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769431 finished at AN last night, within the 6 diagrams from 8 (or 9 if you include the exTfW 452) - there are allegedly 2 at AN each day on spare/maintenance, but 769424 is still at Brodies (since 16/11), 769456 has been missing since 1.1 (was at SP all last week) and 769452 was at AN but may now be off lease.
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Sat 17/1
4 started the day 434/42/48/50. No 769's have come out of AN as 2 x 156 DMU's (shortforms) are covering the 2 that start there.
There are some 2 cars now diagrammed on the previous 4 car services (I believe 44 daily services in total from the December tt change including some Headbolt Lane-Blackburn as well as Southports) but this shouldn't affect the 769 diagrams -unless of course a 769 isn't available and a DMU covers with splitting of some 4 cars, regretfully this is usually every day and not just 1 769!!
Tues 20/1
Having said that, there appears to be some shifting around of units, and some further shuffling last night/this morning, but 5 today started in service although 769450 on 2W01 ran into trouble first thing on 2W01 06.08 Man Vic-Southport and lost 80 mins between Wigan Wallgate and Parbold, and is currently (12.20) at Southport which has resulted (again) in several cancellations and further swap in diagrams and some services still appear to be being cancelled.
769431/34/42/58 are currently in use. 150113 was covering the 6th diagram (off NH this morning) whilst it now appears (15.00) that 156405 is being split from a 150 on a Headbolt Lane-Blackburn diagram later to eventually cover 769450's diagram, not before several Ox Rd-Southports and returns have been cancelled.
The demic 769450 now allocated to be collected by 769442 and conveyed with it in the consist of 5W28 later tonight on the regular Southport-SP ECS.
Wed 21/1
5 started the day, 431/34/42/48/58. 1 x 2 car 150 DMU covering off SP.
Thurs 22/1
4 started the day, 431/34/42/48. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU covering off AN, 1 x 2 car 150 DMU covering off SP.
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Allerton- Kilmarnock booked for 23/1, should be one of the 769's not yet refurbished (442) with a return on Sat 24/1 (presumably 769424 which has been away since 16/11)
Fri 23/1
3 start the day, 431/48/50. 2 x 2 car 156 DMU covering (1 off AN, 1 off SP, 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU covering off SP)
37884 for 5Q08 at AN, unit going is 769442.
Later:- got as far as Edge Hill to run round but no further and cancelled at operators request with communication difficulties between loco and unit which resulted in them returning to AN separately. 37884 which came from Derby LD now returning to Derby as 0Z37.
Sat 24/1
3 start the day, 434/48/50. 2 x 4 car 150/156 DMU covering off SP, 1 x 2 car 150 DMU covering off NH.
Mon 26/1
5 start the day, 431/42/48/50/58 with a 4 car DMU 150/156 covering off SP. Note that 442 has been pushed into traffic, despite having started its move to Kilmarnock on Friday but getting no further than Edge Hill from Allerton. 434/56 and possibly 452 missing, with 424 awaiting return from Brodies.
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Tues 27/1
5 start the day. Same as 26/1 but with 1 x 4 car DMU 150/156 covering off AN.
5 start the day. 769434/48/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 150DMU covering off NH.
Note that 456 is in service (missing since 1/1) and 442 (should hve gone to Kilmarnock last Friday) is back at AN.
431 finished at SP on Tues but wasn't out Wed. 769456 should have finished at NH last night, there's been some swapping again.
Unit that comes off NH has been diesel only once this week but three times last week, the main problem seems to be getting the 2 diagrammed off AN to be 769's.
Also seems to been some instances of 769's running on diesel most/all day.
The 5 out today have been assisted by 156405/17 which are the covering units today and came off AN this morning.
Real-time train running information for 5Q94 0734 departure from Allerton Depot to Long Marston on 30/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 5Q94 0734 departure from Allerton Depot to Long Marston on 30/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Appears that 452 behaved by agreeing to couple to 37884. 452 in service from 3 Sept until 6 Nov, at least did far better than 421. However, the value for money that Northern had out of these 2 is seriously appalling, even if some use was found for trianing on them.
5 started the day today which is not bad considering that 424 is at Brodies. 431/42/50/56/58. 434 missing since 24/1, whilst 448 should have finished last night at SP. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU covering on 5Y90 which starts at NH.
Seems 456 had a problem with its breaks this afternoon and the 15.52 from Stalybridge ran empty to Wigan Carriage sidings meaning the 19.11 from Southport has also been cancelled
Not be a full compliment as there are still 3 to go to Brodies (for which purpose 421/52 were on short term leases to cover all the overhauls- came late, rarely worked and have gone back with just 4 currently back......) and as paths in for Wed 4 Feb LD 0N36 Derby to AN, followed by 5Q08 9.21 AN-Kilmarnock, followed by 769424 being brought back on either 5Q37 15.11 Kilmarnock-AN or 5Q09 Kilmarnock-Carlisle.
