Weymouth - summer weekend loco-hauled services - 2009

[whole diary]

[thetrout]

Bring back the Class 37

[Timmer]

Bring back the Class 37

there would be no room for day trippers and holiday makers as it would be packed to the gunnels with bashers. Would be great to see 37s back on this route but I can't see it happenning sadly.

[tramway]

I'm unsure if this has any bearing on the summer timetable, and I was going to post about it elsewhere concerning an interesting ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) working through BoA^» (Bradford-on-Avon - next trains) a few days ago.

The description was from an infrequent user so details are sketchy but from a limited description I would guess a 175 working. Anyone any suggestions as to what that was about?

[devon_metro]

Probably an Arriva 150/2.

As for the 37, Deutsch Bahn are running the remaining 37/4s (which are able to provide train heat) into the ground.

[tramway]

Probably an Arriva 150/2.
 

3 car with first class?

And a number of photographers catching the event, not many taking pictures of 150's I would guess.

[devon_metro]

175s are Standard Class only!

[autotank]

If I were FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and going to run a loco hauled set I would consider 37's - think of the additional revenue from the enthusiasts. Certainly many more would travel on a 37 compared to a 67 and the costs must be similar. For a summer service, train heat surely wouldn't be required, so a couple of DRS^▸ (Direct Rail Services Ltd) or West Coast examples could be used.

[devon_metro]

Train heat includes lights which are required by law. Also I imagine cdl would not work.

[thetrout]

Network Rail charge more on the Track Usage for a Class 37 than for a Class 67 unfortunately

[devon_metro]

Which makes absolutly no sense. Axle load is far greater on a 67.

[autotank]

In the scheme of things though the track usage fee is really small beer (a few pence per mile) when compared with hire, marketing and staffing costs.

Don't MkII's have batteries that are charged by dynamos? Non ETH fitted 37's have been used on passenger trains in the past - or was this before important safety regulations were introduced?

[tramway]

175s are Standard Class only!

It will remain a mystery then. As I said he's isn't an enthusiast but thought it sufficiently interesting to have noticed it was something a bit unusual, and thought worthy of mentioning. 175 was just a guess on the very limited description as an ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) 150/158 wouldn't have stood out quite so much, although I hadn't appreciated 175's were all standard class.

[thetrout]

Which makes absolutly no sense. Axle load is far greater on a 67.

My understanding was that it was because a Class 37 has a Co-Co Bogie as apposed to a Bo-Bo on a Class 67.

I'm sure someone in the know will correct me if i'm wrong

[devon_metro]

In the scheme of things though the track usage fee is really small beer (a few pence per mile) when compared with hire, marketing and staffing costs.

Don't MkII's have batteries that are charged by dynamos? Non ETH fitted 37's have been used on passenger trains in the past - or was this before important safety regulations were introduced?

Discussing it with somebody on Saturday, the estimated the loco set lost on average ^100,000 per day of operation.

Good news this year mind, it will go in the timetable.

[autotank]

What! That is outragous - someone is making a killing. Are you sure that figure is correct? If it is I'm changing career!