Class 180's to.....Northern?

[Guinness]

Just shows what a lot of no marks there are on this forum!! 3 180s transferred to Northern (temporarily) 6 drivers trained to date and in service as stoppers on Man Vic to Blackpool North services.

Well said.

 

[507 001]

I think it would be better to use them on Liverpool Lime street to Huddersfield runs as thats currently a 142 and is dangerously overcrowded.

however most of northerns services are dangerously overcrowded!

 

[LilLoaf]

does anyone know of the exact diagrams the 180's are to be used on, i know its Man Vicc - Blackpool and the occasional Preston - Hazel, but which ones. i know the 9.3? of Hazel to Preston is a 180 (i think).

Anyone else know anymore infomation on them.

Sorry if this has been asked already.

 

[1D53]

does anyone know of the exact diagrams the 180's are to be used on, i know its Man Vicc - Blackpool and the occasional Preston - Hazel, but which ones. i know the 9.3? of Hazel to Preston is a 180 (i think).

Anyone else know anymore infomation on them.

Sorry if this has been asked already.

From Northern Railways:

Diagram 1
09:22 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool N
11:20 Blackpool N to Manchester Victoria
13:22 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool N
15.20 Blackpool N to Manchester Victoria
17:19 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool N
19:20 Blackpool N to Manchester Victoria
21:22 Manchester Victoria to BlackpoolN

Diagram 2
06:53 Blackpool North to Hazel Grove
09:33 Hazel Grove - Preston
ECS to Blackpool
ECS to Preston
14:23 Preston to Hazel Grove
16:33 Hazel Grove to Preston

 

[507 001]

From Northern Railways:

ECS to Blackpool
ECS to Preston

? that doesn't sound right, why would it go ECS from preston to blackpool and then back to preston again ECS?

 

[Pumbaa]

Go to the carriage sidings between turns to get it out the way, then return to take on the next working.

 

[1D53]

Spot on, also allows it to pick up fuel if needs be and if any small maintenance jobs are needed.

 

[driver9000]

The 180 does indeed run ECS to/from Blackpool Nth between peak periods. The train stables in the station at Blackpool North. Preston station doesnt have room to for it to stable there during the daytime.

Trains rarely go onto the carriage sidings during the day time, usually only if one fails and needs to be dumped. That said there has been a 185 on the fuelling road a couple of days this week around 12:00

 

[alex57601]

I think it would be better to use them on Liverpool Lime street to Huddersfield runs as thats currently a 142 and is dangerously overcrowded.

however most of northerns services are dangerously overcrowded!

180s are restricted in where they go due to the necessary route clearances being required. The routes that they operate on were chosen because they are already cleared for 175s from the days of FNW, and as a 180 is basically the same as a 175 apart from a different cab, higher-rated engine and a few other bits and bobs, it was easier to send the 180s on routes that once saw 175s seeing as they should be onwards to pastures new during the middle of 2010 once the remaining FGW 142s return and LM starts to release 150s. Therefore there was little point in clearing them for new routes apart from those that previously saw 175s.

In theory, you can send a 180 to Windermere! hock:

Believe me, there are other routes where the 180s would be more suited to, but the extra capacity a single unit brings to the busy Manchester-Blackpool corridor (along with declassified First Class - which I can affirm is very comfortable) is most welcome.

 

[Snapper]

The 180 does indeed run ECS to/from Blackpool Nth between peak periods. The train stables in the station at Blackpool North. Preston station doesnt have room to for it to stable there during the daytime.

Eh?

In fact the 180's have stabled at Preston and there's buckets of room in the little used Power Box sidings which is where it went.

There's some shots of Northern 180s here:

http://www.paulbigland.fotopic.net/c1626842.html

 

[bluenoxid]

What it's supposed to do and can do can be two different things. I have the feeling that the Blackpool path is an option if there are any problems rather than a day in day out jobbie. It's a pain in the rear to book a VSTP if there are problems rather than have a booked path and cancel most days.

 

[1D53]

Plus if its Blackpool crew it can pick them up rather than having them pass everywhere. I imagine primarily it allows maintenance too if needs be up at Blackpool.

 

[driver9000]

Eh?

In fact the 180's have stabled at Preston and there's buckets of room in the little used Power Box sidings which is where it went.

There's some shots of Northern 180s here:

http://www.paulbigland.fotopic.net/c1626842.html

Nice pictures! I am a fan of your work!

The problem with stabling the trains in Croft St sidings is the lack of a walking route back between there and the station, traincrews have to be ferried to & from there by taxi. It may have visited Croft St for measuring purposes but hasnt been stabled there since the timetable change - Ive been driving trains in the area since the 180 entered service and have seen it stabled in Blackpool North every day this week, not Preston.

