Peter Masson

"allan tracy" <thunderbird57303@m> wrote in message
news:38a5e227-e3f5-4145-b561-4606639bd3d9@s21g2000prm..com...
>
> > They run up the ECML to Holloway, then via
> > Camden Road and Primrose Hill to somewhere near Willesden where they
> > reverse and run into Euston.
> >
>
> Sounds like a job for a DVT.

Although it sounds like it, actually it is not. The Scotrail sleepers are at
their maximum length for the platforms at Euston - to the extent that the
four seated and lounge coaches in each train have to be Mk2s - Mk3s would be
too long, so a DVT could only be added at the expense of capacity. Normal
working involves a loco to take the ECS out to Willesden/ Wembley. When the
sleepers run via the ECML this loco is attached when the train reverses, and
what was the train loco takes the ecs out of Euston.

On one famous occasion there was a possession on the ECML. It was given up
for the sleepers, but the OHLE could not be re-energised. So the sleepers
left Euston formed with an electric loco (to Willesden), 16 coaches, a
second electric loco (to Edinburgh/Glasgow), and two 67s (to Peterborough).
What I don't know is how they squared the Euston platform length issue on
that occasion.

Peter