FGW Class 142's

[mawallace]

I understand that FGW have 12 142's - and there are 9 daily diagrams centered around Exeter. A few questions spring in my mind:-

1, How long will these units stay at FGW- some reports suggest till October, others say they are now staying until 2010!

2. Are they all in operation on a daily basis

3. What sort of place is Exeter station? Is it rail enthusiast friendly?

4. Is the depot at Exeter easily seen from that station?

 

[JoshW1992]

When I visited last month, on the Locomotive Exchange Specials, there were plenty of 142's to be seen there. I must have seen them all in the space of about 3 hours! I had no problem with station staff, so it must be friendly, plus, the depot is easily seen and easily phottable from the station.

Hope this helps!

 

[CraigS]

1, How long will these units stay at FGW- some reports suggest till October, others say they are now staying until 2010!

I believe that the class 172s will be delivered around 2010 which will replace class 150s on London Midland and London Overground operated routes meaning that the reduntant 150s could then replace the 142s in use with FGW and any other TOCs that use Pacers. Going by this I would assume they would stay until 2010 although someone may know something different.

 

[JoshW1992]

Quite possible... the 142's are running out of life anyway, so perhaps it is time for them to be replaced...

 

[Mojo]

First Great Western & Northern are to recieve cascaded DMU vehicles from London Midland by 2014 (though in practice is likely to be sooner depending on how well the 172 fleet settles down).

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rollingstock/rollingstockplan?page=2#a1003

 

[JoshW1992]

Nice

 

[Mr Alex]

FGW should be getting 150/1s from London Midland i've heard.
I agree about the 142s they are life expired but you have to give credit to the fitters at Exeter who have kept them going. There not that bad after they've been 'breathed on', its just a case of passengers getting used to where the door buttons are!

 

[1D53]

5 are coming back to Northern in December.

 

[JoshW1992]

5, 142's???

 

[Mr Alex]

5, 142's???

Yep
Although FGW wants to keep them, so will be interesting to see what they get in return-144s anyone?!

 

[JoshW1992]

Well, would be interesting to see some 144's, even though they are pretty much the same as 142's. Strange that FGW want to keep 142's, they must be good for something!!!

 

[Donny Dave]

FGW have allegedly won the Golden Spanner award after they became the first TOC to manage more than 5000 miles per casualty for 142s. hock:

 

[JoshW1992]

Ha, very reliable

 

[1D53]

Yep
Although FGW wants to keep them, so will be interesting to see what they get in return-144s anyone?!

WYPTE will never allow the 144's to leave, can pretty much guarantee that.

 

[Mr Alex]

WYPTE will never allow the 144's to leave, can pretty much guarantee that.

Yea I know! But we south Westerners want something comfortable and reliable, like the 158s that went north
They are missed:cry:
Come back 158s all is forgiven!

 

[devon_metro]

5 are coming back to Northern in December.

Growth in passenger numbers on the Devon Metro is FGWs arguement to keep the units. 150/143 refurb has also be postponed so I can't see them going back to Northern to be neglected and under-utilised.

 

[Turbostar]

I understand that FGW have 12 142's - and there are 9 daily diagrams centered around Exeter. A few questions spring in my mind:-

1, How long will these units stay at FGW- some reports suggest till October, others say they are now staying until 2010!

2. Are they all in operation on a daily basis

3. What sort of place is Exeter station? Is it rail enthusiast friendly?

4. Is the depot at Exeter easily seen from that station?

Yes, they are more or less all in operation on a daly basis.

Exeter St Davids is what you are on about, yes it is rail enthusiast friendly.

Exeter TMD is right adjacent to the station & is in full view from platform 6.

 

[1D53]

Growth in passenger numbers on the Devon Metro is FGWs arguement to keep the units. 150/143 refurb has also be postponed so I can't see them going back to Northern to be neglected and under-utilised.

Under utilised - are you having a joke? We've got plenty of use for them up here, the plan when they came down was 5 to come back in December and AFAIK they will only not come back if the extra 158's from FSR come back. You also forget that from December Northern are getting an extra 8-10 daily diagrams as a minimum which will all need units.

 

[devon_metro]

Yes, they are more or less all in operation on a daly basis.

Exeter St Davids is what you are on about, yes it is rail enthusiast friendly.

Exeter TMD is right adjacent to the station & is in full view from platform 6.

Not that there are ever any 142s in there during the day. The other day there was 100% availability.

 

[Donny Dave]

WYPTE will never allow the 144's to leave, can pretty much guarantee that.

