FGW 150/2 At Didcot - Saturday

[fgwrich]

This took me by supprise - any ideas of what it was doing in the didcot area at 15:45 last satuday? Couldnt see which numbered unit it was through the trees and undergrowth, but i did just manage this picture of it heading northbound...

So any ideas or info as to what this particular 150 was doing in the area last saturday?

 

[anthony263]

Maybe it got lost lol. Only reason i can really think of is work ie maitenence unless it is being hired (Which i seriously doubt)

 

[schwa]

Apparently they sometimes go to Reading for deep cleaning after fatalities.. perhaps this was it.

 

[TEW]

FGW units go to Reading Depot for heavy maintenance sometimes as well.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

If its going to reading then I wonder why it's on the Foxhall Curve heading north?

 

[route:oxford]

A 150/2 run down the GWML would be really quite pleasant.

 

[Royston Vasey]

FGW units go to Reading Depot for heavy maintenance sometimes as well.

I don't think it's that. That's Didcot West curve (sorry if that's the wrong name, its the westernmost of the three chords, its Foxhall anyway) so the unit is travelling west to north. I don't think it could be coming to or from Reading.

 

[fgwrich]

I don't think it's that. That's Didcot West curve (sorry if that's the wrong name, its the westernmost of the three chords, its Foxhall anyway) so the unit is travelling west to north. I don't think it could be coming to or from Reading.

Yep, Saw the unit heading either from the yard or more likely Didcot West Curve - its hard to tell with those trees in the way!

Either way though, certainly headed off northbound...Still seems a mystery!

 

[embers25]

If a 150/2 down the GWML appeals so greatly you could always try the Fridays only afternoon Westbury to Exeter 150/2

 

[route:oxford]

If a 150/2 down the GWML appeals so greatly you could always try the Fridays only afternoon Westbury to Exeter 150/2

Sadly I don't think that will go down the fast-lines between London & Reading.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Another thought, in recent days I've seen some activity at lunchtimes with an out of service Turbo leaving from Didcot platform 3, trundling down the slow line (northernmost road) out of the station, beyond Didcot West curve and at least as far as Milton Park, and then back again. The most recent of these way about 1pm this afternoon (Thursday).

This slow line is usually used only by freight and occasionally I've seen a Voyager reverse there adjacent to the power station before continuing to Oxford, rather than take the avoider east of the station.

I imagine this is some sort of training exercise. I wondered if the 150 was also shuttling around there for training purposes? Haven't seen one myself though.

 

[turbo mick]

Another thought, in recent days I've seen some activity at lunchtimes with an out of service Turbo leaving from Didcot platform 3, trundling down the slow line (northernmost road) out of the station, beyond Didcot West curve and at least as far as Milton Park, and then back again. The most recent of these way about 1pm this afternoon (Thursday).

This slow line is usually used only by freight and occasionally I've seen a Voyager reverse there adjacent to the power station before continuing to Oxford, rather than take the avoider east of the station.

I imagine this is some sort of training exercise. I wondered if the 150 was also shuttling around there for training purposes? Haven't seen one myself though.

Oxford drivers sign via foxhall jct and didcot west curve and have sceduled diagrams for route knowledge every day with 165/166

 

[Mojo]

When I lived in Birmingham I often used to see FGW units going to Tyseley. Is there a chance it was going there?

 

[curly42]

150/2 ? Bah,humbug....

I can remember the glory days of the 143 + 153 combination on the early morning Didcot - Bristol service. A rockin' good time !!!

 

[12CSVT]

There used to be an early morning Paddington - Maesteg service a few years ago (about 2003) diagrammed for a 158. And in the late 1990s a 158 was diagrammed to work a Paddington - Penzance service (again early morning)

 

[heart-of-wessex]

There used to be an early morning Paddington - Maesteg service a few years ago (about 2003) diagrammed for a 158. And in the late 1990s a 158 was diagrammed to work a Paddington - Penzance service (again early morning)

Paddington - Maesteg? do you mean the W&B Waterloo - Maesteg service (that ended around 2003 IIRC)

 

[12CSVT]

Paddington - Maesteg? do you mean the W&B Waterloo - Maesteg service (that ended around 2003 IIRC)

Oops, sorry I must be going senile in my old age. You're quite right, it was Waterloo - Maesteg

 

[robertbishop]

I do remember a Waterloo to Milford Haven service by Alphaline in 2003, don't think there was a Maesteg one. I remember it stopping at Basingstoke and nobody knowing where Milford Haven was!

