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Car Transporter trains on WCML

Bertone

Bertone

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Evening all,
Whilst waiting at traffic lights near Hemel Hempstead last Friday morning with the WCML just ahead but above on a bridge, an extremely long double decker car transporter train passed heading south.
Unfortunately I didn’t recognise the smallish cars it was carrying but they all appeared to be the same model.
Can anyone suggest where they were coming from and heading to?
Haven't seen anything like this for a good few years so would be interested to know if these are commonplace but just not aware of their existence.
Thanks
 
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antharro

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IIRC, there are regular trains from the JLR factories to Southampton Docks.
 
D

Domino

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Toyota run trains from Toton north yard to Dollands moor sidings which joins the WCML at Bletchley via the Marston vale line.
 
G

Geeves

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There used to be a train through Victoria carrying Peugeot vans so I don't think the modern car size is an issue, so far anyway.
 
Freightmaster

Freightmaster

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Domino said:
Toyota run trains from Toton north yard to Dollands moor sidings which joins the WCML at Bletchley via the Marston vale line.
Click to expand...
That will be what the OP saw at Hemel on Friday:

Realtime Trains | 6X11 0700 Toton North Yard to Dollands Moor Sdgs | 22/03/2024

Real-time train running information for 6X11 0700 departure from Toton North Yard to Dollands Moor Sdgs on 22/03/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk


Loco was 66053...

66053 WBAT TOTONN YD 566X11CA22 4 * DOLLANDSM N
Click to expand...




MARK
 
A

Aviator88

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I saw one running North through Northampton a few nights ago, probably 3 AM ish!
 
L

LCC106

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Also seen on Midland Mainline. Often wonder how many cars fit on them but that would also depend on train length.
 
S

Southsider

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Used to see train loads of Fords in the sidings at Arkleston near Paisley. I often wondered how many of them made it to the dealerships with all their parts intact.
 
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route101

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I often wonder are the cars protected from stone chips and other dirt?
 
Z

zwk500

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route101 said:
I often wonder are the cars protected from stone chips and other dirt?
Click to expand...
Some of them run in covered wagons, and I think I've seen cars on open wagons with wraps over the windscreens at least (although it's been a while since I saw one come through a station I was waiting at).
 
M

MotCO

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I assume that the cars were all forward facing with no train reversals, since I believe rear windows are weaker than front windscreens.
 
Llanigraham

Llanigraham

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Llanigraham said:
Used to get them up the Marches Line from Portbury Dock.
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Additional info.
Now checked and many of the trains northbound were loaded generally with Peugeot or Renault vehicles and we then used to get the train returning next day loaded with LR vehicles, when their Speke factory were producing Freelanders
 
DelW

DelW

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800001 said:
Apologies, meant wcml (predictive changed it)
Click to expand...
Might I respectfully suggest you edit your earlier post, so that no one else gets misled by it when reading this thread?

antharro said:
IIRC, there are regular trains from the JLR factories to Southampton Docks.
Click to expand...
I know that the OP's train has been identified already, but I don't think JLR make anything that might be described as "smallish cars"! AIUI even the XE and XF are about to be discontinued, after which they'll all be hefty beasts.
 
12LDA28C

12LDA28C

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route101 said:
I often wonder are the cars protected from stone chips and other dirt?
Click to expand...

These trains used to run in the 1980s and 90s branded as the 'Silcock Express' with covered wagons as seen here (not my photo)
659114.jpg


I don't know if these kind of wagons are still used though
 
M

MotCO

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My dad bought a new Ford Anglia in 1965, and its handover was delayed due to the car being covered in diesel particles presumably from being transported by train. Clearly cars were not in covered wagons at that time.
 
DarloRich

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route101 said:
I often wonder are the cars protected from stone chips and other dirt?
Click to expand...

zwk500 said:
Some of them run in covered wagons, and I think I've seen cars on open wagons with wraps over the windscreens at least (although it's been a while since I saw one come through a station I was waiting at).
Click to expand...
from seeing the trains pass the cars have same kind of wrappers on that you see on cars onboard a car transporter on the motorway. Some vehicles are carried in semi covered wagons, some are not.
 
Z

zwk500

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MotCO said:
I assume that the cars were all forward facing with no train reversals, since I believe rear windows are weaker than front windscreens.
Click to expand...
Having had a quick google image flick through UK and elsewhere, both up to date and historic, it appears there's a real mix. Some cars have protective coverings on some surfaces, some don't, and there appears to be just as many uncovered cars on open wagons and protected cars on covered wagons.
Although the coverings do seem to be for the paintwork and not the glass, so I must have been mistaken on that.
 
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