Great Western Coffee Shop

Also affecting the main line:

Hey, at least we're not trying to get south of East Croydon where a burst water main has created a bank landslip - nowt likely to move for at least 24 hours!

Does anybody now what failed ?    Presumably not DMU as these can be rescued quickly by another Unit.  Suggest freight or HST.

They have the fast lines back now. Those on the left here:  http://www.southernrailway.com/uploads/images/large/1705.JPG

Must have caused massive crowding on FGW's North Downs route for a while, SWT Waterloo/Clapham Jn to Guildford then FGW to Gatwick was being advised for airport passengers earlier apparently..

Paul

Getting back to Westbury - seems the problems will also affect tonight's westbound sleeper. 

From FGW Website

Its got so much layover / slack in the timings that it ought not to be late west of Plymouth

To be honest I've known "day" trains leave Reading 45 mins down and still arrive in Penzance on time!

Delay on the sleeper now 90 mins.

It might almost go via Bristol TM now, leaving on time, surely?

Is it possible they're trying desperately to fix a 57 at Old Oak Common?

Heard rumour that last night's Down Sleeper failed at Swindon. The Up Sleeper rescued it, becoming the Down. Pax for the Down were transferred and pax from the Up were put onto a HST from Swindon to Paddington.

Doubt it. There's engineering work between Swindon and Bath tonight.

a good theory here! but this would not of caused problems at westbury earlier?
is there any sites online we can refer to, to see past departure and arrivals, and look to see arrival time into say taunton or plymouth

If they are they must be pretty confident of fixing it if they are allowing people to board.

LDB is just saying 'Delayed' for all stops on the Down Sleeper.

Could it be that the 'broken down train' at Westbury was a Class 57 and after being fixed it is still making it's way to Paddington? Perhaps after last night's failure the loco was moved to Westbury and failed again before being recently fixed. Just a thought.....

I was supposed to be in Manchester by now!  I'm still in London!  Took me four hours to get to Waterloo from grotwick

Now that makes sense as there are no late running incoming passenger services which could account for the delay if crew were coming off them.

Gatwick & Manchester.  And you moan about me and Swindon! ;D

I found out about the problems at South Croydon after I'd started this post. At least National Rail have had the sense to post a picture of the problem (as at 12:08 on Aug 1), at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/additional_info/South_Croydon.jpg (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/additional_info/South_Croydon.jpg).

And within this group, why am I not surprised that our own Mookiemoo ends up being involved?

1106 Paignton to Paddington failed at Westbury around 1pm so most likely the cause.

Thanks d_m. My speculation was 100% wrong.   :-[

Now. Why then is 1A99 delayed tonight? If they are having problems with 57s, seems a bit odd to be confident of a departure, albeit 90 mins late.

1C99 23:45 Padd to PNZ delayed awaiting class 57 which left Old Oak for Westbury at approx 2100 this evening to rescue the failed HST that has been sat on platfrom 3 at Westbury since 13:30.

I have been informed by colleagues that at 01:20 the 57 + hst are just approaching Ealing B way now!! Sleepers are likely to be 180 mins late start???

only around 10 drivers sign 57 main line at Pad depot, so that was why the 57 could not go any earlier as no other driver available.

Subsequent discussion about the late departing Night Riviera on Mon 1st Aug and it's brisk run to the south west has been moved to a more relevant board:

   
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=9300.0

I'm not known as reggie for nothing!

I am currently on the 0617 Euston to Stockport!

Which I am mightily pissed off about.  Bearing in mind I annoyed the client by leaving at 1630 yesterday because of said land slip and still did not make Manchester last night so still had to get up at 0515 I am not a happy bunny