150001 visits SVR (YouTube link) with elephants..

[Scud]

Bumped into this on YouTube, thought I'd share it.
Probably the only time we'll ever see real ELEPHANTS from a 150! (3:45)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92mEx49sXmw&feature=feedu

 

[trentside]

Great video, out of interest, why did it visit the SVR?

Some of the people on the platforms didn't look too impressed!

 

[Scud]

They had a Railcar Reunion weekend. The Chiltern bubble was there & a few heritage sets I believe.

 

[trentside]

Ahh, ok! Thanks Scud.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Pity we don't see some through services out of Bridgnorth onto Network Rail to Birmingham say, maybe at rush hour for commuters.

 

[anthony263]

I wonder if Chiltern have thought of that idea, although isnt there a problem with acessing the severn valley railway from the birmingham direction.

Isnt that why when chiltern ran the direct service to London the servern valley railway had to put on a train to take passengers back to Bridgenorth from kidderminster?

 

[mumrar]

The biggest obstacle is the fact that the route isn't exactly direct, being a U-shape via Kidderminster to Birmingham. Also, Bridgnorth to Kidderminster at a maximum of 25mph isn't very quick either. To satisfy the commuter needs (say 08:30 arrival) you'd need to depart Bridgnorth around 06:30-06:45 and that's the same time as someone going from Shrewsbury to Euston arriving at 08:52!!

 

[Class172]

They should reinstate the line between Hartlebury and Bewdley

 

[LE Greys]

They'll have to get used to this, preserved Sprinters, bound to happen one day
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
How did he get the camera out of the window?

 

[sprinterguy]

They'll have to get used to this, preserved Sprinters, bound to happen one day

Particularly 150001; I wouldn't be surprised if that one ends up preserved on the Severn Valley eventually!

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I wonder if Chiltern have thought of that idea, although isnt there a problem with acessing the severn valley railway from the birmingham direction.

Isnt that why when chiltern ran the direct service to London the servern valley railway had to put on a train to take passengers back to Bridgenorth from kidderminster?

You can access it, but its a convoluted shunt. From Birmingham you would need to go into the turnback sidings behind Kidderminster box, then you cross over to the Stourbridge bound line, from there you change ends again and get onto the Severn Valley. Lord knows how long it would take or how disruptive it would be to other traffic. Your chances of being able to do it in the peak have to be almost zero.

 

[Scud]

Also, the little spur between Network Rail & the SVR's main line is not suitable for regular traffic - it's a bit rickety & twisty and is 5mph, so would need relaying. In addition, the move over that spur is only controlled by ground signals in either direction which I think would prevent the movement of passengers.

 

[Class172]

Particularly 150001; I wouldn't be surprised if that one ends up preserved on the Severn Valley eventually!

Well at least it will be at home in the midlands. I wouldn't be surprised if 150002 joined it too

How did he get the camera out of the window?

I was thinking that also, I presume he was leaning out the cab door or window, probably not the door as it's not a slam door like on the 150/1s, unless he can control the door on it's own

 

[Fincra5]

The 2nd Mans Side has a drop light window, same on the drivers side.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/150014_Birmingham_MS_2007.jpg

 

[BestWestern]

Well at least it will be at home in the midlands. I wouldn't be surprised if 150002 joined it too
I was thinking that also, I presume he was leaning out the cab door or window, probably not the door as it's not a slam door like on the 150/1s, unless he can control the door on it's own

Would have been the droplight cab window, as the sliding crew door would interlock as the main doors would. I was intrigued to see it isn't a slam door on 150/0 units, I'd have guessed it would be since it is on the later 150/1 sets. A bit of backwards progress obviously crept in there!

 

[2Dogbox]

Had many years working this in the west midlands. . . Kind of miss 001 now!

 

[biggyn]

Had many years working this in the west midlands. . . Kind of miss 001 now!

150 001 is still running thankfully, as I saw her at about ten past eight a couple of Wednesday mornings ago, coupled to a 2-car 150/1. I noticed that it said on the SVR website previously to the event that it had been withdrawn prior to the event, but, as I said, she's still running in normal service, as is 002 and both seem to be performing as well as the rest of the 150s under London Midland ownership.

I agree that there ought to be a Class 150 Preservation Society to keep 001 and 002. I'd certainly join it!

Oh, and also, it does look like the driver's cab window that is being filmed out of, seeing as the prototypes had the sliding local doors, rather than the hinged ones. I wonder why the 150/1s had hinged doors, when the prototypes had sliding doors, which carried on to the 150/2s?

 

[Class172]

150 001 is still running thankfully, as I saw her at about ten past eight a couple of Wednesday mornings ago, coupled to a 2-car 150/1. I noticed that it said on the SVR website previously to the event that it had been withdrawn prior to the event, but, as I said, she's still running in normal service, as is 002 and both seem to be performing as well as the rest of the 150s under London Midland ownership.

Yes, both 150001 and 002 work perfectly fine still, I travel on one of them at least once a week. There's no need to go yet.

Even though LM are receiving a load of 172s, I would like the two prototypes to remain on the Snow Hill lines, as a quirky bit of heritage After all, they've spent their whole lives in the midlands (and most likely the Snow Hill lines), so why should they be moved. Also, out of all the 150s, they are the most suited for that purpose as they have the greatest seating capacity, by not having a driving unit as their centre carriage.

I agree that there ought to be a Class 150 Preservation Society to keep 001 and 002. I'd certainly join it!

