GWR Class 800

[Clansman]

There's not much unmet demand for a 2100 arrival into Dundee, and even less so for a 0400 departure.

A revised time of around 5-6am from Dundee or Perth would go down well with business travellers and general passengers in my opinion. If the demand from Stirling constitutes an early morning service, then Perth and Dundee do also - hence why the former was looked at by VTEC.

 

[najaB]

If the demand from Stirling constitutes an early morning service, then Perth and Dundee do also - hence why the former was looked at by VTEC.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that the 0730 Edinburgh-Kings Cross (which is what a 0530 Dundee departure would be) is already a quite busy service.

 

[Clansman]

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that the 0730 Edinburgh-Kings Cross (which is what a 0530 Dundee departure would be) is already a quite busy service.

Indeed it is, and it would definitely have to be a doubled up IEP service if this was extended to Perth.

I have to say that a 5:30 running from Dundee to London Kings X via Perth and Stirling would fit in perfectly with the 07:30 to Kings Cross as far as time goes - and would be a very popular service indeed.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Indeed it is, and it would definitely have to be a doubled up IEP service if this was extended to Perth.
I have to say that a 5:30 running from Dundee to London Kings X via Perth and Stirling would fit in perfectly with the 07:30 to Kings Cross as far as time goes - and would be a very popular service indeed.

The ICWC 2012 bidders had plans to run from Stirling to Euston (on electric) when the wires were up.
Whether it figures in anyone's plans now (without new stock) is another matter.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Spotted 800101 at Newcastle a short while ago. Looks like it was running the following:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97597/2017/03/23/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97598/2017/03/23/advanced

I'm guessing it was doing a test run purely on it's diesel engines as neither pantograph seemed to be raised.

I grabbed a shot of it, which I will upload later.

**EDIT: Here we go:

Also, checking on RTT a bit closer, looks like it had been operating test runs between Doncaster/Darlington and Newcastle throughout the day, from 0830 until 1800.

 

[leomartin125]

Is there something special going on tomorrow? In Realtimetrains are two paths for an IEP in Paddington at around 10am:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...4/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ

I'm guessing this is another VIP thing? Possibly using 800004? Anyone know?

These are also in for Royal Oak Sidings...

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...4/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ

Thanks

 

[Clarence Yard]

Same as January, it's a GWR/FG timing and fuel consumption test run. This time going at more than 110 but with the engine in derated mode and the acceleration tuned down to 0.7.

There should be similar on Monday and Tuesday with the unit in different engine states.

 

[Nippy]

I'm Paddington desk signalman tomorrow. Let's see what happens.........

 

[leomartin125]

I'm Paddington desk signalman tomorrow. Let's see what happens.........

Oh fun! I'll be thinking of you, in the control room, whilst I'm down on Platform 1 wondering why the IEP is running late...

 

[800001]

Spotted 800101 at Newcastle a short while ago. Looks like it was running the following:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97597/2017/03/23/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97598/2017/03/23/advanced

I'm guessing it was doing a test run purely on it's diesel engines as neither pantograph seemed to be raised.

I grabbed a shot of it, which I will upload later.

**EDIT: Here we go:

Also, checking on RTT a bit closer, looks like it had been operating test runs between Doncaster/Darlington and Newcastle throughout the day, from 0830 until 1800.

It normally does Doncaster to Newcastle, then Newcastle - Darlington and return, and finally Newcastle - Doncaster.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Class 800 in Cardiff! The first test run to Swansea and back today.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/uk-railway-news-round-up-3.html

 

[leomartin125]

Today, Hitachi Class 800001 operated 5X80 from North Pole to London, then 1X80 from London to Bristol Parkway, then ran 1X81 Bristol Parkway to Royal Oak Sidings and 5X81 Royal Oak Sidings to North Pole. This was a test run to judge the timings of the accleration and top speed of the IEP's against the HST, thanks to Clarence Yard for this information.

Here are the 1X80 and 1X81 timings, don't know why 1X81 was booked to stay at Platform 10 at Reading from 1322 to 1349? I think it performed superbly and kept up to, and even exceeded the timings it was given:

OUTBOUND:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97610/2017/03/24/advanced

INBOUND:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97611/2017/03/24/advanced

In addition, I made it to Paddington to live stream the arrival on Twitter. Here are some pictures of the IEP at Paddington:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138309095@N05/

And my video of the departure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DT7oFVZ13s

 

[JN114]

Not so much thanks to Nippy, for routing 1K41 into Platform 1 at pretty much the precise time the IEP was due into Platform 1, despite Platform 2 being perfectly empty at the time and with nothing due to arrive or depart until well after 1K41's next service had departed. I expected something like this to occur.

1K41 is booked platform 1, 09:56 to 10:19, the IET wasn't due in to Platform 1 until 10:25. Why does it need to run early messing everything else up, just run as booked it's easier on everyone.

