Wrexham & Shropshire - their rise and fall (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

1. Why can a train pulled by a DVT^▸ (Driving Van Trailer (carriage) or Deep Vein Thrombosis, depending on context) not go through certain platforms at new street but can with a loco?  And whats the major difference between them?

2. Why d they have the weirdest path ever - in through solihull - loop out east, back in through new street, out again to the M6 and then into wolverhampton

I will try and get an answer to your first question as I know someone who might know the answer.

As for routes through and around Birmingham W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)) drivers know virtually every way from Leamington to Wolverhampton. Apart maybe from Aston to New Street (Proof House Junction) which is the other leg of the circuit through New Street and the Soho Loop.

I believe on a Sunday they even use the Stour Valley direct from Wolverhampton to New Street.

As other have said Networkrail have cobbled togther paths using different combinations of routes to get them across Birmingham.

One of the of the major problems for W&S is that with the loss of the Snow Hill to Wolverhampton LL,  GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) direct route,  is that coming from Leamington W&S are forced to go LNW to Wolverhapton either via Coventry or Bordesley (part Midland). If you go via Bordesley there is no way of avoiding New Street if you go via Coventry then you can go via Stechford to Aston and the Grand Trunk. via Bescot.

There is very vague talk of a link from the Soho Loop to the Kidderminster line from Snow Hill where they cross, but don't hold your breath. The other link which was also proposed was from the Midland Derby Line North East to the LNW Stechford Aston Line avoiding New Street. There was to be a station at the junction to be called Birmingham Heartlands which would be a major  interchange to relieve pressure on New Street by allowing through passengers to change at Heartlands rather than New Street. Thus it  would allow South Coast  to NW Cross Countries to avoid New Street and also allow interchange with the SW to NE Cross Countries which will avoid New Street  via the Camp Hill line plus local interchange with LNW Coventry, International Wolverhampton trains. There would also have  been  local services to New Street via the Midland.

[willc]

Pictures of the first set (at long last) on a test working here http://www.nwrail.org.uk/ click on the noticeboard link.

[Btline]

Shame the livery with have to be replaced at the end of the year with Chiltern's!

[readytostart]

Travelled with WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway) from Tame Bridge Parkway to Banbury on Sunday, couldn't fault them!
Chicken lunch was delicious in first class.
Only thing that was a bit bizarre was thinking I'd seen the crew somewhere before, then realised it was their photos on the WSMR website!

[Btline]

I would like to try W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)) First Class out sometime, but getting to Tame Bridge Parkway is very awkward for me (and I'll actually want a decent stint in the capital). But ^74 is a lot of money for a return trip. (even if this is good value/ cheap compared to other operators) I would have to return in standard to make it ^43.

[Btline]

According to Wikiepdia, DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) have DVTs^▸ (Driving Van Trailer (carriage) or Deep Vein Thrombosis, depending on context) and one is painted in the Chiltern livery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_Van_Trailer#Current_Status

Of course, Wiki can't be 100% trusted, but it is normally reliable.

[JayMac]

I would like to try W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)) First Class out sometime, but getting to Tame Bridge Parkway is very awkward for me (and I'll actually want a decent stint in the capital). But ^74 is a lot of money for a return trip. (even if this is good value/ cheap compared to other operators) I would have to return in standard to make it ^43.

Don't forget to factor in the 2 course meal (or 3 courses for an extra ^3.95) available inclusive in first class. I've sampled this catering option and it is excellent. Not quite up to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s Pullman dining, but, that ain't inclusive! The food and drink on offer would probably cost ^15-^20 in a restaurant, so times that by two and the advance purchase first class fares make even more sense. (Even without a railcard!!). Maybe try it one way in combination with a Chiltern advance fare to/from Marylebone on the other journey leg.

[Btline]

Good idea! Use advances: go down on Chiltern from Kidderminster, and return to Tame Bridge on an Advance.

It'll just be finding a time to do it...

[IndustryInsider]

Pictures of the first set (at long last) on a test working here http://www.nwrail.org.uk/ click on the noticeboard link.

Only about a year late! The train looks pretty impressive in the picture - mind you, even a Pacer would look good crossing that viaduct!

[Chris from Nailsea]

There's also a good picture on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News site, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_enl_1252756453/html/1.stm

[devon_metro]

http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p60895278.html

[Timmer]

http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p60895278.html

Wow what a high quality refurb. W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)) standard class looks better than many TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) 1st class!

[Phil]

Some intelligent thought's gone into the placing of the plug sockets, too. Nice.

[JayMac]

Agreed. Placing the power sockets at right angles to the norm is a nice touch. Someone at WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway) realised that phone chargers etc are often larger than a standard 'plug'. Good work.

[Btline]

Agreed. Placing the power sockets at right angles to the norm is a nice touch. Someone at WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway) realised that phone chargers etc are often larger than a standard 'plug'. Good work.

They've done that because Chiltern have them like this already.