Cross-City Electrification from Barnt Green to Bromsgrove

[59CosG95]

Never been on a Voyager, but when they were loco-hauled by class 45/46/47 in the 1970s/80s/90s charging at 80mph at the bottom with 10 on, they would be doing around 34mph at the top. I couldn't put my hand on 35/42/43 hauled logs but I have some double headed Warships somewhere from 1968/69. I have only been down the Lickey behind Westerns. Notable was a run from New Street to Cheltenham stop in a few seconds over 36 minutes behind 1066 Western Nobleman in 1975 with a late running train off the 25kv to Plymouth. We touched 100 mph over the River Avon at Defford.
HSTs were only a few mph faster than loco hauled despite the higher power to weight ratio.
Once, on a charter from Gloucester, a class 40 struggled to make 20mph at the top.

Even if the loco in question could still make 100mph, the difference between HSTs and LHCS south of the wires would be marginal, as the route between Cheltenham & Bromsgrove has a lot of half-barrier level crossings.

 

[deltic08]

Even if the loco in question could still make 100mph, the difference between HSTs and LHCS south of the wires would be marginal, as the route between Cheltenham & Bromsgrove has a lot of half-barrier level crossings.

My post was ambiguous re-reading it. I should have said HSTs were no more than 3 or 4 mph faster at the top of the Lickey than loco-hauled.
The run from New St to Cheltenham was in 1975, before introduction of HSTs on this route in 1981/82?, and unprecedented in running at 100mph behind a 'Western' with such a load when restricted to 90mph top speed. This was the fastest start to stop loco-hauled time I ever recorded in this direction between these two stations in thirty years of timing trains. Faster than 95mph class 47s. It was even more unusual because the Westerns were not being maintained well at this time and only used on passenger turns in the Summer as most stock by now was ETH fitted only.
To see the full log see Practice & Performance by Ossie Nock in Railway Magazine May 1975 as one of my logs published by him.

 

[thecrofter]

I ve seen the system described in Rail Engineer as boosterless classic but ATF ready - does this mean it can go faster before the solder melts

The OLE system from Barnt Green to Bromsgrove is indeed Boosterless Classic i.e. Rail Return with Return Screening Conductor (RSC). NR can no longer install a booster transformer system with Return Conductor (RC) as this does not comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations.

The ATF readiness (passive provision) is purely from a structure loading perspective in that it has been designed to accommodate the additional weight of any future ATF conductor and associated small part steelwork (SPS).

 

[jhy44]

I hadn't realized that the Sunday frequency of the XC South had been improved to 4tph as of 20 May, what a delightful surprise when arriving at New Street yesterday afternoon.

It's annoying however that rather than it being a 15 minute interval, it's alternating 10 then 20 minute gaps in service; similar to what we get of at evening.

I presume it's due to pathing reasons, but why can't paths be tweaked to give a constant 15 min service?

 

[59CosG95]

I hadn't realized that the Sunday frequency of the XC South had been improved to 4tph as of 20 May, what a delightful surprise when arriving at New Street yesterday afternoon.

It's annoying however that rather than it being a 15 minute interval, it's alternating 10 then 20 minute gaps in service; similar to what we get of at evening.

I presume it's due to pathing reasons, but why can't paths be tweaked to give a constant 15 min service?

AIUI, there will eventually be 6tph (every 10 minutes) as per weekdays, so writing a 10 minute gap/20 minute gap timetable would minimise the rewrite when the clockface 10 minute intervals finally go live.
It may also be the case that the Sunday frequency of the XC (North) won't bel able to increase until New Street is totally resignalled; when that occurs is not yet known (in concrete).

 

[The Planner]

New St re-signalling makes no difference to running 6tph on the Cross City North, it won't unlock anything either as it will be like for like.

 

[59CosG95]

New St re-signalling makes no difference to running 6tph on the Cross City North, it won't unlock anything either as it will be like for like.

Ohhh, my mistake. Can't think why the 6tph Sunday service has been staggered in this way; possibly the XC timetable?

 

[jhy44]

New St re-signalling makes no difference to running 6tph on the Cross City North, it won't unlock anything either as it will be like for like.

Ohhh, my mistake. Can't think why the 6tph Sunday service has been staggered in this way; possibly the XC timetable?

