Season 2, Episode 17: Rotherham or bust (air date October 25, 2018) - part II
This episode started back at the lower end of page 4 with me venturing north to Sheffield with three objectives in mind:
- Take some pictures of the Yorkshire RHTT which is hauled by DRS Class 20s
- Ride the Supertram tram-train on its first day of revenue service to Rotherham
- Try to catch a glimpse of 315850 in CF Booths - one of two of the class needed for sight
In part one the first item had been struck off the list despite the best efforts of Freightliner and a rake of cement tanks, and although there were plenty of units around the winner count stood at a big fat zero. So as its a new day and I've spent some time since consuming a couple of pints of Amber liquid in a convivial atmosphere, the story resumes.
222022 awaits a departure to London on Platform 5 - just after the Choppers had vacated the furthest of the two centre roads.
No sooner had the last whilsting sounds of the departing Choppers receded into the tunnel at the north of Sheffield station, myself and several other enthusiasts headed up the steps to the Supertram stop - obviously there were others with the same idea. During the five minute wait the platform became quite busy, with a number of people studying the Tram-train information on the noticeboard. Clearly the launch of services to Rotherham was creating interest not just from rail fans, but also from the general public. Conventional Duewag vehicle 121 arrived after about five minutes and although it was busy most passengers found a seat. Ticket sales onboard were brisk as there are no machines on the network. As an introductory offer Stagecoach are allowing the £4.00 Dayrider to be used on the tram-train to Rotherham as well as on the standard network, although visitors to the city might be better off buying the similarly priced PlusBus or if they are venturing further afield a SYConnect+ which encapsulates the whole of South Yorkshire including Rotherham and Doncaster. For what it's worth the Dayrider is better value than a return heavy rail ticket to Rotherham, so it seems inevitable to me that the offer will not prevail long term because it will dilute Northern's revenue on the route.
A few minutes later 121 pulled up at Cathederal, just as one of the newer Vossloh / Stadler units, 399202, left with 'Rotherham Parkgate' and 'TT' boldly illuminated on its front. As background there are seven 399s on stock, although only 201 to 204 are configured for the tram-train service while the remaining three (205-207) work the long-standing routes. Of the four on the TT, three are needed for service while the fourth can be on standby or undergoing maintenance. The reason for the division in the fleet is that different wheel profiles are needed - standard heavyrail flanges apparently won't fit into the slot beside the rails on the street-running part of the network, while tram wheels which have thinner flanges and are designed for the sharper corners on the tram network don't work well on heavy rail sections. 201-204 therefore have wheels optimised by the mix of track conditions. With the unfortunate (although hopefully short-term) demise of 399204 which was involved in a collision with a lorry on launch day, it could be that one of the other units has tram-train bogies put under it to ensure the service can be maintained.
Anyway, on arrival at Cathedral it was obvious something was happening - departing 399202 was full and standing and there were lots of people standing at the stop. Unfortunately the 10 minute, 20 minute, 30 minute service pattern - necessitated to fit in with heavy rail services in the Rotherham area - meant I had 20 minutes to kill. Realising there wouldn't be an opportunity to eat for a while, I quickly schlepped over the Maccys across the road where an expired discount voucher still worked in the self-service machine. I am an extremely rare customer of such establishments, but occasionally needs must...
Sheffield Cathedral
SYS 104 106 107 110 111 112 117 121 122 123 125
SYS 399201 399202 399203
As time ticked by, several regular trams passed by, all lightly loaded. Very few of the customers standing around seem inclined to board, so it became obvious they were all heading to Rotherham. Finally 399201 came up the hill from Fitzalan Square and Castle Square, moved over the crossover, and set down its load on the eastbound platform. Clearly the good souls of Sheffield don't have a sense of waiting for inbound services to empty before boarding, and the ensuing scrum was quite entertaining to watch. Fortunately everyone found a seat during the rather rapid turnround, and we soon set off on the conventional tram network headed towards Meadowhall South / Tinsley on the yellow route.
399201 departs from Meadowhall South with a service bound for Rotherham Parkgate.
I alighted at Meadowhall South to watch the tram-train navigate the short new section of track between the older tram network and the freight line through Tinsley to Rotherham. A few conventional trams came and went before 399203 arrived to convey me into new territory.
