Trivia: Oldest passenger unit class with all examples still in service

[adc82140]

What is the oldest class of unit where all examples are still running in day to day service? We'll class the age as the date the first of the class entered revenue service.

I'll start: Class 166. Entered into service May 1993, all of them survive.

 

[ls2270]

I would say the Class 318s which entered service in September 1986.

 

[driver9000]

Pretty certain all class 156 units are still in service from 1987.

 

[Strathclyder]

I would say the Class 318s which entered service in September 1986.

Yeah, was gonna cite the 318s myself. Also of course, they are Scotland's oldest multiple unit that are still in day-to-day service.

 

[D365]

Class 950

On a more serious note, Class 150; I think two or three carriages scrapped due to fire damage?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Class 950

On a more serious note, Class 150; I think two or three carriages scrapped due to fire damage?

Two class 150/2 vehicles were scrapped with collision damage.

Class 318 is the correct answer, being introduced in 1986.

 

[JonathanH]

Pretty certain all class 156 units are still in service from 1987.

Some of the EMR class 156 units were stood down out of service at Barrow Hill, although not withdrawn. I dont know whether that is still the case.

 

[Pokelet]

The 155's that remained as 155's are all still going aren't they?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

The 155's that remained as 155's are all still going aren't they?

Yes all though they are still younger than 318s.

 

[317 forever]

It would seem worth commenting on classes where routime withdrawals have not yet commenced, even if isolated examples have been withdrawn through accidents.

I think class 507s would fit this category; not class 508s though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It would seem worth commenting on classes where routime withdrawals have not yet commenced, even if isolated examples have been withdrawn through accidents.

I think class 507s would fit this category; not class 508s though.

At least one class 507 vehicle was stored out of use until it was used to replace a damaged 314 car.

Can't recall off the top of my head why it was initially stored (think it might have been a fire which destroyed some vehicles from the unit) nor which 314 it went into. Nor do I know whether the vehicle in question is still intact as part of the Hydrogen 614 project.

 

[315801]

The class 507 vehicle you refer to was used in 314203 but because the 314s were 25 kv AC powered the class 507 coach had to be rewired for 25 kv operation as was originally 750v dc.

The class 314 vehicle it replaced was too badly dameged in a collision that rendered it beyond economical repair.

Of the class 507 units, 31 out of 33 are in service as 507022 was the 1st unit to be scrapped after a collision at kirkdale and 507006 was a recent loss to merseyrail after the derailment at Kirkby last year

 

[david l]

Class 150/1, first introduced 1984.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Class 150/1, first introduced 1984.

Good point if going by subclass as opposed to whole class then 150/0s would also count.

 

[Oxfordblues]

The two locomotives on the Hythe Pier Tramway were built in 1917, so 102 years old!

 

[Howardh]

The two locomotives on the Hythe Pier Tramway were built in 1917, so 102 years old!

Ah, but are they "classified"?!!

That apart, would have thought there wouldn't be much that can beat the 135 yrs of the Volks Railway (Brighton)?

 

[anamyd]

Class 150/1, first introduced 1984.

It was the two "real" 150/0s (150001 and 150002) that were built in 1984.

 

[geoffk]

Some of the EMR class 156 units were stood down out of service at Barrow Hill, although not withdrawn. I dont know whether that is still the case.

Why are 156s stood down when there is supposed to be a shortage of diesel units?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Why are 156s stood down when there is supposed to be a shortage of diesel units?

Is there actually a shortage?

 

[D365]

The class 507 vehicle you refer to was used in 314203 but because the 314s were 25 kv AC powered the class 507 coach had to be rewired for 25 kv operation as was originally 750v dc.

I’m not sure about that. On a Class 313/314/315, the pantograph and transformer are both on the intermediate ’PTS’ coach. The AC supply isn’t distributed between vehicles.

 

[507 001]

I’m not sure about that. On a Class 313/314/315, the pantograph and transformer are both on the intermediate ’PTS’ coach. The AC supply isn’t distributed between vehicles.

It's more a control gear issue than a 'rewire'. 507/508 are camshaft controlled. 314/315 are (were!) thyristor controlled.

 

[Failed Unit]

Why are 156s stood down when there is supposed to be a shortage of diesel units?

That is a good question considering that EMR services are frequently short formed. If they could get all the units out in service with the cuts to the service they wouldnt need them on the current timetable. But if EMR could operate their full timetable these units would be needed.

In answer to the question I would go for the 150/0 or 150/1

 

[Sm5]

Class 484 ?

All 5 of them exist, they were built in 1978.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

But if EMR could operate their full timetable these units would be needed.

I thought EMR had reinstated all the trains that were temporarily suspended due to driver shortages?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Oct 2022 ==

Class 484 ?

All 4 of them exist, they were built in 1978.

What’s happened to the 5th set? Has it been withdrawn?

 

[Maude673]

Glasgow Subway units?

Or Tyne and Wear Metro? They do run on the national rail network unlike the above - not all in service though I don’t think?

 

[JonathanH]

Or Tyne and Wear Metro? They do run on the national rail network unlike the above - not all in service though I don’t think?

Nope - 4022 is gone.

 

[hexagon789]

Glasgow Subway units?

122 was withdrawn in October 2015, cannibalised for parts and subsequently scrapped.

 

[Sm5]

What’s happened to the 5th set? Has it been withdrawn?

how cute.

typo, ive updated it to 5.

 

[bramling]

Is there actually a shortage?

I’d say in places there certainly is, for the time being at least. TFW, GWR and EMR seem the obvious ones. Also GWR and Chiltern if there is a desire to bin their loco-hauled or HST fleets. To be fair some of this is spoken for once new fleets enter service.

Presumably in the early medium term we will start to see stuff like 150s and 156s going spare, though at the moment it seems hard to see how certain parts of the network could manage without them.

 

[Strathclyder]

The class 507 vehicle you refer to was used in 314203 but because the 314s were 25 kv AC powered the class 507 coach had to be rewired for 25 kv operation as was originally 750v dc.

The class 314 vehicle it replaced was too badly dameged in a collision that rendered it beyond economical repair.

The collision in question was the fatal head-on crash at Newton station on 21st July 1991. The Class 314 vehicle in question (DMSO 64588) was completely destroyed and had to be cut up on site.