Grand Central Discussion

[martyn29]

whats happened/happening to 43065 can someone let me know? thanks

 

[BOSCH]

whats happened/happening to 43065 can someone let me know? thanks

43065 stands in the far sidings at Newark NG,the gearbox on bogie 2 basically died a death on the approach to newark causing the wheels to lock and damage the "tyres",earlier reports of an RAF Chinook helicopter lifting 43065 to Bombardier Crewe have proved unfounded !

 

[martyn29]

thanks!

 

[Techniquest]

Well, I said I'd check what the biggest delay ever was, so here it is:

Ta to Issue 79 of One Two Five for the gen:

The biggest delay known to a HST service (and I'd imagine any passenger train in the UK) is reported to have affected 1V50 0640 Dundee to Penzance Virgin Cross-Country service on April 9th, 1998. Flooding affected many areas of the Midlands meant 1V50 took any route open to it at the time, with it eventually ending up in Plymouth (having gone into Paddington at one stage!). The train was terminated there 815 minutes late.

 

[1D53]

Wonder how many Crosscountry crews sign Paddington!

 

[Techniquest]

This was ten years ago now, and there were some XC services to/from Paddington pre-Operation Princess IIRC. So I doubt it was many and I daresay there was some bending of rules!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Still at Newark this morning, but it has been moved to the south end of the sidings! 43123 made its debut yesterday, and was still running when we passed it this morning!

 

[class 313]

RAF Chinook helicopter lifting 43065 to Bombardier Crewe have proved unfounded !

Aren't all of ours in Iraq

 

[Danny Dire]

Good stuff.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

43123 made its debut yesterday, and was still running when we passed it this morning!

Could that have been the mystery loco between Heaton and Newcastle about 17:10hrs on Fri ? It was surrounded by so much clag that I really couln't see what it was at all! (Thought it was steam at first. People just stopped and looked at each other in bewilderment as the sky went dark!)

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

sounds about right. The 1730 was 20 late away from Sunderland due to the PC swap.

 

[yorkie]

1650 got delayed today and overtaken by various trains - wonder what happened.

Anyway wifi is fitted but NOT working yet. m8internet appears to have disappeared recently but I hope he can introduce me to wifi soon and help me connect to it :grin:

Anyone got any 'gen' as to his whereabouts? He's not posted for nearly 2 months!

The staff on GC are all very friendly, so if anyone hasn't tried it yet, I really suggest you do!

 

[Jordy]

Vandalism at Seaton Carew today apparently, 1A62 SUN - KGX 108 down at Eaglescliffe!

 

[mealybar]

I traveled the opposite way on GC today and hit Billingham around 5 late and made it into Hartlepool about 25 late. The 12.30 ex Sun was waiting just outside Billingham (this being about 2.30!) followed by 2 Northern 142's - and they only run every hour or so!!

Crew came over the speakers to let us know they were using emergency proceedures as per the signalling, and indeed I spotted a little orange man with a red and a yellow flag =D

My trip down on Sunday was put 20 late by signaling problems (also told it could have been points failure) around Hartlepool-Greatham, what is it with this section?!

 

[Metroland]

That'll be the thieving gits of Hartlepool, apparently 3 cable thefts in as many days. My house got done over twice when I lived there.

 

[theblackwatch]

Having done the GC earlier today, I have to say what a dump Hartlepool appeared to be (apologies to any residents). I have never seen so much litter and rubbish strewn alongside the track as there was on the approach to there.

08.04 ex KX made it to Hartlepool around 15 mins late, having had a pilotman further south due to the cable thefts, which the guard commented were the second day running. 17.30 ex Sunderland was around 15 late by York, I assume our staggering was also due to the cable thefts, then there was pathing further south.

Did ask the guard on the return journey if he was one of the posters on here but he denied it!! Said one of you had been on earlier today tho. (Also said he intended coming to see what was written, but reckoned he'd been given the wrong web address!) Nice to see freindly staff.

 

[mealybar]

On the south side of Hartlepool before Seaton there's a lot of mess and litter but it looks as if it gets blown over from the waste/recycling facilities around that area. Today on our crawl in to town I saw 4 or 5 people tidying the section up, don't know if that's the council or who - they had recently compained about it in the local rag with the 'impression that visitors will get' when the tall ships race comes to town next year (I think).

