TPE Mark 5A coaching stock progress

[sjpowermac]

Well to my mind until TPE drivers get used to handling these Mk5a sets on the route they serve with all the station stops, they will either need to put extra time into the diagrams or be prepared for late running.
The drivers already have the route knowledge driving with Class 185s but LHCS and these propelled sets are a different proposition but once the drivers get handling the trains on a regular basis the time taken for braking and station stops will reduce as obviously they get used to the handling, which is the same for any of us with new traction or new routes.
So i presume the Crewe - Wavertree (yep i now agree Mark) runs will give a basic handling then in July when HOPEFULLY the 2 sets are running Liverpool - Scarborough all drivers trained will then get a couple of days or so handling over the core route, but as i say timings might suffer initially or more recovery time is built into the diagrams.

Interesting to hear a driver’s perspective on this, thanks for sharing.

 

[Ben Bow]

Two issues around handling class 68's plus mk. 5's are that the airflow brake on the loco and coaches does not have the same "instant" application as the "electronic" brake on the 185's which will take some practise to get used to, and secondly the automatic selective door system on the mk.5's requires a high degree of accuracy in terms of stopping in the platform at the designated point. Expect late running as from day 1 68's will be running to existing 185 times.

 

[nicolaboo]

When the handling learning curve is over and operations have settled down, will the Nova 3 (or even the Nova 1) sets help to speed up transpennine timings, or will the terrain still be the bigger limiting factor?

 

[Ben Bow]

The track and signalling standards are the limiting factor in terms of speed. In terms of power, the 185's can easily keep to time going over the Pennines with one of the three engines shut down. I expect station dwell times will be longer with the Nova 3's due to the configuration of the doors.

 

[BMIFlyer]

MK5A Coaching stock can work with any other ETS fitted locomotives. You loose all CAF controlled systems however, for example door release would return to the Guard.
If in future they wished to (for example) use 67's they could. It would just work like conventional loco and stock and require to run as Top & Tail or run the Loco round and the terminating station. You would have to however override the SIFA.

I should have written “work fully” maybe

 

[Spartacus]

I expect station dwell times will be longer with the Nova 3's due to the configuration of the doors.

Hopefully the extra vehicles will help compensate by reducing the regular rugby scrum of people stood around the doors who don't want to get off.

 

[sjpowermac]

68024 ‘Centaur’ in York P SD having completed its first round trip of the day to Doncaster on route learning.

Still to come:
0B94 14:06 York to Doncaster
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N52294/2019/04/17/advanced

and
0B95 15:34 Doncaster to York
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N01331/2019/04/17/advanced

 

[sjpowermac]

A busy day for the York based Class 68 fans with 68032 ‘Destroyer’ working the York-Scarborough driver training/refresher trips.

Pic of 68032 crossing Scarborough Bridge with a little admiring crowd!
https://flic.kr/p/Tqub8q

 

[quantinghome]

68024 ‘Centaur’ in York P SD having completed its first round trip of the day to Doncaster on route learning.

Still to come:
0B94 14:06 York to Doncaster
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N52294/2019/04/17/advanced

and
0B95 15:34 Doncaster to York
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N01331/2019/04/17/advanced

View attachment 61652

Excellent framing. Contrast works so well in black and white.

 

[sjpowermac]

Excellent framing. Contrast works so well in black and white.

Many thanks indeed, greatly appreciated.

68024 ‘Centaur’ now back in platform 2 at York having completed its two round trips to Doncaster.

 

[sprinterguy]

Just caught 68020 "Reliance" and TP06 at Stafford working a 15:33 Bletchley - Manchester International depot:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P86062/2019/04/17/advanced

 

[sjpowermac]

Just caught 68020 "Reliance" and TP06 at Stafford working a 15:33 Bletchley - Manchester International depot:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P86062/2019/04/17/advanced

Lovely image, thank you for sharing.

The 11:18 Crewe South Yard To MID was 68023 ‘Achilles’ with TP04, loco attached to the DT! It ran 41 late.

