Cumbrian Coast Loco Hauled Stock

[70014IronDuke]

"Perhaps they could offer similar steam services on the Cumbrian Coast Line as well, maybe they would be more reliable"

Well, I suppose the cost would be enormous, but if you could stable a 2-6-4T and three Mk1s at Whitehaven or Workington as back up for failures/very late, the set would have had plenty of work to do yesterday.

Actually, it might not be a bad idea in the summer - run, say, a Whitehaven to Millom shuttle for tourists - but cancel it anytime it was needed to to substitute for a failed 'real train'. Anyone from Norther Trains reading this?

 

[37038]

401 has had a bad week this week. However when I travelled on Feb 4 and Feb 6, 401 and 402 were out and had been with out incident for a good while. They managed a short time after that then 401 failed.

Do remember in the past 37218 did 6 full weeks without incident before coming off for exam

 

[70014IronDuke]

I hope I don't go and jinx it here, but my non-scientific checking of these trains over the last month would appear to suggest that the fitters and electricians maintaining these locos and stock have begun to really get on top of problems.I think I've only noticed one failure in the past four weeks.

 

[philjo]

I did the 10:04 Preston to Barrow then changed onto the Carlisle service last Tuesday and both were on time. though the 2 coaches nearest the loco on the Barrow-Carlisle service were locked out of use to to an electrical fault (now lighting/air con) so all passengers had to use the rear 2 coaches which were nearly full.

 

[yorksrob]

Taking two carriages out of use due to lack of heating/lighting seems extreme. Do the door locks operate off of this system ?

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Taking two carriages out of use due to lack of heating/lighting seems extreme. Do the door locks operate off of this system ?

I think you'll find the Rulebook has something to say about it. Even before you think about the more general principles of Health & Safety. That's not to say that individual vehicles never operate without heat/light but it's not a situation that can be allowed to continue for very long ie only to the next terminus. On the traditional railway such vehicles would have been removed from the train altogether but such manoeuvres are somewhat more difficult to arrange nowadays. So locking out of use is the logical reaction.

I never signed LHCS so can't comment on the door locks question.

 

[yorksrob]

I think you'll find the Rulebook has something to say about it. Even before you think about the more general principles of Health & Safety. That's not to say that individual vehicles never operate without heat/light but it's not a situation that can be allowed to continue for very long ie only to the next terminus. On the traditional railway such vehicles would have been removed from the train altogether but such manoeuvres are somewhat more difficult to arrange nowadays. So locking out of use is the logical reaction.

I never signed LHCS so can't comment on the door locks question.

I can think of at least two occasions travelling in carriages without light (once going through a long tunnel and the other at night) and several without heating (the last a couple of weeks ago). The rule book must have been amended in recent years.

 

[Mordac]

I can think of at least two occasions travelling in carriages without light (once going through a long tunnel and the other at night) and several without heating (the last a couple of weeks ago). The rule book must have been amended in recent years.

Were you covered in lipstick marks at the other end of the tunnel?

 

[yorksrob]

Were you covered in lipstick marks at the other end of the tunnel?

No, and neither were there any Agetha Christie style murders, but then again it was an almost empty carriage

 

[philthetube]

I travelled Skipton to leeds on a dmu,( no idea what stock), with no lights, the guard made an apology before Keighley tunnel. It was half of a four car set which had come from Carlisle.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I can think of at least two occasions travelling in carriages without light (once going through a long tunnel and the other at night) and several without heating (the last a couple of weeks ago). The rule book must have been amended in recent years.

I've done it, but I have had VT staff (back in the day) try to remove passengers from a completely dark coach (I used to seek them out for the view, in Mk2 days there was often one per set), unsuccessfully as everyone refused to move.

 

[yorksrob]

I've done it, but I have had VT staff (back in the day) try to remove passengers from a completely dark coach (I used to seek them out for the view, in Mk2 days there was often one per set), unsuccessfully as everyone refused to move.

I'm not surprised, given how busy those trains often were (one of my two experiences was Virgin XC)

 

[a_c_skinner]

Reviving this thread, more or less like an elderly class 37/4, the 1731 Lancaster to Barrow was a 37 and the LHCS set with a DBSO at the Lancaster end. I thought these sets were weekdays only. Realtime trains said it was pathed as a Sprinter, but I think it always does.

