GWR to use Euston

[Wolfie]

Of course - brain fog.

No worries, lol...

 

[class ep-09]

They ran from Euston to Ealing Broadway on diesel power. My surprise was that the switchover did not happen whilst the train was stopped at Ealing Broadway, but a few seconds later. To be clear, the diesel was definitely powering away from Ealing Broadway, then idled for around 30 seconds before shutting down.

Not necessary the case. After electric mode is activated, diesel engines take time before dying down by going through the cooling period .
Electric mode could (and should) have been activated st Ealing Bdw but diesel engines were still running (cooling), when train pulled away but at that time train was already in electric mode.
Of course there can be a “ human factor” and driver forgot to switch to electric at stand in which case he/she could still do it as long as below 20mph.

 

[Ashley Hill]

A bit disappointed that the up sleeper had Paddington window labels. I was hoping to aquire one with Euston on.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Unlike previous diversions, not happening!

 

[Bikeman78]

Not necessary the case. After electric mode is activated, diesel engines take time before dying down by going through the cooling period .
Electric mode could (and should) have been activated st Ealing Bdw but diesel engines were still running (cooling), when train pulled away but at that time train was already in electric mode.
Of course there can be a “ human factor” and driver forgot to switch to electric at stand in which case he/she could still do it as long as below 20mph.

I am fairly familiar with IETs, having travelled on them since day one. It is easy to tell the difference between an engine idling prior to shutdown, and one working flat out. It was clearly the latter on the train in question. As you say, the engine carried on idling for a while after the train started accelerating using the OHL. The carriage juddered slightly when it shut down.

 

[class ep-09]

I am fairly familiar with IETs, having travelled on them since day one. It is easy to tell the difference between an engine idling prior to shutdown, and one working flat out. It was clearly the latter on the train in question. As you say, the engine carried on idling for a while after the train started accelerating using the OHL. The carriage juddered slightly when it shut down.

Fair enough .

 

[Wolfie]

Unlike previous diversions, not happening!

? It already has!

 

[JN114]

? It already has!

I think co-tr-Paul was referring to the production of “London Euston” window labels, for the Night Riviera

 

[Wolfie]

I think co-tr-Paul was referring to the production of “London Euston” window labels, for the Night Riviera

Ah! That makes sense. Effectively nugatory expenditure. I was confused by the post lol....

 

[Elecman]

Looks like 1Z91 today was just given the wrong route straight up the Down Fast instead of taking the route to Acton Wells as the protecting signal was green and the route was set to Wembley. The protecting signal was subsequently reverted to red and the route timed out then set for the route to Acton Wells

 

[Mike395]

Looks like 1Z91 today was just given the wrong route straight up the Down Fast instead of taking the route to Acton Wells as the protecting signal was green and the route was set to Wembley. The protecting signal was subsequently reverted to red and the route timed out then set for the route to Acton Wells

Not hugely surprised that this has happened at some point - even during the Paddington block, that line is likely set towards Wembley as the 'default', easy to miss as a signaller acting on muscle memory as it's so unusual for passenger trains to be sent that way. Looks like it was indeed reset and the correct route taken, so very much hoping there won't be much in the way of repurcussions.

 

[778]

Is it possible for trains on the WCML to be diverted into Paddington if there are engineering works at Euston?

 

[Class15]

Is it possible for trains on the WCML to be diverted into Paddington if there are engineering works at Euston?

Yes via Willesden No7 and Acton Canal Wharf but it needs a reversal at Acton Main Line. It would also need diesel traction.

 

[JonathanH]

Yes via Willesden No7 and Acton Canal Wharf but it needs a reversal at Acton Main Line.

Or more practically Ealing Broadway, Hanwell Bridge Loop or West Ealing sidings.

 

[Class15]

Or more practically Ealing Broadway, Hanwell Bridge Loop or West Ealing sidings.

Agreed. However, if there was work at Euston, it would be more practical to divert to Waterloo or Victoria (via WLL) or Liverpool Street (via Primrose Hill and NLL). Liv St would also allow AC trains the whole way.

 

[The Planner]

Is it possible for trains on the WCML to be diverted into Paddington if there are engineering works at Euston?

Yes, but it would be such a faff they would do what normally happens and terminate at Milton Keynes and bus to Bedford. They don't have enough 805s to do anything substantial.

 

[12LDA28C]

Or more practically Ealing Broadway, Hanwell Bridge Loop or West Ealing sidings.

Or as has happened in the past many times, via the Chilterns south of Birmingham (or Coventry) then via Greenford and West Ealing.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Or as has happened in the past many times, via the Chilterns south of Birmingham (or Coventry) then via Greenford and West Ealing.

Historically they have used Kensington Olympia via the WLL (then unelectrified, today needs both AC and DC).
There is also the unused but electrified single-track route into St Pancras via the NLL.
There's now Bletchley-Paddington via Oxford, and maybe Bletchley-Marylebone via Calvert and Aylesbury if the link is ever restored after HS2 works.

 

[12LDA28C]

Historically they have used Kensington Olympia via the WLL (then unelectrified, today needs both AC and DC).
There is also the unused but electrified single-track route into St Pancras via the NLL.
There's now Bletchley-Paddington via Oxford, and maybe Bletchley-Marylebone via Calvert and Aylesbury if the link is ever restored after HS2 works.

Indeed, the link should be restored within the next few years.

 

[Steve Harris]

Historically they have used Kensington Olympia via the WLL (then unelectrified, today needs both AC and DC).
There is also the unused but electrified single-track route into St Pancras via the NLL.
There's now Bletchley-Paddington via Oxford, and maybe Bletchley-Marylebone via Calvert and Aylesbury if the link is ever restored after HS2 works.

