GWR Cornish Night Riviera Sleeper and GWR Class 57 updates from Long Rock

[NotATrainspott]

I'm not sure that GWR will need to get in on the Mk5 sleeper vehicles to be honest. There's about to be a glut of Mk3 sleeper vehicles that aren't going to have a home which GWR could happily raid for all the spare parts they could ever need. Maybe if the price is right for the new franchise they might be able to purchase some CAF Mk5s but I think it would have to be very competitive compared to just keeping the existing stuff going.

The challenge is that if they wait, CAF won't be as willing to produce a micro-fleet of only a dozen or so carriages for a reasonable price. It's vital for the future of the service that its stock replacement cycle is aligned with the Caledonian Sleeper. FirstGroup and Arriva had planned to refurbish the Mk3s along the lines of the Night Riviera stock and it must have taken them by surprise to see Serco come in with a new-build option. (Maybe that surprise was what drove FirstGroup to go for new build for TPE rather than loco hauled 442s like the others...?) The new franchise would be let in exactly the right time for CAF to produce a follow-on order.

 

[richw]

Seen from my window in Angarrack

 

[PHILIPE]

70812 + 70803. The former came down from Liverpool Docks to Tavistock Jn for acceptance trials so suspect a test run with the other as insurance. There was a light movement from Tavistock Jn to Laira beforehand.

Was a proving run for 70803 following collision damage suffered in a T3 possesssion near Ivybridge in February 2016

 

[83G/84D]

There is now a working showing for the opposite direction:-

1752 Penzance to Laira.

Nothing has come down this morning from old Oak Common as far as I can tell, so what if anything will be coming down from Laira later I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Might be a test run for 70803, 70812 is moving from Taviostock Jn to Laira so might be one or both heading west.

70812 and 70803 head back east on their return test run, pausing briefly at Camborne.

 

[co-tr-paul]

As from 1 April, non refurbished sleeper layout being increased in capacity. Twin berths increased from 4 to 6 with singles going from 6 to 4.
Second refurbished B coach due Monday...

 

[395 Olympic Javelin]

Is the second refurbished Coach B coming on tomorrow's down sleeper service?

 

[co-tr-paul]

Last bit of paper I saw said Mon or Tues arrival. 12161.

 

[No Fault Found]

I am not going to repeat why we are not going for 67s AGAIN. Just read this thread from the start.... .
Related news, first steelwork erected today for new depot FOR 57s. Must be finished by Dec 5 as OC shuts 23 Dec for HS2 takeover. £5m per day penalty if not.

Only heavy maintenance and wheel lathe shut 23rd December, as well as losing some of the sidings.

The main service shed and roads 1-6 stay until end of 2018.

 

[No Fault Found]

I wouldn't know yet, but the Open Day is certainly a plan GWR have in the pipeline as a farewell event to OOC! (According to Today's Railways UK April '17)

Definitely happening on 2nd September. Already being heavily planned.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Only heavy maintenance and wheel lathe shut 23rd December, as well as losing some of the sidings.

The main service shed and roads 1-6 stay until end of 2018.

We are expecting equipment transfer during December.

Second internally refurbished DSO 12161 should be in Fridays up. 12100 should also start its journey to Wolverton then.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Update: 12161 going in tonight for wed up.

 

[PHILIPE]

Facebook post this morning reports 1C99 TNT last night with 57310 and 57605.
Just wondering if any light could be thrown on this as not aware that 57310 (former lease rogue) has ever come back.

 

[spark001uk]

Facebook post this morning reports 1C99 TNT last night with 57310 and 57605.
Just wondering if any light could be thrown on this as not aware that 57310 (former lease rogue) has ever come back.

605 and 306 were outside ooc yesterday daytime.

 

[PHILIPE]

605 and 306 were outside ooc yesterday daytime.

57306 would make sense but not 310

 

[co-tr-paul]

310 being used for training today. Light engine with 605 jolly to somewhere.
12161 going back to Wolverton suprise suprise, lighting and doors.... !