Edit - I was too far from Arnside to see the number, but in the tradition of Cumbrian LHCS it was 6L. By Ulverston it was 41L so I guess all was not well. The last time I tried to catch a train at ARN it was a LHCS that failed near Roose.

Edit edit - I was at Barrow a few weeks ago and two old blokes were plainly enthusiasts. Their class 37 came in and I pointed out it was a celebrity loco. "You mean one that works?" was the reply.

 

[causton]

Reviving this thread, more or less like an elderly class 37/4, the 1731 Lancaster to Barrow was a 37 and the LHCS set with a DBSO at the Lancaster end. I thought these sets were weekdays only. Realtime trains said it was pathed as a Sprinter, but I think it always does.

Pathed as - bears no relevance to what might actually run on it.

As shown in the frequently requested diagram thread, 1731 is booked on Saturday as a loco hauled

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1478563&postcount=12

 

[a_c_skinner]

Did LHCS start off as weekdays only? I thought that was the case, which is why I mentioned it.

Andrew

 

[70014IronDuke]

Did LHCS start off as weekdays only? I thought that was the case, which is why I mentioned it.

Andrew

I don't think so. If you wend your way back through this thread, you will be able to read about all the rumours, ideas and hopes (which could be the source of your thoughts) along with the reality as it became available. AFAIR, the reality always had a Saturday set working (BICBW).

As an aside, last week was a particularly poor performance record on the Cumbrian Coast - at least from my cursory checks on RTT. This involved both the 37-hauled sets and the regular sprinters. I think it was Wednesday, the first train off Carlisle failed early on and was caped by Maryport - resulting in the loss of what I see as the most important working of the day, and the return Preston - Barrow. I think it was Tuesday that the first train off Barrow also failed and was caped. There may have been another total failure (sorry, can't remember) - but my impression was definitely that it was not a week for encouraging passenger usage.

EDIT: I think Wednesday's failure was put down to 'train safety system issues' or some such. Some other delays may have been infrastructure or operating reasons for some of the late running, not all down to traction.

 

[yorksrob]

A slightly mixed bag for me yesterday

My loco hauled out to the cost worked like clockwork and a very pleasant journey was had by all. Unfortunately my trip back was delayed by an incoming loco hauled which screwed up all of my onward connections (it would have been preferable to have turned around the said loco hauled in Barrow (which seemed to be chugging along quite happily by the time it got in) and ran it back to Preston, rather than waiting for the 185 behind it which had also been delayed.

Still, never mind.

 

[47802]

Reviving this thread, more or less like an elderly class 37/4, the 1731 Lancaster to Barrow was a 37 and the LHCS set with a DBSO at the Lancaster end. I thought these sets were weekdays only. Realtime trains said it was pathed as a Sprinter, but I think it always does.

Edit - I was too far from Arnside to see the number, but in the tradition of Cumbrian LHCS it was 6L. By Ulverston it was 41L so I guess all was not well. The last time I tried to catch a train at ARN it was a LHCS that failed near Roose.

Edit edit - I was at Barrow a few weeks ago and two old blokes were plainly enthusiasts. Their class 37 came in and I pointed out it was a celebrity loco. "You mean one that works?" was the reply.

I don't believe the diagrams have changed much since it started, the Loco on Saturday was 37401 it left Lancaster a few min's late due to another late running service, and I believe there was some problem with it at Grange hence its late arrival into Barrow.

 

[a_c_skinner]

I was fairly sure the LHCS started as a weekdays only but it seems mistaken, so apologies for reporting a non-event. It was what I thought a new development that piqued my interest (that and the unmistakable noise of the locomotive leaving Arnside!).

The trainspotter in my likes these services; the sensible person in me asks how much longer, they are not performing well and must be costly and dirty, there must ways to put better stock on these services.

Apologies

Andrew

 

[yorksrob]

I was fairly sure the LHCS started as a weekdays only but it seems mistaken, so apologies for reporting a non-event. It was what I thought a new development that piqued my interest (that and the unmistakable noise of the locomotive leaving Arnside!).

