For people on shift work, this question can often make you scream. My last one (Saturday 13th, Sunday 14th and Monday 15th October 2012) was eventful to say the least, and I travelled extensively too!
I was booked to work an afternoon shift at Par signalbox, but due to a last minute shift change, I was requested to cover the morning shift at Roskear too. This resulted in a 12 hour shift for both Saturday & Sunday, as I was already covering Penzance all day. I made it to Roskear and sent the grateful night man home who'd exceeded his shift. It was a sunny morning, and I recorded a couple of photos of the trains passing.
At 1pm I travelled back up the A30 to Roche and across to Par to start the afternoon shift there till 6pm (18.00). The green liveried class 153 was working the branch service to Newquay. The two class 66s 66094 & 011 passed through the station after 15.00 heading back to St Blazey after their overnight rounds spraying the rails between Penzance & Westbury, plus the branches. The shift passed uneventfully, and I had an early night for my trip down to Penzance for 7am Sunday.
The Sunday shift is a long one, and surprisingly busy. The units that arrive all end up on different workings, so care must be taken regarding platforming. The platform plan is formulated using the Gemini information (allocations). This included the yard full of units when I arrived, including a defective 150102 which had failed the day before on the Falmouth branch. The plan was sorted and faxed down to the station. It was basically HST (FGW Paddington services in plat 1), units in plats 3/4 and Voyagers in 2 and elsewhere. It is common for almost every DMU working to be exchanged for others before departure, and there was a "5-pack" class 150, class 153, class 150 combo which was quite impressive. An extra working was scheduled in for a 10.30 departure, 150102 (the defective unit from the Falmouth branch). This departed after noon due to driver issues.
I have included the Monday morning as a postscript, as the class 08 shunter number 08410 scuttled in to take the "Night Riviera" stock to Long Rock. I have included some pictures taken to show this veteran 350hp loco in front line action.
All in all, a busy 48 hours, with me on duty for 24 of them and three boxes covered too.
Many thanks Craig for this insight into a very busy weekend and also for the pictures.
I was booked to work an afternoon shift at Par signalbox, but due to a last minute shift change, I was requested to cover the morning shift at Roskear too. This resulted in a 12 hour shift for both Saturday & Sunday, as I was already covering Penzance all day. I made it to Roskear and sent the grateful night man home who'd exceeded his shift. It was a sunny morning, and I recorded a couple of photos of the trains passing.
At 1pm I travelled back up the A30 to Roche and across to Par to start the afternoon shift there till 6pm (18.00). The green liveried class 153 was working the branch service to Newquay. The two class 66s 66094 & 011 passed through the station after 15.00 heading back to St Blazey after their overnight rounds spraying the rails between Penzance & Westbury, plus the branches. The shift passed uneventfully, and I had an early night for my trip down to Penzance for 7am Sunday.
The Sunday shift is a long one, and surprisingly busy. The units that arrive all end up on different workings, so care must be taken regarding platforming. The platform plan is formulated using the Gemini information (allocations). This included the yard full of units when I arrived, including a defective 150102 which had failed the day before on the Falmouth branch. The plan was sorted and faxed down to the station. It was basically HST (FGW Paddington services in plat 1), units in plats 3/4 and Voyagers in 2 and elsewhere. It is common for almost every DMU working to be exchanged for others before departure, and there was a "5-pack" class 150, class 153, class 150 combo which was quite impressive. An extra working was scheduled in for a 10.30 departure, 150102 (the defective unit from the Falmouth branch). This departed after noon due to driver issues.
I have included the Monday morning as a postscript, as the class 08 shunter number 08410 scuttled in to take the "Night Riviera" stock to Long Rock. I have included some pictures taken to show this veteran 350hp loco in front line action.
All in all, a busy 48 hours, with me on duty for 24 of them and three boxes covered too.
Many thanks Craig for this insight into a very busy weekend and also for the pictures.
