Class 155 to Blackpool?

[150222]

At about 0745 today a class 155 went through Todmorden on the Blackpool line. It was in passenger service and had Blackpool North on the blinds. Is there any reason for this unusual working? (I haven't seen the like since about 2002).

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I presume you mean going through the town of Todmorden, rather than the station?

Perhaps they were short of other unit classes and the crew signed the stock.

 

[driver9000]

A 155 makes it to Blackpool from time to time.

 

[Lampshade]

Rare but not unheard of, a 144 made it there a few months back as well. It'd also explain why it was consistently a few minutes late as 155s aren't exactly fantastic in the acceleration department.

 

[GNERman]

Yep, it happens from time to time...

 

[150222]

I presume you mean going through the town of Todmorden, rather than the station?

Yes I meant the town of Todmorden (the Copy Pit line). The unit in question was 155346. Thanks for the replies btw I thought they didn't make it to Blackpool anymore.

One more thing,
Do Preston or Blackpool based crews work this service at all? Presumably they sign 158's. What would happen if the crew fell ill and there was no Leeds or Victoria driver to take the train?

 

[driver9000]

Yes I meant the town of Todmorden (the Copy Pit line). The unit in question was 155346. Thanks for the replies btw I thought they didn't make it to Blackpool anymore.

One more thing,
Do Preston or Blackpool based crews work this service at all? Presumably they sign 158's. What would happen if the crew fell ill and there was no Leeds or Victoria driver to take the train?

There are no Northern crew based at Preston. Blackpool North-York is worked by Leeds and Blackpool. Blackpool crews don't sign 155s and in the unlikely event of a 155 being stranded at Blackpool it would simply be attached to the next Leeds train crew worked service.

 

[150222]

There are no Northern crew based at Preston. Blackpool North-York is worked by Leeds and Blackpool. Blackpool crews don't sign 155s and in the unlikely event of a 155 being stranded at Blackpool it would simply be attached to the next Leeds train crew worked service.

OK thanks.

 

[Anvil1984]

There are no Northern crew based at Preston. Blackpool North-York is worked by Leeds and Blackpool. Blackpool crews don't sign 155s and in the unlikely event of a 155 being stranded at Blackpool it would simply be attached to the next Leeds train crew worked service.

Thinking outside the box it mightn't have been a 155 but 2x153 in which case Blackpool, Leeds and York (for the small bit from York to Leeds even though we sign York - Hall Royd Jn) will sign the traction. It definately didnt stay on diagram all day as it was a 158 on the 1309 York - Blackpool later in diagram

 

[43167]

Thinking outside the box it mightn't have been a 155 but 2x153 in which case Blackpool, Leeds and York (for the small bit from York to Leeds even though we sign York - Hall Royd Jn) will sign the traction. It definately didnt stay on diagram all day as it was a 158 on the 1309 York - Blackpool later in diagram

150222 has already said it was 155346.

 

[150222]

Thinking outside the box it mightn't have been a 155 but 2x153 in which case Blackpool, Leeds and York (for the small bit from York to Leeds even though we sign York - Hall Royd Jn) will sign the traction. It definately didnt stay on diagram all day as it was a 158 on the 1309 York - Blackpool later in diagram

It's possible but on this occasion it was a 155. (As said it was 155346). Service in question was 0613 York to Blackpool North. Presumably then forming the 0929 return from Blackpool. Then being replaced by a 158 for the 1309 return.

Out of curiosity if a 155 was stranded at Blackpool would there be anything stopping it operating a Blackpool to Manchester Vic via Bolton service? Victoria crews sign them and 158's appear on evening services on the route.

 

[Anvil1984]

I know the diagram but Iworked the 1309 off York so it came off diagram before then probably at Leeds on way back from Blackpool.

 

[Chapeltom]

If Northern have no staff at Preston, then are Hazel Grove to Preston worked by Manchester crews and Blackpool do Preston to Ormskirk and the Blackpool South to Colne line?

 

[185]

I took a 155 to Blackpool in 2002. Was winter and the cab heaters were, well poo.

 

[northernrailer]

Yes Blackpool North crews do the Preston to Ormskirk and Blackpool South - Colne services.

 

[driver9000]

Out of curiosity if a 155 was stranded at Blackpool would there be anything stopping it operating a Blackpool to Manchester Vic via Bolton service? Victoria crews sign them and 158's appear on evening services on the route.

In theory no there isn't. They wouldn't send it on another service though because there would already be a full allocation on the Blackpool-Victoria service so there would be no need to send the 155 off on a trip to Manchester and back. The only booked 158 move is the 22:20 from Blackpool and Victoria.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If Northern have no staff at Preston, then are Hazel Grove to Preston worked by Manchester crews

The Preston-Hazel Grove service is worked by more than one depot.

