Unusual/interesting services

[yorkie]

I'd be interested to hear in your submissions for interesting and/or unusual, but regular services, that may be worth doing some time. They could be the only booked service of a particular traction, or go a different route to other trains, or have a particular stopping pattern that is unusual, or anything else worthy of mention

Here's a few examples to start off...


1B00 06:14 Leeds-London St Pancras ('The Master Cutler')
Route: Booked via Erewash valley and Toton

1S15 12:00 London King's Cross-Inverness and
1E12 07:55 Inverness - London King's Cross ('The Highland Chieftain')
Route/traction: HST on HML and via Stirling

1G21 16:51 London Euston-Birmingham NS and
1B05 19:00 Birmingham NS-London Euston
Traction: Class 90 on WCML

Just 3 examples there to get us started, I welcome your submissions...

 

[Tom]

The Laverstock curve is a good one ... the only train to do it is on a Sunday morning from Southampton, and there is one in the evening TO Southampton.

Either way:

1M07 08:39 Southampton Central - Manchester Piccadilly
9O30 14:50 Edinburgh Waverley - Southampton Central
Route: Laverstock Curve - the turning curve just outside Salisbury Tunnel Junction

 

[Jim]

Dr Days Curve, Bristol. Turns off Pad-Bristol at North Somerset Junction and joins the Bristol-Filton line at Dr Days Junction, only booked passenger train a day

MONDAYS-FRIDAYS ONLY

2R07 1455 Westbury - Filton Abbey Wood

 

[devon_metro]

1V04 0610 BIrmingham NS - Paignton goes via Droitwich spa

1C92 1733 Paddington - Paignton forms a stopping service past Exeter (HST)
1A12 0738 Paignton - Paddington forms a stopping service to Exeter (HST)

 

[theblackwatch]

For a comprehensive list of timetabled workings over unusual routes/curves etc, PSUL is the place to visit: http://www.avoe05.dsl.pipex.com/2007.htm

It even gives [pages numbers in Baker] and (timetable numbers) making it extremely useful to trace the services.

 

[Jim]

1V04 0610 BIrmingham NS - Paignton goes via Droitwich spa

Ah, thats why it takes so long!

 

[tedted]

West Coast Main Line - only half a mile of coast between London and Glasgow! False advertising!

 

[rail-britain]

West Coast Main Line - only half a mile of coast between London and Glasgow! False advertising!

I can't think of any section of the WCML that is next to the coast, never mind within viewing distance of the coast!
However, it is a better name than something like the "Rails to the North Main Line" or "Lakes and Scotland Main Line"
Certainly keeps it in line with the other five main lines

 

[devon_metro]

'North West Main Line'

 

[djw1981]

As you pass morcambe bay you can just see the sea!

 

[87015]

Chiltern bubble always worth a bash on the branch with plenty of Mon-Fri peak hour workings, plus Aylesbury-Quainton leaps on Bank Holiday Mondays. Cardiff bubble not bad either although suffers from siding fatigue!

Not rare but rateable

 

[Coxster]

2L10, 04:54 Basingstoke to London Waterloo (arrives 06:12) - Mon-Sat
Booked to run Wimbledon-Putney-Clapham rather than via the mainline

I have used this a number of times to work and it doesn't always run via Putney.

 

[Jim]

Cardiff bubble

Has spent more time in Canton than out, hasn't been out for ages to my knowledge!

 

[Oracle]

My page:

http://www.gmhistorian.btinternet.co.uk/psul.htm

 

[87015]

Has spent more time in Canton than out, hasn't been out for ages to my knowledge!

Fair enough, I wouldn't be surprised! I don't venture to those parts very often, I raked in a trip to the Bay over the late May Bank Holiday so it was out then

 

[djw1981]

There are also all the route learning / diversionary knowledge routes - av few Virgin XC journeys into Glasgow, and at least one pendelino a week, is I think routed through cathcart circle, but if it is running late, or the driver never had the route knowledge, it 'doesn;t go that way.

