Filling in missing classes

[A S Leib]

I'm trying to get a(n exterior) photo of each class currently in passenger service for each TOC (including trams / metros) and am trying to work out where the best options are for the ones I have remaining. London would be easiest, apart from cases where I already have trips planned.

TOC	Have	Don't have	Notes
Avanti	390, 807	805 (Euston – Chester)
c2c		357, 720 (both full network)
Caledonian Sleeper	73, 92	66 (north of Edinburgh)
DLR	B90	B92, B2K, B07 (all full network)	I'm not sure how to tell the difference between B90 and B92 apart from numbers
Gatwick Express		387 (Victoria – Brighton)	Are GX-branded units still being used for Southern coastway services?
Grand Central	180	221 (King's Cross – Bradford Interchange)
GWR	57, 150, 158, 165, 166, 175, 230, 387, 800, 802	165 (Thames Valley branches, North Downs, Banbury – Oxford, Bristol local and regional, Exmouth – Paignton) 166 (Bristol local and regional services, Exmouth – Paignton, Exeter – Barnstaple) 175 (Exeter – Penzance, Par – Newquay) 230 (West Ealing – Greenford (Sat only)) 387 (Paddington – Didcot / Newbury)	I have a trip to Salisbury planned; good chances for 165 / 166?
Heathrow Express		387 (full route)
London Underground	1972, 1973, 1992, 1996, 2009, S7, S8 Stock	1995 Stock (Northern line)
Northern	150, 156, 158, 170, 195, 323, 331, 769	155 (East Yorkshire) 333 (Airedale) 769 (Southport – Manchester)	I have tentative trips from Newcastle to Hull and Preston planned, which I think should cover 155, 323 and 333.
ScotRail	43, 153, 156, 158, 170, 318, 385	320 (most electrified Glasgow lines) 334 (Bathgate and via Glasgow Central low level) 380 (electrified routes south of Glasgow, Edinburgh – North Berwick)	I have a trip to Glasgow planned which should hopefully cover all remaining ones.
SWR	450, 458, 484, 701	158 (Waterloo – Exeter, Southampton – Salisbury) 159 (Waterloo – Salisbury / Westbury / Yeovil) 444 (Waterloo – Weymouth / Portsmouth)	I have a trip to Salisbury planned, which should cover all of them (I can't remember how visible trains are beyond ticket barriers at Waterloo)
Southeastern	375, 377, 395, 465	376, 466, 707 (all the entire metro network?)
Southern	377	171 (London Bridge – Uckfield, Marshlink) 387 (Victoria / Brighton – Hastings, Brighton – Southampton)
TfW Rail	67, 150, 153, 158, 197, 231, 398, 756	150 (everywhere except central and north Wales?) 230 (Wrexham – Bidston) 231 (Rhymney, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan) 398 (Cardiff – Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil) 756 (Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare)
Tramlink	Bombardier CR4000	Stadler Variobahn
West Midlands Railway	139, 172, 196	730 (Cross-City, Chase, Walsall – New Street – Wolverhampton)	I'm not sure if WMR-branded 730s are still being used for Euston – Tring / Milton Keynes; I haven't seen any for a while

For completion's sake, ones where I think I've got everything, in case I'm missing anything out:

Avanti: 390, 805, 807
Blackpool Tramway: Bombardier Flexity 2, English Electric Balloon
c2c: 357, 720
Caledonian Sleeper: 66 (GBRf, as freight rather than with sleeper carriages), 73, 92
Chiltern: 68, 165, 168, 196
CrossCountry: 170, 220, 221
DLR: B90, B92, B2K, B07
EMR: 158, 170, 222, 360, 810
Edinburgh Trams: CAF Urbos 3
Elizabeth Line: 345
Eurostar: 373, 374, PBA, PBKA
Gatwick Express: 387
Glasgow Subway: third generation
Grand Central: 180, 221
Great Northern: 379, 387, 717
Greater Anglia: 720, 745, 755
GWR: 57, 150, 158, 165, 166, 175, 230, 387, 800, 802
Heathrow Express: 387
Hull Trains: 802
LNER: 91, 800, 801
London Northwestern: 150, 350, 730
London Overground: 378, 710
London Underground: 1972, 1973, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2009, S7, S8 Stock
Lumo: 222, 803
Manchester Metrolink: Bombardier M5000
Merseyrail: 777
SWR: 158, 159, 444, 450, 458, 484, 701
Southeastern: 375, 376, 377, 395, 465, 466, 707
Southern: 171, 377, 387
South Yorkshire Supertram: Siemens-Düwag Supertram, Vosloh Citylink / 399
Thameslink: 700
Tramlink: Bombardier CR4000, Stadler Variobahn
TransPennine Express: 185, 397, 802
Tyne and Wear Metro: Metrocar, 599
West Midlands Metro: CAF Urbos 3
West Midlands Railway: 139, 172, 196, 730

.

