Post by Deleted on May 31, 2014 19:42:24 GMT
When I arrived at Woodford this afternoon - probably at about 14:00-14:10 - from Roding Valley, I noticed the next train due was shown as "special" on the indicators. As you know, this basically means 'out of service' (not in service seems to be reserved for the RAT, when I would think it should be the other way around, but there you are). My Woodford via Hainault then received the route for the mainline and proceeded to stop on the mainline ready to shunt back into platform 3 and head round to Hainault. Obviously the special was bound for the sidings. It then arrived in Coded and got the route for 21 road straight away. In good time it had reversed and stabled on 22 road (the first road to the right of the bay road).
Now for the question. There is every possibility that this one was a dud. I noticed it had Debden on the front when it stopped in the sidings (which obviously would have been the back when it arrived at Woodford), which makes me think that's where it had come from and it would seem strange - if it was a dud - that it wasn't stabled in Loughton sidings, or else run round to Hainault depot (it could even have been left in Debden siding). But obviously I am not privy to this decision making and it could be that this one couldn't be run in service. But it got me wondering - as a more general question - whether it is common for trains stabling at Woodford to run empty all the way, or would it be more usual for them to run in service as far as Woodford. And, obviously, if anyone in the know knows why this one was run empty I'd be interested to know - was it indeed broken, or was it run empty from Debden or wherever it came from for some reason? I suppose it would make sense - if it had already been tipped out at Debden - to run it empty and save further delaying the westbound by running in service from Debden to Woodford only and then having to tip out at Woodford.
Also, when I next arrived at Woodford (mid-afternoon - probably 16:00 or 17:00), there were four or five trains in Woodford sidings - which seems very unusual and I can't see any mention of this in the timetable. Was there something wrong with the Central today, or else some reason why trains which would normally stable elsewhere (I'm thinking Loughton) were put away in Woodford sidings?
Now for the question. There is every possibility that this one was a dud. I noticed it had Debden on the front when it stopped in the sidings (which obviously would have been the back when it arrived at Woodford), which makes me think that's where it had come from and it would seem strange - if it was a dud - that it wasn't stabled in Loughton sidings, or else run round to Hainault depot (it could even have been left in Debden siding). But obviously I am not privy to this decision making and it could be that this one couldn't be run in service. But it got me wondering - as a more general question - whether it is common for trains stabling at Woodford to run empty all the way, or would it be more usual for them to run in service as far as Woodford. And, obviously, if anyone in the know knows why this one was run empty I'd be interested to know - was it indeed broken, or was it run empty from Debden or wherever it came from for some reason? I suppose it would make sense - if it had already been tipped out at Debden - to run it empty and save further delaying the westbound by running in service from Debden to Woodford only and then having to tip out at Woodford.
Also, when I next arrived at Woodford (mid-afternoon - probably 16:00 or 17:00), there were four or five trains in Woodford sidings - which seems very unusual and I can't see any mention of this in the timetable. Was there something wrong with the Central today, or else some reason why trains which would normally stable elsewhere (I'm thinking Loughton) were put away in Woodford sidings?
Thanks for the info! Much appreciated 
