Great Western Coffee Shop

I've been asked whether there will be loco-hauled Weymouth trains in 2010. Does anyone know either way yet?

It seems to me that every year it's flatly denied that loco-hauled summer Weymouth trains will ever run again, but the following year with about a week to go they admit that said trains will operate again...

Rumour had it that they would be running a service in future summers with mark 3 coaches topped and tailed with class 43 traction ;)  (Hope I have the numbers right)

And I bet they'll pinch it from the Cotswold Line...  ;)

As is normal with anything advertised as 'the last' the use of 37670 etc to Weymouth last year wont of been FGW's last loco hauled to Weymouth. Look out for more this year  ;)

Fully expect FGW to use one of the loco hauled sets that currently operate Cardiff-Taunton/Paignton services on one of the Saturday Weymouths this year. Just can't see FGW planning regular use of an HST to have it sitting in Jersey sidings down in Weymouth for most of the day.

Admittedly I have no idea what the economics of this would be, but assuming FGW could provide their own crew who knew both the route and traction (this being a big assumption, I realize) then couldn't an HST or loco-hauled set operate a full diagram on summer Saturdays rather than just one return journey with a long fester in between legs?

Probably if services only ran between Weymouth-Bristol but because they now run north to Gloucester/Worcester etc it would mean permission from dft to terminate services operated loco hauled at Bristol starting again as DMUs for the northen leg.

There is supposed to be a weekday loco hauled this year.... Similar to the Saturday working of the past sitting at WEY all day...

Are they planning on bringing in a 3rd loco hauled set then as the other  2 sets are busy on the cardiff - taunton/paignton diagrams

I was at a West Wilts Rail User Group meeting tonight in Bradford-on-Avon. Guest speaker Andy Mellors FGW Engineering director. The question of the summer Saturday Weymouth relief was raised. The reply was that at the moment no firm decision has been made, because it depends on availability of additional DMU vehicles being cascaded from London Overground and London Midland. I believe this in turn depends on how quickly new 172s arrive from BT in Derby. So if the 172s are late being delivered, vehicle cascade will be delayed and then there is a good chance of loco-hauled again to Weymouth this summer.

Also, if you read this Mr.Mellors, thank you for an interesting and informative talk. It will be a shame if west wilts doesn't get the extra vehicles, but it might be worth it to have loco hauled for summer Saturdays!

No, because the extra service is Saturday's only and Cardiff-Taunton/Devon loco runs are weekday only.

Cheers,
TLM

the plan *was* for a third set with one loco to Weymouth on weekdays to run around at Weymouth. Not sure if this is still on ??

Which can easily be done at Weymouth as opposed to running around at Taunton conflicting with other services.

From last night's meeting ... the intent as of the end of last summer was that the "Bucket and Spade Special" would be running in 2010 as a train comprised of West fleet units, and that was in anticipation of the units cascading in time from LO and LM as the 172 fleet comes in there.

However, it is now more than significantly likely that the incoming 150s will not be in service in sufficient quantity at the start of the summer saturday season (at least) and if that's the case, it is anticipated that the "B&S" will start off, at least, with one of the loco hauled sets;  using these sets on a Cardiff - Taunton on Saturday would be overcapacity and they are relatively expensive to run, so better to send them to Weymouth.

The Summer Saturday train is shown in the timetable; FGW are committed to it, and are fully aware that it would be a publicity "own goal" if it ran significantly shortformed (there were grumblings about 153s forming complete trains last night)

Looking at the timings on this year's summer timetable it doesn't seem to be any different to last year - there's no obvious loco hauled service on weekdays while the 0909 from Brizzle and 1655 from Weymouth are clearly timed differently.

There seems to be an extra down train on Saturdays though (ignoring the loco hauled service) - after a pattern through the day of '1 in, 1 out' into Weymouth, there's a 1909 and 2008 arrival before the 2021 out of Weymouth. As there's a 2309 arrival in at the end of the night, presumably those 2 services double up. This makes 9 down, 8 up in summer and 8 down, 7 up in winter.

Does anyone know if the Class 67's were used on the 0909 Bristol-Weymouth and 1655 Weymouth-Bristol today?

First Saturday of new TT is next week!

Anyone aware of what stock is being used from this Saturday (29/05) on the 0909 ex BRI?

With the forecast for Saturday looking pretty awful there should be plenty of seats for those wishing to bash this train.

any one know what is being used, on another forum i'm registered (a ferries forum) a thread has turned to discussion about loco hauled routes, i commented about the weymouth saturday services and a reply was that it is being operated this year by a shortened 4 or 5 carriage HST, anyone know if this is true?

Last Saturday 5/6 it was operated by one class 67 loco and four coaches which makes sense rather than dragging a 'dead' loco all the way down to Weymouth where there is a turn around layout.

Should be one of the class 67's and the stock that is used on the Cardiff - Taunton - Painton Diagram on weekdays.

