Atomic Systems

FGW HST's on the Hounslow Loop? What's that all about? Spotted by my wife yesterday and both of us today whilst walking the dog.

Are they charters or Diversions due to engineering? If so where are they coming from, going to and by what routing as they get to Central London.

Those of us in Brentford and points west would have been delighted to have a Paddington Service but the geniuses that waste money on flagship transport projects in this country obviously couldn't "make" enough on a sensible project like that....

Still I digress.... how unusual for me... NOT!

Geoff

Fantastic - that's something I'd like to see.

FGW services to the West of England are being diverted to/from Waterloo (via Basingstoke/LSWR to Exeter) as Reading is closed this week for engineering works.

I get to see the services to/from South Wales, diverted via Oxford/Banbury.

Michael

yerkes wrote:Fantastic - that's something I'd like to see.

FGW services to the West of England are being diverted to/from Waterloo (via Basingstoke/LSWR to Exeter) as Reading is closed this week for engineering works.

I get to see the services to/from South Wales, diverted via Oxford/Banbury.

Michael

I'll take a camera tomorrow and try and grab a shot. Nice and warm (all things are relative) today but constant "mizzle" here. I'm not THAT dedicated a rail fan to stand around in that for a shot

If you can point me at a revised timetable I would stand a better chance.

Geoff

Sure thing.

For details of all services, see http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=4888

For your neck of the woods, see http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Docu ... ngland.pdf

I was standing for half an hour in freezing fog at Heyford earlier today... well, these sorts of diversions don't happen very often!

Michael

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the links. We exercise the dog in a recreation ground and the line runs right past on an embankment. There is a footbridge that we continue the walk on that gives good shots too. The local SWT are every 15 minutes so the HST's will have to fit in with those I guess. Of course all services out of Waterloo are stopping so I'm guessing that they won't shave much off the Waterloo to Brentford time?

I see a lot of 66's (occasional 59) usually with containers or track/MOW(?) trains. Rarest beast so far has been a 73 thunderbird in SWT light engine and going a fair lick. The loop is used a lot by steam specials and even see diesel specials occasionally. I stood around for ages some time back to get a video of an A4 hauled special on said footbridge only to get a clear 5 seconds worth and then nought but a cloud of steam until it was well over the trains length past me. "Result" out has to better "Effort" in as far as I'm concerned so I haven't bothered doing that again.

Hope you got some worthwhile stuff in the fog. It can be very moody ....or just look naff?

Geoff

Hi Geoff,

Interesting. I don't know if the FGW services are all scheduled to run via Hounslow; I know the loop is used for fast services (usually diverted Pompeys or Wessex services) as an alternative to the Richmond route - I've done that occasionally, when I used to live in Guildford.

Fog can be a pain - as you say, it's either atmospheric or naff. Seeing HSTs roaring towards me has always given me a bit of a thrill, however, right from the time I first saw them at Reading in the 70s (there were more non-stop trains in those days). I think the fog accentuated the thrill. I uploaded a clip - you can see what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfLoyEDHJ-k

Michael

Hi Michael,

I have to say that IMO the HST has to be one of THE great rail design classics. I remember standing on Westbourne Park station waiting for an H&C train to take me to East Ham and seeing the "Blue Pullman" sets running out of Paddington. They looked pretty naff, sounded DREADFUL and, I've subsequently learned, gave a really bad ride. A few years later the same journey gave me sightings of HST's. By contrast they looked good, sounded better and have been with us for decades now. I used to shop in Waitrose in West Ealing and they pass so close to the car park there it's breathtaking. A high speed section of the line where they pass within feet and with you at track level. Anyone unimpressed by that must be brain dead?

After watching the video I looked at your rail pics on Picassa. You've some great shots there. One of the best perspectives of the San Fransico Trolleys I've seen. Loved the Amtrack shots too. It makes me chuckle that they often have two locos on a four car train!!! Makes the Class117 DMU's with their 150hp engines I used to commute into Paddington in look pretty special really? HOW many hp do they use to move four cars?!

I seem to be jinxed as far as the Acton depot museum is concerned. I seem to remeber it THE dat after the last opening.... every time

I really must set up a Picassa account. I've loads of stuff sitting on my hard drive that might interest fellow rail fans.

Cheers

Geoff

PS IF I get a shot of the HST's through Brentford I'll post it here ...but SWMBO may have other priorities

Looking forward to seeing the movie of the HST at Brentford! The (good) excuse I usually use is to take the kids out for some fresh air - my wife never objects!

Thanks for the kind comments re the photos.

Well having studied the timetables I arranged to be at the bridge when it seemed an HST should be due. Soon realised that the 15 minute interval service was running as usual

Click the image to zoom in

Then just when I expected the HST I got

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Continued the "circuit" with the dawg ....and as we approached the bridge over the Grand Union I heard a train

Click the image to zoom in

Same old same old but Iusually don't have a camera with me.
At the end of the GU Dock I waiteds for anything else to appear and got some 450's again.

Click the image to zoom in

The light was bad today and my Canon is good at 100 iso, gets grainy at 200 and you need to have the picture at 400!

Video adds sound but with the noise from the A4, M4 and aircraft taking off from heatrow you'd have to be lucky to hear the train, The HST I saw was just pootling along. No roar, or whine etc.

Maybe tomorrow?

Geoff

Nice selection of pictures anyway, Geoff! Hope you have some success tomorrow.

Michael

lateagain wrote:Loved the Amtrack shots too. It makes me chuckle that they often have two locos on a four car train!!! Makes the Class117 DMU's with their 150hp engines I used to commute into Paddington in look pretty special really? HOW many hp do they use to move four cars?!

Apparently the (commercially owned) railways which Amtrak operate over require two locomotives to guard against breakdowns - similar to the requirements for preserved traction on Network Rail. But it is true that Amtrak is a very inefficient operation.

Kromaatikse wrote:

lateagain wrote:Loved the Amtrack shots too. It makes me chuckle that they often have two locos on a four car train!!! Makes the Class117 DMU's with their 150hp engines I used to commute into Paddington in look pretty special really? HOW many hp do they use to move four cars?!

Apparently the (commercially owned) railways which Amtrak operate over require two locomotives to guard against breakdowns - similar to the requirements for preserved traction on Network Rail. But it is true that Amtrak is a very inefficient operation.

That's interesting, and indeed makes sense.

With much greater distances and much more single track operation I can see that a breakdown could be a real issue. Even with double tracking and "thunderbirds" as well as our much shorter journeys a breakdown causes delays. The competition in the States for freight with road haulage etc. and with a highly developed internal airline network pretty much guarantees that freight will always have priority. The NE corridor and the major US cities' transit systems are closer to European rail practice but even here to go by rail has to be a specific choice. Shorter journeys are quicker by car and longer ones quicker (in theory ) by air. Even with Europe’s High Speed trains there's an "optimum" distance they do best?

Back on topic I came through Waterloo yesterday at about 4:20 and there was no sign of HST's so I guess I'll not get the shot now?

Geoff

I have to say, it was very odd hearing the diesel throb of a HST at Waterloo (Fiancee was working there for a time and HST were there at same time). Went through Paddington later the same day (as seeing HST at Waterloo) and couldn't believe how quiet it was. 8 or 9 HST do make a lot of noise, 2 are nothing in relation! Also a bit odd not seeing any fly past me when on slow line (Heathrow Connect)!

I only found out on the last day and didn't really get any pictures worth showing gutted my favourite train on my local line (and by far better than any of the regular traction) and I missed out . Why can't they do it in summer when it's easier to take photos