Publicly Criticising people for doing their job properly is only going to harm yourself - not the best move so early in your career....

 

[jyte]

Today, Hitachi Class 800001 operated 5X80 from North Pole to London, then 1X80 from London to Bristol Parkway, then ran 1X81 Bristol Parkway to Royal Oak Sidings and 5X81 Royal Oak Sidings to North Pole. This was a test run to judge the timings of the accleration and top speed of the IEP's against the HST, thanks to Clarence Yard for this information.

Not so much thanks to Nippy, for routing 1K41 into Platform 1 at pretty much the precise time the IEP was due into Platform 1, despite Platform 2 being perfectly empty at the time and with nothing due to arrive or depart until well after 1K41's next service had departed. I expected something like this to occur.

Here are the 1X80 and 1X81 timings, don't know why 1X81 was booked to stay at Platform 10 at Reading from 1322 to 1349? I think it performed superbly and kept up to, and even exceeded the timings it was given:

OUTBOUND:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97610/2017/03/24/advanced

INBOUND:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97611/2017/03/24/advanced

In addition, I made it to Paddington to live stream the arrival on Twitter. Here are some pictures of the IEP at Paddington:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138309095@N05/

And my video of the departure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DT7oFVZ13s

Will the public find out how it performed or is there a comparable HST diagram/run to compare to?

Anyway thanks for the photos and video!

 

[JN114]

Will the public find out how it performed or is there a comparable HST diagram/run to compare to?

Anyway thanks for the photos and video!

I wouldn't expect a grandiose public explanation.

Comparable path would be any of the xx36 Padd - Cheltenham Services as far as Swindon, albeit this particular iteration did not call at Didcot (most Cheltenhams do). Against that it performed admirably.

 

[jyte]

I wouldn't expect a grandiose public explanation.

Comparable path would be any of the xx36 Padd - Cheltenham Services as far as Swindon, albeit this particular iteration did not call at Didcot (most Cheltenhams do). Against that it performed admirably.

Yes, you're right. Thanks for that.

Do 125s hit 125mph between Reading and Didcot Parkway for an extended period of time? I'm trying to work out if a Padd-Bristol Temple Meads diagram will be slower or faster at introduction later this year - apologies if this has already been done!

 

[455driver]

Not so much thanks to Nippy, for routing 1K41 into Platform 1 at pretty much the precise time the IEP was due into Platform 1, despite Platform 2 being perfectly empty at the time and with nothing due to arrive or depart until well after 1K41's next service had departed. I expected something like this to occur.

So you are having a go at Nippy for putting a train into its booked platform at its booked time? :roll:

1K41 is booked into platform 1 and I dont think some trainspotter wanting to get a picture of a train which will be in service for the next 30 years is a good reason to alter the platform allocated, you do know it isn't a train set don't you!

 

[JN114]

Yes, you're right. Thanks for that.

Do 125s hit 125mph between Reading and Didcot Parkway for an extended period of time? I'm trying to work out if a Padd-Bristol Temple Meads diagram will be slower or faster at introduction later this year - apologies if this has already been done!

With a "good" driver on you'll be hitting 125 roughly in the Goring area on an HST, maybe a little way after. It's then ~5 minutes of 125mph running from there to slamming the anchors on at Didcot East.

 

[DidcotDickie]

Not so much thanks to Nippy, for routing 1K41 into Platform 1 at pretty much the precise time the IEP was due into Platform 1, despite Platform 2 being perfectly empty at the time and with nothing due to arrive or depart until well after 1K41's next service had departed. I expected something like this to occur.

Assuming that 'leomartin125' is (currently) employed by GWR, then I would gently suggest that he reads that company's Social Media Policy for employees and then thinks carefully about what he posts. My long experience in management (not in the railways) tells me that this could possibly not be considered in a very good light.

On a more positive note here's a short video clip I took earlier today of the return IET working passing Uffington between Swindon and Didcot Parkway

https://youtu.be/bX-R4f-W-Jw

The HST passing in the opposite direction immediately afterwards provides a good comparison of the relative noise of the two trains.

 

[ajay1071]

800 002 just left Swansea for Bristol Parkway, after 5 days of testing at Maliphant IEP Depot.

 

[jyte]

slamming the anchors on at Didcot East.

Okay the literal version of that I cannot get out of my head and has given me a good laugh, thank you.

 

[aar0]

Just seen a 5 coach 800, white with one end striped in red, in the Swansea electrified sidings. I have a photo, but no idea how to upload it from my phone!

Hopefully now attached - thought it looked rather smart. My HST to London had a smashing run, 2-4 minutes early into every station, then leaving on time and pushing back to early.

I have a vague idea of making an article for my university's newspaper about the train, do you think DfT/GWR/NR/Hitachi would be willing to let me on one next time it's in Swansea?

 

[JN114]

I have a vague idea of making an article for my university's newspaper about the train, do you think DfT/GWR/NR/Hitachi would be willing to let me on one next time it's in Swansea?