 

[cactustwirly]

Facebook post this morning reports 1C99 TNT last night with 57310 and 57605.
Just wondering if any light could be thrown on this as not aware that 57310 (former lease rogue) has ever come back.

I saw it last night, and can confirm it was both '310 & '605

 

[83G/84D]

57310 running light loco west past Camborne at 1313.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Just come back from type training run. Both should be on up tonight. 306/310 should only be used for ecs/387 work London end but will turn up down here for type familiarity training, as prev posted.

 

[spark001uk]

306 off on a jaunt, just passed me LE going OOC to Eastleigh. Not sure why they routed it Hounslow, normally they go Reading/Basing way. Might be wrong but looks like it's going to fetch some rolling stock to deliver to Wembley. Should be back in time for NR duty this evening I guess

 

[PHILIPE]

GWR Journey Check reports the absence of disabled toilet facilities on 1A40 tonight.

 

[co-tr-paul]

FLEET STATUS UPDATE:

Its not since the first post that status of the fleet has been listed so this is correct to 20/4/17.

The only coach left in blue is RFMB 10232 which will go off-lease after refurbishment program.

Currently at Wolverton for internal refurb are:
SLEP 10589, 10594
RFMB (classification will change) 10217
DSO (exTSOD) 12100

Refurbished and in service:
SLEP 10596
DSO (ex TSOD) 12142, 12161

Unrefurbished:
SLEP 10532, 10534, 10563, 10584, 10590, 10601, 10612, 10616
RFMB 10219, 10225, 10232
BSO 17173, 17174, 17175

Internal configeration in SLEPs is being changed ( this weekend if we can get enough ladders/staff together ! ) from 4 double berths with 8 single berths to 6 and 6 until refurb program is complete to increase capacity and there should be an extra day coach added over bank holiday weekends during this period. patronage is increasing all the time with even the new B coach increase in seating, B coach is getting reservations too along with the normal A coach.

This will most likely be the last summer of " Veg-ex " saturday services subject to cascade from IEP.
May 27 upto and including sep 9
5P70 ECS 1015 Long Rock to St Erth
2P70 1028 St Erthy to Plymouth 1231
2B75 1335 Plymouth to Exeter 1412
2C51 1750 Exeter to Penzance 2111
Enjoy your last comfy mk3s while you can !!

57604 still needs to be repainted to complete this cycle but it should retain its traditional livery and no date yet as to when.

 

[fgwrich]

FLEET STATUS UPDATE:

Its not since the first post that status of the fleet has been listed so this is correct to 20/4/17.

The only coach left in blue is RFMB 10232 which will go off-lease after refurbishment program.

Currently at Wolverton for internal refurb are:
SLEP 10589, 10594
RFMB (classification will change) 10217
DSO (exTSOD) 12100

Refurbished and in service:
SLEP 10596
DSO (ex TSOD) 12142, 12161

Unrefurbished:
SLEP 10532, 10534, 10563, 10584, 10590, 10601, 10612, 10616
RFMB 10219, 10225, 10232
BSO 17173, 17174, 17175

Internal configeration in SLEPs is being changed ( this weekend if we can get enough ladders/staff together ! ) from 4 double berths with 8 single berths to 6 and 6 until refurb program is complete to increase capacity and there should be an extra day coach added over bank holiday weekends during this period. patronage is increasing all the time with even the new B coach increase in seating, B coach is getting reservations too along with the normal A coach.

This will most likely be the last summer of " Veg-ex " saturday services subject to cascade from IEP.
May 27 upto and including sep 9
5P70 ECS 1015 Long Rock to St Erth
2P70 1028 St Erthy to Plymouth 1231
2B75 1335 Plymouth to Exeter 1412
2C51 1750 Exeter to Penzance 2111
Enjoy your last comfy mk3s while you can !!

57604 still needs to be repainted to complete this cycle but it should retain its traditional livery and no date yet as to when.

