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153385 network rail test train destination board set for Chesham when 153s never ran there.

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sad1e

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I saw 153385 at barking on the weekend and was wondering where its Chesham set destination board would even come from or why it would exist as 153's never ran remotely close to London Underground tracks , unless i am mistaken and there is a mainline station with a name similar to Chesham can anyone inform me where the destination board would be from. (Pic of 153385 running 2q73 on Saturday 8th)

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153385
 

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yorkie

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That must be an LU 'A' stock blind fitted to a 153; it's the wrong size and the text doesn't quite fit.

The font is the same as used on A stock blinds, which is different to that used on 153s.
 

HOOVER29

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Along the same lines, I once noted an EMT class 158 at Derby with a destination blind saying Ashby De La Zouch, my home town.
Weird as the station was closed in 1964
I’ve got a photo of it somewhere
 

The exile

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Along the same lines, I once noted an EMT class 158 at Derby with a destination blind saying Ashby De La Zouch, my home town.
Weird as the station was closed in 1964
I’ve got a photo of it somewhere
Presumably printed /programmed when reopening the Coalville line was seen as a dead cert. Similarly, the Solari indicator at Edinburgh Waverley featured Bathgate years before the reopening happened (or was even more than an aspiration).
 

sad1e

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That must be an LU 'A' stock blind fitted to a 153; it's the wrong size and the text doesn't quite fit.

The font is the same as used on A stock blinds, which is different to that used on 153s.
Why Would an A stock blind even be fitted to the 153 , just for novelty or is there an actual operational reason for it
 

357

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Why Would an A stock blind even be fitted to the 153 , just for novelty or is there an actual operational reason for it
Because despite what some like to believe, there are many staff in the industry who genuinely love their job and do things like this for a little fun.

Another example is me recently driving a route learning train and requesting a specific type of traction for it - so I can selfishly get some photos of this type of stock at some "rare" locations and put some fun stuff on the destination screens :)
 
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D365

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Because despite what some like to believe, there are many staff in the industry who genuinely love their job and do things like this for a little fun.
I was just discussing yesterday about another [ex] Network Rail test unit with its own ’novelty’ destination blind :)
 

LowLevel

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There are various different blinds appearing on the NR 153s, there's at least one Welsh one now kicking about. They all had EMT or Central blinds at one point.

I saw the A stock one the other day and had a chuckle :lol:
 

12LDA28C

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Probably for the same reason that Chiltern units can display the destination of Sheffield Victoria, calling at the old Great Central stations including Rugby Central.
 

Sun Chariot

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Network Rail's "blue brick" 153376 also had rather amusing destinations showing, during its West Coastway forays on the Hampshire and Sussex coastal line.
Doncaster and Cleethorpes are two I saw...
 

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sad1e

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Network Rail's "blue brick" 153376 also had rather amusing destinations showing, during its West Coastway forays on the Hampshire and Sussex coastal line.
Doncaster and Cleethorpes are two I saw...
The other end of 153385 has a board for Grimsby town
 

norbitonflyer

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That must be an LU 'A' stock blind fitted to a 153; it's the wrong size and the text doesn't quite fit.

The font is the same as used on A stock blinds, which is different to that used on 153s.
A stock blinds used all upper case, whereas the NR standard was upper-and-lower case
 
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So 153385 has a section of a LUL blind selotaped to the destination blind box. I spoke to the driver, he cut the destination out of a blind and just stuck it in the blind box for a little bit of fun. I do have a pic he sent me from inside the cab but its not my pic to share.
 

Wilts Wanderer

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Quite a few years (and at least one TOC) ago I boarded a Cardiff-Portsmouth service that was displaying ‘Mystery Tour’ in the destination display.
 
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