 

[me123]

DJW, am I right in assuming that it's Sunday trains and late nighters/early morningers that take the Cathcart route?

 

[djw1981]

Yes.. but since I (as a punter) have no access to the WTT, I can't tell you which trains - i have been on one once but can't remember which train it was....sorry.

 

[Lewisham2221]

There are also all the route learning / diversionary knowledge routes - av few Virgin XC journeys into Glasgow, and at least one pendelino a week, is I think routed through cathcart circle, but if it is running late, or the driver never had the route knowledge, it 'doesn;t go that way.

Presumably also one of the reasons for the once/twice daily Pendos via Brum-Stoke-Macc between London & Manchester, via Wilmslow-Crewe-Stoke between Manchester & London and few mainly early morning Voyagers running between Crewe-Stoke-Stafford.

 

[djw1981]

Tha and I guess also rthe numbers of Voyagers which need to get out from Central Rivers each morning mean that if you can put them on different routes, then you can avoid clogging up one particular line.

 

[rail-britain]

DJW, am I right in assuming that it's Sunday trains and late nighters/early morningers that take the Cathcart route?

There are currently no diagrams for any Virgin Trains workings taking this route
They should only be taking this route if the normal route, via Polmadie and Rutherglen is under blockade
Equally, Pendolinos are not permitted via Cathcart and/or Maxwell Park, the route is via Queens Park and Kirkhill

One of the last remaining loco hauled public services :
1B01 19:50 Fort William - Edinburgh
1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh - Fort William
Travel is also possible on the other two sleepers (Inverness and Aberdeen), at the Train Managers discretion

 

[me123]

One of the last remaining loco hauled public services :
1B01 19:50 Fort William - Edinburgh
1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh - Fort William
Travel is also possible on the other two sleepers (Inverness and Aberdeen), at the Train Managers discretion

In addition, 1B01 and 1Y11 are the only passenger service booked to run from Edinburgh to the WHL, using a piece of track usually not used (although I forget it's name as it's been a while since I've been past it).

 

[tedted]

I can't think of any section of the WCML that is next to the coast, never mind within viewing distance of the coast!
However, it is a better name than something like the "Rails to the North Main Line" or "Lakes and Scotland Main Line"
Certainly keeps it in line with the other five main lines

Lakes and Scotland sounds quite catchy!

 

[djw1981]

There are currently no diagrams for any Virgin Trains workings taking this route
They should only be taking this route if the normal route, via Polmadie and Rutherglen is under blockade
Equally, Pendolinos are not permitted via Cathcart and/or Maxwell Park, the route is via Queens Park and Kirkhill

One of the last remaining loco hauled public services :
1B01 19:50 Fort William - Edinburgh
1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh - Fort William
Travel is also possible on the other two sleepers (Inverness and Aberdeen), at the Train Managers discretion

Sorry by Cathcart route I was referring to the whole circle, not specifying via Cathcart itself. How is route knowledge maintained if normal (albeit late night / early morning) services are not routed that way? I was on a Voyager diverted that way late last year, and a GNER 225 arrived just after us, indicating that the WCML was open? Or was the WTT different and allowing such diversions late in 2006?

 

[5872]

2L10, 04:54 Basingstoke to London Waterloo (arrives 06:12) - Mon-Sat
Booked to run Wimbledon-Putney-Clapham rather than via the mainline

I have used this a number of times to work and it doesn't always run via Putney.

Basing services via putney run most of the time , ive got one but not the code :
Sunday : Waterloo - Woking via staines not the mainline:neutral:.


Fred

 

[rail-britain]

In addition, 1B01 and 1Y11 are the only passenger service booked to run from Edinburgh to the WHL, using a piece of track usually not used (although I forget it's name as it's been a while since I've been past it).

You mean two pieces of track, as they both use different routes!

