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Plymouth XC drivers limit

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dk1

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Sounds pretty obvious. Any further would be pushing it assuming punctual running for PNBs let alone a convenient change-over location.
 

Mike99

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Am I right in think Eastleigh based XC drivers sign Bournemouth to (the furthest north) Birmingham New Street?, I know they sign obviously via Winchester and Basingstoke but also sign via Fareham for the early starter from Guildford to Reading and the North as the ECS to GLD from Eastleigh goes past my flat about 5.15 every morning.
 

83G/84D

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I wonder if any of the Plymouth drivers sign potential diversionary routes such as Westbury, Worcester and even Lydney via severn Tunnel Jn/ Newport. Anyone know?
 

SouthDevonian

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Thanks 455driver. Does that mean the Plymouth drivers regularly go to New St or just occasionally?

Presumably Birmingham XC drivers get down to Plymouth as well.
 

Minilad

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Am I right in think Eastleigh based XC drivers sign Bournemouth to (the furthest north) Birmingham New Street?, I know they sign obviously via Winchester and Basingstoke but also sign via Fareham for the early starter from Guildford to Reading and the North as the ECS to GLD from Eastleigh goes past my flat about 5.15 every morning.

There are no XC drivers based at Eastleigh. They are Bournemouth based. But yes. They sign to Birmingham
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I wonder if any of the Plymouth drivers sign potential diversionary routes such as Westbury, Worcester and even Lydney via severn Tunnel Jn/ Newport. Anyone know?

They don't sign via the tunnel or via Worcester but they do sign Westbury I believe
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Thanks 455driver. Does that mean the Plymouth drivers regularly go to New St or just occasionally?

Presumably Birmingham XC drivers get down to Plymouth as well.

There are a few daily diagrams to Brum. Birmingham drivers only sign as far as Bristol
 

83G/84D

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What about the route from Exeter to Castle Cary via Yeovil, surely some / all must sign this?
 

455driver

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I do not think XC do planned diversions via Yeovil.

No they don't, there isn't the capacity for XC and FGW to divert that way so even if XC wanted to run that way something else would have to be taken off the route.

Plymouth drivers go to Birmingham quite a lot.
 

SouthDevonian

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Thanks again chaps.

I was on the Devon Explorer railtour last month to Okehampton which returned via Yeovil. Presumably a pilot would have been required between Bristol Parkway & back - who would have provided the pilot? - FGW or one of the freight companies?
 

PHILIPE

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Thanks again chaps.

I was on the Devon Explorer railtour last month to Okehampton which returned via Yeovil. Presumably a pilot would have been required between Bristol Parkway & back - who would have provided the pilot? - FGW or one of the freight companies?

If it was a Railtour it would most certainly have been a Freight Company pilot.
 

Whistler40145

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Was that the Pathfinder tour with DRS 37s?

If it was, I'm quite surprised DRS didn't sign Exeter St David's to Bristol Parkway via Yeovil & Westbury.
 

Martin_1981

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No they don't, there isn't the capacity for XC and FGW to divert that way so even if XC wanted to run that way something else would have to be taken off the route.

Plymouth drivers go to Birmingham quite a lot.

XC trains are diverted via Castle Cary though when Bristol-Taunton is closed, so I would imagine they sign Taunton-Bristol via Castle Cary, Westbury and Bath.

I believe the route via Honiton and Yeovil was used for some night time empty stock XC voyager moves during the 3 week closure of the Taunton route in Jan/Feb 2014? Could be wrong though.
 

455driver

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XC trains are diverted via Castle Cary though when Bristol-Taunton is closed, so I would imagine they sign Taunton-Bristol via Castle Cary, Westbury and Bath.

I believe the route via Honiton and Yeovil was used for some night time empty stock XC voyager moves during the 3 week closure of the Taunton route in Jan/Feb 2014? Could be wrong though.

I was referring to the Honiton route, they do sign the Westbury route you list above.

During the 3 week blockage if XC needed to swap the stock over they used an FGW pilot, in fact FGW Exeter HS had a booked diagram that was just piloting the XC train to Bristol and back when required, when not required they just sat in the messroom watching telly, its a rough life on HS! ;) :lol:
 

Dhassell

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Bristol Drivers Do Via Stourbridge etc. also can do Cardiff and also around Westbury
 
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