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

[Jamesrob637]

Mon 31/8
4 start the day 424/42/50/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (414) covering off NH, whilst the 2nd AN unit is 1 x 2 car 150 DMU (109) - but this morning starting from NH.
Of the others 431 at AN since 17/8, 434 recovered from Burscough last night by 450 and is partially visible at SP, 456 at AN since 29/8, 448 at Brodies since 4/7.

Tues 1/9
5 start the day 424/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (422) covering off AN.
Seems a swap of diagrams as 5J01 AN-Man Vic has finished at SP not NH for the past couple of days, whilst 5J02 AN-Man Vic now finishes at NH (perhaps because its been a DMU for a little while with the current shortage of 769's)

Wed 2/9
5 start the day 424/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 150 DMU (220) covering off NH.
450 reported failed at Southport after working 2W25 17.52 Stalybridge-Southport, replaced on rest of diagram by 156408.

Thurs 3/9
5 start the day 424/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (415) covering off AN.

Fri 4/9
Not a good day so far.
2 start the day 442/56. 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU (270/417) covering off AN, 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (415) covering off SP, 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (425) covering off NH, whilst the 2nd AN diagram is being covered by a 1 x 2 car 150 DMU (102) starting from Man Vic
Of the other 6 769's, 424 went to NH 3/9 (but starts from AN on 5/9!), 431 at AN since 17/8, 434 at SP since 30/8, 450 & 458 at AN since 3/9, 448 at Brodies since 4/7.

Sat 5/9
2 start the day 424/56.
The other 4 diagrams are all covered by 2 car shortform DMU's, 1 x 156 (415) off SP, 1 x 156 (455) off NH, 1 x 156 (422) off AN and 1 x 150 (102) off SP. Ta to Greater Anglia for their castoff 156's without which....

Mon 7/9
New week. Poor.
3 start the day 424/42/56. 1 x 4 car 156 DMU (406/60) covering off AN, 2 x 2 car 156 DMU's (415 & 422) covering off SP. Once again ta to Greater Anglia for their 156 cast-offs without which...
431 at AN since 17/8, 434 SP ?? since 30/8 (Burscough) 450 & 458 went to AN 3/9, 448 at Brodies since 4/7.

Tues 8/9
Deja vu. Same 3 start the day 424/42/56, 1 x 4 car 156 DMU (406/60) covering off SP, with 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (415) also off SP, with 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (425) covering off AN.

Wed 9/9
4 start the day 424/42/50/56. 2 x 2 car 156 DMU (415, 425) covering off SP.
Of the others 431 at AN since 17/8, 434 confirmed still at SP since 30/8 (Burscough), 458 at AN since 3/9, 448 at Brodies since 4/7.

A little better today (09/09) then.

 

[david l]

A little better today (09/09) then.

450 on 2W68 19.30 Southport-Stalybridge has got as far as Wigan W then been cancelled. Unit should have finished at NH but appears to have gone to Wigan Wallgate sidings..

Thurs 10/9
4 start the day 424/42/50/56. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (415) covering off SP, 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (406) covering off AN

Fri 11/9
3 start the day 424/50/56. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (426) covering off AN, with 1 x 150 2 car DMU (273) covering off SP and 1 x 156 2 car DMU (415) also covering off SP, with a 150 (129) coupling to 156415 mid-afternoon.

Sat 12/9
4 start the day 424/50/56/58. 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU (129/415) and 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (426)covering, both off SP.
156415 has spent the last 8 working days covering, whilst there have been 15 diagrams (11 1/2 shortforms) covered by DMU's for non-available 769's this week.
Of the others 431 at AN since 18/8, 434 at SP since 30/8 (Burscough), 442 went to AN 10/9, 448 at Brodies since 4/7.
450 booked to go to SP tonight (not AN) and DMU 156426 to AN (not SP).

Sun 13/9.
Not normally a working day for 769's, but there has today been a 5Z36 SP-AN and 5Z35 AN-SP worked by Rail Operations Group. 450 was noted on 5Z35 and as it had finished at SP on 12/9, and 769434 (the Burscough one) could not be postively identified at SP this pm was it taken using 450 as a tractor unit ?? In addition there is a 0S08 Derby RTC-Kilmarnock booked for tomorrow witha 5Q36 return to AN, presume this is 448 coming back from Brodies, loco then booked to return to Derby.
Is it beyond the realms of sensible that 0S08 is diverted via AN, and is taking 434 to Kilmarnock for repair before working 5Q36??

