Do 155s ever reform?

[TheEdge]

Here is an entirely bizarre thought that went through my head today...

After spending most of my day working a pair of 153s I thought to myself this is like having a 155! But are there any fleets that allow an original 155 to temporarily 'reform'? Obviously what I actually mean is are there fleets where two 153s originally from the same 155 can work together?

 

[northwichcat]

Technically for that to happen the new cabs both need to be in the middle as well.

 

[TheEdge]

Technically for that to happen the new cabs both need to be in the middle as well.

Technicality!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Not sure what the depot allocations actually are but looking only at what each TOC has.....

EMT - 153326+153376 (155326)
Northern - 153301+153351 (155301), 153328+153378 (155328)

 

[JonathanH]

Not sure what the depot allocations actually are but looking only at what each TOC has.....

EMT - 153326+153376 (155326)
Northern - 153301+153351 (155301), 153328+153378 (155328)

Plus ATW 153303+153353 (155303)
FGW 153318+153368 (155318)

 

[jamesontheroad]

Nothing at GA I presume? They have:

153306
153309
153311
153314
153322
153326
153335

 

[dk1]

Nothing at GA I presume? They have:

153306
153309
153311
153314
153322
153326
153335

311 & 326 are no longer with GA although with the current state of affairs & cancellations, the would wish they where.

 

[158747]

FGW also used to have 153305+153355 (155305) until 153355 was withdrawn from service and stored with 153302 153308 and 153374 in December 2006. These four units were transferred to EMT in 2007

 

[TEW]

I have seen 153318+153368 formed as per original formation with cabs in the middle once on the Falmouth line.

 

[sprinterguy]

Nothing at GA I presume? They have:

153306
153309
153311
153314
153322
153326
153335

Nope, they're all 52 numbered cars: The 57 numbered cars which formed the other half of each class 155 formation are the ones that have had 50 added to the last two digits of their original numbers when they were converted to 153s.

 

[TheEdge]

Oh, doesn't happen anywhere near as often as I expected it to. Oh well. Thanks

 

[PHILIPE]

There was discussion on this some time ago and the concensus of opinon seems
to be to leave them alone as they serve more purpose by being able to strengthen services by one coach. If you wanted a 2 coach train, the scope is there to put 2x153 together in multiple.

 

[BestWestern]

There was discussion on this some time ago and the concensus of opinon seems
to be to leave them alone as they serve more purpose by being able to strengthen services by one coach. If you wanted a 2 coach train, the scope is there to put 2x153 together in multiple.

Indeed. The problem, of course, is what to do with them when the disability legislation comes knocking. Uneconomical to carry out the required modifications on single carriage trains we are told, so some other plan needs to be thought up. I believe reforming them is one possible solution. That is another discussion entirely though of course!

 

[TheEdge]

I've heard two possible uses of the 153s when the legislation comes in. One is the reforming as 155s, the other is they will be permanently coupled to something else so they don't need the full monty of works done to them.