Mini Pendolino Today?

irish_rail · 13 Dec 2013

Did my eyes deceive me, or did I see what looked like a 5 car Pendolino (and no it wasnt a Voyager!) heading up the WCML?!

RailUK Forums

The Planner · 13 Dec 2013

Where and when? and yes, they probably deceived you.

dk1 · 13 Dec 2013

Would make national news if that happened. They're buggers to just split.

asylumxl · 13 Dec 2013

Unlikely. Unless Alstom decided to split one in secrecy and test it. Even more unlikely.

Simon11 · 13 Dec 2013

asylumxl said:
Unlikely. Unless Alstom decided to split one in secrecy and test it. Even more unlikely.

What would be the point? What wouuld they need to test?

Geezertronic · 13 Dec 2013

Simon11 said:
What would be the point? What wouuld they need to test?

A five car formation with one pantograph and half of the kit? Extremely unlikely and most likely the OP saw a 221 from a funny angle

AndyLandy · 13 Dec 2013

I frequently see 8- and 10-car Pendolinos on the WCML. That I know really is just my eyes deceiving me! :lol:

fgwrich · 13 Dec 2013

Simon11 said:
What would be the point? What wouuld they need to test?

Unless they were testing the characteristics of a 5 car Mini Pendolino to produce data if for a potential 5 Car 'Baby Pendo?' Stranger things have happened!

asylumxl · 13 Dec 2013

Geezertronic said:
A five car formation with one pantograph and half of the kit? Extremely unlikely and most likely the OP saw a 221 from a funny angle

Also worth adding that each train needs to complete a set mileage fault free, which i would class as testing.

Modern trains have a lot to go wrong, so I'm not sure why somebody would think they don't need testing...

irish_rail · 13 Dec 2013

Well it passed Stafford at approximately 11.00 on thursday (12th dec) heading north on the down relief.

With respect to some of the above comments, I am 100 percent sure it wasnt a super voyager, as I noticed that the coupling was only half covered over (as if it had been coupled to a 57, and the hatch door not properly re-closed).

Now as a train driver, I consider myself pretty observant, and have good attention to detail, so am fairly confident of what I saw, however the fact nobody else has any idea is making me question myself a little!

EE Andy b1 · 13 Dec 2013

There are quite a few 390s running about with coupler hatches half open at the moment.
There are no short set Pendolinos running around!

asylumxl · 13 Dec 2013

irish_rail said:
Well it passed Stafford at approximately 11.00 on thursday (12th dec) heading north on the down relief.

With respect to some of the above comments, I am 100 percent sure it wasnt a super voyager, as I noticed that the coupling was only half covered over (as if it had been coupled to a 57, and the hatch door not properly re-closed).

Now as a train driver, I consider myself pretty observant, and have good attention to detail, so am fairly confident of what I saw, however the fact nobody else has any idea is making me question myself a little!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y82074/2013/12/12/advanced

Could it be this? This is timed for a 221.

Voyager 2093 · 13 Dec 2013

irish_rail said:
Well it passed Stafford at approximately 11.00 on thursday (12th dec) heading north on the down relief.

With respect to some of the above comments, I am 100 percent sure it wasnt a super voyager, as I noticed that the coupling was only half covered over (as if it had been coupled to a 57, and the hatch door not properly re-closed).

Now as a train driver, I consider myself pretty observant, and have good attention to detail, so am fairly confident of what I saw, however the fact nobody else has any idea is making me question myself a little!

I have no reason to doubt you. Strange things do happen. The other day I saw a Class 379 going past Harrow & Wealdstone and people were convinced it was a 377 I saw but it was later confirmed as a 379 on 110mph testing for the forthcoming Aventra, something which not a lot of people knew about.

western Champion · 13 Dec 2013

irish_rail said:
Well it passed Stafford at approximately 11.00 on thursday (12th dec) heading north on the down relief.

With respect to some of the above comments, I am 100 percent sure it wasnt a super voyager, as I noticed that the coupling was only half covered over (as if it had been coupled to a 57, and the hatch door not properly re-closed).

Now as a train driver, I consider myself pretty observant, and have good attention to detail, so am fairly confident of what I saw, however the fact nobody else has any idea is making me question myself a little!

