Porterbrook Cl.769 'Flex' trains from 319s, initially for Northern

[Mollman]

Indeed, only 424 out today. The southport 2 car sprinters replacing the rest will be rammed!

According to the CAF Yaw Damper thread there is a temporary fix which should see units re-entering services in the next few days. This might allow some of the Southport substitutes to become 4 car if the Sprinters are no longer needed to replace OOU 195s.

 

[Dspatula]

Looks like only 424 out today for you. Oh dear

No there was another one out as well, I think it was 456 but I wouldn't stake my life on it.

 

[Techniquest]

No there was another one out as well, I think it was 456 but I wouldn't stake my life on it.

Indeed, it was 769458 on the 1050 off The Edge. Had it yesterday, so I ran over to p1 to get a required 150 instead.

I did 424 over to Bolton this morning, no problem with the AC to diesel changeover whatsoever. Pan down, engines started and away in no time. I was also pretty impressed with how fast it departed, granted on AC it flew but it was still pretty quick on diesel

 

[The_Train]

Here is the latest list I have:

Number	Ex No.	Livery	TOC	Depot/Location	Current State
769002	319002	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769003	319003	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769006	319006	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769007	319007	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769008	319008	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769421	319421	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769424	319424	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769426	319426	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	TfW	Loughborough Works	Converted - undergoing further maintenance
769431	319431	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769434	319434	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769442	319442	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769445	319445	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769448	319448	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769450	319450	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769452	319452	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769456	319456	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769458	319458	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769501	319009	Orion Dark & Light Blue	ROG	Loughborough Works	Undergoing conversion
769502	319010	Orion Dark & Light Blue	ROG	Eastleigh Works	Conversion to 769 complete - internal work ongoing
769503			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769504			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769505			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769506			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769507			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769508			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769509			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769510			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769922	319422	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Wolverton Works	Conversion work yet to start
769923	319423	GWR Green	GWR	Wolverton Works	Conversion work yet to start
769925	319425	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Conversion complete - stored, awaiting testing
769927	319427	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Loughborough Works	Undergoing conversion
769928	319428	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769930	319430	GWR Green	GWR	Reading Traincare	Undergoing acceptance exam
769932	319432	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769935	319435	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Long Marston	Conversion work yet to start
769936	319436	GWR Green	GWR	Long Marston	Converted - awaiting testing
769937	319437	GWR Green	GWR	Wolverton Works	Converted - awaiting testing
769938	319438	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769939	319439	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769940	319440	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Wolverton Works	Undergoing conversion
769943	319443	GWR Green	GWR	Reading Traincare	Undergoing testing
769944	319444	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Derby RTC	Conversion work yet to start
769946	319446	GWR Green	GWR	Reading Traincare	Undergoing testing
769947	319447	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Wolverton Works	Conversion work yet to start
769949	319449	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Conversion complete - stored, awaiting testing
769959	319459	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Conversion complete - stored, awaiting testing

Bold items are those updated since I last posted

 

[175001]

According to the regional director update today, Brush, and Porterbrook are involved in getting the remaining units back into service before the weekend.

 

[adrock1976]

Here is the latest list I have:

Number	Ex No.	Livery	TOC	Depot/Location	Current State
769002	319002	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769003	319003	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769006	319006	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769007	319007	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769008	319008	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769421	319421	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769424	319424	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769426	319426	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	TfW	Loughborough Works	Converted - undergoing further maintenance
769431	319431	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769434	319434	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769442	319442	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769445	319445	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769448	319448	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769450	319450	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769452	319452	TfW	TfW	Cardiff Canton	In Service
769456	319456	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769458	319458	Northern	Northern	Allerton	In Service
769501	319009	Orion Dark & Light Blue	ROG	Loughborough Works	Undergoing conversion
769502	319010	Orion Dark & Light Blue	ROG	Eastleigh Works	Conversion to 769 complete - internal work ongoing
769503			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769504			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769505			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769506			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769507			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769508			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769509			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769510			ROG		Conversion work yet to start
769922	319422	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Wolverton Works	Conversion work yet to start
769923	319423	GWR Green	GWR	Wolverton Works	Conversion work yet to start
769925	319425	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Conversion complete - stored, awaiting testing
769927	319427	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Loughborough Works	Undergoing conversion
769928	319428	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769930	319430	GWR Green	GWR	Reading Traincare	Undergoing acceptance exam
769932	319432	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769935	319435	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Long Marston	Conversion work yet to start
769936	319436	GWR Green	GWR	Long Marston	Converted - awaiting testing
769937	319437	GWR Green	GWR	Wolverton Works	Converted - awaiting testing
769938	319438	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769939	319439	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Converted - awaiting testing
769940	319440	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Wolverton Works	Undergoing conversion
769943	319443	GWR Green	GWR	Reading Traincare	Undergoing testing
769944	319444	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Derby RTC	Conversion work yet to start
769946	319446	GWR Green	GWR	Reading Traincare	Undergoing testing
769947	319447	Ex TL White & Blue Doors	GWR	Wolverton Works	Conversion work yet to start
769949	319449	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Conversion complete - stored, awaiting testing
769959	319459	GWR Green	GWR	Nemesis Rail, Burton	Conversion complete - stored, awaiting testing

