Longest Second Generation DMU Route

[LNW-GW Joint]

On current workings Birmingham International to Holyhead via Shrewsbury must be a fair distance.

Cardiff-Holyhead is further (232 miles via Wrexham) and is sometimes run by 150s (eg Tuesday this week).
Some diagrams extend beyond Cardiff - eg to Swansea 279 miles.
Similarly Milford Haven-Manchester at 289 miles can see a 150.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Not a regular working, but Chiltern 168s subbed for loco-hauled sets on occasion back in Wrexham & Shropshire days, and at least one made it all the way to Wrexham and back.

 

[D6975]

Back in the days of Centro operating Cardiff-Notts, one of them used to continue through to Lincoln and Cleethorpes, that's a fair old run.

 

[SeanG]

No , Voyagers operated Manchester Picc to Glasgow

Apologies, I meant the Manchester - Glasgow services rather than the 158s specifically

 

[Bevan Price]

routexford said: ↑
In that case a 158 may well have done the entire Edinburgh/Glasgow to Bournemouth route.

I'm confident I did Oxford-Scotland via Manchester on a 158 in the late 1990s - so much better than a Mk2.

Definatley didn't. They where in the hands of 47s/86s at that time. The rather tiny 158 fleet had very particular diagrams.

Although booked for loco hauled, there were very occasional appearances of Class 158 in Manchester Piccadilly on services from Birmingham (or beyond)

 

[Master29]

What about Edinburgh to Maillaig. A 7 hour round trip on a 153 I believe. I also remember the alphaline service Penzance to Manchester Piccadilly which split at Temple meads.

 

[158747]

They were operated by West Coast for a very short time in 2007/8 to tide them over from the end of Virgin XC and the start of the new TPE franchise

All five of the former Virgin Cross Country 158s were operated by First Great Western by 2006.
158748 had been with Wessex Trains since Sept 2002, 158747/9/51-2 with Wessex Trains since May 2003 and 158750 which was transferred from Trans Pennine Express in the summer of 2006.

 

[delt1c]

What about Edinburgh to Maillaig. A 7 hour round trip on a 153 I believe. I also remember the alphaline service Penzance to Manchester Piccadilly which split at Temple meads.

156 not 153

 

[Ianigsy]

Where did the Barrow - Cambridge / Colechester ones go, and what (if anything replaced them)?

Essentially, they were absorbed into what's now the Liverpool-Norwich EMT service and the Barrow-Manchester Airport TPE/Northern route. The original service pattern when Norwich-based 156s took over the service was that every hour would alternate between a Liverpool-Norwich train with a connection from Blackpool or later Barrow to Oxford Road, and the next hour one from Blackpool with a connection from Liverpool. Until the shadow franchises came in, the East Anglian destinations of these seemed to vary between Cambridge, Ipswich, Harwich and so on.

 

[DanTrain]

Essentially, they were absorbed into what's now the Liverpool-Norwich EMT service and the Barrow-Manchester Airport TPE/Northern route. The original service pattern when Norwich-based 156s took over the service was that every hour would alternate between a Liverpool-Norwich train with a connection from Blackpool or later Barrow to Oxford Road, and the next hour one from Blackpool with a connection from Liverpool. Until the shadow franchises came in, the East Anglian destinations of these seemed to vary between Cambridge, Ipswich, Harwich and so on.

Wow, that sounds incredibly complicated, if quite useful, thanks for the info

 

[mushroomchow]

If we're talking current routes, referring to regular diagrams rather than unusual ones or stand-ins and 158s count as second generation (2.5?), Liverpool - Norwich has to be a contender.

They've also got a habit of putting a 156 on it nowadays too.

 

[DanTrain]

They've also got a habit of putting a 156 on it nowadays too.

Indeed, although I don't think the 156 generally goes beyond Nottingham.

 

[fowler9]

Indeed, although I don't think the 156 generally goes beyond Nottingham.

I'd say it does at least several times a week.

