A Stock formation reports

3/6/2012

After waiting a long time at Harrow this evening I saw and used...

5119+5024 [452]
5109*+5096 [425]

Also saw 21033 with a broken wiper ;D

5161+5062 on the Watford Service tonight.

07/06/2012

5119+5024 [464]

5121+5122... last consecutive numbered train of A stock? *except for 5121 being ex-5209

What ends are coupled as which?

Saw 8 A Stock in service during the off peak today. It is still possible to cover all routes in A stock, but for how long I wonder? Only one out of six for both Amersham and Chesham's today. Was lucky in seeing three together at Baker Street earlier flic.kr/p/ccLHqq and at Watford between 12:30 and 13:00, three consecutive departures were formed of A stock (454, 456 then 441). Some photos of mine from today are up on my flickr site www.flickr.com/photos/steve09photos/with/7353130172/

401 21097
402 S8
403 5022N+5113S
404 21113S
406 21083
411 S8
412 5061S+5090
413 21095
416 21025
421 21092
422 21027
423 5094N+5103S, after PM peak was 21063
424 21051s
427 21081
430 21029
431 5024S+5119N (prior to PM peak)
441 5034S+5231N
443 S8
445 21089
451 5062N+5161S
452 21073
453 21019
454 5122S+5121N
455 S
456 5181S+5012N
462 21025
466 5024+5119 (PM Peak)
Two A-stock parked up in Neasden off peak, plus another one (scrap train)? at the far end of the depot.

A stock not seen during the day - 5096, 5100, 5108, 5114, 5116, 5189, 5203, 5219

Ah, thanks.

There was one A stock DM that I saw yesterday in a dreadful condition externally, but I forgot to note down the number.

5101 is looking poor.

Re weekend working of 'A' Stock on future reduced service TTN's for engineering work, and the WTT as the wind down continues.

I think it is probably dependent on a number of factors.

1) The location that sets stable at on a Friday, or any night, can dictate their requirement for the following day.

For instance if both RKY NSGS stablers are 'A's on a Friday night, and the Timetable Notice for the Saturday morning schedules 1 or both of them to start from there, then you are in business!!

2) Line policy changing.

At present as it would appear that the 'A's don't seem to be restricted to specific workings in the off peak or peak. (The only anomaly being WPK SDGS and that is a 'local' arrangement. 'A's only stable there because 'S8's cannot?) The line SEEM quite happy to run their 'A' & 'S's as if they were one and the same.

3) Stock training for T'OPs.

This is a key factor IF there is a long and slow withdrawal programme of rolling stock. There is a time period (the LUL professionals on this site will know exactly how long) in which T/OPs MUST drive a particular rolling stock. Makes sense for safety. If that period is not met then 'refresher' stock training is required, a costly exercise for the line to solve what should only be a short term problem. So in that case to prevent such, the line may designate specific workings that would ensure each T/OP is scheduled to drive a 'rare' rolling stock on the line within that stated period. The same theory applies when new stock is introduced as early on it is equally rare! Having said all that, in this era of Trainstaff 'Super' depots it must be pretty difficult to administrate!

4) Testing of 'S' stock

Again this is something that an expert on the line will be able to respond to. I would imagine that any brand new train is going to be 'kept an eye on' for a period whilst it beds in. So weekends may be an appropriate time for such testing. This POSSSIBLE reason may throw up a need to use more 'A' stock? I stand to be corrected/blown out of the water/put in my place. (Delete as appropriate)

5) A stock availability

These trains are now very old and into their last few weeks of service. A small, medium, let alone a big, failure is not going to see the normal reaction from Depot Staff. Don't spend money on maintenance what you don't need to!

6) There must be other reasons but today (Sunday) is a lazy day.


PS. Apropos of absolutely nothing I visited Stanmore last week and was SHOCKED to find there is a new platform there, though I doubt it is THAT new. Note to diary - Must get out more!
nv

If there was any sun ;D

You'd be excused for forgetting that it's June at the moment!

Did any more A's come out for the evening peak?

SuperT,

Did not see any additional pm peak workings. To be honest it was hard to see ANYTHING as the rain was lashing down for most of the day. :-)

However, I did forget to note one set in the earlier post.

456 5231N 5034S

A Desperate Day!

Today I attempted to travel to or through all Met main stations with A stock.

(Please do not ask me) Why!?. The meaning of life is a hard enough question to answer, let alone this one!

Sets out and about were:-

402 (CHE-ALD) 5109N 5096S
415 (AME-ALD) 5022N 5113S
445 (UXB/WAT-BST) 5231N 5034S
446 (UXB/WAT-BST) 5090N 5061S
447 (UXB/WAT-BST) 5062N 5161S
452 (UXB/WAT-BST) 5100N 5189S
455 (UXB/WAT-BST) 5119N 5024S *
456 (UXB/WAT-BST) 5116N 5203S
717 (THE END) 5122N 5121S

* REFORMED AFTER 13.30 INTO SET 422 (UXB-ALD)

In addition PM Peak 474 was viewed at Neasden Depot coming into service. Take your pick from the remaining 2 sets left.

From the above list it was possible to achieve the target at the beginning of this post!

Yes, I did manage it! Chesham, Amersham, Aldgate, Watford and finally Uxbridge in that order. If you saw a jelly at Farringdon station at about 18.00 that would have been me.

nv

Why not? It seems to be the usual practice in such circumstances to work the old assets until they wear out - no point in sparing them: might as well get as much use out of them as possible: it will also mean that the new assets will take longer to reach their overhaul mileage.

I see that 5119 is still running - does that mean someone repaired the windows?