Tubeguru gets a new job

[greatkingrat]

Do Plymouth drivers go all the way to Paddington, or do the services change driver en route?

[tubeguru]

Do Plymouth drivers go all the way to Paddington, or do the services change driver en route?

Some services do indeed change drivers en route, but a Plymouth driver's full route knowledge is:

Plymouth to Paddington via Bristol
Plymouth to Paddington via Westbury (the B&H line)
Plymouth to Penzance
Newton Abbot to Paignton
Par to Newquay
St Budeaux Ferry Road to Gunnislake
Laira depot

That means I would sign Brunel's entire original main line via both routes. Exeter drivers are the only other ones to do the whole line from Paddington to Penzance. As an example of a job where the Plymouth driver is relieved by someone else, next Monday my turn is the 05.30 Paddington to Swansea. I drive it as far as Bristol and then have my break.

Meanwhile, the man on Plymouth turn 62 has booked on at 04.45, driven an empty HST off Laira into Plymouth station, and then empty to Newton Abbot. Then it's change ends and down to Paignton in passenger service. Finally, it forms the 07.30 Paignton to Paddington via Bristol. He drives it all the way to Bristol where I relieve him after my break. He then has his break at Bristol, and drives a train back to Exeter, where he is relieved by an Exeter man. The Plymouth driver then travels passenger back to Plymouth.

On other occasions, you would book on at Plymouth and either start a train there or relieve a Penzance driver, and drive the train all the way to Paddington via Westbury. You'd then have your break and drive all the way back, again usually via the B&H. There are only two jobs which have Plymouth drivers driving between Bristol and Paddington via Box. I have often had them jumping into the cab at Bristol to route refresh with me.

[snudge27]

So given those various routes, does that mean you'll be driving different stock too?

[tubeguru]

So given those various routes, does that mean you'll be driving different stock too?

Yes.

What I currently sign:

HSTs
Class 08

What Plymouth drivers sign:

HSTs
Class 08
Voyagers (for moves on the depot only)
Class 150
Class 153
Class 57 (for the down sleepers from Exeter to Penzance)

So I have a bit of training to do when I get there!

[al]

I didn't know you'd be willing to 'lower' yourself to 150s and dogboxes?

[tubeguru]

I didn't know you'd be willing to 'lower' yourself to 150s and dogboxes?

Well, it will be quite interesting. And it will mean more variety of work. Plus, there is only one link at Plymouth, so everyone has to sign everything.

[jamesthegill]

Class 57 (for the down sleepers from Exeter to Penzance)

There can't be that many loco-hauled timetabled services on the British rail network these days...

[tubeguru]

Class 57 (for the down sleepers from Exeter to Penzance)

There can't be that many loco-hauled timetabled services on the British rail network these days...

No, just the FGW and ScotRail sleepers. Although ATW run a loco-hauled service. I often pass it leaving Cardiff.

[snudge27]

Class 57 (for the down sleepers from Exeter to Penzance)

There can't be that many loco-hauled timetabled services on the British rail network these days...

No, just the FGW and ScotRail sleepers. Although ATW run a loco-hauled service. I often pass it leaving Cardiff.

Do Class 90 hauled services not count?

[Garion]

If I recall correctly, ATW used to run another loco service from the valleys to/from Cardiff in the rush hours using Mark 2 carriages.

Arent there summer loco services from Cardiff to Paignton? Or have they stopped now (for good)?I used to catch one a few times last summer/summer before last and remember the distinct old smell of the Mark 2 carriages.

[tubeguru]

If I recall correctly, ATW used to run another loco service from the valleys to/from Cardiff in the rush hours using Mark 2 carriages.

Arent there summer loco services from Cardiff to Paignton? Or have they stopped now (for good)?I used to catch one a few times last summer/summer before last and remember the distinct old smell of the Mark 2 carriages.

I never know if they ever stop running the Cardiff to Paignton trains from one year to the next.

I suppose the class 90s on the Anglia routes could count, but they have DVTs on the rear, which makes them more or less the same as the class 91s on the ECML, which also have DVTs on the rear.

[snudge27]

If I recall correctly, ATW used to run another loco service from the valleys to/from Cardiff in the rush hours using Mark 2 carriages.

Arent there summer loco services from Cardiff to Paignton? Or have they stopped now (for good)?I used to catch one a few times last summer/summer before last and remember the distinct old smell of the Mark 2 carriages.

Are MkII carriages still in use anywhere on the network then?

[snudge27]

If I recall correctly, ATW used to run another loco service from the valleys to/from Cardiff in the rush hours using Mark 2 carriages.

Arent there summer loco services from Cardiff to Paignton? Or have they stopped now (for good)?I used to catch one a few times last summer/summer before last and remember the distinct old smell of the Mark 2 carriages.

I never know if they ever stop running the Cardiff to Paignton trains from one year to the next.

I suppose the class 90s on the Anglia routes could count, but they have DVTs on the rear, which makes them more or less the same as the class 91s on the ECML, which also have DVTs on the rear.

Well surely anything that is hauled by something that can operate on its own counts as a loco-hauled service, as opposed to a DMU/EMU?

[tubeguru]

If I recall correctly, ATW used to run another loco service from the valleys to/from Cardiff in the rush hours using Mark 2 carriages.

Arent there summer loco services from Cardiff to Paignton? Or have they stopped now (for good)?I used to catch one a few times last summer/summer before last and remember the distinct old smell of the Mark 2 carriages.

I never know if they ever stop running the Cardiff to Paignton trains from one year to the next.

I suppose the class 90s on the Anglia routes could count, but they have DVTs on the rear, which makes them more or less the same as the class 91s on the ECML, which also have DVTs on the rear.

Well surely anything that is hauled by something that can operate on its own counts as a loco-hauled service, as opposed to a DMU/EMU?

My point is that not many people refer to the sets used on the GNER as loco-hauled, despite the fact they are just that. I always considered having a DVT on the back as "cheating".

[jbom]

The Fife Circle has regularly had a few loco-hauled services in recent years. Someone better informed than me will know if they're still operating.