Link to Tweet here:
https://twitter.com/wallygridboy/status/1118531910081363968?s=20

 

[The Northern Star]

TPE Cats @ 1925

68019 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68020 XHTP BLTCHUDR1 703H93MR17 V * LGSGHWLFL N 22D A

68021 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68022 XHTP GRESTYBGE GRESTYBGE F D 29D A

68023 XHTP LGSGHWLFL LGSGHWLFL V N 28D A

68024 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68025 XHTP LGSIGHTWL LSIGHTDMD P N 30D A

68026 XHTP CREWECSFL CREWECSFL E N 28D A

68027 TPEX GRESTYBGE GRESTYBMD P X 26D A

68028 TPEX CREWE CS GRESTYBMD F T 29D A

68029 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68030 XHTP LGSGHWLFL LGSGHWLFL 1 N 29D A

68031 XHTP LSIGHTDMD LSIGHTDMD P N 30D A

68032 XHTP MANCR ID GRESTYBMD P N 30D A

 

[berneyarms]

TPE Cats @ 1925

68019 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68020 XHTP BLTCHUDR1 703H93MR17 V * LGSGHWLFL N 22D A

68021 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68022 XHTP GRESTYBGE GRESTYBGE F D 29D A

68023 XHTP LGSGHWLFL LGSGHWLFL V N 28D A

68024 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68025 XHTP LGSIGHTWL LSIGHTDMD P N 30D A

68026 XHTP CREWECSFL CREWECSFL E N 28D A

68027 TPEX GRESTYBGE GRESTYBMD P X 26D A

68028 TPEX CREWE CS GRESTYBMD F T 29D A

68029 XHTP UNDER 'GENIUS' CONTROL

68030 XHTP LGSGHWLFL LGSGHWLFL 1 N 29D A

68031 XHTP LSIGHTDMD LSIGHTDMD P N 30D A

68032 XHTP MANCR ID GRESTYBMD P N 30D A

Any chance you could re-write that in simple English please?

 

[59CosG95]

Any chance you could re-write that in simple English please?

Simple English:
68019 - under Genius Control - not sure what that implies
68020 - returning from Bletchley to Longsight after today's WCML outing
68021 - ditto 68019
68022 - Gresty Bridge Depot
68023 - Longsight
68024 - ditto 68019
68025 - Longsight
68026 - Crewe Coal Sidings
68027 - Gresty Bridge Depot
68028 - ditto 68026
68029 - ditto 68019
68030 - Longsight
68031 - Longsight
68032 - Manc Int'l Depot (Longsight)

 

[sjpowermac]

Simple English:
68019 - under Genius Control - not sure what that implies
68020 - returning from Bletchley to Longsight after today's WCML outing
68021 - ditto 68019
68022 - Gresty Bridge Depot
68023 - Longsight
68024 - ditto 68019
68025 - Longsight
68026 - Crewe Coal Sidings
68027 - Gresty Bridge Depot
68028 - ditto 68026
68029 - ditto 68019
68030 - Longsight
68031 - Longsight
68032 - Manc Int'l Depot (Longsight)

‘GENIUS is used by passenger train operators for controlling the allocation of trains.

It links to TOPS and GEMINI. It also provides information on train crew.’

From website:http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Train+allocation+systems

As far as I know ‘GENIUS’ doesn’t ‘talk’ to TOPS in terms of the location of locos. I’m happy to be corrected on any of that!

I think the 68s listed here as ‘under GENIUS control’ are the ones actually being used by TPE currently.

68021/29 are at York Siemens Depot.
68024 is in York platform 2 having today done route learning trips to Doncaster.
68032 is at Scarborough (contrary to what TOPS says!) having worked driver training/refresher trips today to York.

 

[berneyarms]

Simple English:
68019 - under Genius Control - not sure what that implies
68020 - returning from Bletchley to Longsight after today's WCML outing
68021 - ditto 68019
68022 - Gresty Bridge Depot
68023 - Longsight
68024 - ditto 68019
68025 - Longsight
68026 - Crewe Coal Sidings
68027 - Gresty Bridge Depot
68028 - ditto 68026
68029 - ditto 68019
68030 - Longsight
68031 - Longsight
68032 - Manc Int'l Depot (Longsight)

Thank you - that’s much better.
To the OP in this case please remember that many people here don’t understand abbreviations or terminology. The original post would have effectively been gibberish for many here.

 

[sjpowermac]

Thank you - that’s much better.
To the OP in this case please remember that many people here don’t understand abbreviations or terminology. The original post would have effectively been gibberish for many here.

To be fair, the OP didn’t have to provide any information at all, and perhaps didn’t have time to re-write everything.