Hi

I am a new member of FGW Coffee Shop. I thought you might like to know that FGW has laid on an extra summer Saturday service to Weymouth. This service is loco hauled and is formed of 5 coaches. Departs Bristol Temple Meads at 0909 and arrives Weymouth 1142. Calls at every station apart from Freshford, Avoncliff, Bruton, Thornford, Yetminster, Chetnole and Upwey. On return this train departs Weymouth at 1655 calling at the same stations as en route and arrives Bristol Temple Meads 1927. This train has more seats than the standard class 150 or 158 and has lovely comfy seats in a table formation in every coach.

This extra loco hauled service runs every Saturday until 5th September 2010 and will cost you the same price as a normal train ticket to Weymouth.

Me and my mum will be on it tomorrow but we will return on the 2021 as we think it leaves Weymouth too early. It should leave at 2021 instead of the class 158 that always does the 2021.

Thanks

Welcome along James158, and thanks for the post. I've merged it into the thread that we already have discussing the loco-hauled services to Weymouth  :)

Just a few correction, it has 4 coaches, and interestingly with the blue brake coach this only provides 224 seats, which is less than the equivalent 150 or 158 in 4 car formation. There is also the problem that a lot of the air con on the set is duff, so it might be quite warm in all coaches other than the TSO.

Saturday, 31st July 2010 ...

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss1.jpg) - (http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss2.jpg)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss3.jpg) - (http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss4.jpg)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss5.jpg) - (http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss6.jpg)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss7.jpg) - (http://www.wellho.net/pix/sss8.jpg)

Nice pictures Graham! That silver-liveried 67 looks quite good with the blue and grey mark 2s. Just a bit of a shame that DB Schenker couldn't rustle up 37425 (in matching BR livery) to haul that service again!

On Saturday 31st July amongst those at the lineside watching the Class 67 arrive at Weymouth was a person stating that although the train will continue to run as advertised sufficient numbers of the extra transferred in 15* units are now available with the outcome being the SO 9:09 train from Bristol and the return diagram from Weymouth will run but with  a unit formation and not the loco + 4 set.

Is anyone able to give a definitive answer as to whether this rumour has substance, i.e. is true, or is just a false rumour?

John

New poster to the group.

Welcome to the Forum john new!  :D

Would be a shame to see the end of the Weymouth loco hauled, but I'd hazard a guess it's far cheaper to use units if they are available. Although FGW may lose a fair bit of revenue from the rail enthusiast community.

The rumours about the end of loco hauled on the summer SO tend to gather pace as the 1st week of September approaches every year.

Can't answer your question directly, but there are a few FGW 'insiders' on this forum who may know more than just rumour.

These sorts of rumours really do the rounds every year, don't they!? Every year it's the last time these trains will operate with loco haulage, it'll be DMUs from now on, etc etc.

As far as I'm aware FGW only has a couple of the cascaded LM 150s at the moment. I'd be surprised with only 4 or 5 weeks to go this year whether any change would be made - is there a contract in place with DBS to run these trains until September, or is the arrangement more ad hoc?

You'll always find lots of "experts" at the lineside who are more than happy to dispense their "wit and wisdom" to anyone who'll listen (and often to those who are trying not to as well!) but my guess would be in this case that they're wrong, at least for this summer. I'm happy to be corrected though by anyone with more reliable inside information.

With only a few more weekends left to run until the last service on the 4th of September, I would expect the loco hauled service to continue its Saturday treck down to the seaside. After that who knows?

Somewhat more than rumour ?? - a statement from an FGW representative in March was that it would start loco hauled but switch to units as they became available - see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5258.msg64162#msg64162 .   But that may be out of date (with delays to the cascade) and there are times (especially with some FGW representatives, I'm afraid) where I feel we're told half a story, or a story with a slant, in order to further First's aims. 

arent the 15* replacing the 14* leaving no extra rolling stock?

Further to grahame's post, I can confirm that the loco-hauled 'bucket and spade special' trains will continue, in the absence of any suitable cascaded DMUs to use instead - for the reasons given in the post to which grahame gave a link.

My source for this update is Julian Crow, FGW's General Manager, West of England, at the Heart of Wessex meeting in Yeovil on Friday 30 July, which both Lee and I attended.

CfN  ;)

Not quite, things are never that simple. The incoming 150s are replacing the 7? x 142s on loan from Northern,the  5 x 150s on loan from ATW, the single 158 on daily loan from SWT and the two sets of LHCS used in the Bristol area. 

There is nearly the same number of carriages; maybe a couple less overall but changed diagramming will cancel that out.

Paul

In an ideal world, of course, the loco-hauled sets would be replaced with HSTs ...  ;)

Thanks guys for the updated info'.

Shame about the loss of the Mk 3's as the seats with leg room are far more comfortable than a 150. Although if the earlier poster's statement about broken air-con is correct then the less good seats on a 150. but with open air vents, is slightly preferable to a Mk 3 without working air con if it is a hot day.

Mk 2s on the Weymouth loco hauled.

57 haulage on the last loco hauled this year ?

Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, penmill!  :)

I'm sorry, I don't have an answer to your question - but I'm sure there are other members here who will know!  ;)

I couldn't possibly comment.

... but you just did?

For the 57,604th time Chris, stop trying to be smart...  :-X

57005 lmao?

