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

[nightflyian]

424 is also out and is full of graffeti at one end on the drivers side for the past few days. Thought it would of been pulled from service until its removed ?

 

[Jamesrob637]

424 is also out and is full of graffeti at one end on the drivers side for the past few days. Thought it would of been pulled from service until its removed ?

No, if it works leave it out there!

 

[Geeves]

There's a few units with graffiti out today including some 150s.

448 was retired to the depot as a failure at around 1400 and replaced with a 150, there was a couple more issues but the fitter rode to Stalybridge and back and so it was just 448 as the demic today.

 

[M60lad]

With 448 being sent to depot as a failure will they use the opportunity to clean the graffiti off it while its there?

 

[Nym]

With 448 being sent to depot as a failure will they use the opportunity to clean the graffiti off it while its there?

You can fix it or clean it, not generally both.

 

[diligentdave]

Policy is that as long as the graffiti is not offensive or dangerous to sight lines it can run in service until opportunity arises to get it cleaned off.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jan 2025 ==

Monday 20th January 2025.

1. 5Q08, 1308 Oxenholme isu Sidings to Kilmarnock Bonnytown cancelled again, ongoing brake issue according to Old Rail Record Website, obviously 769431 doesn't want to leave the North West.

37884 went to collect 769431, but could not move 769431, and 37884 returned to Derby.

769431 remains at Oxenholme Sidings for another spell of time.

However next time around, will 769431 ie need the barrier vehicles to finally move it.

Actually turns out that the fault lies with the loco (more specifically the adaptor that's used to convert Class 37 brake signals through to the 769, so no need for translators or top & tail locos with through pipes). Another try will be made soon.

 

[507016]

Anyone know tomorrows diagrams for the 769s?

 

[3973EXL]

Realtime Trains | 0N11 0605 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Oxenholme Isu (Ce) | 27/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0N11 0605 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Oxenholme Isu (Ce) on 27/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q08 1340 Oxenholme Isu (Ce) to Kilmarnock Bonnyton Depot | 27/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q08 1340 departure from Oxenholme Isu (Ce) to Kilmarnock Bonnyton Depot on 27/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[507016]

Let’s hope it gets moving this time, thanks

Realtime Trains | 0N11 0605 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Oxenholme Isu (Ce) | 27/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0N11 0605 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Oxenholme Isu (Ce) on 27/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q08 1340 Oxenholme Isu (Ce) to Kilmarnock Bonnyton Depot | 27/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q08 1340 departure from Oxenholme Isu (Ce) to Kilmarnock Bonnyton Depot on 27/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Nym]

It is funny how many people pointed directly to the 769 failing, when it was actually the loco translator.

Given how simple the brakes are on a 769...

 

[507016]

Just received some really heavy braking on 769424, released brakes and moved then stopped again about a minute after leaving Salford crescent, any idea what’s gone on?

Edit: moving again now

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Just received some really heavy braking on 769424, released brakes and moved then stopped again about a minute after leaving Salford crescent, any idea what’s gone on?

Went to go look at Traksy but it looks like you're back on the move now?
Several trains are stacking up behind you.

 

[Halish Railway]

I'm not sure if it's still there, but yesterday I saw a Northern 769 stabled to south of Oxenholme Lake District station. Does anyone know why its there?

(Please don't say its for the godforsaken rumour of them being put on the Windermere to Manchester Airport services )

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I'm not sure if it's still there, but yesterday I saw a Northern 769 stabled to south of Oxenholme Lake District station. Does anyone know why its there?

(Please don't say its for the godforsaken rumour of them being put on the Windermere to Manchester Airport services )

On its way to Brodies, it has been stuck there for a bit now (see #7,005), another attempt is goigng to be made tomorrow (as per #7,028).

(At least if they were running to Windermere they'd still have somewhere "out of the way" to break down )

 

[Ribbleman]

On its way to Brodies, it has been stuck there for a bit now (see #7,005), another attempt is goigng to be made tomorrow (as per #7,028).

