TPE 158/175 workings

[Philip]

In the days when TPE had 158s and 175s as rolling stock and even in the early days of 185s when they had 3 different types of rolling stock operating, from what I saw TPE always used 175s only on the North West services and 158s/185s only on the 'TransPennine' services.

Were the units ever swapped around with 158s/185s appearing in the West and 175s in the East?

 

[driver9000]

175s didn't work on the eastern side. It was always quite interesting seeing ATW liveried 175s running on Barrow and Windermere to Manchester services in early TPE days. Eastern TPE crews wouldn't have signed 175s as they were used by FNW from new which would severely restrict their use on those services, and as far as I know they aren't cleared to work on routes over the Pennines.

 

[sprinterguy]

What services were the North West Trains 158s, 158752-759, used on around the North West? I seem to vaguely recall that it might have had something to do with Manchester Airport. Those units would have appeared much more frequently on North West specific services, although they were part of the First North Western franchise, along with the 175s initially, rather than Transpennine Express, which was of course grouped with the east side operator.

 

[driver9000]

I remember the NWT 158s working Windermere/Barrow-Manchester Airport and Blackpool North-Liverpool services. I'm told they were also booked for the daily St Annes-Greenbank service.

 

[sprinterguy]

I remember the NWT 158s working Windermere/Barrow-Manchester Airport and Blackpool North-Liverpool services. I'm told they were also booked for the daily St Annes-Greenbank service.

Ah yes that rings a bell. Many thanks.

 

[Philip]

175s didn't work on the eastern side. It was always quite interesting seeing ATW liveried 175s running on Barrow and Windermere to Manchester services in early TPE days. Eastern TPE crews wouldn't have signed 175s as they were used by FNW from new which would severely restrict their use on those services, and as far as I know they aren't cleared to work on routes over the Pennines.

Thanks for the info! I think ATW were hoping to keep the units in their own colours on Welsh duties, but that arrangement didn't last long either because of useage rights or because it disrupted diagrams. Whatever the reason, I know ATW had to take their own branding off the 'ghostly' coloured units.

Did 175s stay the night at Barrow and Blackpool CS like the 185s do now?

 

[Max]

I heard a rumour that a 175 did make it to Hull once on a test-run - really not sure whether there is any truth in this though!

 

[driver9000]

Did 175s stay the night at Barrow and Blackpool CS like the 185s do now?

Yes they did.

 

[Bevan Price]

What services were the North West Trains 158s, 158752-759, used on around the North West? I seem to vaguely recall that it might have had something to do with Manchester Airport. Those units would have appeared much more frequently on North West specific services, although they were part of the First North Western franchise, along with the 175s initially, rather than Transpennine Express, which was of course grouped with the east side operator.

Before the 175's arrived, 158.752-759 were also used on Manchester - Llandudno services.

 

[Philip]

Also how was stock transfered to/from Chester to the NW TPE network each day and night? Heard a variety of ways it was done including ECS Chester to Blackpool, ECS to Wigan, a unit swap at Manchester Piccadilly, overnight stay at Longsight...

Did all of these movements happen?

 

[driver9000]

I don't recall any ECS moves between Chester TMD and Blackpool/Barrow for TPE although I seem to remember one return trip to each depot under FNW. As I remember it they would come off exam at Chester and then work their way around the diagrams stabling at Blackpool,Barrow etc as the diagrams required before returning to Chester TMD when next due an inspection. Should they need to go back before then, failure for example, then the controllers would swap sets over as necessary. From what I remember seeing all 175s were treated in a common pool and it didn't matter what livery they were in.