Thanks for the update Paul. I took the Night Riviera down last Thursday and was impressed with how full it was running - 1 + 9 (5 SLEPS, 1 RFM, 1 DSO & 2 BFO). Sadly I didn't manage to get a usual nights doss on it unfortunately though - Those IC70s are feeling very tired now and the springs are starting to feel their way through. However, I did prefer them to the new one's in the DSO - 2+2 does not feel like a good layout at all for a night Sleeper train, the lighting was ok although the LED did still feel a little harsh, but perhaps still the most annoying feature was the seats themselves. High Backed makes you feel more hemmed in than the HSTs (which I like), The lack of reclining feature does feel annoying, and every time you moved in the seats, the plastic bases made an annoying creaking noise.

10232 Was sat just outside PZ station for most of the weekend, in tandem with the additional BFO, Former MK1 BG Barrier Van and 08410.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Slightly off topic question but do the current Seated coaches in their unrefurbished condition have plug sockets? I assume the refitted ones will.

 

[richw]

Slightly off topic question but do the current Seated coaches in their unrefurbished condition have plug sockets? .

No...

 

[co-tr-paul]

Further update regarding berth configuration. Will currently only apply to G coach. For now... .

Update to further update, both sets are now to go 6 and 6 as resources have been found !!

 

[spark001uk]

Slightly off topic question but do the current Seated coaches in their unrefurbished condition have plug sockets? I assume the refitted ones will.

The new ones do yes, but if you're planning on using the built-in USB ports to charge, bear in mind they are only capable of 1A output current, so basically if your device requires more than that (easiest way is look at what your device's wall charger is rated at), I would just use that instead.
(I seem to remember there was just the one socket in the pre-refurbed seated stock, opposite the disabled toilet. Someone had an extension in it one night, with a phone and an ipad hooked up to it!).

---

...Sadly I didn't manage to get a usual nights doss on it unfortunately though - Those IC70s are feeling very tired now and the springs are starting to feel their way through. However, I did prefer them to the new one's in the DSO - 2+2 does not feel like a good layout at all for a night Sleeper train, the lighting was ok although the LED did still feel a little harsh, but perhaps still the most annoying feature was the seats themselves. High Backed makes you feel more hemmed in than the HSTs (which I like), The lack of reclining feature does feel annoying, and every time you moved in the seats, the plastic bases made an annoying creaking noise.
.

I'd tend to agree with you there Rich, I've used the free bed option many times - it's sometimes hard to get off to sleep in the better condition seats! Those new airlines in the refurbs though are almost bolt upright, hardly conducive to a relaxing sleeper.
Last year I had a few days spare on my rover after I'd left the B&B, so to get a few more days hol I was getting on 1A40 from PNZ-EXD, then walking over to P4, having a little snooze in waiting room, then jumping on 1C99 when it came in and going back off for a bit on that. You should try it, it's not a wonderful night's sleep but it'll do!

 

[fgwrich]

Thanks Spark001, potentially sounds like a plan. For those who don't know what we're talking about, here are a few pictures from inside the DSO. And yes, those seats are as above, nearly upright and not fitting at all for a Sleeper service. Sadly it feels like First GWR are recreating the division between 1st and 3rd Class of the days of the old GWR on the Night Riviera.

I like the funky new buttons though, at least they look like they'll last longer than those fitted in Derby

 

[co-tr-paul]

Last blue coach RFMB 10232 has gone into set. Tonights up (Thurs). 602 on depot this week for fitter training.

 

[spark001uk]

Last blue coach RFMB 10232 has gone into set. Tonights up (Thurs). 602 on depot this week for fitter training.

Sorry for the ignorance Paul, have I missed something? Wasn't 10232 rusty beyond economic repair? Has another taken its place and assumed its number?

 

[59CosG95]

Sorry for the ignorance Paul, have I missed something? Wasn't 10232 rusty beyond economic repair? Has another taken its place and assumed its number?

AIUI, 10232 will be withdrawn once its replacement, 10217 (an ex-Virgin one) comes out of the works and refurb programme. No idea on that one's progress so far though.