Bold items are those updated since I last posted

Many thanks for the list.

I do have a question here - what has happened with the missing 40 319s (I have counted 46 in the list, and there were 86 319s that were built in 1987/88)?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Many thanks for the list.

I do have a question here - what has happened with the missing 40 319s (I have counted 46 in the list, and there were 86 319s that were built in 1987/88)?

Remember that all 319/3s were sent to Northern (although half are off lease now and 373 is working for ROG) and London Northwestern Railway has a handful of 319/0s and 319/4s, as well as all 319/2s. Two or three 319s have also been scrapped.

 

[Domh245]

I do have a question here - what has happened with the missing 40 319s (I have counted 46 in the list, and there were 86 319s that were built in 1987/88)?

A handful have been scrapped, most of the others remain as 319s, including 15 each at LNWR and Northern

 

[adrock1976]

A handful have been scrapped, most of the others remain as 319s, including 15 each at LNWR and Northern

Many thanks.

 

[D9006]

Just heard 424 leaving Hindley station from my bedroom window I live next door to the station, to hear it accelerat away it sounds just like an EMU no diesel noise coming from it, if didn’t know better would assume it was running under the wires, I assume someone can educate me on why . Thanks

 

[Gricer99]

Just heard 424 leaving Hindley station from my bedroom window I live next door to the station, to hear it accelerat away it sounds just like an EMU no diesel noise coming from it, if didn’t know better would assume it was running under the wires, I assume someone can educate me on why . Thanks

Hello neighbour! I’m just over the bridge from you Off Hall Lane. I can also hear them accelerate away from Hindley Station and agree that they sound more like electrics. Definitely less noisy than 150s.

 

[The_Train]

Many thanks for the list.

I do have a question here - what has happened with the missing 40 319s (I have counted 46 in the list, and there were 86 319s that were built in 1987/88)?

No problem.
I've got the 319s as up to date as I can here

 

[507021]

Many thanks for the list.

I do have a question here - what has happened with the missing 40 319s (I have counted 46 in the list, and there were 86 319s that were built in 1987/88)?

Units still designated as Class 319, to my knowledge:

LNWR (14): 005, 012-013; 214-220; 429, 433, 457, 460.
Northern (15): 361, 366-370, 372, 375, 378-379, 383-386.
Rail Operations Group (5): 011; 373 (601), 377, 380; 441.
Stored (8): 362-365, 371, 374, 376, 382.
Scrapped (4): 004, 451, 453, 455.

319001 is the Class 799 HydroFlex unit.

 

[adrock1976]

No problem.
I've got the 319s as up to date as I can here

Units still designated as Class 319, to my knowledge:

LNWR (14): 005, 012-013; 214-220; 429, 433, 457, 460.
Northern (15): 361, 366-370, 372, 375, 378-379, 383-386.
Rail Operations Group (5): 011; 373 (601), 377, 380; 441.
Stored (8): 362-365, 371, 374, 376, 382.
Scrapped (4): 004, 451, 453, 455.

319001 is the Class 799 HydroFlex unit.

Many thanks to both of you.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Units still designated as Class 319, to my knowledge:

LNWR (14): 005, 012-013; 214-220; 429, 433, 457, 460.
Northern (15): 361, 366-370, 372, 375, 378-379, 383-386.
Rail Operations Group (5): 011; 373 (601), 377, 380; 441.
Stored (8): 362-365, 371, 374, 376, 382.
Scrapped (4): 004, 451, 453, 455.

319001 is the Class 799 HydroFlex unit.