 

[Snapper]

Nice pictures! I am a fan of your work!

The problem with stabling the trains in Croft St sidings is the lack of a walking route back between there and the station, traincrews have to be ferried to & from there by taxi. It may have visited Croft St for measuring purposes but hasnt been stabled there since the timetable change - Ive been driving trains in the area since the 180 entered service and have seen it stabled in Blackpool North every day this week, not Preston.

Interesting, cheers for that clarification. I'd wondered why those sidings see little use nowadays.


Oh, and nice to hear that you like my pictures!

 

[John_158]

I see 180108 has recived Northern Rail Branding ie Purple Stripes and Northern Fleet Name have they all been done or is there just the one ?

 

[1D53]

Just that one for now.

 

[driver9000]

180103 is back in traffic and is carrying the Northern version of the FirstGroup livery.

 

[John_158]

Hopefully going to try and get a ride on one next week sometime but was wondering if theese two diagrams ran on Saturdays :-

Diagram 1
09:22 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool N
11:20 Blackpool N to Manchester Victoria
13:22 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool N
15.20 Blackpool N to Manchester Victoria
17:19 Manchester Victoria to Blackpool N
19:20 Blackpool N to Manchester Victoria
21:22 Manchester Victoria to BlackpoolN

Diagram 2
06:53 Blackpool North to Hazel Grove
09:33 Hazel Grove - Preston
ECS to Blackpool
ECS to Preston
14:23 Preston to Hazel Grove
16:33 Hazel Grove to Preston

*Diagram Details From JSTs Post*

 

[driver9000]

180s work Monday-Friday only. There is sometimes an ECS path between NH & Blackpool North to swap sets over runs on a Sunday I think.

 

[John_158]

Ah so they probably use Sardeen Tin 142s or those dredfull 156s on a Saturday then

 

[WillPS]

Why are they only run Monday-Friday? Cost?

 

[Pumbaa]

Why are they only run Monday-Friday? Cost?

Saturday and Sunday timetable are less busy, so they have stock available to cover the diagrams.

180s are still very unreliable. Probably a huge factor? And not many drivers will be trained on them, seeing as there's only 3.

 

[ancientmariner]

Does anyone know if 180105 is at Crofton or Neville Hill today ?
Alan

 

[KaiserBurton]

I don't think Northern really thought it through when they bought the 180s. Firstly, they dont fit on many of the platforms they work through and secondly, they're prone to breaking down and catching fire! They've just had to chop one up and use it for spares because it was so knackered!

 

[Chilled Phill]

I don't think Northern really thought it through when they bought the 180s. Firstly, they dont fit on many of the platforms they work through and secondly, they're prone to breaking down and catching fire! They've just had to chop one up and use it for spares because it was so knackered!

Really?

Spares for what? The other 180s in their possession?

 

[P156KWJ]

I don't think Northern really thought it through when they bought the 180s. Firstly, they dont fit on many of the platforms they work through and secondly, they're prone to breaking down and catching fire! They've just had to chop one up and use it for spares because it was so knackered!

did they buy them?

 

[1D53]

Does anyone know if 180105 is at Crofton or Neville Hill today ?
Alan

Wouldn't ever be on Neville Hill, Crofton is a possibility. There is one on Bounds Green though.

 

[driver9000]

All three are now available for service again, 180103 was the one robbed of parts, but its been back in service since last week.

 

[bluenoxid]

I don't think Northern really thought it through when they bought the 180s. Firstly, they dont fit on many of the platforms they work through and secondly, they're prone to breaking down and catching fire! They've just had to chop one up and use it for spares because it was so knackered!

They didn't buy them, they've leased them. They had a major problem in that they would not have enough trains thanks to the timetable recast and these were the only trains available. Yes, Northern would have preferred some other stock (such as what it has now so that it doesn't have to mess around with training and adapting a fleet for different operating methods) but if the only thing on the market is a 125mph 5 car unit then that is what Northern is stuck with

SDO deals with the platform length problems. Chopping units up (aka Christmas Trees) is well known for fleets. Northern have used 142071 and numerous others units as Christmas Trees. It is well known when a fleet is due to be withdrawn. But a lad is not going to turn up with cutting equipment and break one up. :roll:

 

[John_158]

Think Northern Should keep the 180s infact get a few more and put them in for a compleate strip doen and re-fit mecanicly and interaly then put them to use on the Liverpool-Manchester Airport and L-Pool-Blackpool North Diagrams and send some 156s over to EMT.