Mystery departmental train Reading – Swindon – Gloucester - Bromsgrove

[Mister Ed]

Can anyone shed some light on a VSTP entry on Real Time Trains today, please?
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O53834/2019-10-31/detailed

It is shown as 608U 10:07 Reading Triangle Sidings to Bromsgrove Up Goods Loop via Swindon and Gloucester. What caught my attention was that it was pathed as an electric loco and planned for 74 mph max, which seems a little odd.

I caught a glimpse of it at speed whilst travelling on a train in the opposite direction and sat on the further side but all I could observe was that it appeared to be a single vehicle about the size of a carriage and that it was painted a scarlet red. Would it be something like a mobile load bank for testing, given that both Reading and Bromsgrove have overhead electrification?

 

[Mills444]

Does it look anything like this

 

[yorkie]

...What caught my attention was that it was pathed as an electric loco and planned for 74 mph max, which seems a little odd...

I really wouldn't take any notice of a timing load. It may be that is the only timing load available, or the most appropriate existing timing load; also the open data does not always show the same information as is visible in the software used by train planners.

Sorry for anyone who has seen this umpteen times before )), but for anyone who hasn't:-

... Despite what many people assume, timings are not held in the planning software for all trains over all routes. In fact, when it comes to charters and other one-off movements, it is highly unlikely that any SRT's exist in the software for that specific train. A train shown as timed to a maximum speed of 75mph or 95mph may not actually have been timed as such, that is just what the CIF outputs. Changes of Timing Load can also be made en-route.

I am pleased to see these officially approved open online systems, but do feel that many of the questions arising are simply due to people over-analysing things that don't really need to be analysed!

I hope this gives a better understanding of some of the issues raised in this thread and in some others.

(from an experienced train planner)

 

[3973EXL]

More likely a orange Colas OTM (tamper).

 

[Mills444]

More likely a orange Colas OTM (tamper).

What I believe as well I obvisley buggered up the attachment.

 

[fgwrich]

More likely a orange Colas OTM (tamper).

When I left Reading yesterday, there was a number of OTM Machinery in the upper triangle sidings - so a Tamper, Stoneblower, MPV or the Harsco Grinder all seem like likely candidates.

 

[3973EXL]

The TSC code on RTT is for Colas, and report of a single red vehicle, would rule out yellow plant and white MPVs.

 

[Dhassell]

It would have been a Colas track machine of some kind.

 

[D6700]

I really wouldn't take any notice of a timing load. It may be that is the only timing load available, or the most appropriate existing timing load; also the open data does not always show the same information as is visible in the software used by train planners.

Interestingly, I believe there is an issue with RTT now showing lots of schedules as being "Pathed as Electric locomotive", when they were actually planned using diesel timing loads. Light engines and test trains are the ones I've spotted most often, although others creep in, like the one in this thread (which I will say is not a coincidence). Other systems do not replicate this failing, which suggests it may be an RTT website issue.

Here's an example:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y75481/2019-11-01/detailed
https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/Y75481/2019-11-01

 

[JKF]

Interestingly, I believe there is an issue with RTT now showing lots of schedules as being "Pathed as Electric locomotive", when they were actually planned using diesel timing loads. Light engines and test trains are the ones I've spotted most often, although others creep in, like the one in this thread (which I will say is not a coincidence). Other systems do not replicate this failing, which suggests it may be an RTT website issue.

Here's an example:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y75481/2019-11-01/detailed
https://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/Y75481/2019-11-01

There was an ‘electric locomotive’ running light engine to Portbury on Thursday, which raised my eyebrow! Turned out to be a pair of Class 20s which was almost as unexpected (possibly a first visit for the class).

 

[JKF]

.(duplicate post)

 

[Mag_seven]

Does it look anything like this

No I suspect it doesn't look like a box with a cross on it.