Saphos Trains

Do we know what locomotive is scheduled for tomorrow's Cotswold Explorer.. ?

 

Also, on the diesel legs, Primrose Hill and reversal at Willesden on the outward, no reversal and Gospel Oak on the return. All no doubt for good and sufficient reasons, though I wonder what those might be.

 

I think 34046 is the only steam loco at Southall so it is the most likely.

Andrew

 

Much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Where's 61306 then?

 

Crewe having a re-tube I believe

 

Probably pathing, the North London Line is not the place to try and add additional trains these days. Note how many railtours (and other additional workings) run via Primrose Hill and Willesden SL Jn. There isn't the space with 8 Transport for London units each way each hour plus WTT freights. Years ago there had to be a good reason to get a path via Primrose Hill. Now that the WCML is no longer the premier railway, common sense and best use of capacity comes into play.

Cheers, Neil

 

Thank you, that seems sufficient explanation for running one way via Primrose Hill, and perhaps the North London Line is a bit less busy in the evening. Any idea why the reversal at Willesden rather than just turning left at West London Jn?

 

61306 re-tube after 5 years service. Perhaps it’s a good opportunity to do it while the loco is out for other work?

 

More than likely. There was a list of LSL fine tuning and fettling that needed doing to it when at the SVR but the tubes were a priority I understood.

 

An intermediate overhaul with retube after five years gives an engine 10 years on the main line rather than seven

 

Caught up with Braunton at Uffington

West Country To the Cotswolds by Stephen Dance, on Flickr

 

Just watched this leave Worcester - D1924 doing most if not all of the work (apart from the whistle I suppose)

 

....and still shoving up Honeybourne Bank

 

A quick look at RTT shows two trains on the Up Fast and one on the Down Fast which would have conflicted with the movement of the LSL train from the Down Slow over the single lead to Willesden South West Sidings. With the headways on the WCML, you're looking for a sizeable gap on the DFL and UFL at the same time. Without looking up the train planning rules, probably a six minute window is needed to cross DSL to inside clear in South West Sidings.
( 1 minute after point of confliction cleared, 2 minutes to traverse the junction and three minutes headway for the next train to get "greens" and not be checked.)
In that case it made sense to run the LSL train into Wembley Yard Reception and reverse. It minimises conflicting movements on the WCML but gives less flexibility across Acton Wells Jn.
The art of timing charter trains is not to alter anything else as far as possible. Two minutes into a set of empties which has 4 minutes pathing before the next major junction is sort of OK. Do the same to intercity services a few miles from destination and the Delay Attribution claims will flood in to the Operating Company. ( Whether the delay claims are justified or not!)

Getting a path over the NLL can sometimes be a case of noting the pattern of service at a major junction such as Kensal Green. Then look and see of there is a gap or a path at a paticular time isn't used on the hour you want to run. This is why there are far too many "night turn" starts for support crews.

Cheers, Neil

 

Thank you again.