I take your point though, and for the more obscure combinations of letters for locations the following website translates them into plain English:

https://www.rail-record.co.uk/tops-location-codes/

Just copy and paste into the search function. So, for example, LGSGHWLFL becomes ‘Longsight Wheel Lathe’.

The TOPS report is only as accurate as the folk maintaining it, 68032 ‘Destroyer’ definitely isn’t at Manchester International Depot, it worked light engine from Longsight to Scarborough on Friday 12th April 2019 and has since been working driver training/refresher trips up and down to York, as seen today, pic linked below!
https://flic.kr/p/Tqub8q

 

[Bornin1980s]

Will these ever work to Middlesbrough, or should I expect something else?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Will these ever work to Middlesbrough, or should I expect something else?

Yes. The two routes they're earmarked for are Liverpool to Scarborough; and Manchester Airport to Middlesbrough. They'll be introduced to Scarborough first though.

 

[sprinterguy]

Lovely image, thank you for sharing.

The 11:18 Crewe South Yard To MID was 68023 ‘Achilles’ with TP04, loco attached to the DT! It ran 41 late.

Link to Tweet here:
https://twitter.com/wallygridboy/status/1118531910081363968?s=20

Cheers, it falls well short of your artistic talents but I was pleased to be able to get the full rake in shot.

Interesting to see what one of the other rakes was up to around the same time, and a comparatively rare sight of the Driving Trailer ''tucked in" behind the loco, once a fairly common occurrence on the WCML with the mark 3 DVTs.

 

[EE Andy b1]

Just caught 68020 with set 6 I think departing Warrington Bank Quay, South for Bletchley, on time and sounding in good order.

 

[ash39]

68024 ‘Centaur’ in York P SD having completed its first round trip of the day to Doncaster on route learning.

Still to come:
0B94 14:06 York to Doncaster
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N52294/2019/04/17/advanced

and
0B95 15:34 Doncaster to York
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N01331/2019/04/17/advanced

View attachment 61652

Bit of friendly feedback - I'm not sure what software you edit with but if it has an option to adjust perspective, it would really improve the shot if you straightened the verticals up

Always enjoy seeing your images in here, as I've been too lazy to go out and take my own. Once the full sets start I'll hopefully make more of an effort.

 

[BMIFlyer]

Will these ever work to Middlesbrough, or should I expect something else?

Yes. The two routes they're earmarked for are Liverpool to Scarborough; and Manchester Airport to Middlesbrough. They'll be introduced to Scarborough first though.

Subject to testing (continued set handover to TPE), every train on LIV-SCA route (7 sets) should be loco hauled by Halloween. Then the MIA-MBR route should start to see them.

If the plan to change ends at Saltburn at certain times of day doesn't change however, there will still be a 185 diagram on the Middlesbrough route which will be formed of a 6 car 185.

 

[anamyd]

Just caught 68020 with set 6 I think departing Warrington Bank Quay, South for Bletchley, on time and sounding in good order.

View attachment 61691

The loco says Vossloh on it - aren't the newer 68s built under Stadler...?

 

[themiller]

The loco says Vossloh on it - aren't the newer 68s built under Stadler...?

They sure were! Up to and including 68025 were built and badged Vossloh. The remainder are Stadler (from works number 2944).

 

[sjpowermac]

The loco says Vossloh on it - aren't the newer 68s built under Stadler...?

There’s a little detailed difference on the front end. On the Vossloh locos there’s their logo moulded into the front end between the headlights, on the Stadler ones this is absent. Pic below of 68032 ‘Destroyer’ passing the new pedestrian part of Scarborough Bridge York. If you compare it with Andy’s excellent image of 68020 I think you’ll spot what I mean! Hope that helps

 

[sjpowermac]

Just caught 68020 with set 6 I think departing Warrington Bank Quay, South for Bletchley, on time and sounding in good order.

View attachment 61691

Excellent image, a nice little bit of clag! Great to see the testing happening each day this week, I’d guess TP06 must nearly be ready for handover now.

 

[sjpowermac]

Bit of friendly feedback - I'm not sure what software you edit with but if it has an option to adjust perspective, it would really improve the shot if you straightened the verticals up

Always enjoy seeing your images in here, as I've been too lazy to go out and take my own. Once the full sets start I'll hopefully make more of an effort.

Many thanks indeed, greatly appreciated. I just use the basic Photos app on the iPhone, but I see what you mean about the verticals!

 

[paddyb6]

Looks there is a Mk5 set out tomorrow as its Easter will it run tomorrow