NI Thumpers

An optimist?

 

Today produced quite a bit more than expected. In total, 5 450 class were in service. A record in recent weeks with the amount of failures.

At 17:30hrs all 450s were as follows -

451 - Withdrawn
452 - Stopped
453 - Stopped
454 - 1648 GVS/Carrick
455 - 1725 Gvs/Larne
456 - 1706 Gvs/Larne
457 - 1642 Central/Larne
458 - York Road serviceable
459 - 1717 Central/Whitehead

Quite a good day out.

http://chrisplayfair.smugmug.com/Travel/November-2011/19897485_65jkHn#1579024461_V4T8GxW

Photos above

 

Off over tomorrow, so will be out there on tuesday, so hopefully will get 57 & 58.

 

The Portrush branch Link (Mon/Fri) 0630 - 1800 has now resumed to being worked by a 450 Class

 

455 to be precise.

It would seem the new plastic rubbish is unreliable (only 2 sets in service at a time) and the expected demise of the 450s is not so imminent.

It was certainly surprising to see 456 return to service having had its serious engine problem fixed

 

453 has now also returned to service today working the 1642 to Larne. Reports of 4003 (plastic rubbish) has had an engine failure already causing it to be replaced

 

The MRSI have now publically announced their intention to run a 450 farewell tour in February 2012. The date has NOT been confirmed yet but it will be a Saturday. It is hoped that the timings will enable the tour to be covered with a day trip from GB to Belfast but at this stage this is NOT confirmed. Details will be posted as soon as known

 

Last flights back to GB from NI on a Saturday evening are a lot earlier than during the week.

 

Not a good day for 450s. Only 5 available and one of those failed. 455 was in service on the Portrush branch. The Larne line this evening looked like this:

1612 ex Central 4002
1642 ex Central 453
1648 ex GVS 459
1706 ex GVS 456
1718 ex Central 3018
1725 ex GV cancelled
1743 ex Central 4001

458 worked 1600 ex Carrick but was failed at Central with an oil leak 453 rostered for the 1725 diverted to work the 1642 with the 1725 and return 1821 cancelled
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Largely true unfortunately but there is a 2100 Belfast International to Liverpool Easyjet that might suit some people

 

Or simply have a night on the **** in the crown and sample the belfast ale's and whatever else you come across. Plenty of flights home on the sunday

 

I'm currently planning to use the Belfast > Birkenhead ferry overnight in both directions.

 

I find the Wetherspoons beside the BBC better

 

First flights out on Sundays tend to be later in the day than the rest of the week. I've got a disapproving wife to contend with, so using the boat and being able to get on the 08:22 TPE off Liverpool Lime Street on Sunday morning will be better than getting a flight to LBA in the early afternoon. More miles in the log as well (admittedly on a 185 ) It probably won't be any more expensive as train to/from Hamilton Square + two nights on the boat will be about the same as bus to/from LBA, + two flights, + one/two nights' accomodation. A lot less dicey should anything run late as well.

Should be time for some beers somewhere before the boat though I would think. Lavery's maybe (bear in mind that I last lived in Belfast in 1993 and things may have changed a little since then.......).

 

Or you could get your required CAFs in (runs for cover!)

With a bit of luck there will still be at least one 450 in normal service on the Larne line in February. As the ferry is not until 2230 at least one round trip to Larne would hopefully be available

 

Do you reckon this will apply on a Saturday?

 

All being well yes. It may change by then but currently the new plastic is only allowed out with a fitter and/or CAF representative on board and they only work Monday to Friday. Saturdays are unpredictable for 450s and we will have to see on the day what is out

 

Would be nice. Have you any idea what the approx start and finish times for the tour might be?

 

Yes but will send via PM as they are NOT confirmed and I won't publicise what is so far just a proposal

 

458 replaced 455 on the Portrush branch

http://chrisplayfair.smugmug.com/Travel/November-2011/19897485_65jkHn#1599479473_bzcCpRH

 

This evening:

453 1706 GVS-Larne Harbour

454 spare YR Depot

455 1725 GVS-Larne Town

456 1734 Carrickfergus-Belfast Central

457 1743 Larne Town-Belfast Central

458 Portrush branch

459 1718 Belfast Central-Whitehead

4001 1743 Belfast Central-Larne Town

4003 1715 Larne Town-Belfast Central

 

Made it for a probable last run on a 450 from Larne on Tuesday.
Was aiming for a 450 from Central to Carrick as well, but missed it by about 3 minutes- I was much fitter when I last lived back home, so misjudged the time it took to walk from where I was staying (near Sandy Row) to Central!
(my geography on the wrong side of the Lagan is not brilliant anyway!)

 

This evening's activity. Posted on behalf of ITS:

1642 Central-Larne Town 459
1648 GVS-Carrick 453
1706 GVS-Larne Harbour 456
1718 Central-Whitehead 455
1725 GVS-Larne Town 454

458 Portrush branch and 457 spare in depot

 

and the photographic evidence to the above post along with the sandite formed of 90 & 94

http://chrisplayfair.smugmug.com/Travel/November-2011/19897485_65jkHn#1606871020_MM4RgTt

 

The MRSI have confirmed the date of their 450 railtour as Saturday 18.02.2012 Full details should be available in around a week.

Meanwhile 452 has been permanetly withdrawn. The Larne line this evening:

1612 Central-Larne Town 457
1648 GVS-Carrick 455
1642 Central-Larne Town 453
1706 GVS-Larne H 459
1718 Central-Whitehead 3006
1725 GVS-Larne Town 456
1743 Central-Larne Town 4002

457 was out because 4003 failed with 2 of 3 engines dead

458 still on Portrush branch

 

so far today - 89-763-733 reports

4002 1142 to larne
4003 1212 to carrick
4006 1242 to larne

459 is now working the Portrush branch diagram

 

Details and a booking form for the railtour (18.02.2012) are attached to this message. To update ITS There were four of THOSE THINGS out on the Larne line this evening as 4001 did 1600 Carrick-Central etc, It then got better though:

453 1648 GVS-Carrick
456 1706 GVS-Larne Harbour
455 1725 GVS-Larne Town

 

Is the sandite finished yet? If it has, is that the end for the 80's?

 

The sandite is still running overnight at present (daytime finished on the 2nd) Sandite will run for the last time this year on the night of 16/17 December. There is some talk of a 450 being converted for sandite operation but the 80 may be retained for next year.

More bad news: those THINGS are now cleared for weekend operation (no longer need traveling fitter who only works Mon-Fri) and this afternoon's Larne line sets were 4001 4002 453 455 458

453 was literally HELLFIRE, flames shooting out of the exhaust leaving Jordanstown

 

To update that post there-

The sandite has now finished this year. Next year's traction is unconfrimed yet but reported to be an 80 class (if it works)

 

Booking form attached here in alternative format (.doc)

Please address inquiries to Ken via the contact details on the form. I am promoting the tour at the request of the MRSI on their behalf but am not responsible for its operation or administration