2 car 153 unit, 153399

[noddy1878]

First Great Western have created a 2 car 153 unit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theguinnessking/5713494501/in/photostream

I saw 153369 and half of 150221 passing through Newton Abbot earlier and by the time I caught up with it, the end numbers had been covered and replaced by 153399!

 

[bluenoxid]

Reason?

 

[jopsuk]

apparently the other car of the 150 got a bit burned the other week. This keeps a maximum number of cars in service.

 

[lm321412]

Reminds me of Central's half 156 and 153 hybrid that was running around a few years ago, only this is much worse!

Nevertheless, better than the other half of the 150 sitting out of use.

 

[TEW]

FGW have operated some 150 hybrids in the past as well. There was a 150 with one ATW coach and one FGW coach at one point and one with one FGW coach and one Wessex coach at one point.

 

[noddy1878]

apparently the other car of the 150 got a bit burned the other week. This keeps a maximum number of cars in service.

I didn't know that. Just saw them renumber it.

 

[ChrisCooper]

At least they have stuck the small cab on the inside. I can imagine the other way around would have gone down well with the drivers! This sort of thing on the Western Region is nothing new, the 121s were quite often used to replace 117 DMSs. Then again I've never seen a hybrid where the set number has been changed before.

 

[Ivo]

Class 152 anyone?

 

[Rhydgaled]

That looks really odd, half rural unit, half inner suburban unit (1/3, 2/3 recessed sliding doors on the 150 coach, and outside sliding doors at the ends of the 153).

 

[brillopad]

Reason?

The story from Plymouth

 

[Masbroughlad]

What services is it being used on?

 

[sonic2009]

looks rather odd. on the services front. surely it's down south somewhere? what diagrams are 2 car 153?

 

[trains2064]

Reminds me of Central's half 156 and 153 hybrid that was running around a few years ago, only this is much worse!

Nevertheless, better than the other half of the 150 sitting out of use.

Central Trains also did this with half a 150 as well.

 

[deltic1989]

when i saw the title of this tread my mind ran to 155, but reading it i see what you mean. It looks strange but in the scheme of things a good idea its not the first time this type of thing has been done BR (Regional Railways) also married up half 158/156 sets when the 158s were being intrduced due to the disc brakes of the 158's getting clogged with wet leaves or something like that (any further info appreciated, like how this issue was cured if it ever was)

 

[Eng274]

when i saw the title of this tread my mind ran to 155, but reading it i see what you mean. It looks strange but in the scheme of things a good idea its not the first time this type of thing has been done BR (Regional Railways) also married up half 158/156 sets when the 158s were being intrduced due to the disc brakes of the 158's getting clogged with wet leaves or something like that (any further info appreciated, like how this issue was cured if it ever was)

previous sprinters had direct acting brakes, on the wheel edge which made contact with the rail. This helped clear the leaf build up on the wheels. But when disc-braked 158s came along, there was nothing to disperse leaf mulch from the wheel edge, so when power or brakes were applied, they would wheelspin/ lock respectively. I think a system was retrofitted that blasted the leaf mulch from the wheel edge, possibly like the sander(?)

 

[O L Leigh]

It was actually to stop them failing to operate track circuits, with potentially lethal consequences.

The problem is that the leaf mulch forms a band of varnish-like material around the wheeltreads that electrically insulates them from the rails as well as reducing adhesion. This meant that they would disappear from signalling panels. Until they were fitted with track circuit actuators they had to go around with a tread-brake unit to ensure that the formation didn't vanish.

O L Leigh

 

[Yew]

previous sprinters had direct acting brakes, on the wheel edge which made contact with the rail. This helped clear the leaf build up on the wheels. But when disc-braked 158s came along, there was nothing to disperse leaf mulch from the wheel edge, so when power or brakes were applied, they would wheelspin/ lock respectively. I think a system was retrofitted that blasted the leaf mulch from the wheel edge, possibly like the sander(?)

I always imagined somthing more like a wire brush.

