Class 168 Refurbishment Discussion and Updates

[HeelBurton]

Not exactly a big update on 168329 but it's now in the branch siding at Aylesbury, blocked in by the two broken halves of 165018/024 and 038 with a broken headlight.

Usually whenever something it put in that siding it stays there for quite a while unfortunately.

Climbed on it today as we needed a 168/3 to look at for a traction course I was taking.

Although the equipment under the sole bar in terms of engine etc look really new, the inside is poor and it seems to be being used as a Christmas tree.

One end has a 168/0 PBC and directional switch!!!

 

[CR165022]

Crewe/Banbury paths in for Wednesday, so hopefully will be 168004 finally coming back, highly unlikely 219 will be ready yet.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Crewe/Banbury paths in for Wednesday, so hopefully will be 168004 finally coming back, highly unlikely 219 will be ready yet.

168004. 219 nowhere near ready yet.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

I’m guessing we won’t know what unit’s going up until tomorrow?

 

[HeelBurton]

I’m guessing we won’t know what unit’s going up until tomorrow?

Nothing in the depot yet that suggests an exchange will be made

 

[CR165022]

An extra 4 car 168 (003) will be stabling at Banbury tonight. It should be going to Stourbridge but is getting canned at Birmingham and running back to Banbury instead.
The 2 other 4 car ones that would normally be stabling there tonight are 216 & 217, so presumably it will be one of those two going to Crewe tomorrow if nothing else.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

An extra 4 car 168 (003) will be stabling at Banbury tonight. It should be going to Stourbridge but is getting canned at Birmingham and running back to Banbury instead.
The 2 other 4 car ones that would normally be stabling there tonight are 216 & 217, so presumably it will be one of those two going to Crewe tomorrow if nothing else.

Does that mean tomorrow’s 1H14 off Stourbridge or 1H17 will be just a /3 then?

 

[CR165022]

Does that mean tomorrow’s 1H14 off Stourbridge or 1H17 will be just a /3 then?

It's possible they might send something else up with the /3 this evening, but if not then that would seem likely tomorrow.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

It's possible they might send something else up with the /3 this evening, but if not then that would seem likely tomorrow.

Looks like 325 is the only 168 to arrive onto SBJ depot tonight if 003 is going back to Banbury.
That’ll be… erm… interesting tomorrow morning

 

[CR165022]

Looks like 325 is the only 168 to arrive onto SBJ depot tonight if 003 is going back to Banbury.
That’ll be… erm… interesting tomorrow morning

Only way to get away with that is swap the 168 and the 1H08 68 set around so that the 68 does 1H14 instead, leaving the 168/3 for 1H08, still would be very cosy but would at least leave a longer train for a busier service.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Only way to get away with that is swap the 168 and the 1H08 68 set around so that the 68 does 1H14 instead, leaving the 168/3 for 1H08, still would be very cosy but would at least leave a longer train for a busier service.

Whatever happens they won’t be able to make everyone happy. If 218 was hypothetically ready then could they have that ready to join at Banbury?

 

[HeelBurton]

Whatever happens they won’t be able to make everyone happy. If 218 was hypothetically ready then could they have that ready to join at Banbury?

218 did leave AYS Friday attached to a service train with the doors locked out. AYS did some work on it. It could be ready to go either back into service or back to Crewe.

Looks like 325 is the only 168 to arrive onto SBJ depot tonight if 003 is going back to Banbury.
That’ll be… erm… interesting tomorrow morning

There is a VSTP from SBJ to Banbury depot in the morning. Could be 325…? Would suggest this unit could be off to Crewe as the first 2 car to be refurbished?

 

[CR165022]

There is a VSTP from SBJ to Banbury depot in the morning. Could be 325…? Would suggest this unit could be off to Crewe as the first 2 car to be refurbished?

I think that would be a 68/MK5 set, sending 325 down in the morning would leave 1H14 without a unit at all, given 003 wont be there either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2025 ==

Just seen, 003s 5U65 run tonight has been cancelled, so it will be going to Stourbridge after all. The Stourbridge/Banbury run tomorrow is a Q headcode though which would suggest a 68/MK5.
Another edit: 168111 is going with 325 to Stourbridge, so presumably one of those will actually do 5Q00 tomorrow morning and then go to Crewe.

 

[HeelBurton]

I think that would be a 68/MK5 set, sending 325 down in the morning would leave 1H14 without a unit at all, given 003 wont be there either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2025 ==

Just seen, 003s 5U65 run tonight has been cancelled, so it will be going to Stourbridge after all. The Stourbridge/Banbury run tomorrow is a Q headcode though which would suggest a 68/MK5.

musical chairs, railway version.

We can run the units as Q paths though. I have done training runs as Q paths before.