Then as a train driver you should know only former Western Region calls them relief lines, up here in Stafford they're slow lines, and yes I'm a driver myself.

irish_rail · 13 Dec 2013

Well as a western region High Speed driver, I apologise for my mistake western champion!

Boothby97 · 14 Dec 2013

asylumxl said:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y82074/2013/12/12/advanced

Could it be this? This is timed for a 221.

No chance, as the lines from Barton under Needwood TRSMD (Central Rivers Voyager depot) to Lichfield Trent Valley, and from Crewe to Chester, are unelectrified.

fireftrm · 15 Dec 2013

Could it be the 221 with the new front valances as per 222?

asylumxl · 15 Dec 2013

Boothby97 said:
No chance, as the lines from Barton under Needwood TRSMD (Central Rivers Voyager depot) to Lichfield Trent Valley, and from Crewe to Chester, are unelectrified.

But if it was a 221, why would that matter?

irish_rail · 15 Dec 2013

fireftrm said:
Could it be the 221 with the new front valances as per 222?

No, ive seen the new style Voyager front, definitely a Pendo and not a 221, but perhaps I somehow miss counted the carriages, its looking increasingly like this definately wasnt a 5 car Pendolino after all!

driver_m · 15 Dec 2013

western Champion said:
Then as a train driver you should know only former Western Region calls them relief lines, up here in Stafford they're slow lines, and yes I'm a driver myself.

What can I call those lines that are next to the slows at Bletchley and in Milton Keynes if we aren't allowed to call them relief lines?

5 car pendo would be great! 1 trailer so it would be like a rocket to drive, 4 first class coaches as you'd have to use that end, sounds good.

Boothby97 · 15 Dec 2013

asylumxl said:
But if it was a 221, why would that matter?

I was saying that, that service would not be a (5 car) Class 390 (in regards to the OP's original question).

EE Andy b1 · 15 Dec 2013

driver_m said:
What can I call those lines that are next to the slows at Bletchley and in Milton Keynes if we aren't allowed to call them relief lines?

At Bletchley the lines next to the slow are Relief line 1 and Relief line 2.

Milton Keynes they are MK Reversible Fast and MK Reversible slow.

Simples !!

driver_m · 15 Dec 2013

EE Andy b1 said:
At Bletchley the lines next to the slow are Relief line 1 and Relief line 2.

Milton Keynes they are MK Reversible Fast and MK Reversible slow.

Simples !!

Exactly Andy, dodgy terminology that we now have too

Going taking cover now haha

dk1 · 15 Dec 2013

Spec savers I think

MrJamesBrown · 15 Dec 2013

irish_rail said:
No, ive seen the new style Voyager front, definitely a Pendo and not a 221, but perhaps I somehow miss counted the carriages, its looking increasingly like this definately wasnt a 5 car Pendolino after all!

Excuse my ignorance...but what has changed with the front end of the Voyagers?

voyagerdude220 · 16 Dec 2013

MrJamesBrown said:
Excuse my ignorance...but what has changed with the front end of the Voyagers?

I don't know the correct terminology for it, but the skirt area where 221s used to have their set number has been replaced with a new style object. The set number used to be low down, close to track level, but is now higher up, near the height of the cab door.

table38 · 16 Dec 2013

voyagerdude220 said:
I don't know the correct terminology for it, but the skirt area where 221s used to have their set number has been replaced with a new style object. The set number used to be low down, close to track level, but is now higher up, near the height of the cab door.

There is a picture on the North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board site.
Go to http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nw1308a.htm and scroll down to "Voyager Numbers etc."

MrJamesBrown · 16 Dec 2013

voyagerdude220 said:
I don't know the correct terminology for it, but the skirt area where 221s used to have their set number has been replaced with a new style object. The set number used to be low down, close to track level, but is now higher up, near the height of the cab door.

table38 said:
There is a picture on the North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board site.
Go to http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nw1308a.htm and scroll down to "Voyager Numbers etc."

Thanks guys

alanf · 16 Dec 2013

Did it have a pantograph? That would rule out a voyager

AndyLandy · 18 Dec 2013

alanf said:
Did it have a pantograph? That would rule out a voyager

Unless it's a secret test run of a Project Thor set!

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