Smallest traincrew depots

[MidnightFlyer]

(I was 50:50 about whether it belonged here or in Jobs & Careers, so mods move as you see fit.)

I was having a browse of the HOWL improvements thread and someone mentioned Pwllheli depot is the base for only six drivers and six guards. It got me thinking about which depots in the UK are the smallest by crew number based there: Stranraer and Wick I can't imagine have many, nor places like Workington on Northern. Does anybody have any other suggestions?

 

[PHILIPE]

(I was 50:50 about whether it belonged here or in Jobs & Careers, so mods move as you see fit.)

I was having a browse of the HOWL improvements thread and someone mentioned Pwllheli depot is the base for only six drivers and six guards. It got me thinking about which depots in the UK are the smallest by crew number based there: Stranraer and Wick I can't imagine have many, nor places like Workington on Northern. Does anybody have any other suggestions?

Mallaig and Kyle of Lochalsh

 

[Tomnick]

Is there a depot at Mallaig?

Edit: too slow!

 

[Pumbaa]

Kyle/Wick. If I remember correctly from my chat with traincrew a few summers ago, Kyle had 4 daily turns, Wick had 3 (of each). Presumably one spare and one cover/leave, gives total complements of 12 and 10 respectively. Would be interesting to know if these have changed. The Kyle Guard seemed to think they would gain 2 more.

 

[43074]

EMT have a small depot at Norwich for the Norwich to Liverpool services that start & finish there. Norwich crew also do a few bits in the East Midlands aside from that.

 

[northwichcat]

How many Northern crews are based at Buxton? I can't imagine it's a very high number.

 

[Urban Gateline]

I think Strawberry Hill (SWT) and Watford (LM) are examples of small traincrew depots, not sure of the numbers of Guards/Drivers though but I've heard they're small depots!

 

[gnolife]

I imagine that Royal Leamington Spa isn't a very big one for London Midland, having found the door to it in my searches for a toilet.

 

[Kneedown]

EMT have a small depot at Norwich for the Norwich to Liverpool services that start & finish there. Norwich crew also do a few bits in the East Midlands aside from that.

Also a depot at Boston. I forget the exact complement but I think it's round about 10 Drivers.

 

[Philip Elliott]

Either Chester (VT) or Stourbridge (PPM) will be the answer.

 

[Webley]

DBS at Aberdeen is a contender?

 

[306024]

Wickford Conductors have only 3 operational diagrams on Mon to Fri for 12 car trains on the Southminster branch, the rest are just commercial diagrams which works out at a total of about 9 staff.

Ilford trainmen (effectively a guard) was for a while quite a small depot, 1 diagram Mon to Fri for 312s on the 07.15 Southminster to Liverpool St = 1 member of staff. The job was covered by a depot driver acting as a guard when he was on holiday. Simplest roster I've ever seen.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Either Chester (VT) or Stourbridge (PPM) will be the answer.

LM have quite a few guards based at Stourbridge Junction, and Chiltern have 40-50 guards and drivers based there. It's not Waterloo, but it's not as tiny as you might think.

 

[CallySleeper]

VT @ Holyhead? Also, who services the first/last EM trains from/to Crewe?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

LM have quite a few guards based at Stourbridge Junction, and Chiltern have 40-50 guards and drivers based there. It's not Waterloo, but it's not as tiny as you might think.

Are the PPM and Snow Hill line staff in a common pool for rostering, or do they only work one or the other?

 

[Tomnick]

Also, who services the first/last EM trains from/to Crewe?

Taxi to/from Derby or Nottingham.

 

[CallySleeper]

Taxi to/from Derby or Nottingham.

Urgh.

 

[Tomnick]

Urgh.

For the first few months of EMT (not sure exactly how long), LM crews at Crewe continued to work some of the trains, presumably for that very reason. That all sounds far too integrated for the modern railway though!

 

[berneyarms]

VT @ Holyhead? Also, who services the first/last EM trains from/to Crewe?

There are no drivers at Holyhead (as I learnt from this forum), only guards, so quite possibly!!

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Are the PPM and Snow Hill line staff in a common pool for rostering, or do they only work one or the other?

Unless I am mistaken they are very much separate things. PPM staff aren't allowed to work trains and vice versa. I'm not sure whether it's a link thing or something else but I strongly suspect they are different grades. I got told once that PPM people have contracts more in line with Midland Metro staff than railway staff, but I can't be sure that's true.

 

[dk1]

EMT have a small depot at Norwich for the Norwich to Liverpool services that start & finish there. Norwich crew also do a few bits in the East Midlands aside from that.

Was surprised when you mentioned Norwich as we have well over 100 drivers & lots of Guards. Then i noticed you stated EMT

 

[LBSCR Times]

Epsom, Caterham and Three Bridges are all small, driver only, depots.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Unless I am mistaken they are very much separate things. PPM staff aren't allowed to work trains and vice versa. I'm not sure whether it's a link thing or something else but I strongly suspect they are different grades. I got told once that PPM people have contracts more in line with Midland Metro staff than railway staff, but I can't be sure that's true.

The Stourbridge Town service operates as a sub contract to LM by Pre Metro Operations Ltd and all of the operating staff are employed by the latter, they also may be the only operation where the staff are both drivers and conductors and as a rule swap roles each hour with a third person on each shift to rotate allowing for PNBs.

The link I provide gives quite an in depth description of the operation http://philtonks2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/a-day-in-lifeon-stourbridge-branch-line.html

 

[CallySleeper]

There are no drivers at Holyhead (as I learnt from this forum), only guards, so quite possibly!!

Thanks, should have remembered.

Could start a new thread, "Longest regular taxi transfers"

 

[andypops]

In terms of FOCs, what about the DBS depot at Hereford? I think it was still operational until recently...

 

[CallySleeper]

Also, XC Leicester?!

 

[Class172]

I know it's a relatively small depot, but how many people are assigned to Worcester?

 

[43074]

Also, XC Leicester?!

How many drivers/guards are based at Leicester, and which routes do they sign, out of interest?

 

[westcoaster]

How many drivers/guards are based at Leicester, and which routes do they sign, out of interest?

Not sure about numbers , was told they sign the triangle of boredom, leicester- Birmingham- derby - leicester.

 

[Qwerty133]

Not sure about numbers , was told they sign the triangle of boredom, leicester- Birmingham- derby - leicester.

XC don't even operate between Derby and Leicester, so a third of their route knowedge isn't even used.