GWR Cornish Night Riviera Sleeper and GWR Class 57 updates from Long Rock

[spark001uk]

Let me rephrase the question. If 1C99 ends up in Penzance back to front, it then goes back up to Pad back to front, then before it goes back down to Penz the next night the stock is turned (so that the seated coaches are returned to the country end) - question being where does it get turned? My guess is the empties leave Pad in the morning and use the Q path to Reading TC via Park Royal - Bicester - Oxford.

 

[bnm]

Surely the West Ealing triangle is more appropriate.

 

[83G/84D]

57605 was feeling a little unwell this morning after arriving at Penzance on the down sleepers. Driver reported low amps, hopefully Long Rock depot can work their magic on it and get it back to full health for the up working tonight.

Think they have had enough headaches for one week...

 

[ainsworth74]

Could anyone comment how far through the refurbishment programme now is? Are all the buffets done yet? How many sleeper vehicles remaining?

 

[berneyarms]

Could anyone comment how far through the refurbishment programme now is? Are all the buffets done yet? How many sleeper vehicles remaining?

Read from post #904 onwards...

There’s a full list there and there’s been a few updates since.

 

[spark001uk]

Odd query I know, but have the seated coaches retained that little jingle at the beginning of the pa announcements? Or has that been ripped out and changed as well?

 

[CC 72100]

Odd query I know, but have the seated coaches retained that little jingle at the beginning of the pa announcements? Or has that been ripped out and changed as well?

I've always wanted that jingle as my text tone on my phone.. have to make do with SNCF announcement tone in the meantime

 

[co-tr-paul]

That jingle still works.

 

[spark001uk]

I've always wanted that jingle as my text tone on my phone.. have to make do with SNCF announcement tone in the meantime

Here you go mate, just for you!
(on hol now so it's the best I could knock up on phone)
You may have to convert it if your device doesn't support m4a format.

 

[CC 72100]

Here you go mate, just for you!
(on hol now so it's the best I could knock up on phone)
You may have to convert it if your device doesn't support m4a format.

Excellent - works a treat, thanks

 

[spark001uk]

Surely these lights can be turned down in seated coaches, can't they?

 

[co-tr-paul]

Regarding lights, see previous posts but train should be prepped with them on dim. Ask train manager if a problem.

 

[spark001uk]

Having said that, I was on 1c99 last night and the lights in A were dim, ie just the centre strip, and at some point during the night that got turned off all bar a few at one end, in fact completely out at one point I think.
Also i like the pz tmd emblem, very nice! Spotted it on the side of 605.

 

[spark001uk]

Are you finally going to get your veg today Paul? Hopefully the driver will be available today. Tintagel was a bit jerky on 1c99 towards pnz but I think that could've been low adhesion, drizzly this morn.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Doesn't look like it, 2 cars to vac following 6 weeks worth of sand, grass, hair bands, pasty crumbs, etc, etc........ ! Working next week but as its the finale, may arrange for the return trip.

 

[spark001uk]

Ah ok. She's quite busy today, only just got a seat in the old lounge car.

Edit: Stuck at Bodmin at the moment, dragging brakes on one of the coaches. Smoky!
Control has decided on running non stop to Plymouth and terminate.

 

[co-tr-paul]

"Something always happens when you're off..... !" Said my old DM when I'm not in ! Return cancelled too. A coach I guess.

 

[spark001uk]

No it was C this time funny enough, you could see the smoke billowing off them after we stopped at bod. Typically though we braked several times subsequently and no smoke at all.

 

[83G/84D]

2E75 the up "vegex" (1026 St Erth - Exeter St David's) arrives at Par today with problems evident:-

 

[co-tr-paul]

I should ask, if brakes were known to be smoking b4 Par, why did it still continue to at least Bodmin ? Should have stopped when problem noticed ??
Have been on train in similar situation before.

 

[83G/84D]

Driver examined train at Par and elected to carry on.

 

[HSTEd]

I took the sleeper down to St Erth on Thursday night, and noticed that the train appeared to only be load 7, as I recall the train previously ran as the longest formation that could fit in the platforms.

Has the refurbishment programme reduced the number of vehicles available?
(It seems to have done since it seems to have sold out drastically far in advance)

Also the choice of standard class seats in the seating vehicles seems somewhat odd.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Normal load is 7 with 8 on Fri down/sun up. When refurb is complete, all trips will increase by 1 slep. Set already has coaches "not platformed" at various stations.
Seat design is unfortunately not ideal as discussed much earlier in thread but an increase in capacity was needed in this portion too. I was asked to put in 2 written reports for refurb requirements but we weren't listened to..... .
Yes, demand is still growing and already overtaking the extra capacity generated by the extra coach. More mk3 slep vehicles will be available when the Scotrail plans are done and these will need work too but we should have had a new train too in many peoples opinion.
See next long term franchise requirements when published in 202x for new stock and traction.......can't say any more - yet.

 

[spark001uk]

I did the 1A40/1C99 combo last fri night (and the fri before). Although the seats aren't ideal, I did manage to get some sleep, but it involved taking shoes off and using a pair of seats. 1C99 was considerably the busier. Harder to find a seat, and bodies sprawled all over the place - in vestibules, on gangway floor, stretched across the gangway over 4 seats, even under the seats !! Good fun now and again though.

 

[co-tr-paul]

The seats are always busier on a friday let alone during the late august peak !

 

[spark001uk]

I see the beds went up lastnight, I take it Laira sorted the brakes out on buffet?

 

[JN114]

I see the beds went up lastnight, I take it Laira sorted the brakes out on buffet?

Long Rock did, Laira wouldn’t touch it.

 

[spark001uk]

Was it just C coach in the end? Certainly looked it from where I was sat.

 

[JN114]

Was it just C coach in the end? Certainly looked it from where I was sat.

Yeah it was only the leading (at the time) bogie that had issues.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Big change to the NR from tonight :
Position of chocolate has had to be changed from on bed to on sink lid.
Somebody tried eating the soap.
Genuine.