slow line.

 

Was around 25 minutes late starting from Downham Market so no further time dropped en route. Was told ecs was 20 minutes late leaving Ely this morning but no explanation as to why.

 

My Dad's video using his handycam taken at Milton crossing near Cambridge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slBkpKC-ZD4

 

A day of sprints between stops. The 47 on the back assisted a bit after Cambridge - I was told by one of the support crew they were a bit short of water until the water stop at Royston (possibly because of the initial delay in leaving Ely northbound?). Fire Brigade bowser sorted that (I heard the booked bowser had gone u/s?). Then approaching the double tracked section of the ECML under greens the brakes came on and we stopped well short of the last signal on the Slow for a couple of minutes (TPWS not cancelled in time I was told). The same thing happened as we were diverted back to the Slow after Welwyn Viaduct, leaving the last couple of coaches and the 47 blocking the Main. After that it seemed like a good run under greens all the way to Platform 7.
A surprise (at least to me) was that SNG brought the stock back into KX, towing the 47, ready for the return departure at 1833, before returning to Hornsey. Having an A4 at the KX buffer stops twice in one day can't happen often.

Though not the longest day out with steam, it was well organised/stewarded and even my wife enjoyed her first steam main line trip. Well done RTC/WCRC and, of course, the A4LS on their fourth consecutive day in steam.

 

Perhaps I fired from the hip with a one line comment.

I do realise (as do many other forum members) its's difficult planning charters on todays increasingly congested railway. It is also increasingly difficult to plan the base timetable and maintenance possessions with current restrictions and cost / time constraints. Operators want longer operating times and the safety systems around taking possessions and traction current isolations are ever more time consuming.

A charter will happen once, perhaps twice in a timetable and any problem may well disappear due to other incidents. The working timetable will apply for about 40 out of 52 weeks (allowing for possessions) at a given location. Cyclic maintenance can apply for 6, 8 or 12 in 52 weeks of the planning year. The planner for those has a much higher chance of being noticed if the plan isn't 100% correct.

I was thinking back to a certain freight operator who regularly used to forget to check their own notices for engineering works alterations and a (since ceased trading) charter operator who forgot to agree access into a private network. The charter problems only came to light when NR train planning requested special working instructions......

Regards, Neil
(Ex Train Planner, now Possession Planning Assistant)