Thanks for the summary.
It is interesting that the press releases on the Flex project state that the 319/4s are the most useful for converting into 769s. I have tried to speculate why, and one answer appears to be the interior applied to them as 319s. I have no doubt that might be true, but also note that three of the /4s have been scrapped, but also that ROG have 319441 in the mix, for which the interior is probably surplus as it will be gutted for freight. Then there are the /4s wqorking for LNWR.

Doesn't seem to be a very consistent disposition, but also acknowledge the physical and mechanical state of each unit in the class would also have some bearing.

 

[175001]

Just heard 424 leaving Hindley station from my bedroom window I live next door to the station, to hear it accelerat away it sounds just like an EMU no diesel noise coming from it, if didn’t know better would assume it was running under the wires, I assume someone can educate me on why . Thanks

It is because in diesel mode it sends power to the DC equipment which powers the unit, which makes it sound like its on electric

 

[AM9]

It is because in diesel mode it sends power to the DC equipment which powers the unit, which makes it sound like its on electric

And presumably, their diesel engines are quieter in operation than those on Sprinters.

 

[175001]

They tend to be although the unit I drove on Monday was loud as the air temp was warm and it sounded like it was gasping for air

 

[D9006]

They tend to be although the unit I drove on Monday was loud as the air temp was warm and it sounded like it was gasping for air

i See you drive them, what’s caused the sudden drop in availability with them, 5 out on most days to 1 or 2 now

 

[edwin_m]

They tend to be although the unit I drove on Monday was loud as the air temp was warm and it sounded like it was gasping for air

i See you drive them, what’s caused the sudden drop in availability with them, 5 out on most days to 1 or 2 now

Being affected by the warm spell? With a tightly packed engine raft, is the cooling adequate?

 

[175001]

i See you drive them, what’s caused the sudden drop in availability with them, 5 out on most days to 1 or 2 now

Mostly power change over issues and low oil/coolant readings which means that the engines don't fire.

Brush and Porterbrook are working with our fitters as we speak

 

[AM9]

Mostly power change over issues and low oil/coolant readings which means that the engines don't fire.

Brush and Porterbrook are working with our fitters as we speak

So unlikely that they will be permanently ditched in favour of 150s then?

 

[Techniquest]

And presumably, their diesel engines are quieter in operation than those on Sprinters.

Based solely on yesterday's observations of 769424, yes I would agree that the engines are far quieter than those on 150s etc. With the motor whine too, it's a funky noise!

 

[Grumpy Git]

Based solely on yesterday's observations of 769424, yes I would agree that the engines are far quieter than those on 150s etc. With the motor whine too, it's a funky noise!

Diesel technology and emissions regulations have come on a bit since the 150's were conceived.

 

[Techniquest]

Diesel technology and emissions regulations have come on a bit since the 150's were conceived.

Well yes, I would like to hope so!

 

[WAO]

Modern Diesel noise is usually low pitch and well silenced, geared dc, old SR style traction motors have an (agreeable) medium pitch whine, modern inverters a high pitch whistle.

WAO

 

[507021]

Many thanks to both of you.

I should also add 454 is the Porterbrook Innovation Train. Apologies for any confusion caused.

Thanks for the summary.
It is interesting that the press releases on the Flex project state that the 319/4s are the most useful for converting into 769s. I have tried to speculate why, and one answer appears to be the interior applied to them as 319s. I have no doubt that might be true, but also note that three of the /4s have been scrapped, but also that ROG have 319441 in the mix, for which the interior is probably surplus as it will be gutted for freight. Then there are the /4s wqorking for LNWR.

Doesn't seem to be a very consistent disposition, but also acknowledge the physical and mechanical state of each unit in the class would also have some bearing.

I expect it was because the /4 subclass was more readily available at the time the programme was announced.

As far as I know there are only enough powerplants available for the remaining GWR units and 769503 to 510. After those I'd imagine the 26 remaining 319s will be made available for potential freight or 799 conversions.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Based solely on yesterday's observations of 769424, yes I would agree that the engines are far quieter than those on 150s etc. With the motor whine too, it's a funky noise!

I find the inverter noise on 319s (and by extension 769s) to be possibly the nicest sound on the railway, it sounds like a violin playing to me and sounds relaxing.

 

[D9006]

Had 1st trip on 424 the front end. I like these seats and spacing

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2021 ==

450 arriving on 1216 Southport to Alderley Edge. No unit showing on realtime so took a gamble

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2021 ==

456 and 442 noted at North Western Station with pantographs up. On test

 

[Jamesrob637]

Do these have cab air-conditioning now?