A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

johoare

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Posts: 2818

A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« on: March 13, 2008, 21:31:10 »

At about 10.15am today, a very strange train went through Maidenhead.. At first I thought it was a freight train as the engines at either end were the ones that are always seen on freight trains.. However as it went through, I saw that it had a mixture of midland mainline carriages and virgin carriages.. And there were passengers on board.. It was on the relief line but didn't stop...

Have FGW^▸ run out of engine units now?


« Last Edit: March 13, 2008, 21:42:54 by johoare »	Logged

dog box

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Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2008, 21:35:29 »

Was it a charter train?? ex virgin mk2 coaches probably


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BBM

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Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2008, 21:45:47 »

Quite possibly a charter to Cheltenham for the races?


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johoare

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Posts: 2818

Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2008, 21:47:26 »

Ooh yes.. thank you... I didn't think of Cheltenham.. I think I saw the same train at Paddington when I got there Tuesday morning... That would explain it then!


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John R

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Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2008, 00:04:07 »

1Z32 Paddington to Cheltenham running Tue to Friday this week for the Festival. Scheduled service rather than a charter I believe.


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swlines

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Posts: 1178

Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2008, 00:51:15 »

Yup, 0940 London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa. Here be the timings!

Destination                Booked timings
London Paddington                 0940
Ladbroke Grove             pass   0943
Acton West                 pass   0946
Southall                   pass   0951
Heathrow Airport Jn        pass   0957
Slough                     pass   1003
Maidenhead                 pass   1011
Twyford                    pass   1019
Reading                    1025 ~ 1032 (PU^▸  (stops to Pick Up only) ONLY)
Reading West Jn            pass   1034
Didcot Parkway             pass   1047
Wantage Road               pass   1052
Challow                    pass   1057
Swindon                    1106 ~ 1107
Swindon Loco Yard          pass   1132
Kemble                     pass   1142
Stroud St Mary's LC^▸  (Level Crossing)        pass   1151
Standish Junction          pass   1203
Gloucester Yard Jn         pass   1207
Barnwood Jn                pass   1209
Cheltenham Spa             1216


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Chris from Nailsea

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Justice for Cerys Piper and Theo Griffiths please!

Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2008, 00:59:37 »

Thanks, Tom!

But, (and I'm probably going to seem like a newbie here!), is this scheduled service (rather than a charter) still given a 'zulu' headcode? From previous posts in this forum, I thought a Z headcode was a temporary/replacement service?


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William Huskisson MP^▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.

Ollie

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Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2008, 01:37:07 »

"Z" is used for services outside normal timetable, hence why the specials to Cheltenham given the Z headcode.


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eightf48544

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Posts: 4574

Re: A strange train went through Maidenhead this morning

« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2008, 11:52:30 »

If those were the timings of the 09:40 what was the driver doing pulling the train himself?

Slough 23 mins vice 16 for a Trubo Padd to stop.

Reading 45 mins for 36 miles! Then a 7 minute stop!

Swindon 1 hr 26 for 77 miles. Under 60 avaerage.

Then Swindon loco yard pass 11:32 having left Swindon at 11:07! Waitng for an Up train on the single line from Kemble?

Presumably it ran Relief line to Didcot or was it serve breakfast before they got to Cheltenham.


« Last Edit: March 14, 2008, 11:57:37 by eightf48544 »	Logged

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