The ball would be entirely in the court of Hitachi - as has been said many times GWR have nothing to do with these units at the present time. Contact them by all means, but I wouldn't hold your hopes up - I believe the most recent visits to Maliphant are purely to commission the new Depot, testing is being done elsewhere and thus I'd suspect visits to be few and far between.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Yes, you're right. Thanks for that.

Do 125s hit 125mph between Reading and Didcot Parkway for an extended period of time? I'm trying to work out if a Padd-Bristol Temple Meads diagram will be slower or faster at introduction later this year - apologies if this has already been done!

It will be exactly the same time as they are being dropped into (modified for TARA maintenance compliance) HST diagrams, timed as HST.

That is why the timing tests are being held, to obtain the optimum engine/acceleration/top speed settings to allow them to replicate the HST point to point timings.

 

[superkev]

I wonder if Hitachi are allowed to try them with passengers at some point. Specials could be very popular. How about an enthusiasts trip up the s and c see how they cope with hills.
K

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I wonder if Hitachi are allowed to try them with passengers at some point. Specials could be very popular. How about an enthusiasts trip up the s and c see how they cope with hills.
K

Their sole objective is to get these trains in service with GWR as per contract.
GWR (and VTEC later) will no doubt have some tasters in mind near the point of entry into service.
But joy-rides on the S&C will have to wait a while.
For a start, it's not one of the routes being cleared for IEP operation.

Eurostar trains were used for a few months on a "by invitation only" basis before they were allowed to sell tickets commercially.
It included railway staff and suppliers, but not the general public.
The main obstacle was the level of safety clearance in the Channel Tunnel, and these runs were part of the safety certification process.
Nothing like that apples to IEP.
Also remember that most likely none of the trains you see running are ready for service anyway, and GWR have done no training on them either.

 

[najaB]

Also remember that most likely none of the trains you see running are ready for service anyway, and GWR have done no training on them either.

They must surely be producing ready for service units by now?

 

[leomartin125]

I would like to, first and foremost, apologise if my recent post mislead people in any way. I simply didn't understand why the Bedwyn train was on P1 at the time, and I didn't go the right way about asking that or questionning that at all. None of my comments were meant to offend anyone, especially Nippy, and I know he does a grand job in what can be a very stressful job.

I would, however, like to let people know what I was trying to go on about:

The Bedwyn arrival (1K41) arrived on Platform 1 running 9L, however I didn't know about any trains being booked on P1 at around the 10am mark apart from the IEP. Here is the RTT page for it:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20164/2017/03/24/advanced

The Bedwyn then terminated, and formed 1K46 (1019 Paddington to Bedwyn) with the RTT page below:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20168/2017/03/24/advanced

HOWEVER ... The IEP was running 5X80, which was, as shown in the RTT link below, due on P1 at 1010:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20168/2017/03/24/advanced

So how is this possible? Clearly the two trains overlap each other and that's exactly why 5X80 arrived Paddington 11L. Can anyone help me here? Many thanks in advanced and apologies if I'm missing something obvious here...

 

[JN114]

I would like to, first and foremost, apologise if my recent post mislead people in any way. I simply didn't understand why the Bedwyn train was on P1 at the time, and I didn't go the right way about asking that or questionning that at all. None of my comments were meant to offend anyone, especially Nippy, and I know he does a grand job in what can be a very stressful job.

I would, however, like to let people know what I was trying to go on about:

The Bedwyn arrival (1K41) arrived on Platform 1 running 9L, however I didn't know about any trains being booked on P1 at around the 10am mark apart from the IEP. Here is the RTT page for it:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20164/2017/03/24/advanced

The Bedwyn then terminated, and formed 1K46 (1019 Paddington to Bedwyn) with the RTT page below:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20168/2017/03/24/advanced

HOWEVER ... The IEP was running 5X80, which was, as shown in the RTT link below, due on P1 at 1010:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20168/2017/03/24/advanced

So how is this possible? Clearly the two trains overlap each other and that's exactly why 5X80 arrived Paddington 11L. Can anyone help me here? Many thanks in advanced and apologies if I'm missing something obvious here...

Your link to the IEP schedule brings up 1K46.

According to internal railway systems, the IEP was booked off North Pole at 1019 and in to Paddington at 1025. It left North Pole early, and at one stage may have been expected at 10:10, but has only, ever been booked to arrive at 1025.

I have tirelessly said RTT is NOT an authoritive source of information - it is a skim/snapshot of open data sources to provide the public with more detailed timing information. It should never be relied upon, particularly not to judge the actions of others.

 

[irish_rail]

With a "good" driver on you'll be hitting 125 roughly in the Goring area on an HST, maybe a little way after. It's then ~5 minutes of 125mph running from there to slamming the anchors on at Didcot East.

A good driver = a plymouth driver, u will not reach 125 at goring more like Cholsey with a HST.