 

[thefab444]

There was an 05:05 London Waterloo - Maesteg, but this ran via Kensington Olympia/Reading/Swindon. The other trains in 2003 were 12:17 London Waterloo - Milford Haven, 15:17 London Waterloo - Manchester Piccadilly and 19:17 London Waterloo - Swansea, all via Salisbury and various other places.

Inbound workings were 20:16 Pembroke Dock - London Waterloo (via Reading), 06:48 Swansea - London Waterloo, 07:55 Manchester Piccadilly - London Waterloo, 12:34 Carmarthen - London Waterloo.

 

[robertbishop]

Wow, thank you! I really (not being sarcastic) wanted to know the old Alphaline services from Waterloo, where did you find them out? And what route did the Manchester train take?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Machester was Basingstoke, Salisbury, Newport avoider, Hereford, Shrewsbury and Manchester.

The Maesteg one was rather slow too (unexpectedly) as it even called at small shacks like Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road!!

I have the National Rail 2003 timetable with me if anyone wants a list of calling patterns....

 

[anthony263]

There used to be an early morning Paddington - Maesteg service a few years ago (about 2003) diagrammed for a 158. And in the late 1990s a 158 was diagrammed to work a Paddington - Penzance service (again early morning)

Wasn't that the London Waterloo to Maesteg service?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Wasn't that the London Waterloo to Maesteg service?

Have you actually read the thread? that's what I just said

 

[gwr2006]

Oxford drivers sign via foxhall jct and didcot west curve and have sceduled diagrams for route knowledge every day with 165/166

Is that an in-service Turbo diagram or an empty stock move?

I will hazard a guess and say the 150 was up from Bristol to give HST drivers route knowledge before the Christmas blockade. Most Bristol and South Wales HSTs are being diverted via South Ruislip, Banbury and Oxford and then around the Didcot West Curve to Foxhall Junction so they will need to learn that diversionary route. I wouldn't be surprised if the unit went all the way up to Banbury and down the Chiltern Line!

Can any FGW people fill in the gaps, and are more runs planned?

 

[turbo mick]

All hst diverts at christmas are being piloted by freightliner drivers we occasionally get 150,142,158 for engine changes at reading depot
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All hst diverts at christmas are being piloted by freightliner drivers we occasionally get 150,142,158 for engine changes at reading depot

post below my have some idea why 150s were seen at didcot

FGW gains class 150s

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to Modern Railways the 150s from Overground will progressively move to FGW at a quick pace of two per week from late september. Could someone track the movements down if possible?

Is it clear yet what kind of refurbishment these units will recieve and if the FGW local lines livery will be reworked?

Apparently 172s are all fine after all and production has stepped up again on LM units

 

[anthony263]

All hst diverts at christmas are being piloted by freightliner drivers we occasionally get 150,142,158 for engine changes at reading depot
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


post below my have some idea why 150s were seen at didcot

FGW gains class 150s

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to Modern Railways the 150s from Overground will progressively move to FGW at a quick pace of two per week from late september. Could someone track the movements down if possible?

Is it clear yet what kind of refurbishment these units will recieve and if the FGW local lines livery will be reworked?

Apparently 172s are all fine after all and production has stepped up again on LM units

Someone has said on WNXX that the units are being collected from London overground this wednesday

 

[turbo mick]

just a heads up guys

150120, 123 and 130 are booked to leave Willesden Wednesday evening for their new life with FGW.

2 more will follow early next week with the last at the end of October.

 

[anthony263]

I have heard that 2 of the class 150's coming down this week are to replace the loco hauled from next week, so aparantly this week will be the last for loco hauled trains on the Cardiff - Taunton/Paignton route.

I think a trip to paignton is on the cards tommorow since i dont have any lectures in uni

 

[TheWalrus]

I have the National Rail 2003 timetable with me if anyone wants a list of calling patterns....

Yes please!