Personally I like 153's more than 156's anyway

 

[90019]

when i saw the title of this tread my mind ran to 155, but reading it i see what you mean. It looks strange but in the scheme of things a good idea its not the first time this type of thing has been done BR (Regional Railways) also married up half 158/156 sets when the 158s were being intrduced due to the disc brakes of the 158's getting clogged with wet leaves or something like that (any further info appreciated, like how this issue was cured if it ever was)

http://members.madasafish.com/~dysgraphyk/156/class156_misformed.htm

 

[driver9000]

previous sprinters had direct acting brakes, on the wheel edge which made contact with the rail. This helped clear the leaf build up on the wheels. But when disc-braked 158s came along, there was nothing to disperse leaf mulch from the wheel edge, so when power or brakes were applied, they would wheelspin/ lock respectively. I think a system was retrofitted that blasted the leaf mulch from the wheel edge, possibly like the sander(?)

Some 158s were fitted with an auxiliary tread brake to help clear the wheel tread. HST power cars are also fitted with auxiliary tread brakes.

 

[Eng274]

I always imagined somthing more like a wire brush.

Personally I like 153's more than 156's anyway

the link posted above confirms it was a scrubbing system, i stand corrected

 

[deltic1989]

Ah right interesting i was misinformed that the leaves clogged the brakes then. I see now thanks for the info guys.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Ah right interesting i was misinformed that the leaves clogged the brakes then. I see now thanks for the info guys.

I think you might have a point but be confused. I've got a feeling another problem found with the 158s and other disk braked stock was that the disks do have a tendancy to build a layer of ice when in snow, which can then effect braking performance. The solution was to apply the brakes regularly in falling snow (every 3 to 5mins with a speed reduction of at least 10mph IIRC) which keeps the disks clear and warm and also allows the driver to know if braking power is being lost before it gets out of hand. Disk braked trains also have to travel 10mph below line speed during falling snow.

 

[deltic1989]

I think you might have a point but be confused. I've got a feeling another problem found with the 158s and other disk braked stock was that the disks do have a tendancy to build a layer of ice when in snow, which can then effect braking performance. The solution was to apply the brakes regularly in falling snow (every 3 to 5mins with a speed reduction of at least 10mph IIRC) which keeps the disks clear and warm and also allows the driver to know if braking power is being lost before it gets out of hand. Disk braked trains also have to travel 10mph below line speed during falling snow.

this may have been the problem my friend was talking about but he rela the breaking issues to leaves.

 

[GNERman]

Wow! Love these... May have to recreate some on Railworks...

I seem to recall a photo of a 143/143 half and half as well...

 

[sidmouth]

What services is it being used on?

Travelled on it at 16.50 today from St Erth to Truro, itself forming the 16.00 Penzance to Taunton. I sat in the 153 bit, and just assumed it was two 153's back to back until just reading this thread... Next time I'll pay more attention!

 

[BestWestern]

Wow! Love these... May have to recreate some on Railworks...

I seem to recall a photo of a 143/143 half and half as well...

Err.... Deliberate mistake?? Lol

During winter weather it's now standard procedure for all trains to be subjected to 'running brake tests' every few minutes, i.e. applying the brakes sufficiently to prevent equipment freezing up and establish they are still effective. A SPAD involving an HST set occurred in the Weston S-M area during the severe weather as a result of frozen brakes.

 

[GospelOak117]

Is there any news on the condition of the burnt 150 car and whether it is expected to return to service anytime in the near future, or is this a longer term formation?....Personally I like it, it reminds me of some of the odd pairings of 1st gen DMU's in the early 1990's

 

[louis97]

Is there any news on the condition of the burnt 150 car and whether it is expected to return to service anytime in the near future, or is this a longer term formation?....Personally I like it, it reminds me of some of the odd pairings of 1st gen DMU's in the early 1990's

Apparently around for the next 5/6 weeks to come!

 

[GospelOak117]

Cool, a summer visit to Devon/Cornwall may be in order then....... to enjoy the sun obviously

 

[TEW]

The other half of 150221 is still sitting in one of the sidings at Laira, doesn't seem to be any work being done on it yet.