Shortly after leaving Meadowhall South the tram-train service takes a sharp left turn onto a short double-line section that connects to the national rail network. On the curve, the vehicles pause for up to a minute (practice on the day pointed to this typically being nearer 30 seconds) while the automation and the driver switch the systems from light to heavy rail configuration - GSM-R and TPWS need to be activated for the rest of the journey, the overhead power supply changes from 750V DC to 25Kv AC, and the signallers have to accept the service onto the national network. Passenger notice nothing other than a slight pause akin to a wait at a signal or a road junction.
Once on the heavyrail system 399203 accelerated quite rapidly and though the vehicles are capable of 60mph running the GPS in my phone pointed to 40mph being about as good as it got. The seats are quite comfortable but the ride was a little wallowing - not uncomfortably so but a little like being on an extremely mild fairground ride. The scenery in the area isn't very inspiring being very industrial, but it didn't last long and within five minutes an automated announcement that Rotherham Central was the next stop blasted out. Just beforehand though I gained my first sight of CF Booths yard, where I'd hoped to achieve objective 3 on my day's list. There are a few gaps in the piles of containers that surround the site, but nothing that allowed a conclusive sighting of my much-needed 315/8. Just as we pulled into the station, 144013 headed the other way - it's quite noticeable how diminutive the 399s are when alongside even something as small as a Pacer.
Rotherham Central's two platforms have been extended to the southwest to accommodate the tram-train service. The new sections are lower - a necessity for PRM access to the low-floor vehicles - and to discourage passengers from walking across the lines (accepted practice on city tram sections) a steel barrier adorned with warning signs has been erected in the four foot. A few customers alighted or boarded but most elected to remain for the remaing two miles or so to Parkgate. As 399203 left Central, it was quite obvious how low the tram-train floors are - the impression was distinctly one of looking up at passengers waiting on the heavy rail platforms.
Rotherham Parkgate isn't anything to get excited about - it's a single plaform on a short spur that enables the tram-trains to clear the through lines while they are turned round and prepared for their journeys back to Sheffield. There's a small shelter and a few seats - most outside the covered roof - and a notice board. Not even a litter bin. Parkgate is of course an out-of-town shopping centre, so there's little to do there unless travellers fancy a spot of retail therapy - or a trip to McDs for some sustenance. I got the distinct impression things weren't quite finished - while awaiting the next service workers were busily engaged in erecting a sign saying 'Parking for tram-train customers only'. Apparently there is a small park-and-ride on site.
With 20 minutes to spare before the next departure, I had a short walk down to an adjacent over bridge to catch one of the movements.
399203 leaves Parkgate at the start of its return to Sheffield - the station is on the far side of the main running lines in the very left of the picture
Having strolled back to the platform 399201 soon appeared from the west. The now typical disemarkation / embarkation scum ensured as passengers scrambled for seats. The threeSupertram staff on the platform seemingly oblivious to the chaos and were more concerned with getting their own pictures - such is day one, a novelty, I guess. During my time at Parkgate two 144s and a 150 passed on the through lines, but there was precious little else to occupy the mind.
399201 awaits time ahead of a departure to Sheffield
Rotherham Parkgate
NOR 144013 144002 150...
SYS 399201 399203
A quick leap back to Central followed, where I elected to leave the station to walk to CF Booths. A walk of less than ten minutes along some quite busy roads led me to the outside of the infamous scrappy where I again struggled for views. Nevertheless there were a few gaps between the otherwise impenetrable walls and buildings, and through one I gained enough of a view of some white and blue coaches to convince myself that
315850 was still partially intact even though some reports suggested chopping had alread got underway. That did me - score the first winner of the day, at 14:30!
Back at Rotherham Central 399201 soon arrived on a westbound and I elected alight at Meadowhall South again for a while to watch the action.
399201 at Meadowhall South / Tinsley
Older Duewag tram 112 in the bright sunshine
Meadowhall South / Tinsley
SYS 105 108 111 112 120 125
SYS 399201 399203 399204
Having spent almost half an hour at Meadowhall South watching the coming and going while warming myself in the sun, I made a choice that ultimately turned out to be a good one. Around 15:00 399204 arrived from Sheffield and having not ridden on that one so far I was tempted to board it for a ride back up to Rotherham. However, I was also hoping to strike off the last three regular Sheffield trams I needed for sight and my best chance of catching them was in the city where all the lines intersect.