 

[Domh245]

I'd say it does at least several times a week.

I read that as in the 156 doesn't go beyond Nottingham towards Norwich, which makes sense as it is booked for 2 cars between Nottingham and Norwich

 

[fowler9]

I read that as in the 156 doesn't go beyond Nottingham towards Norwich, which makes sense as it is booked for 2 cars between Nottingham and Norwich

Apologies.

 

[D365]

Are you referring to a 158+156 formation as opposed to 158+158?

 

[tomsy47]

When travelling back from Exeter College to Dawlish in the early 2000s, I sometimes caught a Pontypridd to Gunnislake service, which was always a 150/2. Not sure the distance, but certainly unusual stations for a direct service to be linked between.

 

[mushroomchow]

Indeed, although I don't think the 156 generally goes beyond Nottingham.

Depends which direction from Nottingham you're referring to - I see them regularly in Sheffield, which is practically the only time you'll see a 156 in the Steel City.

EDIT - Ah, just saw your other comment. Checks out.

 

[bramling]

Depends which direction from Nottingham you're referring to - I see them regularly in Sheffield, which is practically the only time you'll see a 156 in the Steel City.

EDIT - Ah, just saw your other comment. Checks out.

Is there anything stopping a Northern 156 turning up on Manchester-Sheffield via Hope Valley?

 

[D365]

Is there anything stopping a Northern 156 turning up on Manchester-Sheffield via Hope Valley?

If my memory is not eluding me, I’m sure I have seen a Northern 156 in one of the Sheffield bays, operating that service.

 

[DanTrain]

If my memory is not eluding me, I’m sure I have seen a Northern 156 in one of the Sheffield bays, operating that service.

Not too rare - I was delighted to get one the other day in place of a damned pacer!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Are the Voyagers really considered second generation DMUs?

I'd say no, though there doesn't appear to be any consensus on the matter. It really depends how many generations you think there's been overall!

I consider post-privatisation units to be "third generation", and whilst 170s are derived from Turbos there is precedence for the generations to overlap: some 313s being older than some 312s for example.

 

[gazthomas]

As I've said before, 220 miles on a 142 from Hull to Holyhead must have bee tough going!

 

[Rick1984]

I thought there was a Brighton to Cardiff but Trainline says no direct train. Wouldn't fancy a 150 from Portsmouth to Cardiff though

 

[WelshBluebird]

I thought there was a Brighton to Cardiff but Trainline says no direct train. Wouldn't fancy a 150 from Portsmouth to Cardiff though

I believe the through train is only on Sundays!
As for the Cardiff - Pompey - usually a 158 thankfully but a 150 isn't too rare, especially right now with the amount of units GWR have unavailable!

 

[Rick1984]

I've been as far as Salisbury from Pompey and any time I've been on it been a 158 including a green one. Very nice but terrible legroom

 

[Masbroughlad]

Northern Spirit ran a short-lived Leeds to Glasgow via S and C.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

As I've said before, 220 miles on a 142 from Hull to Holyhead must have bee tough going!

That must've been pre-pre-privatisation shadow franchises then, as Hull went to RRNE and North Wales went to RRNW. Doubt there would have been many going end-to-end on that service though.

Even post-privatisation, it wasn't unheard of for Northern Spirit/Arriva Trains* Northern to have to draft in a Pacer in the event of a failed 158. Better than a bus, but not much better!

In BR days, even 141s occasionally made emergency "express" runs to Manchester and beyond. Now THAT would've been a lively ride**!

*=Not to be confused with the current Arriva Rail North franchise.

**=Though rounding the curve at Ardwick would have been less unpleasant than on a 142, thanks to the shorter wheelbases which gave less flange squeal.

 

[TC60054]

Is there anything stopping a Northern 156 turning up on Manchester-Sheffield via Hope Valley?

Regular thing now on a Sunday seemingly.

 

[PHILIPE]

Regular thing now on a Sunday seemingly.

And during the week. The 0918 ex Sheffield seems to be booked for one.