Good idea, I'm for it

 

[sprinterguy]

Yes, both 150001 and 002 work perfectly fine still, I travel on one of them at least once a week. There's no need to go yet.

Even though LM are receiving a load of 172s, I would like the two prototypes to remain on the Snow Hill lines, as a quirky bit of heritage After all, they've spent their whole lives in the midlands (and most likely the Snow Hill lines), so why should they be moved. Also, out of all the 150s, they are the most suited for that purpose as they have the greatest seating capacity, by not having a driving unit as their centre carriage.

Well, they were very well travelled in the first five years of their life before they settled down on the Snow Hill lines. They even made it to Scotland for passenger trials, as well as extensive use on the Matlock branch due to it's proximity to Derby.

150001 and 150002 are oddballs when it comes to cascading them anywhere, as they are the only two permanent three cariage 150s, which would surely complicate the diagramming a little in a two-car DMU ruled world. So yeah I wouldn't mind seeing those two retained in the West Midlands, although that would make them rather non-standard.

 

[Class172]

Well, they were very well travelled in the first five years of their life before they settled down on the Snow Hill lines. They even made it to Scotland for passenger trials, as well as extensive use on the Matlock branch due to it's proximity to Derby.

weren't the 151s tested there also

150001 and 150002 are oddballs when it comes to cascading them anywhere, as they are the only two permanent three cariage 150s, which would surely complicate the diagramming a little in a two-car DMU ruled world. So yeah I wouldn't mind seeing those two retained in the West Midlands, although that would make them rather non-standard.

• They could be retained as spare units in case any 172s are unavailable.
• Or they could be used like 153s, to dramatically lengthen any service
• Or they could be coupled together and then run around as a 6 car train

 

[sprinterguy]

I like the idea of them running around as a six car set on a peak hour diagram.

 

[jopsuk]

This might seem a tad wasteful of the centre cars, but if the only home possible for them was running nothing but two-car units, surely the centre cars could be taken out?
Or, if possible- take the centre out of 002, stick it in 001? Leaving 002 as a two-car, and 001 as a four for use on double-two car diagrams? Technically feasible?

 

[newtownmgr]

Latest we have been told at work is 3 2 Car 150's are staying.
1 for Bed/Bletchley.
1 for New St/Hfd.
1 Spare.

The reason for 1 on New st/hfd is to enable Worcester Drivers to retain
traction knowledge as they are involved in swapping the Bletchley unit over
to/from Tyseley on a Fridaynight. Also 4 153's staying. 2 at Bletchley (1
working, 1 spare), 1 New st/Hfd (with 150), 1 Spare.

 

[Class172]

I thought 150s weren't allowed on the Lickey Incline as they were underpowered.

Why can't LM keep the 150 prototypes?

 

[newtownmgr]

150's have always had diagrams up the Lickey. They are not underpowered
and a good 150 will outperform a 170 away from Bromsgrove. Don't know
where this rubbish about being banned from the Lickey has come from (have
seen it mentioned on a great western forum) they have 350hp engines same
as 156's and 153's also NOT banned & more powerful engines than pacers
also NOT banned.

150's are booked on Saturdays & Sundays up & down via Bromsgrove. They
also cover for shortages of 170's occasionally.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Prototype 150's are a maintenance nightmare. To many nonstandard and
obsolete parts & hated by traincrew. Known as scud 1 & 2 in reference to
the Iraqi missiles of gulf war fame ( i.e. You aim them in the general
direction of where you want to go & hope they get there!!)

 

[Class172]

150's have always had diagrams up the Lickey. They are not underpowered
and a good 150 will outperform a 170 away from Bromsgrove. Don't know
where this rubbish about being banned from the Lickey has come from (have
seen it mentioned on a great western forum) they have 350hp engines same
as 156's and 153's also NOT banned & more powerful engines than pacers
also NOT banned.

150's are booked on Saturdays & Sundays up & down via Bromsgrove. They
also cover for shortages of 170's occasionally.

I did think that was odd when I saw a 150 going to New St depart Droitwich. Don't trust what wiki says either

 

[sprinterguy]

AFAIK, it is only the 158s that have higher rated 350hp engines. The other Sprinter classes (150, 153 and 156) have 285hp engines.

Out of curiosity, what's going to cover the Coventry-Nuneaton shuttle: Surely it isn't getting an upgrade to a 172 unit?

 

[Class172]

Out of curiosity, what's going to cover the Coventry-Nuneaton shuttle: Surely it isn't getting an upgrade to a 172 unit?

I don't know, it's operated by a 153 insn't it? Why would they replace that? LM only ordered equal numbers of 172s to 150s (at the moment ) so surely there isn't enough?

 

[sprinterguy]

I don't know, it's operated by a 153 insn't it? Why would they replace that? LM only ordered equal numbers of 172s to 150s (at the moment ) so surely there isn't enough?

Exactly, but it isn't incuded in newtownmgrs list of services that 153s are being retained for, which is why I'm curious.

 

[newtownmgr]

AFAIK, it is only the 158s that have higher rated 350hp engines. The other Sprinter classes (150, 153 and 156) have 285hp engines.

Out of curiosity, what's going to cover the Coventry-Nuneaton shuttle: Surely it isn't getting an upgrade to a 172 unit?

Oops! You are correct with engine sizes. My mistake.

As regards Cov - Nun possibly 170's but not heard anything.