I may need another MK5 at Banbury tomorrow for a traction course but we already have a Full unit and a spare loco sat on sidings 5 and 3 road.

I am at the network rail building at Banbury in the morning so Anything running out the depot via the north end should run past my head if I look up from my laptop. 004 is definitely needed and I hope it’s service ready as we will be dealing with the WCML blockade over the festive period and need as many units as possible. Hopefully we are not sending another 4 car out.

Looks interesting tomorrow. Never a dull day

 

[MerlinRail 804]

004 is definitely needed and I hope it’s service ready as we will be dealing with the WCML blockade over the festive period and need as many units as possible. Hopefully we are not sending another 4 car out.

When the refurb is done are the 168 diagrams likely to be stepped up?Surely an extra unit or two could be squeezed in?

 

[CR165022]

Deleted

 

[HeelBurton]

When the refurb is done are the 168 diagrams likely to be stepped up?Surely an extra unit or two could be squeezed in?

Since there have been a couple teething problems with units returning the process is slowed down abit. Hence you are seeing more mixed 165/168 formations to increase capacity where needed reducing short forms

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Dec 2025 ==

I think that would be a 68/MK5 set, sending 325 down in the morning would leave 1H14 without a unit at all, given 003 wont be there either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2025 ==

Just seen, 003s 5U65 run tonight has been cancelled, so it will be going to Stourbridge after all. The Stourbridge/Banbury run tomorrow is a Q headcode though which would suggest a 68/MK5.
Another edit: 168111 is going with 325 to Stourbridge, so presumably one of those will actually do 5Q00 tomorrow morning and then go to Crewe.

Was a mark 5 for this move.

No 168 on the depot for a run to Crewe

 

[CR165022]

Paths have appeared for a second attempt on friday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Dec 2025 ==

Ok, what's actually been happening with the 168s? Why has there been a sudden and significant increase of 165s in place of them? It seems as though every day at the moment, there's at least 1 or 2 165 substitutions. 165006/165032 and 165029 today for example.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Ok, what's actually been happening with the 168s? Why has there been a sudden and significant increase of 165s in place of them? It seems as though every day at the moment, there's at least 1 or 2 165 substitutions. 165006/165032 and 165029 today for example.

Yeah I noticed that too.
Hopefully nothing to do with the recent TT change - it looks like they’ve planned for success based on the diagrams (obtained by this FOI request).
6 168s are not in traffic today, plus the ones at Crewe and 329, which is one more than what it should be I think(?)
Wonder where there getting the 165s from as well tbh

 

[HeelBurton]

Yeah I noticed that too.
Hopefully nothing to do with the recent TT change - it looks like they’ve planned for success based on the diagrams (obtained by this FOI request).
6 168s are not in traffic today, plus the ones at Crewe and 329, which is one more than what it should be I think(?)
Wonder where there getting the 165s from as well tbh

Didn’t think these sort of things were available online!!!!

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Didn’t think these sort of things were available online!!!!

I think some TOCs make them publicly available thanks to FOI. I know GA and SWR have them on their websites, and there’s prolly others

 

[CR165022]

If the Crewe/Banbury does run tomorrow, it's looking like it will be 168005 going. It should be just 168001 & 005 stabling there tonight like normal, but they're bringing 106 up on 1U77 in addition to that.

 

[CyrusWuff]

I think some TOCs make them publicly available thanks to FOI. I know GA and SWR have them on their websites, and there’s prolly others

Though given Chiltern has yet to transfer to DFTO, they're not subject to FOI and I doubt unit diagrams would be in-scope for the Environmental Information Regulations.

That being the case, it's odd that they've been provided.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

If the Crewe/Banbury does run tomorrow, it's looking like it will be 168005 going. It should be just 168001 & 005 stabling there tonight like normal, but they're bringing 106 up on 1U77 in addition to that.

005 isn’t in traffic today so hopefully.
As a result, 1Y10 gets a double refurb pair today

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Dec 2025 ==

Looks like 005 is leaving Banbury depot now, according to Railcam

 

[Jacob Porrett]

165005 swapping for 168004 at Crewe today.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

165005 swapping for 168004 at Crewe today.

Lovely. Seems like the pace has picked up a bit recently

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Lovely. Seems like the pace has picked up a bit recently

It's about roughly the same amount of time.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

It's about roughly the same amount of time.

Might just be me then!

 

[CR165022]

168218 finally back in service today.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

168218 finally back in service today.

Just been set swapped from 1R37 @ 14:02 (Birmingham run with 108) to 2V38 @ 1427 (Aylesbury Vale run)...

...in place of a 165 which was originally planned to do 2V38 and is now with 108 on 1R37.

I'm sure there's a reason but that one doesn't make much sense to me