KERNOW TODAY

[Gary H]

Surely if they are OK for the NMT then they are OK for the sleeper? I'll accept they are more expensive, but the 57's seem unreliable and must be towards the end of their lives.

 

Ed

I doubt DRS can enter into another contract to supply another 4 or 5 brand new loco's TBH plus they need them for their own use.

The real biggie though is that their use on the beds would push it over the edge into being completely unviable.

It makes no money now as it is!  68's also have higher track access charge versus 57.

 

There is also the rather large problem of lots of GWR drivers being trained to drive them, this would also be very, very expensive unless you use drivers from another TOC in which case you would see GWR drivers on the Night Rivera link out of work!! = very bad news!!

In short, 68's on the Night Rivera-  its never going to happen!!

Edited May 28, 2016 by Gary H

[cornish trains jez]

They might be better off converting the HST's to run on a "top and tail basis" the sleeper. After all, they are the most successful diesel loco ever and probably more reliable than anything on our network. And we love our heritage locos!

 

However, I'd love to see the 68's roaming around Cornwall!

[Ramblin Rich]

Surely the HST power cars would need a lot of mods as the hauled stock have different electrical supply needs to HST stock? Back to back HST power cars have hauled the sleeper but needs another loco to provide ETH....

[Gary H]

Surely the HST power cars would need a lot of mods as the hauled stock have different electrical supply needs to HST stock? Back to back HST power cars have hauled the sleeper but needs another loco to provide ETH....

Indeed. PC's supply 415 v  3 phase ETS where as Night Riv stock is single 850- 1000 v.

[Gary H]

Contrary to or as well as my earlier posting,

top and tail class 68's on Northern Belle to Cornwall next Saturday.

[winterbournecm]

An extraordinary day on the Newquay line with the failure of 1S55 working 11.32 Newquay to Edinburgh enroute from Newquay to Goonbarrow on Sunday 29^th May 2016. The service was returned to Newquay & GWR’s 57605 scrambled from Long Rock to assist the passenger onward from Newquay as 1T55 as far as Plymouth. The loco was crewed by Mike Mahoney from Penzance with John Beale from Par conducting. Fitters from Long Rock attended to couple the loco to the errant set at Newquay. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[brianusa]

Hi Craig, thanks for the pictures. Those at Goonbarrow are a microcosm of the 'good old days', semaphore, points, sidings and a loop. Even a signal box and telephone pole - doesn't get any better than this.

 

Brian.

[Gary H]

An extraordinary day on the Newquay line with the failure of 1S55 working 11.32 Newquay to Edinburgh enroute from Newquay to Goonbarrow on Sunday 29^th May 2016. The service was returned to Newquay & GWR’s 57605 scrambled from Long Rock to assist the passenger onward from Newquay as 1T55 as far as Plymouth. The loco was crewed by Mike Mahoney from Penzance with John Beale from Par conducting. Fitters from Long Rock attended to couple the loco to the errant set at Newquay. 

 

57605 newquay (4).jpeg

 

57605 newquay (34).jpeg

 

57605 newquay (13).jpeg

 

57605 newquay (18).jpeg

 

57605 newquay (26).jpeg

 

57605 newquay (31).jpeg

What was the fault with the HST set, Craig? DSD, AWS related?

I wonder if this was a first for a 57 upto Newquay?

Edited May 30, 2016 by Gary H

[edcayton]

Oi! That's my home town you're talking about.

 

Ed

[Gary H]

Oi! That's my home town you're talking about.

 

Ed

Sorry Ed.  

[edcayton]

It's a bit like Stevenage on holiday now.

 

Ed

[Gary H]

It's a bit like Stevenage on holiday now.

 

Ed

Its gone fairly nuts all over the place this weekend, good weather makes all the difference.

[winterbournecm]

What was the fault with the HST set, Craig? DSD, AWS related?

I wonder if this was a first for a 57 upto Newquay?

Coolant issue 43378. 

[winterbournecm]

The fantastic start to Summer 2016 continues. The Rhododendron is out - my particular favourite time of the calendar. Here's Chacewater & Tregurno in full bloom. 

 

 

[brianusa]

Lovely rhodies; they enhance many a Cornish railway bank. Great picture.

 

Brian.

[Co-tr-Paul]

Must i really see shots of fellow staff when im on holiday...... please keep to trains !!!!!!!!!!

