The 1C59 diverted at Reading West

[heart-of-wessex]

Yesterday the 1C59 was rarely diverted arounf the Reading West Curve as there was a fault on the leading powercar and was told the driver would have to drive from the rear (passengers were thinking hows this possible), the driver actually changed ends and went round the west curve towards the B&H (the original route due to engineering). When was the last FGW (or if it was that long ago, BR/Intercity/GWT) HST to run over this curve, i guessed some, if not all have passed knowledge on the route but how long ago was the last passenger route, thats if there was.

I do know that VT used to use this curve, especially the pine express.

any help appreciated


James.

 

[ChrisM]

Rare indeed i would have though, i think only the following use Reading West Jn - Oxford Road Jn curve

Summer service only

0946 SO Bournemouth - Edinburgh
1046 SO Bournemouth - Edinburgh
0852 SO Edinburgh - Bournemouth

 

[Bonnie Prince Charlie]

1046 runs Basingstoke - New Street non stop! How cool is that!

 

[Andrew]

I thought both the 0946 and 1046 (1047 and 1147 from Basingstoke unless I'm very much mistaken) run non-stop to New Street on Summer Saturdays? And whilst that's cool in principle, VT's public timetables allow exactly the same amount of time as the 'normal' service with it's 6 stops including one that's a reversal.

 

[86242]

Quite a few 47s back in XC days used to use this curve and were non stop from Didcot Parkway to Basingstoke and the curve has had a few railtours on from time to time...

 

[heart-of-wessex]

so no FGW then really, bar ECS's maybe then, probably the driver did have knowledge then