(At least if they were running to Windermere they'd still have somewhere "out of the way" to break down )

At the third time of asking 769431 finally arrived at Brodies at 16.15 according to RTT. 769421 has been at Crewe IEMD for three weeks now. Any news on progress? It and 769452 were supposed to be available for use by Northern this month. As far as I can determine 452 has not even left Long Marston for similar attention at Crewe.

 

[Gricer99]

There are only a handful of services running via Bolton to Wigan Northwestern in the current timetable. Most of these seem to be operated by 150/156s.

Have any 769s run to North Western on Electric yet?

If not, are there any plans to do soon?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Have any 769s run to North Western on Electric yet?

If we consider that outside the new electrification, then I believe they've run Wigan - Manchester (via Golborne) before.

But that's obviously not what you meant.
As far as I am aware (surely it would have been mentioned in the electrification thread) no tests have happened yet.

 

[Ribbleman]

There are only a handful of services running via Bolton to Wigan Northwestern in the current timetable. Most of these seem to be operated by 150/156s.

Have any 769s run to North Western on Electric yet?

If not, are there any plans to do soon?

I think that it might be done for testing purposes but it is unlikely that they would be used into North Western on a regular basis at the moment as there are insufficient sets to run services to and from Southport. However, the current Southport to Stalybridge service will in future run via Atherton and terminate at Manchester Victoria, so will be diesel powered for almost the entire journey. That may well change the use of the 769s, though they will still work Southport to Oxford Road services via Bolton.
A new hourly service from North Western to Stalybridge via Bolton and Manchester Victoria will be introduced at the same time, almost certainly using 323s.

 

[Gricer99]

What about the Leeds and Blackburn trains?

 

[Ribbleman]

What about the Leeds and Blackburn trains?

I’ve no info. on those routes, sorry.

 

[Geeves]

As others have said any test trains would certainly have been noticed on here so currently the wires cannot be used by 769s due to testing and paperwork and secondly even if the wires were available, power change over at Hindley for current 769 work would likely not be allowed by Network Rail due power change issues

As far as the Leeds trains go in the future they are being cut back to Salford Central where a turnback is being built. No sign of that happening yet!

 

[skyhigh]

What about the Leeds and Blackburn trains?

769s aren't cleared for Leeds and no East crew sign them so absolutely zero chance one has worked there.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Oops

Realtime Trains | 2W24 1727 Manchester Oxford Road to Southport | 30/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2W24 1727 departure from Manchester Oxford Road to Southport on 30/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

At least it hasn't been cancelled!

 

[skyhigh]

Oops

Realtime Trains | 2W24 1727 Manchester Oxford Road to Southport | 30/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2W24 1727 departure from Manchester Oxford Road to Southport on 30/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

At least it hasn't been cancelled!

A door fault caused by a butterfly valve getting jammed. Not unusual across the whole 15x fleet and hardly a 769 specific failure.

 

[Jamesrob637]

A door fault caused by a butterfly valve getting jammed. Not unusual across the whole 15x fleet and hardly a 769 specific failure.

Loved them a few years ago, can't wait to see them in scrapyards now. Still, they don't ply my line: I just have to endure 150s instead

 

[GhostManDN91]

The 07:51 Southport train from Wigan Wallgate was cancelled this morning too which was a 769. Left Bolton 16mins late due to a fault changing power. Terminated at Wigan and came in with 1 out of 2 engines switched on. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G31554/2025-01-30/detailed

 

[WAO]

If the main failure mode is change-over, would it not make sense to work each turn as either all diesel or all electric?

WAO

 

[childwallblues]

As others have said any test trains would certainly have been noticed on here so currently the wires cannot be used by 769s due to testing and paperwork and secondly even if the wires were available, power change over at Hindley for current 769 work would likely not be allowed by Network Rail due power change issues

As far as the Leeds trains go in the future they are being cut back to Salford Central where a turnback is being built. No sign of that happening yet!

There is a turnback on the Atherton Line at Salford Crescent.

 

[Geeves]

There is a turnback on the Atherton Line at Salford Crescent.

Unfortunately it's unsuitable for anything other than an absolute emergency, has no facilities for regular use and isn't easily accessible without delays to other services.

Another 769 went pop last night around the Oxford Road area causing quite the mess. Just noticed the posts above!

 

[Gricer99]

424?