 

[Philip]

Don't know about drivers but I know Piccadilly guards don't sign anywhere north of Castlefield Junction (at least they didn't in 2008), so there is no chance they will work any of the Blackpool services.

As for traction from Manchester to Blackpool, the only second/third generation DMUs I know to have traversed this route are: 142 (not so many mind), 150, 153 (used to be a booked strengthening on an early evening service from Stockport Mon-Fri, hasn't run since December '08), 156, 158 (semi-regular up until about 2003 - think some were booked in pre-175 days, then once the 175s arrived they usually stood in whenever there was a diagram inbalance or a 175 shortage), 175 (up until December 2006), 180 (December 2008-December 2011) and 185 (from December 2006).

Anyone remember seeing/hearing of TPE using one of their own 158s on an Airport-Blackpool service? (or Barrow/Windermere for that matter?)

 

[driver9000]

142s were - and still are - common on the Blackpool North-Manchester services. They aren't booked traction but they still appear almost daily although less so since the LM 150s arrived at Newton Heath. I would imagine 155s also appeared under BR on these services too from time to time. I'm not sure if any 144s strayed onto the circuit but I wouldn't be surprised if they have done so in the past.

 

[Lampshade]

153 (used to be a booked strengthening on an early evening service from Stockport Mon-Fri, hasn't run since December '08),

Annoying because that was an excellent service. I'd arrive at MCO 20 or so minutes early, sit in the waiting room on platform 1 and laugh at people cramming onto the 2-car Buxton - Blackpool service and the Blackpool TPE - then the 1719 (SPT - BPN) would roll in as 156+153 and it'd be a guaranteed seat

 

[deltic1989]

Just out of interest, since 153s were converted from 155s. Say if a driver was trained on a 153, could they in theory drive a 155? As im assumeing the cabs would be the same as the large cab end on a 153. And I'm also assumeing that 2x 153s would be roughly the same weight as a 155. Am I in the ball park here or should I go and sit in the corner quietly?

 

[driver9000]

Just out of interest, since 153s were converted from 155s. Say if a driver was trained on a 153, could they in theory drive a 155? As im assumeing the cabs would be the same as the large cab end on a 153. And I'm also assumeing that 2x 153s would be roughly the same weight as a 155. Am I in the ball park here or should I go and sit in the corner quietly?

No. A 153 driver does not sign 155s automatically and vice versa. There are numerous differences between the two types.

 

[deltic1989]

No. A 153 driver does not sign 155s automatically and vice versa. There are numerous differences between the two types.

Ah i see thanks.

*sits in the corner quietly*

 

[sprinterguy]

Out of curiosity driver9000, would you be able to tell us what the differences between a class 153 and 155, from a drivers' perspective, are (Obviously the additional weight of the cab at the inner end and the extra foot steps at that end make a difference from a laymans' perspective)? No problem if you can't, but it's something I've occasionally wondered about.

 

[driver9000]

Out of curiosity driver9000, would you be able to tell us what the differences between a class 153 and 155, from a drivers' perspective, are (Obviously the additional weight of the cab at the inner end and the extra foot steps at that end make a difference from a laymans' perspective)? No problem if you can't, but it's something I've occasionally wondered about.

Off the top of my head 153s have an additional brake unit, additional TCA, different fire system, a big computer/management system behind the emergency locker, some symptoms of MCBs tripping are slightly different to the 155, a few bits got moved and the desk is laid out in a slightly different order. They also have this wonderful innovation that means should you run out of coolant you can transfer water from the toilet tank into the header tank by using a plunger. At one time the disposal of the 153 required the parking brakes to be applied but this was done away with a few years ago. I like the 153

Phew!

 

[sprinterguy]

Many thanks for that, another small personal curiosity solved It seems that there are many more differences than might seem apparent to the humble enthusiast!

 

[deltic1989]

Off the top of my head 153s have an additional brake unit, additional TCA, different fire system, a big computer/management system behind the emergency locker, some symptoms of MCBs tripping are slightly different to the 155, a few bits got moved and the desk is laid out in a slightly different order. They also have this wonderful innovation that means should you run out of coolant you can transfer water from the toilet tank into the header tank by using a plunger. At one time the disposal of the 153 required the parking brakes to be applied but this was done away with a few years ago. I like the 153

Phew!

That's what I love about this forum you find out things you probably would never have known otherwise.
I never knew the difference was that vast, I always thought it was just a case of a smaller cab being grafted on the end .