So I passed up 399204 in preference for a trip on 112 which was working back into Sheffield from Meadowhall Interchange. It later transpired that 399204, on its subsequent return from Rotherham, had been involved in a collision with a lorry at Altercliffe causing significant front-end damage and derailment. Had I gone to Rotherham I'd have been on that service. The incident caused widespread chaos and the suspension of both regular and tram-train services in the east of the city for the remainder of the day, which I'm sure wasn't what Stagecoach Supertram wanted on a day when media attention was directed their way. For my own part, I was glad I hadn't gone back to Rotherham - although no customers on 204 suffered serious injuries, I would not have wanted to get caught in an accident.
Shortly after boarding dud light-loco 66090 could be seen on the heavy-rail section paralleling the tram round, and passing the Nunnery Square depot 121 and 399207 were visible outside, leaving only 399205 and 399206 outstanding for the day. 112 soon arrived at Castle Square where my plan was to imbibe in a pint or two in Wetherspoons while watching the world - and the trams - go by. Over the next hour or so almost all the regular trams, and 399205 on a purple line service, passed by. I eagerly wrote down all the numbers but at the end of the session it was disappointing to realise that the only regular trams to not feature were 101, 115 and 116. Frustratingly they were the only ones I didn't see last time I was in Sheffield, leaving me with three of the fleet of 25 still to catch. At the time it seemed strange that the movement of tram-trains had dried up (not that I needed sight of any) and only later did I become aware of the incident that had halted the service. At 16:30 I boarded 105 for three-stop ride back Sheffied station in the vain hope I'd catch a few winners there - I was still at only one score for the day.
Sheffield Castle Square
SYS 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112
SYS 113 114 117 118 119 120 122 123 124 125
SYS 399202 399205
Upon arrival back at Sheffield Midland it rapidly became apparent that it was having its own meltdown...
Delays - what delays?
Change at Meadowhall for Huddersfield...
Pretty much the only TOC not suffering was EMT, although both a Liverpool-bound and a Nottingham-bound service departed with only one 158 two-coach unit (instead of two) in the consist. Announcers warned customer that both were 'full and standing'.
Various reasons for the almost across the boar delays were trotted out - it was almost entertaining to note them all down. This train is delayed due to:
- A bridge hit by a lorry earlier in the day
- A broken down train
- Slippery rail conditions
- Train crew being out of position
- A late running train in front of this one
- A safety inspection of the track
- A fault in a signalling system
Are there any others? Clearly it wasn't Sheffield's day! Despite the ongoing problems I knuckled down in an attempt to boost my rather lacking collection of winners.
Units, units, units: passengers wait on Platform 4B while a 158 arrives at 3A
Sheffield
AXC 43207 43378 220005 220006 220021 220023 220029 221134
EMT 158780 158799 158847 158858 222001 222002 222010 222022 222023
NOR 142013 142014 144052
142062 142070 144094
NOR 144006 144007 144009 144011 144013 144016
NOR 150106 150150
NOR 153303 153328
NOR
156428
NOR 158792 158796 158842 158845 158848 158860 158901 158904 158906 158909
TPE 185104 185121 185149 185151
Two more winners at last, but only two. Northern Pacers down to three, and Northern 156s below 20 at last. I had hoped for better, but expected no more than I got. And so that was that - with delays not reducing and a concern they may spread to EMT in my mind, after an hour and a half at 18:00 I decided I'd had enough and boarded Meridian 222023 for the trip home. The reservation system wasn't working which resulted in a bout of musical chairs for some, but everyone got a seat eventually.
Fourty five minutes later I was back at Long Eaton at the end of an interesting and enjoyable day. All three objectives achieved, a major incident narrowly avoided, but only three winners in the book. Sheffield really isn't the place for me anymore, so it's doubly frustrating that I still have trams outstanding. I'll have to go back at some time, but I'm in no rush. I hope the two-year tram-train trial is a success, and I'm sure many more Railforums members will sample it in the coming weeks and months.
Day total (winners): 3
315803 and 315815. I've seen reports that 315860 and 315861 were dragged to Kingsbury for scrap today and apparently there's a path from Wolverton to Newport (Sims Metals) for tomorrow, so they are starting to drop quickly now. I presume the arrival of the 345s has enabled the 315s to be put out to pasture?
I hadn't realised until now that 111 of the things have been ordered by AGA - 22 five-car and 89 ten-car. That'll keep Bombardier busy for a while.
