GWR IET diagrams.

[whole diary]

[BBM]

The one IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) I did see was (I think) 1C15 to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) (and it was just 1x800), but despite all the electricity so expensively provided for its use it was running on diesel power. Ungrateful or what?

From the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum (info may be subject to confirmation):

https://www.wnxxforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=447915#p447915

Is there any truth in the rumour the 800s on AC power are dropping axle counters beyons Maidenhead during testing ?


It's not a rumour....

In fairness it's not the trains fault, 800m of cable needs to be replaced in Sonning Cutting.

It'll be interesting to see if one of the diagrams doesn't run out of fuel on Friday when it does the whole diagram.

[ChrisB]

Why should that be the case when running on electric & not on diesel though? An axle is an axle surely?

[stuving]

Why should that be the case when running on electric & not on diesel though? An axle is an axle surely?

Surely that question relates to our old friend interference (from traction to comms)?

Mind you, the only thing that distinguishes axle counters is having cables leading to the track, which are designed for being there. More than that, the axle counters were put in specifically to remove traction current interference, since track circuits are worse. And the Thales ones used in GW^▸ (Great Western) are a German design and can cope with electromagnetic track brakes. So it sounds a bit unlikely.

[TonyK]

And the Thales ones used in GW^▸ (Great Western) are a German design and can cope with electromagnetic track brakes. So it sounds a bit unlikely.

Ah, the Four Sprung Duck Technique, eh Rodney!

[DidcotPunter]

Reported on WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) forum that Network Rail have replaced the signalling cable at Sonning and that class 800s are now running in electric mode from Reading towards Paddington without any ill-effects on the signalling (yet).

[BBM]

Reported on WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) forum that Network Rail have replaced the signalling cable at Sonning and that class 800s are now running in electric mode from Reading towards Paddington without any ill-effects on the signalling (yet).

I've just been looking at RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) and it appears that 1B40 1345 London Paddington to Swansea (diagrammed for 800s) did PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^‡(resolve) in just 22 minutes today, presumably on electric power all the way?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C55347/2018/01/05/advanced

[Oxonhutch]

Did 22 minutes on the 1630 Taunton yesterday. Fastest PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-RDG^‡(resolve) journey I have done yet - and had the passage up to and through Ealing been more eager - I think they might have shaved another minute or so off it.

[martyjon]

How does the 22 minutes compare to the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) run, timed by the Late O. S. Nock, of the Silver Jubilee special run in 1977. Admittedly this was a non-stop Paddington  - Bristol run to compliment the same mornings Up non-stop run Bristol - Paddington both of which set the records for non-stop journeys between the two cities.

[rogerw]

When the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) were introduced in 1976 the standard time to Reading was 22 mins.  However, in those days, the exit from Paddington was much faster than is now the case.

[IndustryInsider]

Plus there was no such thing as ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) or OTMR^▸ (On Train Monitoring Recorder), so the driver sometimes used to ‘see what she can do...’ 

[stuving]

Reported on WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) forum that Network Rail have replaced the signalling cable at Sonning and that class 800s are now running in electric mode from Reading towards Paddington without any ill-effects on the signalling (yet).

I know, I saw one leave Reading electrically today. I didn't see how it came in from Didcot - is there still a problem on this section?

[Oxonhutch]

When the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) were introduced in 1976 the standard time to Reading was 22 mins.  However, in those days, the exit from Paddington was much faster than is now the case.

Maybe I've done it faster then [1978!]. Those were the days. 

[TonyK]

As an aside, can you tell from RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) or other sources in the public domain whether the service is HST^▸ (High Speed Train) or IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)?

[stuving]

As an aside, can you tell from RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) or other sources in the public domain whether the service is HST^▸ (High Speed Train) or IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)?

You can tell from the length on the station CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) (via http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/index.html), but only until it leaves there. Of course you can also look at somewhere later on its route, but once it's terminated that won't work either. And it wouldn't distinguish a 9-car IET from a 2+9 HST (if they was ever relevant).

[TonyK]

You can tell from the length on the station CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) (via http://iris2.rail.co.uk/tiger/index.html), but only until it leaves there. Of course you can also look at somewhere later on its route, but once it's terminated that won't work either. And it wouldn't distinguish a 9-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) from a 2+9 HST^▸ (High Speed Train) (if they was ever relevant).

Thanks stuving - new to me!