Network Rail test train staff

[K.o.R]

On a typical run, how many people are there on one of these trains (e.g. the pair of 37s and four yellow coaches that just chugged noisily through Portsmouth & Southsea on 186I)?

 

[221129]

On a typical run, how many people are there on one of these trains (e.g. the pair of 37s and four yellow coaches that just chugged noisily through Portsmouth & Southsea on 186I)?

What is 186I? Makes no sense.

 

[K.o.R]

What is 186I? Makes no sense.

Don't ask me, that's what it's listed on http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H44772/2018/08/28/advanced

 

[rebmcr]

What is 186I? Makes no sense.

It's a scrambled headcode, for maintaining commercial secrecy of some routes. They appear on FOC-operated trains in the NR datafeed, as used by Realtime Trains, Open Train Times, Traksy, etc.

 

[221129]

Presumably you mean 1Q52?

 

[FOCTOC]

Pointless answer.

 

[Muenchener]

On a typical run, how many people are there on one of these trains (e.g. the pair of 37s and four yellow coaches that just chugged noisily through Portsmouth & Southsea on 186I)?

Not a fan of heritage diesel traction? They usually trundle past mine at approx 02:00 and again around 03:30 going back North. Even better when it gets checked at the signal going North. Surprisingly; you can see the clag, even on a dark night, when it gets the road again...

 

[Cowley]

Not a fan of heritage diesel traction? They usually trundle past mine at approx 02:00 and again around 03:30 going back North. Even better when it gets checked at the signal going North. Surprisingly; you can see the clag, even on a dark night, when it gets the road again...

I love it. We’ve been sleeping in our cabin in the garden recently and a couple of weeks ago I heard one of these with a 37 on turn left at Cowley Bridge Junction and head up to Barnstaple at about 10:30 pm.
I woke up at about 1:30 am to hear it joining the mainline and opening up at full throttle. I swear I could hear it thundering away in the still night for about fifteen minutes! Glorious...

The next day I was painting a house next to the railway near Lapford and I asked my (very) Welsh customer if he’d heard a noisy train in the night and he said (in his wonderful South Wales accent) “Yes I did. I thought itwas bloody avalanche at first!”

Re the original question though - I’ve often wondered too, some of the trains seem to have more staff on than others and can vary in length. I remember looking through the windows of one of the trains once and there seemed to be lots of people looking at computers inside...

 

[DarloRich]

Re the original question though - I’ve often wondered too, some of the trains seem to have more staff on than others and can vary in length. I remember looking through the windows of one of the trains once and there seemed to be lots of people looking at computers inside...

they sometimes run combined so you may get two types running together. You may get, say, the ultrasonic test train and the gauging train run as one train to save paths and kill two birds with one stone.

Imagine the sadness when the 950 unit shows up rather than 37

 

[gtis]

Hi I have a photo of a class 31 going through Swinton never seen the 37

 

[Cowley]

they sometimes run combined so you may get two types running together. You may get, say, the ultrasonic test train and the gauging train run as one train to save paths and kill two birds with one stone.

Ah right, thanks for that. I wonder which stock the staff prefer to work on? Or is it a case of them sticking to the same vehicle each time maybe?

 

[DarloRich]

Ah right, thanks for that. I wonder which stock the staff prefer to work on? Or is it a case of them sticking to the same vehicle each time maybe?

no idea. No dealings with people

 

[K.o.R]

Not a fan of heritage diesel traction?

Not at all, it's a very nice change from the various EMUs. The people in the office who aren't used to different trains weren't totally impressed though.

 

[AlterEgo]

Ah right, thanks for that. I wonder which stock the staff prefer to work on? Or is it a case of them sticking to the same vehicle each time maybe?

There are some preferences because each train has slightly different welfare facilities. The MPV for example has no toilet.

 

[Cowley]

There are some preferences because each train has slightly different welfare facilities. The MPV for example has no toilet.

Would the NMT be rather a good place to work (apart from the hours)?
I must admit that it looks like a very interesting job to be involved in.

 

[AlterEgo]

Would the NMT be rather a good place to work (apart from the hours)?
I must admit that it looks like a very interesting job to be involved in.

The NMT is a rather nice place to work, all things considered.

 

[causton]

Imagine the sadness when the 950 unit shows up rather than 37

Well I had enough fun seeing that today

 

[DarloRich]

Well I had enough fun seeing that today

Science chug! on't flyover as well

 

[Townsend Hook]

The NMT has a basic requirement of three on train technicians (OTTs), although this is to soon be reduced to two. The PLPR trains and Track Recording Unit require two. If MENTOR is recording with the PLPR1 set it will have an additional OTT. The UTU (ultrasonic) trains will have one NR OTT, plus staff from Sperry Rail. On occasions trains will be over-rostered, with, say, three OTTs where only two are required.

 

[Fincra5]

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I saw a Track Recording Train on shift at Brighton yesterday evening. Top'n'tail 73s on DC. Peering though the windows there didn't seem to be many staff on-board at all. I think I saw 2 or 3 in one coach. Plus the driver.

 

[Townsend Hook]

View media item 3298View media item 3297View media item 3296View media item 3295
I saw a Track Recording Train on shift at Brighton yesterday evening. Top'n'tail 73s on DC. Peering though the windows there didn't seem to be many staff on-board at all. I think I saw 2 or 3 in one coach. Plus the driver.

Yes, that would be typical.