12x 156 formation

[strange6]

Found on a fan's Met-Cam site. Never seen a full working unit as long as this.

 

[BestWestern]

That should solve Northern's overcrowding issues!

 

[WestCoast]

Finally a decent replacement for the 180s! Although knowing Northern a 12-car pacer is more likelyhock:

 

[MCR247]

When you say 12x 156 formation, I think you mean 6x 156, 12 coach 156 or 12 156 as 12 x 156 would be a 24 coach 156

 

[ainsworth74]

So is there any background as to why this formation of 156s was running? Or was it just a publicity stunt?

 

[LE Greys]

Saw something similar at Westbury once. 3X150 ECS picked up 1X143 and 1X150, resulting in a 10-car mixed Sprinter/Pacer formation, and the whole lot disappeared off to Trowbridge. It was about 10:30 at night. Presumably a collector working of some kind that takes stray units to a depot. Am I right?

 

[WillPS]

I'm sure I read somewhere that you can have up to 8 trains with BSI couplers attached at once. For some reason 170 middle-cars count as 1 train though I think?

 

[mumrar]

I'm sure I read somewhere that you can have up to 8 trains with BSI couplers attached at once. For some reason 170 middle-cars count as 1 train though I think?

Limit for sprinters is 12 vehicles and/or 12 cabs, so 6 x 153s for example due to cabs.

 

[rail-britain]

So is there any background as to why this formation of 156s was running? Or was it just a publicity stunt?

During BR days several test runs with different types of trains between Perth and Inverness

The original Inverness Class 156s were spare for a few days, so they were all joined together and performed two test runs
They were then split up into their respective three car sets
Note that 156496 had still not been fitted with debris collectors at this point

Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company (MCCW) no longer exists, so which website was this photo on?

 

[strange6]

When you say 12x 156 formation, I think you mean 6x 156, 12 coach 156 or 12 156 as 12 x 156 would be a 24 coach 156

Yeah, sorry. I meant a 6 pair. I was drunk last night after having a merry down at the local
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company (MCCW) no longer exists, so which website was this photo on?

Here you go:

http://metcam.co.uk.nstempintl.com/

I know it's only a dedication site but I was making rather merry last night!

 

[rail-britain]

I know it's only a dedication site

The text that accompanies the image pretty much covers what I posted above!

Class 156
This view was taken with all the "south of bridge" Inverness sets coupled together on Culloden Viaduct in March 1989 during Voltage Drop type testing."South of bridge" refers to the fact that the Inverness to Dingwall line was closed because the main bridge had been washed away in January 1989.
Photo taken by D McCorkindale

A few weeks later these Class 156 units entered service between Aberdeen and Inverness, in what was supposed to be their semi-permanent three car formations (hence why 156496 was not fitted with debris collectors)

 

[driver9000]

I'm sure I read somewhere that you can have up to 8 trains with BSI couplers attached at once. For some reason 170 middle-cars count as 1 train though I think?

Motored centre cars count as one vehicle because they carry control wiring.12 cabs can be coupled in 15x formations but 14x can load to 8 cabs. The centre cars count as a 'cab'

 

[northwichcat]

That should solve Northern's overcrowding issues!

Just need to get Network Rail to extend most of the platforms.

 

[WillPS]

Motored centre cars count as one vehicle because they carry control wiring.12 cabs can be coupled in 15x formations but 14x can load to 8 cabs. The centre cars count as a 'cab'

So, you could have 3-car 144+142+3-car 144?

How about 142+142+142+142+155?

 

[142094]

You often see those on ECS workings - think the most out of Newcastle to Heaton I've seen is 3x142s and a 156 at the back. Seen some good workings when the old 1st gen DMUs were still around running from Central to Heaton - quite a sight.

 

[driver9000]

So, you could have 3-car 144+142+3-car 144?

How about 142+142+142+142+155?

1. Yes. That would be the maximum length of 8 cars.

2. No. Any 14x in the formation restricts it's length to 8 cars.

A 153 counts as 2 vehicles for multiple working purposes as it has two cabs. Up until about 12 months or so ago ECS trains I worked overnight would regularly be formed 8 cars or 10 cars of 15x stock when it tends to be 6 now.

 

[headshot119]

What was the maximum you could have in the old first gen blue square sets?

Six motor cars?

 

[driver9000]

I think it was 6 power cars - I'm sure there are 6 sets of Engine/Air/Axle indicators on the cab wall. I have the combination lists which gave power car to trailer/tail traffic ratios buried somewhere.

 

[strange6]

I think it was 6 power cars - I'm sure there are 6 sets of Engine/Air/Axle indicators on the cab wall. I have the combination lists which gave power car to trailer/tail traffic ratios buried somewhere.

I do believe that you're correct, sir.

 

[driver9000]

It depended on how many indicators were on the wall, a 'blue square' could only load to 6 power cars if 6 indicator sets were available. Having quickly flicked through some of the bits I have they would normally load to 8 cars (subject to the power/trailer ratio) but could "exceptionally" load to 12 cars (i.e 6 power and 6 trailer).

 

[strange6]

It depended on how many indicators were on the wall, a 'blue square' could only load to 6 power cars if 6 indicator sets were available. Having quickly flicked through some of the bits I have they would normally load to 8 cars (subject to the power/trailer ratio) but could "exceptionally" load to 12 cars (i.e 6 power and 6 trailer).

In theory at least!