Really? I haven't heard anything about 6tph on Sundays, that would be wonderful.

As for the North, the weekday evening frequency is also only 2tph, unlike the South's 4 tph, so the new Sunday service mirrors this, it's very annoying, surely the demand would be there!

 

[Idon'tKnow]

?
As for the North, the weekday evening frequency is also only 2tph, unlike the South's 4 tph, so the new Sunday service mirrors this, it's very annoying, surely the demand would be there!

The demand is definitely there, the trains on Sunday, even with six carriages are always well loaded, I even recall the 17:0something from new street to Lichfield being full and standing until blake street. At least we get a **tiny** service improvement of the 09:33 starting from Four Oaks though.

 

[linuxlad7]

any more test runs in the offing??

 

[linuxlad7]

or driver training on
the real thing?

 

[59CosG95]

any more test runs in the offing??

or driver training on
the real thing?

It mainly appears to be route learning with 170s at the moment, WMR can't really afford to lose 323s on the Cross-City, especially as they're having to stand in while the 350/2s are in for mods at Long Marston.

 

[linuxlad7]

any more pretty pictures or even a few sparks from the licky ??

 

[Harbornite]

any more pretty pictures or even a few sparks from the licky ??

Nah. No electric test runs since the previous one.

 

[Mollman]

any more pretty pictures or even a few sparks from the licky ??

A gentleman on Flickr has a few pictures from today of the Licky but no electrics
https://www.flickr.com/photos/122957096@N08/

 

[deltic08]

A gentleman on Flickr has a few pictures from today of the Licky but no electrics
https://www.flickr.com/photos/122957096@N08/

Are those new mark V coaches in tow on the Lickey?

 

[The_Engineer]

Are those new mark V coaches in tow on the Lickey?

Yes - see the Mk.V coach thread...…..

 

[deltic08]

Yes - see the Mk.V coach thread...…..

Thank you, just read about it.

 

[linuxlad7]

does Tom Stobbs live in Bromsgrove or does he walk the dog by Real Time Trains

 

[59CosG95]

does Tom Stobbs live in Bromsgrove or does he walk the dog by Real Time Trains

I believe he lives locally, and as he works for the industry I suspect he'll be at the Incline quick as a whip if there was another 323 run down to Bromsgrove.

 

[linuxlad7]

any more news on when barnt green to Bromsgrove goes on to electric kit and timetable

 

[linuxlad7]

Ah apparently Real Time Trains is now showing some more info see post by keith on rmweb

 

[linuxlad7]

keith posts as melmerby on rmweb I think .
The post includes a side panel giving details of 323 runs from sunday 29th july on

 

[InOban]

July 29th for public service is now being reported in the media.

 

[Shrewbly]

July 29th for public service is now being reported in the media.

It looks like the 323s are scheduled to be extended to Bromsgrove on the 29th July, but with Barnt Green and Bromsgrove showing as unadvertised stops. Not sure whether this has any effect or not. From the 30th they are shown as in full public service.

 

[Class 170101]

30 July being a Monday makes sense as start date.

 

[linuxlad7]

30 July being a Monday makes sense as start date.

In the meantime it would be excellent if Tom Stobs could archive his picture at Vigo taken on the 20th may with eg the main lickey article on wikipedia - its already a piece of history - and surprisingly pretty


bob

 

[linuxlad7]

bob

bob[/QUOTE]

30 July being a Monday makes sense as start date.

In the meantime it would be excellent if Tom Stobs could archive his picture at Vigo taken on the 20th may with eg the main lickey article on wikipedia - its already a piece of history - and surprisingly pretty


bob

30 July being a Monday makes sense as start date.

But meanwhile theres rumour on Electric Railway Soc that full timetable is deferred to Chistmas...

 

[59CosG95]

But meanwhile theres rumour on Electric Railway Soc that full timetable is deferred to Chistmas...

Yes, I've heard that rumour too. Might be something to do with the New St signalling renewal.
AFAIK, only 2 of the 3tph will reach Bromsgrove, as the current diagrams don't have the flexibility to provide a robust service in the event of disruption, and the required inprovements can't take place with the 1960s-era signalling.

 

[crosscity]

Three return 323 ecs workings between New St and Bromsgrove scheduled this evening on Real-time trains.