Isn't that route into St Pancras International (ie Eurostar platforms) rather than the domestic side of St Pancras ?

If i am correct somehow I can't see that route being used due to all the extra faff with passport control / extra security etc.

I'm also unsure if it's actually passed for passenger use !? As I know that the line from the Eurostar platforms to the NLL - ECML had to have special arrangements made when the Eurostars got dragged that way for scrapping as that line was down as Out of Use (something to do with signalling IIRC).

 

[cav1975]

Used the GWR Euston - Swindon & back service yesterday (Saturday 28th December). I didn't undrstand why they ran the diesel gen sets for the whole of the quite long layover periods at Euston rather than raising the pantographs to power the "hotel" loads electrically.

The trains stopped at Ealing Broadway with just the leading vehicle in th eplatform to "change crew" and again at Reading which seemed to be an unadvertised passenger stop while the catering crew was changed.

 

[class ep-09]

Ealing Bdw stop ( both ways) is to allow for the (GBRf) conducting driver to get on and off the trains as GWR drivers do not sign Euston.

 

[Western 52]

Yesterday I was on a Carmarthen to Euston service as far as Cardiff. The auto announcer and displays were giving Ealing Broadway as a passenger stop.

 

[800301]

Yesterday I was on a Carmarthen to Euston service as far as Cardiff. The auto announcer and displays were giving Ealing Broadway as a passenger stop.

The stop has to be manually removed by the TM, it’s not a passenger stop

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Well it seems GWR going to all this trouble was worth it at least. According to someone I know who took a service - totally unknowingly at first - to get to London from near Swindon, the service and Euston was absolutely packed. It’d have been annoying if they were empty.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Definitely no shortage of passengers. A military operation to empty and refill a full-length 9. Car from Wales when I went out on diversion. Bashing duties on Friday.
Such a pity. The sleeper sold out way way in advance, this would have been a far more civilised method of doing it. But nevertheless, I enjoyed myself or at least as much as one can enjoy one's self on a pact 9 car IET with the usual crop of collapsed seats. Compensations in the form of a lovely run in a 387 back to Hayes and harlington and delicious pub lunch in great company after

 

[Ken X]

As somebody who is returning to the railways after many years.
(The last long distance train I used had a Restaurant car we wandered down to.)
We had to visit the outlaws in Cardiff from Horsham on Sunday29th.

I duely popped in to the ticket office and worked out the Victoria/Euston shuffle.

To be fair to the TOCs it was a very easy journey. Everything worked as advertised. The train at Euston was announced in plenty of time, There were four bods checking tickets and railcards but no queues. Took a minute or two to work out the seat reservation system but lots of green lights so all good. The crew swap at Reading was explained well and off we went.

The return journey was equally seamless so we had a great day exploring the world of modern train travel. It's changed a bit since the last time.

If future journeys are like this I can forsee a return to the railways for travel.

As an aside, we've never seen a coffee bag before.

 

[irish_rail]

As somebody who is returning to the railways after many years.
(The last long distance train I used had a Restaurant car we wandered down to.)
We had to visit the outlaws in Cardiff from Horsham on Sunday29th.

I duely popped in to the ticket office and worked out the Victoria/Euston shuffle.

To be fair to the TOCs it was a very easy journey. Everything worked as advertised. The train at Euston was announced in plenty of time, There were four bods checking tickets and railcards but no queues. Took a minute or two to work out the seat reservation system but lots of green lights so all good. The crew swap at Reading was explained well and off we went.

The return journey was equally seamless so we had a great day exploring the world of modern train travel. It's changed a bit since the last time.

If future journeys are like this I can forsee a return to the railways for travel.

As an aside, we've never seen a coffee bag before.

Sadly my neighbours had the opposite experience travelling from Euston on the 27th. Quite level headedly they have told me they will drive in future for their annual Plymouth to London christmas stay. I wonder how much business will be lost to the railway due to the descion to disrupt the Western for many years to come just to build OOC. For the record their main complaints were the train was cancelled and they had to wait 2 hours at Euston, oh , and as an elderly couple they can no longer cope with the uncomfortable seating on the GWR IETs. All such a shame, and potential income lost to the railway coffers. One has to question why it is acceptable to disrupt the Western for next 5 years minimum, when a main selling point for HS2 was not disrupting the WCML for a long period......

 

[The Planner]

Sadly my neighbours had the opposite experience travelling from Euston on the 27th. Quite level headedly they have told me they will drive in future for their annual Plymouth to London christmas stay. I wonder how much business will be lost to the railway due to the descion to disrupt the Western for many years to come just to build OOC. For the record their main complaints were the train was cancelled and they had to wait 2 hours at Euston, oh , and as an elderly couple they can no longer cope with the uncomfortable seating on the GWR IETs. All such a shame, and potential income lost to the railway coffers. One has to question why it is acceptable to disrupt the Western for next 5 years minimum, when a main selling point for HS2 was not disrupting the WCML for a long period......

We have done this before, the WCML has had plenty of disruption af Euston and will have plenty more when Handsacre is built. Im not sure what the engineering block has to do with them not liking IET seats or a train being cancelled. The seats are the seats and trains are cancelled every day.

 

[irish_rail]

We have done this before, the WCML has had plenty of disruption af Euston and will have plenty more when Handsacre is built. Im not sure what the engineering block has to do with them not liking IET seats or a train being cancelled. The seats are the seats and trains are cancelled every day.

I'm making the point that all the pain being lumped on GWR passengers at present , whether it be the seating, or now the addition of a railway that will be barely usable during holiday periods, is going to lead to lost custom and disruption for very little benefit (to those from south Wales and the south west).