First time for everything, I suppose ;)


Good luck getting the a/c and all the other electrical fripperies like lighting to work off a non-ETS*-fitted loco. Mind you, stranger things have happened...!

_{Edited to add:
ETS = electric train supply, aka electric train heating (ETH). Used to work the electrical systems in the passenger vehicles behind the drawbar. Fitted to locos intended for passenger work, but not to freight-only ones. BUT a top-and-tailed train can operate with only one ETS-fitted loco, as has happened in recent times with 57/0s, 66s, 20s and others working loco-hauled passenger trains around Workington, in East Anglia and also in FGW land.}

Hope they are laying on extra carriages this time. Just adding a BSO last year was good of them but I think they need a couple more full carriages.

Is there a point where a longer train runs up against platform length problems...? I'm not familiar enough with the route to know where the likely problems would be.

Think theres a clue there, I can't see anything about 57005  ::)

Think there's a clue there: relex was joking!  ::)

oh no that took me back to over a year ago with the confusion over lmao and the fun that caused  ;D

I have heard that 57604 could be used on the final saturday which the loco hauled is to run to Weymouth

Unless something goes wrong the 09:09 Bristol TM - Weymouth & 16:55 Weymouth - Bristol TM should be worked by 57604, although this cannot be garaunteed

A couple of photos of 57604 with the final locomotive hauled train into Weymouth - at Jersey Sidings after arrival. September 4th 2010.

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4956469409_2eb0bb33b4.jpg)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4956468687_74f5c5738a.jpg)

Hope these are of interest.

Luke

do you know how many people were on it

Not exactly! But I must say it didn't look too busy.

Hmm.  ::)

From FGW live updates:

An update, from FGW:

Problem is is that it is really heritage traction, last  september when i was on the final loco hauled service to Weymouth hauled by the 37's the train was standing from Bristol.

Each year, we have an interesting, constructive and detailed discussion on the particular subject of loco hauled stock being used (or not!) on the Saturday Weymouth services.

However, some of those individual topics from the past may now be rather overlooked, as they contain only a few posts, and perhaps with headings that do not make it entirely clear now what they cover.

I've therefore spent some time this evening, merging some of those topics, here in the Heart of Wessex board, into four new topics.  Each of these is headed 'Weymouth - summer weekend loco hauled services - ', followed by the relevant year.

I've left the original headings in each post, for clarity - but the result is that we now have a clear chronological account of the mixed fortunes of the seasonal Weymouth locohauls, for hopefully much greater ease of reference in the future.

I hope this helps!

CfN.  :)

Nice pics Luke. Looked quite well loaded as it passed through Bradford-on-Avon, and quite a few people hanging out of the windows! Well done First Great Western - great end to the Summer season. The headboard was a nice touch, anyone have details on this?

Above copied from a weekly news thing that staff get.

Thanks for that, Ollie.  ;)

No worries, glad it got a nice bit of money for charity - I personally wouldn't buy a name board, but I know it's collectable for others and may be worth more later :)

Don't know how the auction was done, I assume on the train?

Always good to see little instances like this of TOCs going out of their way and entering into the spirit of things, especially when it's raising money for a good cause at the same time. A bouquet to FGW methinks!

Save me trawling the tt's can anyone tell me, is Sat 25th last loco-hauled run of 2010?

Nope last Saturday was the last loco-hauled for this summer and if FGW get all their allocation of 150/1s by next summer and decide the expenditure of a loco-hauled summer Saturday is beyond their budget for the line that could be it. But its been said many times before no more loco hauled on this line only for them to reappear again the following year so we will just have to wait and see but unless the line has done well this summer I think thats it for loco-hauled on the Weymouths.

According to Roger Ford on his twitter page, the problems with the class 172' seem to be  with the testing and that there doesn't really seem to be any problems with the exhuasts.

 I dont have acess to Twitter, but maybe anyone who does can perhaps look this up and provide any further info.


As for the loco hauled London Overground are supposed to be starting to send the rest of their class 150's down to FGW  & FGW are planning to withdraw the loco hauled set that does the service down to Paignton and replace it with a DMU from the beggining of October with the 2nd loco hauled set coming off next March.

(I should have said that FGW are hoping to have enough DMU'S to perhaps allow for the loco hauled set used on the Cardiff - Taunton - Paignton diagram to be withdrawn in October although this will depend on whether FGW receieve any more class 150's from London Overground.!!!!)  As for the march date to withdraw the other loco hauled diagram  i have been told by a member of FGW staff although it could be changed

Roger Ford is not always accurate unfortunately, so lets wait and see regarding the 172s setting of the cascade of LO 150s. His twitter feed said;

"Class 172 exhaust 'problem' is not a problem says LOROL. Tests were flawed apparently and mods will not be needed after all."

Can you provide sources for the rest of your post as well anthony215?

Thanks awfully!  ;) :)

Ahem. I don't think you need to be a Twitter user to see the RSS feed, so try http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/116803918.rss (http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/116803918.rss).
Oh, and it's hearsay. (http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/einstein3.gif) (http://www.millan.net)

What is?

(Soz TJ, I edited before you could jump in!)