Mon 14/9
4 start the day 424/42/50/58. 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU covering off AN (273/425), 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU covering off SP (129/415).
However the 4 car off AN has already been split. 769458 failed at Wigan W with 2W12 10.27 Man Ox Road-Southport, cancelled between Wigan and Southport and as far as Wigan on return. 150273 split from 156425 to cover, units stepped up and 150109 also involved.
37884 0S08 Derby-Kilmarnock at Kilmarnock 61 early for return of 769448 which is on its way back home this pm.

 

[TheHovisKid]

448 is at Preston now

 

[david l]

Tues 15/9

3 start the day 424/42/50.
1 x 2 car 156 DMU each covering off NH (416), SP (415), AN (425). 156415 covering for the 11th consecutive (working) day!

Looks like there was a 5Q08 booked for today from AN -Kilmarnock...was this 434 (Burscough) going for repair??....but now cancelled.

Wed 16/9

5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 4 car 156 DMU covering off NH (422/475).
431 first appearance since 18/8.
Others:- 434 at AN awaiting movement??, 448 back from Brodies at AN since 15/9, 456 AN since 12/9.

 

[AM9]

Having travelled on a 769 a few years ago, I occasionally look for the actual train I used, (759424).That has had it's refresh/refurb at Brodie's and does seem to be fault free. Can anybody who lives in this thread tell me whether it's record shows that to be true?

 

[david l]

Having travelled on a 769 a few years ago, I occasionally look for the actual train I used, (759424).That has had it's refresh/refurb at Brodie's and does seem to be fault free. Can anybody who lives in this thread tell me whether it's record shows that to be true?

They've all now had their Brodie treatment. 424 went to Brodies in 11/25 and came back in 2/26. If truth be told, they all have their periods of use and then periods of time out of use. 431 appears to be more problematical, having just had a month off, whilst 456 and 458 have both had prolonged periods out of use, both before and after Brodies. 424 has been fairly consistent in action of late for , just missing 4/9 & 12/9 when cycling through Allerton since the back end of August when it had a four day break.

Thurs 17/9
5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU (206/405) covering off AN.

 

[Killingworth]

Having travelled on a 769 a few years ago, I occasionally look for the actual train I used, (759424).That has had it's refresh/refurb at Brodie's and does seem to be fault free. Can anybody who lives in this thread tell me whether it's record shows that to be true?

I travelled on 769434 on the first day of introduction and have noted it to have been an apparently better performer than most - until its recent unfortunate incident for which it was entirely blameless. It must be a total nightmare trying to provide reliable services with these units and have severely damaged demand for and revenue from the route.

 

[david l]

Fri 18/9

4 start the day 424/42/50/58. Nothing 769 out of AN this morning, so 1 x 2 car 150 DMU (268) and 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (428) covering off AN.
However, 150268 has run into problems and failed at Man Vic on 2W46 08.30 Southport-Stalybridge (train cancelled from Man Vic-Stalybridge) and has retired to NH, replaced by 150138 (eventually) purloined from a Blackburn-Headbolt Lane at Wigan W after a couple of cancellations.
Later 769431 has worked a SP-AN ECS, 450 finishing at SP and not AN. 431 is not particularly good at the moment...

Sat 19/9

4 start the day 424/42/50/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (452) covering off AN, and 1 x 4 car 150 DMU (130/150) covering off NH.
450 to AN tonight not SP, and 442 to SP not AN.
Of the others 431/34/48/56 all at AN.

 

[D9006]

I travelled on 769434 on the first day of introduction and have noted it to have been an apparently better performer than most - until its recent unfortunate incident for which it was entirely blameless. It must be a total nightmare trying to provide reliable services with these units and have severely damaged demand for and revenue from the route.

Yes I agree with thoughts on 434 as a passnger it always seemed quicker than the rest, maybe someone with a drivers prospective can pass some thoughts on this

 

[david l]

Mon 21/9
5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU (138/452) covering off SP.
434/48/56 at AN.
Later 150138 & 156452 split for 156452 to go elsewhere on a Blackburn diagram. Both will still finish up at Wigan, 138 at SP but 452 at Wigan Wallgate sidings.