 

Just catching up, if we were to hire 68s on the CNR, all staff would have to be retrained, including fitters and the rebuild of Long Rock would not happen as most of the new equipment is for 57s, we shall be their allocation not OC. Franchise contract for DRS hire runs out 2019 and our 57s can cope well enough. Because its a small fleet on a high profile service, no matter what hauls it, if something happens no matter how trivial, it will go through the mass media. And get rewiring for 43s out as well, despite considered for part of refurbishment plan, too old and expensive and locos required elsewhere.

 

apparently misseds a nice Colas 37 in PZ...... .

[Captain Kernow]

Heading through Saltash......

 

Nice bit of video, thanks, but why was the loco blinking so much?

[cornish trains jez]

Nice bit of video, thanks, but why was the loco blinking so much?

I've noticed this on quite a few videos of the 68's. No idea why unless it has something to do with the effect of the lights on the camera lens.

[Foo]

Led lights aren't a solid light. They're actually flashing at say 30hz. The cameras frame rate is max of about 60fps which doesn't sync and makes the led appear to flash

[Gary H]

I've noticed this on quite a few videos of the 68's. No idea why unless it has something to do with the effect of the lights on the camera lens.

Its the way youtube scales down video's Jez. You can sometimes see information screens on platforms doing the same thing when re played back on youtube.

[edcayton]

I have noticed this when car brake lights are shown on TV (eg BTCC).

 

Ed

[Gary H]

Here's the times for the return Class 68's from Par later if any ones out and about with the camera.

 

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U64023/2016-06-04

[GWRPhil]

Here's the times for the return Class 68's from Par later if any ones out and about with the camera.

 

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U64023/2016-06-04

Will be good to see the 68 in kernow again. If anyone gets pics of it I have a dedicated feed to the 68. Please feel free to post pics there

 

Here's the link.

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/108417-class-68-photos-including-vossloh-bi-mode-class-88/page-3

[Not Captain Kernow]

A few of mine from yesterday

 

Class 57/6 Diesel number 57 603 "Tintagel Castle" passes Dolcoath with 5P70 1015 Long Rock to Par ecs, with a cheery wave from driver Lee McDonald

 

 

Class 68s 68 016 "Fearless" and 68 017 "Hornet" pass Carn Brea with the Northern Belle ecs

 

 

 

On the blocks at Penzance

 

 

 

 

Class 43 HST Power Car number 43 207 with 43 321 at the rear arrive at Penzance with 1V48 0745 York to Penzance

 

 

 

Class 68s on the return ecs through Marazion

 

 

 

Class 43 HST Power Car number 43 181 with 43 163 at the rear pass Dolcoath with 1C81 1206 London Paddington to Penzance

 

 

Class 43 HST Power Car number 43 321 with 43 207 at the rear pass Dolcoath with 1E75 1625 Penzance to Leeds

 

[Not Captain Kernow]

27th May, 68 017 "Hornet" on a route learner through Roskear

 

 

 

29th May, Class 153 Single Car Sprinter DMU Set number 153 377 in multiple with Class 150/1 2 Car Sprinter DMU Set number 150 129 arrive at Bodmin Parkway with 2C49 1605 Exeter St Davids to Penzance

 

 

Class 57/6 Diesel Locomotive number 57 605 named "Totnes Castle" passes Bodmin Parkway with 1T55 1655 Newquay to Plymouth.  Class 43 HST Power Car number 43 378 + XC05 + 43 366 are in the consist having failed earlier on the Newquay branch while working 1S55 1132 Newquay to Edinburgh.  Due to the large number of passengers at Newquay the train was worked as a passenger service to Plymouth instead of ECS

 

 

 

2nd June - Class 43 HST Power Car number 43 069 with 43 002 named "Sir Kenneth Grange" at the rear are seen at Camborne with 1A81 0844 Penzance to London Paddington

 

 

2nd June - Class 37/0 Diesel Locomotive number 37 116 is seen stabled at Penzance having arrived with 3Q91 2002 from Exeter Riverside Yard

 

 

3rd June - Class 153 Single Car Sprinter DMU Set number 153 368 in multiple with 153 361 are seen departing Falmouth Docks with 2T73 1050 Falmouth Docks to Truro

 

 

Class 43 HST Power Car number 43 014 named "The Railway Observer" with 43 013 at the rear arrive at Falmouth Docks with 1Q18 0525 Old Oak Common HST to Paignton

 

 

Edited June 5, 2016 by Not Captain Kernow