Yea I know! But we south Westerners want something comfortable and reliable, like the 158s that went north
They are missed:cry:
Come back 158s all is forgiven!

144s reliable? hock:

They're not that comfortable either ...

 

[devon_metro]

Under utilised - are you having a joke? We've got plenty of use for them up here, the plan when they came down was 5 to come back in December and AFAIK they will only not come back if the extra 158's from FSR come back. You also forget that from December Northern are getting an extra 8-10 daily diagrams as a minimum which will all need units.

And FGW plan to make Barnstaple hourly. FGW have taken the time to refurbish the units and make them half decent. Passenger numbers have increased and FGW *will* be short of stock due to the incompetence of Pullman Rail with the delayed 150/143 refurb.

 

[1D53]

Pullman Rail with the delayed 150/143 refurb.

Cancelled according to what I heard over the weekend!

In honesty I imagine you will keep the 142's and Northern will gain the remaining 158's up at FSR (867-870) for the Nottingham services.

I didn't travel on one over the weekend but they did look better.

 

[devon_metro]

Cancelled according to what I heard over the weekend!

In honesty I imagine you will keep the 142's and Northern will gain the remaining 158's up at FSR (867-870) for the Nottingham services.

I didn't travel on one over the weekend but they did look better.

150/143 refurb restarts after summer.

 

[1D53]

150/143 refurb restarts after summer.

The quality doesn't seem that good in honesty - I had 246 (http://jst.fotopic.net/p51816038.html) over the weekend and the roof leaked and the seats looked in less than perfect condition already.

 

[devon_metro]

150 refurb is a massive bodge.

 

[thefab444]

In honesty I imagine you will keep the 142's and Northern will gain the remaining 158's up at FSR (867-870) for the Nottingham services.

Aren't Northern also subleasing 158786/789 (the ex-SWT pair) to Scotrail? Hence why they still carry full SWT livery with logos etc.

 

[37412]

I understand that FGW have 12 142's - and there are 9 daily diagrams centered around Exeter. A few questions spring in my mind:-

1, How long will these units stay at FGW- some reports suggest till October, others say they are now staying until 2010!

2. Are they all in operation on a daily basis

3. What sort of place is Exeter station? Is it rail enthusiast friendly?

4. Is the depot at Exeter easily seen from that station?

Daily Diagrams: Don't think they cover all of the 9 daily Exeter local diagrams and one is covered by a 153 pair or a 150 normally. There are also some trains to Exmouth which come direct from Penzance i think and there is also one diagram that does PNZ-EXD then on to the yard before working an Exmouth later.

1) Think it's already been answered in a roundabout way.

2) Yes, working to Paignton, Exmouth and Barnstaple (Mon - Sun) and Okehampton (Sun Only)

3) Yes, although there are ticket barriers so if you are not traveling there by train you will probably have to get one of those photographers permit things i've seen people use at New St to get through the barriers.

4) Yes it is right behind the station and the platform in front of it is rarely used, although there is a HST that terminates there and sits in the platform at about 1130 I think. You can also got out of the station and over the crossing at the North end and walk round to the depot, just there are the sidings which are normally used by Serco trains but if you walk up to the car park you can see a few of the units.

 

[Turbostar]

For your information, they don't work to Penzance on a regular basis. :roll:

 

[devon_metro]

It all got split.

The old 0850 Exmouth - Penzance is now 0850 Penzance - Exeter St Davids, xx:xx Exeter St Davids - Plymouth, xx:xx Plymouth - Penzance.

Believe a swap of units is required at Plymouth and would presume the 0850 EXM-EXD is 142. I will look at the diagrams later.

 

[37412]

For your information, they don't work to Penzance on a regular basis. :roll:

I Was one about 150's working Penzance - Exeter/Exmouths. By the way 142's never work Penzance's.

It all got split.

The old 0850 Exmouth - Penzance is now 0850 Penzance - Exeter St Davids, xx:xx Exeter St Davids - Plymouth, xx:xx Plymouth - Penzance.

Believe a swap of units is required at Plymouth and would presume the 0850 EXM-EXD is 142. I will look at the diagrams later.

Oh Right, only been down once since the timetable change to the summer one. I think there are some Newton Abbot - Plymouth shuttles with 150's as well now every couple of hours for some reason?! Isn't there an up Penzance - Exmouth or has that been split now? I know there used to be a Penzance - Exeter (which the 3 times I saw it was a ex - Silverlink 150) which then went on the depot and then did an Exmouth diagram later.