Closure of Old Oak Common (81A) December 2018

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

The 7th /  8th December will see GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) closing Old Oak Common TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot).   This once mighty depot has seen a progressive closure and demolition over the recent years.

There is however the Elizabeth Line Train Care Facility and on the other side of the main line North Pole, so there is still maintenance and operations life left on the site;  however for many like myself that have worked at the Oak the final closure of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) Shed and the withdrawal of main line maintenance as being as sad day.  I can remember working in the new HST Shed in 1976 as an apprentice a vastly different working environment to the Factory


Old Oak Common (81A) 17 March 1906 - 7 December 2018 you have the served the railway well

[bobm]

I still miss the iconic sight of the Old Oak Common signalbox as you passed the depot.
 

[REVUpminster]

Does this mean the 1733 Paignton and 1803 Penzance will finally be IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)). They seem very wary of using IET's on these two services.

[Robin Summerhill]

  I can remember working in the new HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) Shed in 1976 as an apprentice a vastly different working environment to the Factory

I can remember "bunking" it as a kid in 1963 when there were still Castles, Counties and Halls in the roundhouse...

[Adelante_CCT]

Does this mean the 1733 Paignton and 1803 Penzance will finally be IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)). They seem very wary of using IET's on these two services.

Not necessarily, as these two services end the day away from London, so could be candidates for HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) running until they are all withdrawn next year

[Dispatch Box]

I still miss the iconic sight of the Old Oak Common signalbox as you passed the depot.
 

Seem to remember the Old Oak Panel Box closed in 1993 As Paddington was resignalled to the then Slough new box,until that went also.Hence the reason for
signals starting with SN1 SN3 SN5 And so on.

[REVUpminster]

Does this mean the 1733 Paignton and 1803 Penzance will finally be IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)). They seem very wary of using IET's on these two services.

Not necessarily, as these two services end the day away from London, so could be candidates for HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) running until they are all withdrawn next year

I don't where to look for the diagrams but I am sure the 17.33 Paignton comes out of Old Oak Common works passenger London-Paignton-Newton Abbot then empty to Laira

[JayMac]

Tonight the 1733 (1C91) has 8 coaches. That means it must be a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)).

The 1803 (1C92) came off Old Oak Common, so that too points to it being a HST. Although anyone fancying a Friday night dinner would have been disappointed. No Pullman service on it tonight.

[Electric train]

I still miss the iconic sight of the Old Oak Common signalbox as you passed the depot.
 

Seem to remember the Old Oak Panel Box closed in 1993 As Paddington was resignalled to the then Slough new box,until that went also.Hence the reason for
signals starting with SN1 SN3 SN5 And so on.

That was Old Oak Common Panel Signal Box, bobm may have been refereeing to Old Oak Common Yard Signal Box with is access bridge off of the Grand Union Canal towpath.

The OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) Panel Box was the first of its kind.


Its is highly unlikely HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) will go into North Pole as that is Hitachie and not GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway); also its is not configured to service HSTs

[grahame]

Its is highly unlikely HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) will go into North Pole as that is Hitachie and not GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway); also its is not configured to service HSTs

Out to Reading, I believe.   Have I heard something about the noise issues they're causing there when ticking over, or was I imagining that?   Sounds like Reading has been set up to take HSTs only for a relatively short period - doesn't sound like that's an efficient way to spend money - perhaps the result of having to deal with a slippage in one schedule or another.

[eightonedee]

Out to Reading, I believe.

HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) as well? Reading's "shed" will have Electrostars, Turbos, the Night Riveria stock, and an old fashioned shunter as well. The town's depot  will not have seen such variety since the old shed hosted everything from 14xxs to Castles!

[Adelante_CCT]

The odd HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) has been parking up here at Reading TCD during the day, and it was used by quite a few HSTs a Christmas or two ago when Paddington was closed.

[JayMac]

The final HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) movement from Old Oak Common is this Saturday, 8th December 2018. Subject to the usual operational caveats of course.

5C24 1645 Old Oak Common - London Paddington 1705
1C24 1730 London Paddington - Weston-super-Mare 1950

End of an era.

[Dispatch Box]

The final HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) movement from Old Oak Common is this Saturday, 8th December 2018. Subject to the usual operational caveats of course.

5C24 1645 Old Oak Common - London Paddington 1705
1C24 1730 London Paddington - Weston-super-Mare 1950

End of an era.

What is going to happen to the site, Is it to be new sidings.

[RobT]

The final HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) movement from Old Oak Common is this Saturday, 8th December 2018. Subject to the usual operational caveats of course.

5C24 1645 Old Oak Common - London Paddington 1705
1C24 1730 London Paddington - Weston-super-Mare 1950

End of an era.

From the OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) Facebook page:

Many thanks to our planners and Network Rail, there has been a platform alteration following our request for the last HST from 81A Old Oak Common Saturday 8th December 5C24 16+45 to now arrive 17+04 into Paddington Platform 1.
 That is the plan, but is all subject to change depending on what happens on the day