Strengthening of Weymouth Trains

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Sorry to come in on this subject , but there is a real possibility , not just rumour , that there will be loco hauled trains between Bristol and Weymouth for nine weeks of the summer service. They are in the advanced planning stages to run a train a day , 7 days a week between Bristol and Weymouth using 47's and coaching stock ! If it happens it happens, if it doesn't , it wasn't through lack of trying !!


pete

Lets hope, if this is true, that it does work out. Would be a bit like old times a 47 operating on this route again. Certainly a more powerful and reliable piece of traction to use. The 31s a few years back really struggled to keep to the timetable but the power of a 47 should give a better performance. Certainly get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) back in my good books again for now at least.

Whistleblower, anyone mutterings about this amongst your colleagues?

[Jim]

Sorry to come in on this subject , but there is a real possibility , not just rumour , that there will be loco hauled trains between Bristol and Weymouth for nine weeks of the summer service. They are in the advanced planning stages to run a train a day , 7 days a week between Bristol and Weymouth using 47's and coaching stock ! If it happens it happens, if it doesn't , it wasn't through lack of trying !!


pete

Lets hope, if this is true, that it does work out. Would be a bit like old times a 47 operating on this route again. Certainly a more powerful and reliable piece of traction to use. The 31s a few years back really struggled to keep to the timetable but the power of a 47 should give a better performance. Certainly get FGW^▸ (First Great Western) back in my good books again for now at least.

Whistleblower, anyone mutterings about this amongst your colleagues?

But I prefer 31's

[peterswest]

I think you'll find that the work maybe "sub-contracted" out to another operating company !!

Pete

[Jim]

I think you'll find that the work maybe "sub-contracted" out to another operating company !!

Pete

More than likely, but with 8 weeks? till the start, they will need to use there drivers as well

[whistleblower]

Whistleblower, anyone mutterings about this amongst your colleagues?

Oh frigging hell

(Front door operation for small platforms, drawing the guard's van forward for bikes or push chairs, guards van operation for the short Castle Cary platform 3, hanging out the window in the pouring rain waving a red lamp to tell the driver to stop at request stops...please have mercy  )

Haven't heard of this one.  The only conductors trained on coaching stock are at Westbury and most of the Weymouth turns are diagrammed for Bristol crews.  As Jim says, I doubt there are any drivers who have route knowledge and traction.  Several of the 31 drivers have left since we ran them.  To wet lease a train and crew for one round trip a day would be prohibitive.......wouldn't it?

I'll let you know if I hear anything (above the hysterical laughter )

Of course, the man who brought in the 31s for Wessex as the ultimate solution to all their overcrowding problems is now Senior Controller, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) West and is a rail enthusiast.............  Imagine a scenario where the board of directors suddenly find themselves in a total panic about Weymouth and turn to their most senior operations man and ask "What can we possibly do, Jon?"

I'd better iron my green flag just in case.  One question - whenever the 31s moved anywhere there was always half a coach load of 'enthusiasts' on it (sometimes they would be the only passengers!).  Would 47s generate the same amount of people?  If so it might need extra strengthening!

[Scooby]

As already suggested the crew (well drivers at least) will be hired in. Guess it could end up with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) guards, at least for revenue, if not the whole job. Set should be top and tailed and spend the day at Weymouth running seven days a week for nine weeks. Its not just a rumor.

[whistleblower]

OK.  I've checked the date and it's not April 1st, so I'll have to accept that you guys are serious.

(Short break while whistleblower weeps into his coffee and thinks desperately of ways to get out of operating it).

Next thing to do is announce this news in Westbury mess room when I book on later. Looking forward to this bit   If anybody has any more details before 1300 please post them to give me more ammunition.

I suppose there must be a more unsuitable line somewhere in the country for coaching stock trains, but I can't think of it............

[Timmer]

I'd better iron my green flag just in case.  One question - whenever the 31s moved anywhere there was always half a coach load of 'enthusiasts' on it (sometimes they would be the only passengers!).  Would 47s generate the same amount of people?  If so it might need extra strengthening!

Ummmm possibly but I don't think 47s have the same following as all the other old locos from yesteryear. Having said that, anything that consists of a loco and coaches will attract 'enthusiasts' because it is such a rarity nowadays...I may even take a trip on it!!!

Be interesting to see what stock is used and whether or not FGW^▸ (First Great Western) still have their rakes of MK2 stock down at Laira that could be used.

[Timmer]

OK.  I've checked the date and it's not April 1st, so I'll have to accept that you guys are serious.

(Short break while whistleblower weeps into his coffee and thinks desperately of ways to get out of operating it).

Well so far Whistleblower this is the only place that I've heard it but the posts on this site seem pretty definate about this happening I must say. I did ask if anyone knew on ukrailway last night but so far no one has replied, which is nothing new as you really have to pick the right topic on that site or say something provocative to get a reply.

Next thing to do is announce this news in Westbury mess room when I book on later. Looking forward to this bit   If anybody has any more details before 1300 please post them to give me more ammunition.

Will be interesting to hear what the reaction is...if it's printable . Suggest waiting till everyone has finished their coffee first so they don't either spit it across the room or cry into it 

Anyways hope you have good afternoon and if I hear or see anything I will of course post it on this site.

I suppose there must be a more unsuitable line somewhere in the country for coaching stock trains, but I can't think of it............

Good point but it's been this way since the days of steam. There just seems to be something about this line that loco and coaches just love and they just keep coming back for more. I do realise that to work them isnt as straightforward as a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) set and you have my understanding on that one.

[whistleblower]

Thanks, Timmer.  Just off now to see if anybody's heard.  There will probably be some spotters on the platform - they might know!  I'll post tomorrow if I hear anything

[Scooby]

It seems to be fairly common knowledge now, trains to be provided by Riviera Trains as part of their 'charter allience' involving EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) who will provide the crew. Traction should be Riviera 47/8s, although EWS 37s have also been rumored. It is confirmed this WILL happen.

[Jim]

Brilliant! Whistleblower must be looking forowrd to working some PROPER trains 

[Timmer]

Thanks, Timmer.  Just off now to see if anybody's heard.  There will probably be some spotters on the platform - they might know!  I'll post tomorrow if I hear anything

Maybe you won't need to iron your green flag after all Whistleblower. Jon Porter, who posts on ukrailway and looks to work for FGW^▸ (First Great Western), replied to my post saying 'No sorry' to this happening. All I will say is someone is wrong on this one and until I see something official either from FGW or in the railway press then I won't believe it. Does anyone have any links to sites where this is being discussed? We've seen rumours like this before and nothing has happened.

[Jim]

We will find out in a few weeks! The thing is I have not seen any of these rumours on "Railway gen groups" so Timmer could well be right, but only time will tell

[whistleblower]

Brilliant! Whistleblower must be looking forowrd to working some PROPER trains 

 

None of the Westbury crew had heard anything, but that's not surprising as nobody tells us anything anyway.  And as it's a BH weekend there are no managers within 20 miles of a railway station!  Using EWS^▸ (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, now known as DB Schenker Rail (UK^▸ (United Kingdom))) drivers makes sense.  We worked out that there are about 8 drivers at Westbury who have experience on locos and, assuming they volunteered, they would need a conversion course.  Split over two shifts, I'm not sure it is enough to cover sickness, leave and all the other stuff that has to be covered.

Guards would be OK as most Westbury and all Weymouth conductors are trained.  But it might take a manager with a blunt instrument to get them on board!  Somebody suggested throwing a ^20 note into the guards van (on a bit of elastic) and slamming the door behind them might do the trick