Special train on Central Line

Cannot remember if I have asked this question before but this afternoon the
Central next train boards were showing the destination as "Special" Any
ideas?

On 16 Aug, 20:35, <craig.richm...@virgin.net> wrote:
> Cannot remember if I have asked this question before but this afternoon the
> Central next train boards were showing the destination as "Special" Any
> ideas?

Is this simply because the line was closed between Holborn and
Liverpool Street and the ultimate destination was unknown? A 'special
service' (other than the timetabled service) would have been in
operation rather than any 'special train'

<j.p.harris@talk21.com> wrote in message
news:6fb82c8f-0d27-47a6-aef8-2ce5cdef4e71@79g2000hsk..com...
> On 16 Aug, 20:35, <craig.richm...@virgin.net> wrote:
>> Cannot remember if I have asked this question before but this afternoon
>> the
>> Central next train boards were showing the destination as "Special" Any
>> ideas?
>
> Is this simply because the line was closed between Holborn and
> Liverpool Street and the ultimate destination was unknown? A 'special
> service' (other than the timetabled service) would have been in
> operation rather than any 'special train'

As a regular user of the Central line, the only times I've seen a train
shown as 'special' is when the train has been taken out of service and is on
its way back to the depot. I've never seen a 'special' train with any
passengers (sorry, customers) on board.

> For some reason WCML Desiros use "Special" on the ends when "Not in
> service" is selected for the side.

Assuming that the PIS on the 350s is the same as SWTs 444/450s, the
driver/guard is able to display whatever they want (I've noticed a few
450s with "Happy Christmas" on the side displays in the past!).
Obviously, the system is pre-programmed with 'regular' displays, but
this can be overridden with a few taps on the keypad.

As (AFAIK) the displays on the cabs cannot scroll, and "Not in
service" won't fit on the matrix, perhaps this is LM's reason for
electing to use "Special", as opposed to "Depot" on the south-of-the-
Thames Desiros.

M

On 17 Aug, 08:53, "dB" <db_u...@m> wrote:
> <j.p.har...@talk21.com> wrote in message
>
> news:6fb82c8f-0d27-47a6-aef8-2ce5cdef4e71@79g2000hsk..com...
>
> > On 16 Aug, 20:35, <craig.richm...@virgin.net> wrote:
> >> Cannot remember if I have asked this question before but this afternoon
> >> the
> >> Central next train boards were showing the destination as "Special" Any
> >> ideas?
>
> > Is this simply because the line was closed between Holborn and
> > Liverpool Street and the ultimate destination was unknown?  A 'special
> > service' (other than the timetabled service) would have been in
> > operation rather than any 'special train'
>
> As a regular user of the Central line, the only times I've seen a train
> shown as 'special' is when the train has been taken out of service and is on
> its way back to the depot. I've never seen a 'special' train with any
> passengers (sorry, customers) on board.

Travel out west on a friday night on the last train and you might well
see specials coming the other way every 5 minuutes with Yellow
Battery locos pulling works trains from ruislip depot

HTH Phil

"asdf" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:5d4na4p01jf9ip4bq7f2um7j5j51u3jrrp@...
> On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:04:26 -0700 (PDT), M J Forbes wrote:
>
>>> For some reason WCML Desiros use "Special" on the ends when "Not in
>>> service" is selected for the side.
>>
>>Assuming that the PIS on the 350s is the same as SWTs 444/450s, the
>>driver/guard is able to display whatever they want (I've noticed a few
>>450s with "Happy Christmas" on the side displays in the past!).
>>Obviously, the system is pre-programmed with 'regular' displays, but
>>this can be overridden with a few taps on the keypad.
>>
>>As (AFAIK) the displays on the cabs cannot scroll, and "Not in
>>service" won't fit on the matrix, perhaps this is LM's reason for
>>electing to use "Special", as opposed to "Depot" on the south-of-the-
>>Thames Desiros.
>
> SWT Desiros display "Not in use" on the cabs.

But whatever they display on the front and sides, and whatever message they
put on the station PIS, and over the PA, pax still try and get on them as
they stand at signals in Southampton on ECS moves...

Paul