last operator of class 101 DMU's

[MCW]

Just wondered who were the last TOC to use class 101's in revenue earning service in about 203?? when the last units were withdrawn. I would also like to know what the set numbers were and I am struggling to find stuff out on the net (and before I get some sarcastic response, YES i have tried googling!)

I'm quite interested as two out of three cars out of such a unit are preserved and in use at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, interestingly, the motor car there still has the TPWS fitted.

many thanks in advance.##EDIT: ave found one unit on Flickr, and i found the operator is First north western.. nevermind

 

[nathanclass323]

There's a Central Trains book in one of the cabs at EVR I believe.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And if I recall correctly, it's M51188 with it?

 

[Bevan Price]

Last regular 101 workings were on Manchester Piccadilly - Marple / Rose Hill / New Mills Central services, sometimes including trips to Sheffield via Hope Valley.

 

[MCW]

There's a Central Trains book in one of the cabs at EVR I believe.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And if I recall correctly, it's M51188 with it?

yah M51188 rings a bell, never got into the cab of it, will ask jack next time I'm down

 

[theblackwatch]

As mentioned, FNW was the last operator. The final day of services was 24th December 2003.

 

[MCW]

Last regular 101 workings were on Manchester Piccadilly - Marple / Rose Hill / New Mills Central services, sometimes including trips to Sheffield via Hope Valley.

As mentioned, FNW was the last operator. The final day of services was 24th December 2003.

cheers Both

 

[nathanclass323]

yah M51188 rings a bell, never got into the cab of it, will ask jack next time I'm down

Aha I've only been in the cab of M79900 IRIS oh, and the 489 GLV/Buffet Car

 

[MCW]

Aha I've only been in the cab of M79900 IRIS oh, and the 489 GLV/Buffet Car

I cabbed the 117 at the gala when it formed a four car on the saturday of the DMU gala

 

[nathanclass323]

Awesome

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Apologies for the diversion, but does anyone know if Network Rail still use any of their departmental units that were converted from 101s? I remember seeing them about a few years ago.

 

[150219]

Apologies for the diversion, but does anyone know if Network Rail still use any of their departmental units that were converted from 101s? I remember seeing them about a few years ago.

IIRC the Railtrack Class 960 (ex-Class 101) units at Longsight were used as a source of spares to keep the First North Western units running.

At the time I kept a list of their last workings of 2003, but sorry to say I binned it last year!

Without having the paperwork to hand I think I'm right in saying that the last units were 101680 (Regional Railways), 101685 (Green), 101692 (Strathclyde Blue), and 101694 (Strathclyde Orange). I certainly recall that 101685 was out of service for a while during 2003, but returned when 101692 failed during the autumn. I'm sure that somebody will be able to confirm either way.

Amongst some of the most unusual workings I found in 2003, were generally covering for failed 323 units during the morning and evening peaks. 101680 certainly covered a one-way Class 1 evening peak service from Manchester to Crewe, which is a nice little working considering they were generally confined to the Marple workings at the time. There were a few more ad hoc workings to Alderley Edge and Stockport.

I can't recall seeing any ad hoc workings to Sheffield, although this was covered on their last day for the final railtour.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

IIRC the Railtrack Class 960 (ex-Class 101) units at Longsight were used as a source of spares to keep the First North Western units running.

At the time I kept a list of their last workings of 2003, but sorry to say I binned it last year!

Without having the paperwork to hand I think I'm right in saying that the last units were 101680 (Regional Railways), 101685 (Green), 101692 (Strathclyde Blue), and 101694 (Strathclyde Orange). I certainly recall that 101685 was out of service for a while during 2003, but returned when 101692 failed during the autumn. I'm sure that somebody will be able to confirm either way.

Amongst some of the most unusual workings I found in 2003, were generally covering for failed 323 units during the morning and evening peaks. 101680 certainly covered a one-way Class 1 evening peak service from Manchester to Crewe, which is a nice little working considering they were generally confined to the Marple workings at the time. There were a few more ad hoc workings to Alderley Edge and Stockport.

I can't recall seeing any ad hoc workings to Sheffield, although this was covered on their last day for the final railtour.

I definitely saw a departmental ex-101 unit running after the they'd finished in Manchester- I think in Leeds around 2004- so there must've been more about than the Longsight examples you mention. In the last few months of passenger use they did occasionally find their way over to Wakefield, though I'm not sure when I last saw one on there.

 

[AlexS]

There were a couple of RTC ex 101units that lasted until a couple of years ago? 901001 (Ultrasonic Test Train) and 901002 (Iris II), could it have been one of those?

 

[northwichcat]

For a brief period the Mid-Cheshire line had the first train of the day in the Stockport direction (something like 06:20 Knutsford-Stockport only) booked as a class 101 and the third train in that direction (something like 06:55 Chester-Altrincham-Manchester-Warrington-Llandudno) booked as class 175, so you could get a very old train if you started early or a very new train if you travelled a bit later.)

The Mid-Cheshire line got booked class 101, 142, 150, 158, 175 and 31 hauled mk2 workings in the last couple of years of the FNW franchise so plenty of variety, compared to the current 142 or 150 diagrams with an odd 156 thrown in (morning only.)

 

[150219]

There were a couple of RTC ex 101units that lasted until a couple of years ago? 901001 (Ultrasonic Test Train) and 901002 (Iris II), could it have been one of those?

Ah, yes! Thanks for the memory jog!

I can't remember if these were allocated to Longsight or elsewhere. I had in mind the ex-Sandite Blue/Grey 101 sets that languished at Longsight, that were used for FNW spares.

 

[MCW]

Th departmental ones were kicking about sometime after the manchester withdrawal, me and a good railway friend, who is sadly no longer with us, went trackbed walking around the coalville area, on our travels we saw a 101 go over the level crossing we stopped at.

Unfortunately I have no record of a precise date or unit number, but it had those fugly headlight clusters on the cabs.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

There were a couple of RTC ex 101units that lasted until a couple of years ago? 901001 (Ultrasonic Test Train) and 901002 (Iris II), could it have been one of those?

901001 survived until 2012 when it was scrapped, though I can't say when it was actually last used, pictures seem to be rare between 2008 and 2011. It wore Network Rail yellow when it met it's end.

901002 is apparently still with us, but was apparently last used in 2008 before being 'preserved' at Dunster. AFAIK, it remains at the West Somerset Railway, now painted green.

....I can't remember if these were allocated to Longsight or elsewhere....

Probably Derby RTC.

 

[StripeyNick]

Iris II is now in operation at the Barry Tourist Railway where it is used either under it's own power or as hauled stock.


Iris II in Barry shed by Nick Wilcock, on Flickr

 

[High Dyke]

Meanwhile in happier times...a few shots of the Manchester area during 2001.

 

[RPM]

Gratuitous plug alert:

My collection of pictures from the last couple of years of the 101s:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/sets/72157631882668272/