Of the units still to go 442/50 finish tonight at SP, whilst 448 went ECS to AN.
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Tues 3/2
5 out today. Same units as yesterday, except 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (409) covering off AN. 769442 should finish tonight at Allerton, puts it in place for 5Q08 tomorrow, trust that it will talk to the 37 this week!
Most of the units that went to brodies which had loud motors for example 434 have had their motor bogies replaced and returned as quiet as they were when new, except for 431 which was noticeably louder when it returned. Do they have certain appointed things they need replaced/fixed? Or do the team at brodies inspect the gearboxes/axles to determine if they need a replacement?
37884 arrived at AN this morning to take 769442 to Kilmarnock, but has (again) left without it, but this time instead of going back to Derby is running as a hastily arranged 0Z08 to Kilmarnock, presumably to return 769424 after its Brodie 'fix'. Hopefully 769424 will agree to couple up!
In Northernland, 5 out today 431/34/48/50/58 with the 6th diagram being covered off SP by a 4 car 150/156 DMU. 424 en route from Brodies (hopefully), 442 refusing to dance with 37884 to go to Brodies, and 456 (last out 1/1, and then 28/1 for a day!)
Later 769424 has arrived back at AN with 37884 providing the power.
Most of the units that went to brodies which had loud motors for example 434 have had their motor bogies replaced and returned as quiet as they were when new, except for 431 which was noticeably louder when it returned. Do they have certain appointed things they need replaced/fixed? Or do the team at brodies inspect the gearboxes/axles to determine if they need a replacement?
434 & 456 have both had a C4 overhaul whilst they had their C6, which meant overhauled bogies with overhauled traction motors which would explain why they are "quieter" than 431, for example.
The original "as built" door system on the 319's was a Westinghouse system which has been in use for years. It's getting more difficult to get parts for these systems now, so the 769's have been fitted with an IFE Tebel doorgear system (other doorgear systems are available if required).
I saw a plate on the motor bogies stating they were manufactured in crewe works 2022/23 how long have they been planning the overhauls or are these just spare
Just 4 were booked to start the day today, but 769458 failed to come under starters orders before it even left SP so down to 3. Also some shifting around with the ECS's last night.
769431/48/50 currently in service. 3 x 2 car 156 DMU's covering, 1 each off AN, NH with 458's diagram covered by cancellation of a Wigan-Wallgate-Man Vic then to NH turn.
Out of service 769424/42 at AN, 434 should have finished last night at SP, 456 presume AN, 458 SP.
Later , a VST move of 37884 + 769442 has left AN for Kilmarnock as 5Q08, and at the third attempt has got past Edge Hill!, last noted north of Shap.
I saw a plate on the motor bogies stating they were manufactured in crewe works 2022/23 how long have they been planning the overhauls or are these just spare
Some of the units have already had C4 overhauls at ATC Crewe. The dates on the bogie ID plates is the overhaul date and the warranty date (i.e 10/22 overhaul date, 10/23 warranty date).
Fri 6/2
4 start the day, 769431/48/50/58. 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU & 1 x 2 car 150 DMU covering, both starting from AN.
Sat 7/2
4 start the day 769431/34/50/58. 1 x 4 car 156 DMU off NH, 1x 2 car 150 DMU off SP covering.
Mon 9/2
5 start the day 769431/34/48/50/58. 1 x 2 car 150 DMU covering off SP. Missing:- 769424 AN (arrived back at AN ex-Brodies 4/2), 769456 (last noted 30/1), 769442 (Brodies)
Tues 10/2 Red letter day. 6 start the day as per diagrammed for the first time since 27 December 2025. 769424/31/34/48/50/58 flying the flag. In addition 769456 has worked a 5W00 AN-SP this morning, was noted at Liverpool Lime Street departing on diesel.
Wed 11/2
Same 6 again! Two days running. However 769431 retired hurt during the afternoon to SP.
Thurs 12/2
4 out today 434/50/56/58. 1 x 2car 156 DMU covering off NH, 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU covering off AN. The 2 156's covering are 2 of the ex-Heaton sets 156421/91 at NH to either cover the Cumbrian Coast closure, or lack of 769's...take your pick!
Later, 769424 has come off SP having finished there last night and is allocated on 5T65 SP- Wigan NW, then 5Y65 Wigan NW-AN (but running via Golborne Junc and Newton-le-Willows Junc due to failure of 1F08 Blackpool N-Liverpool between Wigan NW and Bryn, currently being rescued by a Class 331 1Z99), with 769450 going to SP as 5W00 instead of AN after working 2J65.
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Fri 13/2
5 out today. 431/34/48/50/56. 1 x 2 car 150 DMU covering off AN.
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