Regarding the friendliness of staff; I must agree apart from Sunday on the 9.30 when one female member of staff made distictly degrading comments about the passengers waiting to board as the service entered the station - she shouted it to us while leaning from one of the open windows. The same member of staff on the same service when a passenger asked about the cold coach C said something not far from "what do you expect on these old worn out carrages, move to the next coach if your cold". Perhaps she was having a bad one, every other time I've used GC I've had a pleasant experience.

Are GC training more staff for the 4th service? A woman in plain clothes (obviously new to it) sold me my ticket today while overseen by a regular?

 

[parker]

Having done the GC earlier today, I have to say what a dump Hartlepool appeared to be (apologies to any residents). I have never seen so much litter and rubbish strewn alongside the track as there was on the approach to there.

08.04 ex KX made it to Hartlepool around 15 mins late, having had a pilotman further south due to the cable thefts, which the guard commented were the second day running. 17.30 ex Sunderland was around 15 late by York, I assume our staggering was also due to the cable thefts, then there was pathing further south.

Did ask the guard on the return journey if he was one of the posters on here but he denied it!! Said one of you had been on earlier today tho. (Also said he intended coming to see what was written, but reckoned he'd been given the wrong web address!) Nice to see freindly staff.

Did you travel from kSX to SUN...I was your driver

 

[theblackwatch]

Did you travel from kSX to SUN...I was your driver

I travelled from York (dep 10.14) on this service - sorry didn't notice the driver, I'd better look out next time. I think one of the other staff took you a drink from the buffet at Hartlepool? Did spot the return (12.30 ex Sunderland) was a lady driver, photgraphed it at St Peter's on the delayed ECS back from Pelaw.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

That was the twin driving the ECS for the 1230. Boy was that a long day!! we didnt get back to Sunderland until 2155! And yes we got moaned at for being late out of KGX! At least we didnt take the easy way out and cancel, we are taking you home!

 

[theblackwatch]

That was the twin driving the ECS for the 1230. Boy was that a long day!! we didnt get back to Sunderland until 2155! And yes we got moaned at for being late out of KGX! At least we didnt take the easy way out and cancel, we are taking you home!

What time did the 12.30 finally get to KX? When I alighted from the 17.30 at York I saw it wasn't expected until 20.00, although I knew it was late as I'd heard one of the staff on mine say it was 71 down.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

1750! got the off from KGX at 1800, nice quick turn round! We did follow the 1750 KGX-LDS to Donny, they went out late due to the NX Hull service being caped!

 

[parker]

I travelled from York (dep 10.14) on this service - sorry didn't notice the driver, I'd better look out next time. I think one of the other staff took you a drink from the buffet at Hartlepool? Did spot the return (12.30 ex Sunderland) was a lady driver, photgraphed it at St Peter's on the delayed ECS back from Pelaw.

Yes that was my senior conductor bringing a cuppa for the pilotman....we like to look after our railway colleagues.....

 

[theblackwatch]

Yes that was my senior conductor bringing a cuppa for the pilotman....we like to look after our railway colleagues.....

Didn't he take one for you as well!?

 

[voyagerdude220]

"what do you expect on these old worn out carrages, move to the next coach if your cold". Perhaps she was having a bad one, every other time I've used GC I've had a pleasant experience.

There are no excuses what so ever IMO, for this kind of behaviour on the railway, or indeed any customer service based job what so ever, and these people who are the small minority let the vast majority of hard working staff down.

 

[schmoo_smith]

i totally agree voyagerdude, on the times i have travelled on gc i had sometimes thought that certain members of the train crew are a little smug about their jobs.

 

[87015]

i totally agree voyagerdude, on the times i have travelled on gc i had sometimes thought that certain members of the train crew are a little smug about their jobs.

Hardly unique to GC is it :roll:

 

[martyn29]

I see the GC timings for the 0957 arrival at York has changed to 1027, does anyone know the other timings for the GC calling at York on saturday?

 

[parker]

Didn't he take one for you as well!?

No I did not ask for one as I was okay with my water....only so much coffee that my system can take...and the onboard crew had looked after me well that day!

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

0646 ex Sunderland Failed at Grantham. Reports that 080 shut down in sympathy with 084 which was dead up front. Pax forward on NX service from Grantham. Im on the 1230/1650 today (again!), with R1 which when I left it on wed has both PCs running!