RHTT on Watford DC lines

[TukayAway]

Was waiting on Harrow & Wealdstone station on Monday evening (23:30ish) to find a pair of 66s rolling through. I'm guessing it's quite a rarity to get something that's not a 378 or LUL stock?

Although I'm pretty sure I've heard of a couple of tales of a HST running out of Euston via the DC lines to avoid a blockade, similarly a pair of 31s on a failed and therefore heavily delayed southbound WCML train trying to get back to Euston to avoid engineering work.

 

[yorkie]

It is quite rare yes, though there appears to be a regular path for this movement (as shown here).

I've done the DC lines on a train top'n'tailed Class 50+37. The driver was excellent, coasting most of the way but thrashing as we went through each station, which got the attention of the 'normal' passengers waiting for almost-silent (in comparison) EMUs!

 

[33056]

<snip> similarly a pair of 31s on a failed and therefore heavily delayed southbound WCML train trying to get back to Euston to avoid engineering work.

Remember that night well though not the exact date (around 1989 / 1990); the train hadn't actually failed as such but had suffered a series of problems causing it to run very late. It was the last up Glasgow and was full and standing but there was a crucial possession booked to, IIRC, lay part of the new juction at North Wembley.

Busses were not an option and if the possession was delayed it would more than likely mean an over-run the following morning so a phone call was made to Bletchley to see if they had an engine or two and a driver. This being "good old BR", the answer was yes and the locos were sent up to wait for the late runner, attached to the front, a shunt performed and off the whole shebang went up the DC to Euston; the 31s could be heard all the way round Bushey curve from Watford Junction

Postal trains have also used the DC (think it was just after Christmas 2000 when Wembley Mainline SCC was being commissioned) and there have been the odd engineers trains from time to time, think Easter 2011 was the most recent occasion

 

[Sanatogen]

Although I'm pretty sure I've heard of a couple of tales of a HST running out of Euston via the DC lines to avoid a blockade, similarly a pair of 31s on a failed and therefore heavily delayed southbound WCML train trying to get back to Euston to avoid engineering work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiRO3ZvYrFI&sns=em

[youtube]YiRO3ZvYrFI[/youtube]

 

[jopsuk]

at the Watford end is the link from the WCML to the DC lines suitable for dual voltage trains?

 

[Southern Dvr]

at the Watford end is the link from the WCML to the DC lines suitable for dual voltage trains?

Yes, as can be seen here in 2002 a short section of the Down Fast has 3rd rail at the London end.

http://tonysrailphotos.smugmug.com/Trains/2002/Travelcard-29-08-2002/i-nDTcDD6

 

[Voyager 2093]

There was another Loco running on the DC lines yesterday at around 10:50PM @ Harrow & Wealdstone Station. I couldn't see the exact Loco because I was outside the station at this point. There were also a few Pendos on the Up Slow for some reason.

 

[Freightmaster]

There was another Loco running on the DC lines yesterday at around 10:50PM @ Harrow & Wealdstone Station.

That's the usual time for the RHTT (heading north).

MARK