1B01 travels from Westerton to Bishopbriggs, so that is one of the "exclusive" routes

1Y11 travels from Springburn to Westerton, so that is the other one

All other routes used by these two trains can be travelled on "normal" timetables
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sorry by Cathcart route I was referring to the whole circle, not specifying via Cathcart itself. How is route knowledge maintained if normal (albeit late night / early morning) services are not routed that way? I was on a Voyager diverted that way late last year, and a GNER 225 arrived just after us, indicating that the WCML was open? Or was the WTT different and allowing such diversions late in 2006?

I am aware what you meant by Cathcart (the circle), but I was just stressing that 390s are NOT permitted via Maxwell Park, they MUST travel via Queens Park
If that route is not available, then the train MUST terminate at Motherwell (or if already past it at Rutherglen)

Route Knowledge is normally done on Thunderbird routing and is normally programmed for once every 12 to 18 months

Virgin and GNER services use different routes between Glasgow and Law Junction!
A few years ago, there was a xx:00 GNER and xx:10 Virgin Voyager from Glasgow Central
The Virgin Voyager used to leave Motherwell before the GNER, and I always wondered how/why
The GNER used the route via Bellshill and would sit beside Motherwell depot, and the Voyager could be seen passing in front

 

[1D53]

23.30 Kings Cross - Leeds is now the only timetabled service via Hambleton Junc since the morning Harrogate stopped going that way. Although even better its sometimes diverted via Shaftholme and Knottingley/Pontefract!

 

[me123]

Of course, M8. Forgot that one ran via Springburn.

 

[voyagerdude220]

1S15 12:00 London King's Cross-Inverness and
[/I]

Does anyone possibly know why today's 1S15 to Inverness was running just over an hour late, departing Edinburgh at around 17:30 this Evening?

It had 43 "Stirling Castle" on the rear, which sounded like an MTU power car.

1E12 was today formed of non-MTU's: 43056 & 43119.

Just 3 examples there to get us started, I welcome your submissions...

 

[Techniquest]

I think they still go that way (not looked in a while), but the 1055 Cardiff - Fishguard and 1350 return are booked to travel via the Swansea District Line between Llanelli and Briton Ferry.

The 2124 Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street is an interesting one, as that runs via Soho North Junction to Perry Barr East Junction and Aston into Birmingham.

There's also a Voyager from Manchester Piccadilly to Derby (needs to be checked) at 1724 (would need confirming) that is booked via Whitacre Curve, the freight-only line between Water Orton and Wilnecote.

There are also two trains in the morning and two in the evening (the particular ones will have changed since I last looked at a PSUL) that are booked via Ninian Park between Cardiff and Bridgend. One of the morning ones should be a Maesteg train, to be overtaken by a Swansea-bound HST. DO check first. Before departure, check the signal. If the theatrical box indicates 'B' it's via Barry, 'M' is mainline, 'N' is via Ninian Park. Tough to do that stretch on a HST mind, although I've done it twice on a HST before now.

I am also informed there is a 20xx Voyager off Aberdeen that goes via the Fife Circle and not via the coastal route as well, covering that irritating difficult to cover north side of the triangle of lines at Glenthrothes. Was going to do it myself after bailing at Ladybank on the Wick tour, but more miles with 40145 was just too tempting to bail, massive wait and possibly not covering the new track.

There is also an 0520/0540 that goes from Edinburgh to Inverkeithing and beyond that is booked via the so-called 'Suburban' lines in Edinburgh, which from what I can see means they go eastwards out of Waverley, branch off near Newcraighall and rejoin the mainline west of Haymarket. Still not done this one myself so I do not know it for gospel. However this is still interesting track to cover! I do however believe this is a FSR service and most likely to be a 170. There is a Voyager that leaves for Aberdeen around the same time as the FSR service, so do be careful!

One last one I know of is the 0835 Great Malvern to Birmingham New Street run. This is booked to run via Galton Curve, near (unsurprisingly) Smethwick Galton Bridge, rather than onto Snow Hill. There are other trains that use this line but this is probably the best one to do it on. I am also aware that Virgin are diverting via this way and Kidderminster through to Worcester Shrub Hill and Abbotswood Curve in September. I shall probably cover it on one of the diverted Voyagers myself.

Hope some of this is of interest to someone.