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DMU Substitutes

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Whistler40145

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Can anyone recollect any occasions where a DMU has substituted for loco+stock or EMUs during Engineering Works or shortage of stock, especially on long distance services or rare locations?


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Whistler40145

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I remember occasions in the 1980s/1990s where DMUs worked on the South section of the WCML during OHLE isolations.

Does anyone know if DMUs have ever worked the DC lines service from Euston to Watford Junction?


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150222

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When the silverlink 321's were grounded 150's were used for a Rugby to Birmingham shuttle. Also before the arrival of class 322's in West Yorkshire class 158's frequently covered 321's on the Doncaster to Leeds service.
 

JoeGJ1984

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I once got a 170 on a Wolverhampton-Birmingham New Street-Walsall service. It went from the bay platform at Wolverhampton to the electrified bay platform at Walsall (It didn't go on to Rugeley Trent Valley).

Why on earth did they not use a 323? Why use a DMU over an entirely electrified route?
 

150222

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I once got a 170 on a Wolverhampton-Birmingham New Street-Walsall service. It went from the bay platform at Wolverhampton to the electrified bay platform at Walsall (It didn't go on to Rugeley Trent Valley).

Why on earth did they not use a 323? Why use a DMU over an entirely electrified route?

Some of those services are interworked with Rugely services.
 

Badger

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Normally I find it's when they're redirected through bescot straight from Wolverhampton, but that makes no sense as that too is electrified.
 

dave_wm

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A couple of times back in Central Trains days I remember having diesel units on the Cross City Line covering for EMUs - a 150 on a train from Four Oaks to Birmingham and a 158 on a late night train back from Lichfield if I remember correctly. :)
 

cle

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Enjoyed the odd HST on London - Manchester in the pre-VHF Virgin days.
 

Saltleyman

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During the late 1970/80's Saltley men covered a Moor Street to Dorridge service with loco hauled stock for a few weeks,I myself had a class 47,a class 45 and even a class 50 in one week.There was also (due to a shortage of 158 units) several occasions when the first Stansted Airport service from Birmingham New Street and the mid-morning working back were terminated and started back from Cambridge,this lasted for a few weeks in the summer of 1992 ? The locos used were class 47,class 56 and even a class 58 on a couple of occasions.
 

4SRKT

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I remember being at Newcastle waiting for an HST southbound sometime in the mid-80s. It had failed and a 3-car class 110 Calder Valley DMU was put on as far as York as a replacement. I have seldom seen a more wedged train, and I flagged it for a peak on the next southbound working (to Liverpool).
 

Minilad

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I once got a 170 on a Wolverhampton-Birmingham New Street-Walsall service. It went from the bay platform at Wolverhampton to the electrified bay platform at Walsall (It didn't go on to Rugeley Trent Valley).

Why on earth did they not use a 323? Why use a DMU over an entirely electrified route?

Vermin 221s Birmingham - Glasgow *cough cough*

Not strictly a replacement but does anyone remember 1E40 / 1M42 The early morning train from Gloucester - Leeds or Birmingham that ran in the early 80s
Loco Hauled, a Saltley kick out, it could be anything, and I do mean anything. It stopped at Longbridge Northfield and Kings Norton on its way to New Street.
I have had 25s 31s 37s a 40 45s 46s 47s 50s and even a 56 on it. And we always knew the night before what it would be. Happy happy days :lol:
 
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DXMachina

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Living in Hemel Hempstead 1978-2005 I remember having ridden DMUs under the wires on Euston services.

Once a single-car railcar arrived.. That was a bit of a squeeze, also the ancient and rattly type used on the St.Albans branch before it got wired.
 

dk1

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FGW have Dogbox or Pacersituted HSTs on a couple of occasions...

A morning Penzance-Paddington service was a scud on at least two occasions as far as Temple Meads back in the early days of the present FGW franchise. I also believe the 07.38 ex-Paignton was covered as far as Temple Meads with a Donkey.
 

Whistler40145

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I can remember in the late 1980s & early 1990s when the WCML had weekend blockades between Preston & Lancaster/Carnforth or Oxenholme with Buses & then DMUs working to Carlisle.


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Welshman

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I still remember back in the early 70s when a Deltic had failed on the 1400 off Kings Cross, and a 4-car Cl.101 was substituted from York to Newcastle.

Like the time 4SRKT remembers, it was wedged throughout, and thrashed down the EC main line at 70 mph!

There was also the celebrated time [I wish I could remember more details], when the Yorkshire Pullman failed on the outskirts of Leeds City, and the bemused driver of an empty Derby 2-Car dmu saved the day by pilotting the famous express into the station with his dmu!
 

topydre

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In 1988 Strood and Higham tunnels flooded, and the 3rd rail shorted. So in place of the usual EPB consists, along came 4TC trailer stock a class 33; a class 117 DMU and a 207 thumper DEMU to run shuttles between Gravesend and Rochester.
 

Ibex

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DMU's are known to substitute 323's around the West Midlands. There was recently a 170 substituting for a 323 on the Wolverhampton to Walsall route as mentioned by JoeGJ1984, and also a 170 subbed for a 350 to Liverpool after a unit failure earlier last year.

Back in the Silverlink days it was common for a 150 to appear on the St Albans Abbey branch as pictured below (not sure whos photo this is)...

3793136254cd409f021fo.jpg


In regards to LOROL 172's being used instead of 378s I'm not sure this is possible on the DC lines because of the DOO arrangement on the DC lines, would the 172's require a guard or could they be run DOO?
 

anthony263

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I know a London Overground class 172 has subbed a 378 before but don't remember why... think it was at Richmond so not the DC lines!

Silverlink did also use a class 150 from Richmond to Stratford once.

FGW have used a class 143 instead of a hst from Exeter to Swindon where the train terminated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
In regards to LOROL 172's being used instead of 378s I'm not sure this is possible on the DC lines because of the DOO arrangement on the DC lines, would the 172's require a guard or could they be run DOO?

The class 172's would most likely have to have a gaurd however it is unlikly they will make an appearance on the dc lines as they are not fitted with tripcoks which is a reason why Chiltern dont use their class 172's on services to Aylesbury which operate via Harrow on the hill
 
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12CSVT

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There were quite a few DMU substitutions out of London in 1990.

In March 1990 class 116s were running out of Euston. The attatched photo shows a 108 at West Hampstead Thameslink with an all stations to Bedford on 3rd June 1990 (a class 319 had arrived from the south a few minutes before).
 

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