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West Coast Mainline

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SRF

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Hi this is my first post, I have joined the forum because the West Coast Mailine goes past the bottom of my garden in Mid Cheshire. We have lived here for a couple of years and the line has gone from being a nuisance to be tolerated to a source of constant fascination. The estate agent described the line as a seldom used branch line!!!!!! by the way.

We are used to Virgin trains flying past, not having to stop at the local station but what is intriguing us is a very high speed train which goes past during the night. This is usually in the early hours and obviously we aren't always awake when it goes past. This train is super fast smooth and relatively quiet. Can anyone identify this unit please.
 
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Eagle

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Depends exactly when.

The Caledonian Sleepers are the fastest train overnight (90-ish mph, I think), but there should be four of those passing your house every night.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Maybe the 325-operated EWS/Royal Mail trains Willesden-Warrington-Shieldmuir?
They are fast (100mph) and quiet, and can easily be mistaken for a 12-car passenger train.
 

yorkie

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The sleepers are normally restricted to 80mph, but can go faster in the event of delays.
 

33056

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Have you ever seen it?

This a 325 mail unit:

p1051850082-3.jpg


This is a Scotrail sleeper:

p358154699-3.jpg


If you don't mind saying roughly where you live and at what time you have heard the train then it should be possible to work out exactly what it is.
 

SRF

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Thanks for the replies, I have heard it several times in the early hours, but due to being half asleep I couldn't get to the window to see it. My wife was poorly last week and was awake all night. She heard it and likened it to a rocket going past. I live in Winsford and I will make a determined effort to note time and direction the next time I hear it.
 

DaveNewcastle

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. . . . I have heard it several times in the early hours,

. . . . . I will make a determined effort to note time and direction the next time I hear it.
Just hoping to avoid confusion here, the replies so far are not only asking you if 'it' might have been one or other of these services, but they are also stating that all of these services do run (almost) every night. The sleepers (two in each direction) plus the mail.

You would probably hear all of them if you remained awake!
 

33056

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Have done a bit of digging and found out the following times at Winsford:

Two Northbound Scotrail sleepers pass around midnight and just before 03:00.
Two Southbound Scotrail sleepers pass around 04:00 and 05:30
Empty Pendolino between Preston and Edge Hill between 00:45 and 01:20 (southbound) and between 03:30 and 04:00 (northbound)

Unlikely to have been a Royal Mail 325 unit as they don't run at night south of Warrington (at the moment).
 

raildude

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Scotrail Sleepers SSuX

1S25 [1S25, 1A25, 1Y11]
WINSFORD/WSF: 00:04 /PASS

1S26
WINSFORD/WSF: 02:54 /PASS

1M11, [1M11, 1C11]
WINSFORD/WSF: 04:00 /PASS

1M16 [1M16, 1B01, 1B16]
WINSFORD/WSF: 05:25 /PASS
 
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SRF

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I just happened to be awake when I heard my mystery train. I have heard it going faster but this was definitely the one. It was 3.40 am Saturday 24.12.2011 I can't say what direction it was going. I am sure it is diesel with not many carriages. Not only is it fast but very smooth and relatively quiet.
 

wintonian

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I just happened to be awake when I heard my mystery train. I have heard it going faster but this was definitely the one. It was 3.40 am Saturday 24.12.2011 I can't say what direction it was going. I am sure it is diesel with not many carriages. Not only is it fast but very smooth and relatively quiet.

Whats the nearest station?
 

wintonian

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Winsford.

So basically something that passed Crewe half an hour ago.

Well the southbound sleepers from Edinburgh and Glasgow just went past Winsford at 03:52.

The southbound from Inverness/ Aberdeen/ Fort William has just passed Oxenholme Lake District so its not that and the Northbound is currently at Edinburgh splitting up - so not that one either.

Can't find the northbound Glasgow/ Edinburgh tonight so maybe not running?

Edit: found it now, northbound Glasgow/ Edinburgh should pass Winsford at 05:26 if your still awake. :)
 
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