Glasgow to Southampton boat train via Manchester 19th Sept

[Peter Mugridge]

I am told of an interesting top and tail class 67 working with 12 carriages running as a boat train from Glasgow this Sunday ( 19th ).

Running as 1Z67 it leaves Glasgow via Rutherglen at 07.00 and runs down the WCML to Preston then via Bolton to Manchester Piccadilly, then via Wilmslow to Crewe, followed by Bescot, Banbury, Oxford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bradford, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey, eastleigh and then Southampton WESTERN Docks, due at 15.40.

Which is a bit tight as it is in connection with the Queen Mary 2 sailing at 16.30.

But still, a very interesting roundabout route which should give a lot of unusual photographic opportunities.

I don't know what the stock is going to be though, but from the timings I would expect it to be a 1st class rake of Mk2 or Mk3 stock. Apparently it's only allowed 75 minutes from Glasgow to Carlisle for a start...

Hope this is of use to some of you.

 

[GearJammer]

Funny, i parked up by 106 terminal this week and noticed a very short platform decked out in green by the cruise terminal entrance, but it was only one coach long (if that) so everyone on the train will have to walk the lenth of the train to get off, like you say, that will take time and make things a bit tight time wise, that said on the flip side by the time the train is in it will completely block off the road coach drop off point, and possibly the foot passengers that arrive by car so i guess the train can't arive when the coaches arrive etc.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

If the train is late it's going to hold up the sailing isn't it? 8h40 for that roundabout route, even though it's not going to be calling everywhere, must be a bit of a pathing nightmare! Especially for a Sunday...?


Any idea what the stock is going to be?

 

[route:oxford]

Shame that service doesn't run more often.

It's going to be running on unusual track too for passenger services - Didcot curve being one of them. Manages to avoid Birmingham too.

 

[Oracle]

There seems to be precious few charters to the Western Docks now. I passed by the ABP Eastern Docks (Cunard terminal) gates last night at Canute Road and they looked as though they were no padlocked so perhaps there is or was a charter to the terminal?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Eastern docks gets the occasional bit of freight traffic ( that's where the 395s arrived as well - I saw one in the docks when on a visit 18 months ago ).

Getting back to tomorrow's boat train, I agree it's a pity it doesn't run more often, either on the normal route from London or from further locations like this time.

Back in 2002 we used the boat train from London to Southampton and in those days it was the VSOE - clearly Cunard had the right idea then.

 

[GearJammer]

Well at least all the posh passengers will have a nice view from there posh train as it creeks and groans and squeels round that sharp curve into Western docks past the mountains of scrap metal and the containers and the glass recycling centre and the grain storage area, lol, i think i might have to go up there into the docks to take some pics, will make a change to see something other than a Gypsum train or container train in there!

 

[Oracle]

I found some years ago that the last goods traffic to and from the AC-Delco plant, reached by a trailing point off the curve in the Eastern Docks, was around 1970. From construction in 1938 by the Southern Railway until 1940 then from around 1948 until 1970, there was a regular input of coal for the boilers and materials, with an output of vehicles and post-war components. There was also of course the rail-connected Post Office/Royal Mail office..now just a parking area for containers as both the building and the former AC-Delco plant were razed to the ground and all rubble removed.

 

[Alldaysmile]

Locos on 1Z67 are 67005,67006 stock is 94538 9522 3400 3279 3292 3358 3424 80042 3374 3331 3318

 

[moonrakerz]

Just (1 minute ago) passed through Warminster - looked like a pretty mixed bag of rolling stock.

 

[Oracle]

Just passed the Docks and QM2 was there berthed but could not see any ECS train. Do Cunard still have a terminal in the Eastern Docks or has that closed>

 

[moonrakerz]

There is still rail access down to the Cunard terminal as lots of cars are shipped by rail in/out of the docks right by it. What passenger facilities there are ........???

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Southampton Eastern docks - yes, there is a big Cunard terminal there, the one QE2 used to sail from and almost next door is the new Ocean Terminal which is the normal Cunard departure point now, but QE2's terminal is still in use.

Cunard will use the Western docks when there are no berths available at Eastern.

Anyway, returning to the Boat train, yes - that does sound a mixed rake - any pictures of it online yet? Nice to note that the 67s were the Royal pair, though I don't suppose that was a great surprise really was it?

 

[route:oxford]

A bit of a mixed bag of stock indeed. But sure all quite comfortable.

I've been able to identify which coach is which via the convenience of the internet.... But a bit stuck with 94538 - 9xxxx usually indicates departmental stock. Is it some form of generator car when the 67s are detached?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

94538 = former RES p[arcels van so I presume was there for the luggage?

I'd guess they pre-checked the luggage at Glasgow, given the tight timing at Southampton, and it would then be taken straight off the train and onto the QM2?

 

[Alldaysmile]

Return working is due to leave Southampton Docks at 1102 on friday 01/10 under headcode 1Z21

 

[route101]

Return working is due to leave Southampton Docks at 1102 on friday 01/10 under headcode 1Z21

Anyone got an arrival time for Glasgow Central?

 

[NSEFAN]

Arrives at Glasgow Central 2128, departs 2148.

The info I say shows calling points to be Didcot Parkway 1235-1237, Birmingham International 1416-1425, Bescot Stadium 1447-1449, Manchester Piccadilly 1629-1634, Preston 1726-1734, Carlisle 1919-1921, and Carstairs 2047-2053.

I suspect some of these are for pathing/crew changes: Bescot Stadium seems a little random!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I guess this will be formed of the same stock as on the way out, but what are the chances of it having the Royal 67s on it again I wonder?

 

[NSEFAN]

Seems that 67006 and 67028 are on tommorow's working. Presumably the consist is the same.

 

[Alldaysmile]

67028 leading with 94538,9522,10202,3400,3279,3292,3358,3424,80042,3374,3351,3318 and 67006 at the rear.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Pity they couldn't have borrowed those Mk3s painted up as "Ocean Liner Express" for this working isn't it?

 

[Donachie]

67028 leading with 94538,9522,10202,3400,3279,3292,3358,3424,80042,3374,3351,3318 and 67006 at the rear.

Seen at Kingmoor Yard , Carlisle Saturday afternoon with 67's now off the set , sitting together!

 

[fgwrich]

Pity they couldn't have borrowed those Mk3s painted up as "Ocean Liner Express" for this working isn't it?

Only a few DRS Mk3's carried the Ocean Liner Express Branding - 3 I believe...DRS didn’t order anything special livery wise anyway - just a simple remove the Stobart Pullman Vinyl’s, clean the body side up and apply the new Ocean Liner Express vinyl’s for UK Railtours…

And now of course, since DRS Failed UK Railtours on many points mostly to do with the stock, DB & Rivera were quickly drafted in and ended up running the service with Rivera Mk1s and DB 67s… Nowadays of course, DRS Has since sold their Mk3s to Cargo D / DB Regio, Stobart has sold the Mk1 Catering cars to Cargo D, And there one and only Mk2 is sat in a sorry state stored down the back of Eastleigh Works…

And speaking of the Cargo D Mk1 Kitchen Car / Catering Cars - Noticed one was on this DB / Cargo D ran service on friday - Nice to see a proper BR Blue Grey Mk1 back out on the mainline again...and especially paired with Cargo Ds fine Blue Grey Mk2s!