The trainspotter in my likes these services; the sensible person in me asks how much longer, they are not performing well and must be costly and dirty, there must ways to put better stock on these services.

Apologies

Andrew

The sensible person 'of a certain age' in me notes that on the plus side, one has a far better chance of finding a working toilet on the loco hauled set, than on one of the refurbished multiple units.

 

[37038]

No locos out today.

Another DBSO farce at Dalston, 66303 rescued. Other set unit

 

[70014IronDuke]

No locos out today.

Another DBSO farce at Dalston, 66303 rescued. Other set unit

The 05.15 ex Carlisle failed at the off.

But the 05.46 ex Barrow seemed to run ok, and the return ex Carlisle. Are you saying that has some substitute power?

 

[xc170]

I want to do the Cumbrian Coast loco hauled trains, but I'd have to travel up from Tamworth meaning a 6am start, with the unreleability of the 37's, I'm not sure it's worth it.

Have DRS got nothing else they can use on these trains, hire in a couple of 67s or something?

I hate to think how much damage this is causing to the punctuality/reputation..

 

[70014IronDuke]

...

Apologies

Andrew

You may apologise, but I'm afraid the RailUK forums disciplinary committee takes a very dim view of false postings. And at an emergency meeting called for today, it has sentenced a_c_skinner esq to take 80 hours of rail travel over jointed track on pacers, journeys to be of minimum one-hour duration, and all to be completed by the end of the year. Journeys must be verifired by a competent Forum Inspecting Officer. Failure to complete the full corrective sentence by 31.12.17 will mean any outstanding pacer-hours will be doubled and carried forward into 2018.



Interestingly, because of your post, I found I had got it wrong too. It seems there are two LHCS diagrams on Saturday as well, just both are different to the weekday ones. Somehow I'd missed that.

 

[bb21]

You may apologise, but I'm afraid the RailUK forums disciplinary committee takes a very dim view of false postings. And at an emergency meeting called for today, it has sentenced a_c_skinner esq to take 80 hours of rail travel over jointed track on pacers, journeys to be of minimum one-hour duration, and all to be completed by the end of the year. Journeys must be verifired by a competent Forum Inspecting Officer. Failure to complete the full corrective sentence by 31.12.17 will mean any outstanding pacer-hours will be doubled and carried forward into 2018.

Some may say it's not so much a punishment.

 

[a_c_skinner]

You may apologise, but I'm afraid the RailUK forums disciplinary committee takes a very dim view of false postings. And at an emergency meeting called for today, it has sentenced a_c_skinner esq to take 80 hours of rail travel over jointed track on pacers, journeys to be of minimum one-hour duration, and all to be completed by the end of the year. Journeys must be verifired by a competent Forum Inspecting Officer. Failure to complete the full corrective sentence by 31.12.17 will mean any outstanding pacer-hours will be doubled and carried forward into 2018.

Sorry, mate, with Bolton now shut for a few weeks it isn't on.

Andrew

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Did LHCS start off as weekdays only? I thought that was the case, which is why I mentioned it.

Andrew

Weekdays has a service to Preston rather than just Lancaster on Saturdays, which is easier for those coming from West Yorkshire. That may be the original source of the confusion.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Some may say it's not so much a punishment.

ha ha, I like it. (I wonder what is the longest end to end journey for a pacer. I shall do a new post about that.)

 

[37038]

I want to do the Cumbrian Coast loco hauled trains, but I'd have to travel up from Tamworth meaning a 6am start, with the unreleability of the 37's, I'm not sure it's worth it.

Have DRS got nothing else they can use on these trains, hire in a couple of 67s or something?

I hate to think how much damage this is causing to the punctuality/reputation..

Don't go then

No in simple terms

 

[Lrd]

I was fairly sure the LHCS started as a weekdays only but it seems mistaken, so apologies for reporting a non-event. It was what I thought a new development that piqued my interest (that and the unmistakable noise of the locomotive leaving Arnside!).

The trainspotter in my likes these services; the sensible person in me asks how much longer, they are not performing well and must be costly and dirty, there must ways to put better stock on these services.

Apologies

Andrew

You may be confusing yourself with the Anglian loco hauled? I'm sure Norwich - Yarmouth is a Mon-Fri dealio?