 

[befated]

You'll need to add Chiltern 196s once EWR opens.

(Alternatively there's a 196 in Chiltern colours doing Leamington - Nuneaton runs right now, if you'd count that!)

 

[VT 390]

Based on what is currently in regular passenger service between both your lists here I can not see anything missing, assuming your not including subclasses (like 700/0, 700/1).

A minor correction on your missing classes is Caledonian Sleeper now use class 66 not class 67, however these are not in Caledonian Sleeper livery.

Regarding your notes:
As far as I know the only obvious way to identify the DLR B90/B92/B2K is the numbers.

Gatwick Express branded class 387 are used on Coastway services, especially on London Victoria to Eastbourne and Brighton to Southampton routes. Although these routes are shared with other class 387/class 377.

Both GWR class 165/class 166 do operate to Salisbury although from my experience class 166 (alongside class 158) are more common at Salisbury.

Hull would likely give you class 155 and Preston class 323. However for class 333 you will need to visit the Leeds area where the class 333 operate on some/most Leeds to Ilkley, Skipton, Bradford Forster Square services and Leeds to Doncaster services.

Glasgow will get you the class 320, class 334 and class 380. The class 334 operate alongside class 320/318 on most services via Queen Street and Central low levels but the Helensburgh Central to Edinburgh service is virtually entirely class 334 operated. For class 380 you should use Central high level services (especially those on the Ayrshire routes).

Salisbury will get you the SWR class 158/class 159 but not the class 444 which are electric, you could go somewhere like Basingstoke on the same trip if possible for the class 444.

WMR class 730/0 are still used on some south WCML services (I believe until December 2026). An easy way to check this on the day would be to see which services are formed of 6 or 9 carriages as all other London Northwestern services on the south WCML will be 4, 5, 8, 10 or 12 carriages.

 

[A S Leib]

You'll need to add Chiltern 196s once EWR opens.

(Alternatively there's a 196 in Chiltern colours doing Leamington - Nuneaton runs right now, if you'd count that!)

Hemel Hempstead to Bletchley won't be difficult once the time comes if not sending myself to Coventry, and the photo of a WMR 172 I have is also with a Chiltern livery.

Maybe I should add another column for new stock expected soon; I think the DLR B23s are (hopefully) returning to service this or next month.

 

[A S Leib]

Thank you.

assuming your not including subclasses (like 700/0, 700/1).

That's correct.

A minor correction on your missing classes is Caledonian Sleeper now use class 66 not class 67, however these are not in Caledonian Sleeper livery.

Fixing that.

Hull would likely give you class 155 and Preston class 323. However for class 333 you will need to visit the Leeds area where the class 333 operate on some/most Leeds to Ilkley, Skipton, Bradford Forster Square services and Leeds to Doncaster services.

One option could be going via Leeds or (probably more expensive) Doncaster on the way to or from Hull; I haven't booked anything for that and am not planning a tight itinerary.

Glasgow will get you the class 320, class 334 and class 380. The class 334 operate alongside class 320/318 on most services via Queen Street and Central low levels but the Helensburgh Central to Edinburgh service is virtually entirely class 334 operated. For class 380 you should use Central high level services (especially those on the Ayrshire routes).

Including Gourock for Ayrshire? The Waverley paddle steamer's the main reason for my next planned visit in that area.

Salisbury will get you the SWR class 158/class 159 but not the class 444 which are electric, you could go somewhere like Basingstoke on the same trip if possible for the class 444.

Looking out of the window is an option, but rather more hit-and-miss with photo quality.

WMR class 730/0 are still used on some south WCML services (I believe until December 2026). An easy way to check this on the day would be to see which services are formed of 6 or 9 carriages as all other London Northwestern services on the south WCML will be 4, 5, 8, 10 or 12 carriages.