Tues 22/9
5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 2 car 150 DMU (138) covering off SP.

Wed 23/9
5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (403) covering off AN.

Thurs 24/9
5 start the day 431/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (403) covering off SP.

Fri 25/9
5 start the day 431/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2car 156 DMU (422) covering off SP.
Of the others 424 at AN since 23/9, 434 at AN (Burscough 29/8), 448 returned from Brodies to AN 14/9 & not as yet in use.

 

[D9006]

Mon 21/9
5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 4 car 150/156 DMU (138/452) covering off SP.
434/48/56 at AN.
Later 150138 & 156452 split for 156452 to go elsewhere on a Blackburn diagram. Both will still finish up at Wigan, 138 at SP but 452 at Wigan Wallgate sidings.

Tues 22/9
5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 2 car 150 DMU (138) covering off SP.

Wed 23/9
5 start the day 424/31/42/50/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (403) covering off AN.

Thurs 24/9
5 start the day 431/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (403) covering off SP.

Fri 25/9
5 start the day 431/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2car 156 DMU (422) covering off SP.
Of the others 424 at AN since 23/9, 434 at AN (Burscough 29/8), 448 returned from Brodies to AN 14/9 & not as yet in use.

All still running too, no canx services(yet)

 

[david l]

Sat 26/9
5 start the day 431/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (461) covering off AN.

Mon 28/9
5 start the day 431/42/50/56/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (452) covering off SP.

Tues 29/9
4 started the day 431/50/56/58. 2 x 2 car 156 DMU (421/460) both covering off AN-no 769's off AN (again)
However 458 has already run into trouble, failed at Wigan on 2W03 06.52 Stalybridge-Southport and replaced by a 2 car 156 DMU (411) hastily sent from SP. 458 retired to SP &
later 458 worked 5Y63 21.01 Wigan NW-AN.
Of the others 424 at AN since 23/9, 434 (Burscough) at AN since around 6/9, 442 at AN since 28/9, 448 returned from Brodies 14/9, at AN not yet re-entered traffic.

Wed 30/9
4 start the day 424/31/42/56. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (421) covering off NH, 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (460) covering off SP
431 (not the most reliable...) has failed early in the day, replaced by 1 x 2car 156 DMU (411 again), hastily sent from SP....2nd day running. 431 to SP.

Thurs 1/10
6 started the day 424/31/42/48/56/58. First time since 17 August - although 6 didn't finish that day, the last time that 6 started and finished the day was 23 July.
Crew problems mean that 431 has started in service at Wigan Wallgate but going to Ox Road as opposed to Southport with a Wigan-Southport and return cancelled, and 448 is first day back in service since return from Brodies on 14/9.
Of the others 450 went to AN on 29/9, whilst 434 (Burscough) is at AN.
4 finished the day as later 424 appers to have failed at Wigan Wallgate on 2W25 17.52 Stalybridge-Southport whilst 448 on 17.27 Ox Rd-Southport has also not proceeded beyond Wigan. Several cancellations still going on, but again may be a case of one unit failing and another pulled from service to assist...

Fri 2/10
5 start the day 424/31/42/56/58. 1 x 2 car 150 DMU (276) covering off NH - 448 should have gone there last night, but see above whilst working 17.27 Ox Rd-Southport, was first day back in traffic after Brodies. Probably at SP.

Sat 3/10
5 start the day 424/42/48/56/58. 1 x 2 car 156 DMU (459) covering off AN. 448 (see Thurs/Fri) is going to AN tonight, whilst 458 goes to SP.
Of the others 431 at SP since 2/10, 434 (Burscough) at AN since 6/9, 450 at AN since 29/9.Wigan Wallgate and was
Later 458 was removed from service at Wigan Wallgate, having had traction problems and was replaced by 431!!!.... hastily procured from SP.

Mon 5/10
5 start the day 424/31/42/48/56. 1 x 4 car 156 DMU (459/60) covering off SP.
458 has been sent as 5Z85 SP-AN today, refusing to work on diesel.

Tues 6/10
5 start the day 424/31/42/48/50. 1 x 4 car 156 DMU (459/60) covering off SP.

Wed 7/10
5 start the day 424/42/48/50/56. 1 x 4 car 156 DMU (459/60) covering off SP.