Questions about the 3 Colas Rail New Measurement Train Working Time Table allocations at Skipton that have been added recently

Hi all,
I noticed recently that Working Timetables for the Colas Rail New Measurement Train to go through Skipton on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday have been created
Monday - https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c=C06513&d=08/04/2024
Wednesday - https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c=H11584&d=10/04/2024
Sunday - https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c=H03265&d=14/04/2024

This seems - weird, to be honest
I guess what I want to know is if/when these are most likely to run, and also why these Working Timetables all seem disjointed - I'd expect that there would be one for going out and one for going back to the depot, but there doesn't seem to be

Also it appears that it's testing and maintenance time on this line (Leeds to Carlisle I think), since there's a lot of track machines scheduled, and an Ultrasonic Testing Unit train passed through last night

EDIT: Oops, just noticed this was moved - sorry for putting this in the wrong section!

EDIT 2: I hope I've fixed all the issues that I've been requested to fix by one of the site admins

Welcome to the forum.

I'm not sure what the problem is, and I see no reason why they won't run.

These are snippets of a lengthy journey, and obviously not consecutive.
For example, the Wednesday train finishes at Skipton (via Bradford) but almost immediately heads off to York via Ilkley. Incidentally, that one will have to be rerouted via Apperley Jn.

30907 said:

Welcome to the forum.

I'm not sure what the problem is, and I see no reason why they won't run.

Click to expand...

The link shows them as 'Q' paths and 'run as required'

Paging @Freightmaster

It isn't the Colas measurement train. It is a Network Rail Train driven by Colas.

DarloRich said:

Paging @Freightmaster

It isn't the Colas measurement train. It is a Network Rail Train driven by Colas.

Click to expand...

I know, the fact it's Network Rail is one of the sole reasons I want to see it. I just say Colas because as you say it is driven by Colas. At the end of the day they're the ones that will be moving it through Skipton.

ComUtoR said:

The link shows them as 'Q' paths and 'run as required'

Click to expand...

Yeah this is what my issue mostly is. Is there a chance that it'll run soon because in general there appears to be a lot of maintanence activity on this line right now? Personally I find it kind of annoying it isn't an Short Term Plan like the Ultrasonic Testing Unit was, but I guess this is just how Colas/Network Rail have scheduled it.

The reason I want to know is because I'm a train photographer and as such want to take pictures of it, and to do that I do need to be physically there when it goes through.

DarloRich said:

Paging @Freightmaster

Click to expand...

You rang?


Further info on the three workings linked to:

- 1Q13 on Monday 08/04/24 is diagrammed to run on that date (NMT)
- 1Q85 on 10/04 is not booked to run
- 1Q17 on Sunday 14/04/24 is diagrammed to run on that date (NMT)

I'd expect that there would be one for going out and one for going back to the depot, but there doesn't seem to be

Click to expand...

Test train diagrams are a *lot* more complicated than that!





MARK

Freightmaster said:

You rang?


Further info on the three workings linked to:

- 1Q13 on Monday 08/04/24 is diagrammed to run on that date (NMT)
- 1Q85 on 10/04 is not booked to run
- 1Q17 on Sunday 14/04/24 is diagrammed to run on that date (NMT)



Test train diagrams are a *lot* more complicated than that!





MARK

Click to expand...

Oh? That's really interesting - How can you find out whether they're booked to run or not?

I also only just noticed that 1Q85 is also set as a Diesel Loco at 75mph, not a HST, I don't know how I missed that before but that's also weird - Is that how you know it's not supposed to run?

skye said:

Oh? That's really interesting - How can you find out whether they're booked to run or not?

Click to expand...

Test trains run to fairly regular patterns, although there's always last minute changes to get bits of recording missed off previous shifts.

skye said:

I also only just noticed that 1Q85 is also set as a Diesel Loco at 75mph, not a HST, I don't know how I missed that before but that's also weird - Is that how you know it's not supposed to run?

Click to expand...

This just means it's a different set of test train carriages from the NMT - there's things like rail profile measuring and overhead line testing done alongside the NMT.

zwk500 said:

Test trains run to fairly regular patterns, although there's always last minute changes to get bits of recording missed off previous shifts.

This just means it's a different set of test train carriages from the NMT - there's things like rail profile measuring and overhead line testing done alongside the NMT.

Click to expand...

On the first thing - ahh that would make sense

And also, on the second thing, I genuinely had no idea. Thanks for letting me know

skye said:

Oh? That's really interesting - How can you find out whether they're booked to run or not?

Click to expand...

On the day? Wait for them to be activated and/or set off from their point of origin.

In advance? Within a few days of the train being booked to run, if it is still shown
on RTT as not being "cancelled from WTT today" then it will most likely run.

Further in advance? I post full diagrams for all test trains booked to run the following
month on my forum around the 21st of each month, showing expected motive power,
type of train, etc. I also keep the list updated regular during each the month with details
of one off STP moves.



MARK

Freightmaster said:

On the day? Wait for them to be activated and/or set off from their point of origin.

In advance? Within a few days of the train being booked to run, if it is still shown
on RTT as not being "cancelled from WTT today" then it will most likely run.

Further in advance? I post full diagrams for all test trains booked to run the following
month on my forum around the 21st of each month, showing expected motive power,
type of train, etc. I also keep the list updated regular during each the month with details
of one off STP moves.



MARK

Click to expand...

Ohhh interesting, thank you for that - the forum you mention is the paid for one right? If so I looked at it briefly but I don't have the money, so I'll have to make do with simply checking every so often.
Thank you for the tips though, they're very helpful!