Thanks, the length difference makes finding them easier. Looking at RTT, WMR ones were on the southern WCML on Friday and yesterday but none today, which isn't surprising without the Tring terminators on Sundays.

 

[VT 390]

Including Gourock for Ayrshire? The Waverley paddle steamer's the main reason for my next planned visit in that area.

Class 380 do operate on Gourock services alongside the class 385. There are also a limited number of class 320 to Gourock but these are much more limited.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Gatwick Express

387 (Victoria – Brighton)

Are GX-branded units still being used for Southern coastway services?

Yes, I saw some at Southampton last month.

 

[SECR 65]

Southeastern 466s are becoming fewer. You may be aware that they cannot operate in single due to accessibility regulations. I think a good place to try is the Charing X to Tunbridge Wells terminators as these often run as 10 car sets (465-466-465).

GatEx 387s go far and wide. There are 27 units for 12 GX diagrams. They're always going on Victoria-Eastbourne/Ore runs, or elsewhere e.g. Brighton-Eastbourne/Southampton. Any diagram you find a SN 387 on, it might be a GX 387 the following day.

 

[A S Leib]

Southeastern 466s are becoming fewer. You may be aware that they cannot operate in single due to accessibility regulations. I think a good place to try is the Charing X to Tunbridge Wells terminators as these often run as 10 car sets (465-466-465).

GatEx 387s go far and wide. There are 27 units for 12 GX diagrams. They're always going on Victoria-Eastbourne/Ore runs, or elsewhere e.g. Brighton-Eastbourne/Southampton. Any diagram you find a SN 387 on, it might be a GX 387 the following day.

Thank you. Looking at RTT, that might mean waiting until the end of Charing Cross engineering works for 466s as there don't seem to be Tunbridge Wells terminators (a few per day aside) until then.

 

[VT 390]

Thank you. Looking at RTT, that might mean waiting until the end of Charing Cross engineering works for 466s as there don't seem to be Tunbridge Wells terminators (a few per day aside) until then.

The Tunbridge Wells terminators are running from London Victoria via Bromley South while London Charing Cross is closed.

Looking at the past week there was a class 466 most days on at least 1 Tunbridge Wells service as well as on at least 1 Hayes/Gravesend diagram each day.

 

[Falcon1200]

A visit to Partick or Hyndland (island platform) will see Classes 320 and 334 in a short space of time! And Glasgow Central High Level for Class 380.

 

[Kite159]

(I can't remember how visible trains are beyond ticket barriers at Waterloo

Some platforms are better than others, but if you are in London on a Travelcard day then a Travelcard will operate the barriers.

 

[Western Gaffer]

I have a trip to Salisbury planned, which should cover all of them (I can't remember how visible trains are beyond ticket barriers at Waterloo)

Or break your journey at Clapham Junction and capture a variety of services on the move through there (potentially including GX/Southern 387s as well as the SWR classes) before continuing to/from Salisbury?

 

[A S Leib]

Some platforms are better than others, but if you are in London on a Travelcard day then a Travelcard will operate the barriers.

That's true; I was mostly thinking in terms of being there on the way to Salisbury and hoping for luck. Given how much for c2c, Southern / Gatwick Express and Southeastern I have left, it might be more enjoyable to spend a day trying to tick them off rather than just going to Waterloo.

Out of the ones not yet mentioned, I think the hardest ones for me to get will be GWR 175 and 230s, the TfW ones (especially 230s, having recently spent an hour waiting at Wrexham General without seeing one due to cancellations) and Grand Central 221s (only being two trains per day each way that I can see being the bigger issue than geographic proximity). I'm not sure how easy Caledonian Sleeper 66s are to find during the day either.

Or break your journey at Clapham Junction and capture a variety of services on the move through there (potentially including GX/Southern 387s as well as the SWR classes) before continuing to/from Salisbury?

Advance tickets, otherwise I'd consider it; it would be a different day to cover the remaining London ones.

 

[Kite159]

I'm not sure how easy Caledonian Sleeper 66s are to find during the day either.

