LNER and Northern paths on the Blyth & Tyne

[omnicity4659]

Just spotted some paths for LNER and Northern ECS services on the Blyth and Tyne line and via Hepscott. Any idea what these are for?

The Northern service only appears to be for today and is a VSTP.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Bedlington Nth. L.C. all day on 25/11/2020

Train information at Bedlington Nth. L.C. all day on 25/11/2020. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

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[swt_passenger]

The GR paths are “Q paths” (runs as required) and are in for the whole timetable period, so I’d suggest they are there to allow for any short notice training, but won’t usually be activated. I recall there are similar Q paths for GR on the Durham coast?

Train IDs are 0N07 and 0N06 respectively, so I’d go with only activated if diversions on the agenda.

 

[marsker]

The Northern service is interesting though, and it has run.

 

[omnicity4659]

The Northern service is interesting though, and it has run.

Was a 158, didn't catch the number as the camera decided to have a hissy fit!

Edit: 158816 according to my brother.

 

[KJ83]

It was indeed 158816

I was out walking to dog by Backworth Level Crossing when it went past

 

[swt_passenger]

The Northern service is interesting though, and it has run.

Sure. Didn’t think we’d really want anyone going off on a whim to look for LNER light engines though...

 

[PHILIPE]

Are they Route Learning/Refreshing paths for diversions

 

[Anvil1984]

Are they Route Learning/Refreshing paths for diversions

The path for LNER are for that reason BUT the "Thunderbird" loco that used to do these has been banished from Newcastle. The Northern one (running under Very Short Term Planning) for today I don't know what that was for (and I work there) I'm guessing at some random publicity thing somewhere

 

[Eloise]

LNER ones have been in for years and years. Couple of circuits centred on Doncaster and Kings Cross too.