Inverness will probably be the best shot at that, considering the coaches & locos normally stable on platform 1 during the day. Although the 66s are just regular GBRf 66s

 

[VT 390]

Out of the ones not yet mentioned, I think the hardest ones for me to get will be GWR 175 and 230s, the TfW ones (especially 230s, having recently spent an hour waiting at Wrexham General without seeing one due to cancellations)

The GWR class 175 should become easier if you wait a bit as I believe they are planned to operate on Okehampton/Barnstaple services so should give more opportunities without having to go all the way to Plymouth/Cornwall. Also, if you wait you may see a class 175 in GWR livery rather than the white ex Transport for Wales livery.

For the GWR class 230 they are only on the Greenford branch on Saturdays at the moment.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

For the GWR class 230 they are only on the Greenford branch on Saturdays at the moment.

It's only in passenger service on Saturdays, but makes appearances on other days sometimes too, mostly Thursdays for some reason.

 

[A S Leib]

Going off of other posts, waiting for Bletchley – Bicester to open might not be needed for Chiltern 196s, though with ECS moves they're not something I'd plan around being at Bletchley for in case of cancellation.

 

[Bevan Price]

In areas where they are available, getting rover tickets or one day ranger tickets would enable you to visit several stations in a single day, taking photos at each of them. For example, a North East Rover (7 days, or 4 days in 8) includes Berwick & Newcastle to York, Leeds, Bradford, Hull, Scarborough & Doncaster. Remember that stations with overall roofs are not always the best locations for photography

A West Midland Day Ranger includes Crewe to Northampton, Birmingham, Leamington Spa and Hereford via Worcester. (GWR 8xx, 158, 166 can be seen at Worcester, WM 196s, 730s can be seen on Birmingham area locals, etc )

 

[A S Leib]

Some platforms are better than others, but if you are in London on a Travelcard day then a Travelcard will operate the barriers.

This may sound slightly silly, but, not having bought a Travelcard rather than using Oyster before, would I be correct in thinking that, with a railcard, it's £17.55 for the off-peak Hemel Hempstead – Euston plus Travelcard with no evening restrictions on TfL services or leaving Euston / Harrow & Wealdstone? The main reason why I'm not sure that's right is how much less the extra cost is compared to an off-peak single from Hemel to Euston and an anytime single in the opposite direction (£15.95).

I know that it doesn't include Southeastern High Speed, Heathrow Express or the cable car, but that wouldn't be an issue even if using Oyster instead wasn't possible.

Edit: another way of looking at the cost could be the off-peak day Travelcard (£11) plus Hemel Hempstead to Hatch End in Zone 6 (£8.40 for off-peak outbound, anytime inbound), which doesn't make the Hemel to Z1-6 fare seem as cheap.

 

[Strathclyder]

Class 380 do operate on Gourock services alongside the class 385. There are also a limited number of class 320 to Gourock but these are much more limited.

These early-morning diagrams (1G01 & 1G08) can see either a 318 and/or 320 as both classes are treated as one fleet.

 

[A S Leib]

I can technically tick off the Chiltern 196s as I got a video of one today from a Milton Keynes stopper passing between Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central, although it isn't the highest quality image. If the stopper hadn't been running nine minutes late, I might have caught it at MKC.

 

[A S Leib]

I've planned a visit to Liverpool but didn't check beforehand and it's during the Borderlands line closure; as far as I can tell, the depot for that line's by the Wirral line, so how likely would it be to see TfW 230s anyway?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I've planned a visit to Liverpool but didn't check beforehand and it's during the Borderlands line closure; as far as I can tell, the depot for that line's by the Wirral line, so how likely would it be to see TfW 230s anyway?

It's certainly possible to see one from a passing train (West of Birkenhead North station is the depot of the same name, train towards either New Brighton or West Kirby).
I doubt they'd all be inside given the space needed for the 777s also based at the depot, I've seen them outside before when very few were in traffic (during the introduction period where they were only running 1 at a time with a lunchtime swap)

 

[A S Leib]

Thank you.

 

[A S Leib]

I'm also trying to make some maps to go with the photos. Would I be correct in thinking that the only parts of the Northern network with no (consistent – at least on a weekly basis) Sprinter services are

• Windermere – Lancaster
• Blackpool North – Kirkham & Wesham
• Preston – Liverpool Lime Street / Bolton
• Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Oxford Road / Piccadilly (via Chat Moss and via Warrington)
• Stockport – Stoke-on-Trent
• Manchester Piccadilly – Manchester Airport – / Alderley Edge – Crewe
• Guide Bridge – Hadfield / Glossop
• I don't think New Mills Central – Sheffield or Sheffield – Nottingham have scheduled Northern Sprinters, but normally have EMR 158s anyway
• Retford – Lincoln Central
• Adwick – Fitzwilliam
• Burnley Manchester Road – Halifax
• Ilkley and Bradford Forster Square branches
• Harrogate – York

 

[Kite159]

Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Oxford Road / Piccadilly (via Chat Moss and via Warrington)

Sprinters work between Liverpool Lime Street & Manchester via Warrington Central. Plus the EMR services

Retford - Lincoln sees Northern 150s on Sundays

There is also a morning 158 from Forster Square towards Lancaster

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I'm also trying to make some maps to go with the photos. Would I be correct in thinking that the only parts of the Northern network with no (consistent – at least on a weekly basis) Sprinter services are

• Windermere – Lancaster
• Preston – Liverpool Lime Street / Bolton
• Adwick – Fitzwilliam
• Ilkley and Bradford Forster Square branches
• Harrogate – York

Correct, as far as I know (I'm mostly familiar with the West side) see below for queried ones:

Blackpool North – Preston

Not sure exactly how you're counting this, the section between Preston-Kirkham and Wesham has Sprinters (150/156) on Blackpool South services.

Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Oxford Road / Piccadilly (via Chat Moss and via Warrington)

Via Warrington Central sees 150s and 156s, e.g. today's 2O81 1746 Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street formed of 156406 + 150142. This section also sees EMR services with 158s.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P24191/2026-08-14/detailed#allox_id=0

Manchester Piccadilly – Manchester Airport – / Stockport – Crewe / Stoke-on-Trent

Some Alderley Edge - Stockport - Manchester Piccadilly services run with Sprinters e.g. today's 2H20 0633 Alderley Edge to Manchester Piccadilly

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L88971/2026-08-14/detailed#allox_id=0

I don't think New Mills Central – Sheffield or

I don't think there are any regularly diagrammed services, but 150s/156s are a common replacement on Sheffield - Manchester services.

Sheffield – Nottingham have scheduled Northern Sprinters, but normally have EMR 158s

Leeds - Sheffield - Nottingham runs with 158s and 195s (195s in the majority). e.g. today's 1Y15 1109 Leeds to Nottingham

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G89749/2026-08-14/detailed#allox_id=0

Retford – Lincoln Central

On Sundays several run through to Huddersfield and run with 150s, e.g. 09/08/2026's 2P18 1214 Huddersfield to Lincoln Central

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C32860/2026-08-09/detailed#allox_id=1

Todmorden / Burnley Manchester Road – Brighouse / Halifax

158s on Wigan-Leeds services go between Todmorden and Brighouse

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L89290/2026-08-05/detailed#allox_id=0

1 158 train each way per day goes Leeds-Bradford-Halifax-Todmorden then on to Wigan and reverse in the evening

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L89240/2026-08-06/detailed#allox_id=1

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L89382/2026-08-06/detailed

 

[A S Leib]

Thank you.

 

[A S Leib]

As far as I've been able to tell, non-Northern Sprinters are scheduled to run on at least some services for

East Midlands Railway
Liverpool – Norwich
Crewe – Lincoln

GWR
All Devon and Cornwall branches except Newquay
Penzance – Exeter
Exeter – Cardiff
Exeter – Axminster
Portsmouth – Cardiff
Weymouth – Bristol
Westbury – Swindon

London Northwestern
Bletchley – Bedford

ScotRail
Glasgow Central – Stranraer
Glasgow Queen Street – Oban / Mallaig
Glasgow Queen Street high level – Anniesland
Glasgow Central – Shotts – Edinburgh
Glasgow Queen Street – Dundee
Borders Railway
Fife Circle and Leven
Edinburgh – Perth via Fife
Edinburgh – Stirling – Inverness
Inverness – Aberdeen / Kyle of Lochalsh / Wick

South Western Railway
Waterloo – Exeter / Westbury – Yeovil
Salisbury – Southampton – Romsey

TfW Rail
West Wales lines
Heart of Wales
Swanline
Vale of Glamorgan
Cardiff – Gloucester
Birmingham International – Aberystwyth / Pwllheli / Llandudno Junction
Crewe – Manchester
Rhymney and Ebbw Vale (I'm not sure of the other Valley lines as I can't check RTT for units during engineering works)