GWR Class 165/166 Turbo Diagrams

[FGW_DID]

It was reported as a points failure so the turbo is likely not to blame. No 8 bus should be every half hour.

No, it was definitely the Turbo (165126) with an engine out and other issues. Brought back to Reading TCD by 124 as insurance. Once back on the TCD, 124 was split off and sent straight back to Slough.

 

[Purple Train]

No, it was definitely the Turbo (165126) with an engine out and other issues. Brought back to Reading TCD by 124 as insurance. Once back on the TCD, 124 was split off and sent straight back to Slough.

What happened to cause 123 to be sent out, then, if 124 was the rescue unit?

 

[CR165022]

What happened to cause 123 to be sent out, then, if 124 was the rescue unit?

The 165126 rescue situation happened on the 18th. It just happened to be 165124 again today which then failed.

 

[Purple Train]

The 165126 rescue situation happened on the 18th. It just happened to be 165124 again today which then failed.

That makes sense. Apologies for getting confused!

 

[800301]

165129 has failed now on the Windsor Branch

 

[CarltonA]

165129 has failed now on the Windsor Branch

Yes, just watched it heading off to Reading. Fortunately I'm going there as well. The Windsor branch can be called the No8 for the next hour or so.

 

[nctd2306]

Yes, just watched it heading off to Reading. Fortunately I'm going there as well. The Windsor branch can be called the No8 for the next hour or so.

SWR have also experienced a massive points failure at Staines this morning which has effectively written off their rail service through there as well, not a good day at all if you're trying to reach Windsor.

 

[Purple Train]

Thankfully it's been business as usual on the Windsor branch for the last couple of weeks (apart from yesterday but that wasn't the Turbo's fault) - has anything happened recently to improve the Turbos' reliability, or was it simply chance that they failed three or four times in that one week?

 

[MasterPhillips]

Most likely chance. There have been 2 car units on the Basingstoke and Gatwick’s recently which suggest things still aren’t great. Although there haven't been too many cancellations so I can’t complain really.

 

[Purple Train]

Interesting, thanks for that. As Windsor is limited to 2-cars only, I'm less au fait with the arrangements of the rest of the fleet. How many of the 3-cars are based at Reading?

 

[FGW_DID]

Interesting, thanks for that. As Windsor is limited to 2-cars only, I'm less au fait with the arrangements of the rest of the fleet. How many of the 3-cars are based at Reading?

Off the top of my head we have 165105 - 165117 at Reading.
165101, 102, 103 & 104 are at St Phillips Marsh.

For completeness:
2 cars 165118 - 129 are at Reading, 165130 - 137 at SPM.

 

[Jrocks]

Off the top of my head we have 165105 - 165117 at Reading.
165101, 102, 103 & 104 are at St Phillips Marsh.

For completeness:
2 cars 165118 - 129 are at Reading, 165130 - 137 at SPM.

165101 - 104 are based at Exeter.

 

[FGW_DID]

165101 - 104 are based at Exeter.

When did the allocations swap across to Exeter from SPM.

 

[Anonymous10]

When did the allocations swap across to Exeter from SPM.

Perhaps they are allocated to SPM but based exeter, like they have been circonded to a different deptartment

 

[Jrocks]

Yonks ago. All to do with the impending cascades unit wise.

The 3 car 165s in the west have their home depot as Exeter. 158798 and 950 have their home depot as SPM.

Long story short, Exeter lost 12 coaches of 158 (748, 768, 771, 798 and 950) and in exchange Exeter took the 12 coaches from the 165s (101, 102, 103 and 104).

 

[Purple Train]

I appear to have tempted fate. 165126 had to be swapped out for 165128 yesterday afternoon on the Windsor branch, and now 165122 appears to be having issues. Does anyone know what's going on and whether it's better to get the bus back or make my lunch last a little bit longer?

EDIT: Apparently there's a rogue swan...

 

[Siemens Staines]

It looks like 165137 may be having another spell at Reading whilst both of the Wolverton and Doncaster works units are Reading based examples

Realtime Trains | 5Z72 1510 St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Reading Traincare Depot | 04/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z72 1510 departure from St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Reading Traincare Depot on 04/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[CR165022]

So, I know they're currently going to Doncaster for underframe work, but what are they also currently going to Wolverton for?

 

[FGW_DID]

So, I know they're currently going to Doncaster for underframe work, but what are they also currently going to Wolverton for?

Wolverton is for Air Cooling overhaul.

 

[RPI]

Wolverton is for Air Cooling overhaul.

Forgive me if this has already been asked, are the 166's having this treatment or just the 165's?

 

[windnoise69]

Forgive me if this has already been asked, are the 166's having this treatment or just the 165's?

Just 165s, 166s have air conditioning rather than cooling that the 165s are fitted with.

 

[RPI]

Just 165s, 166s have air conditioning rather than cooling that the 165s are fitted with.

Pity, it's the 166's that are the worst for this

 

[brad465]

How often have Turbos ended up on the Dartmoor Line? According to RTT, 166217 nearly did in the evening for the 18:45 Exeter St Davids-Okehampton, but it was 150207 in the end.

 

[REVUpminster]

How often have Turbos ended up on the Dartmoor Line? According to RTT, 166217 nearly did in the evening for the 18:45 Exeter St Davids-Okehampton, but it was 150207 in the end.

They have often worked there. 166208 1/12/25, 166207 6/5/25, 166203 10/1/22 is the earliest when I was noting turbos on the "Devon Metro". Two car 165's have often been there.

 

[RPI]

How often have Turbos ended up on the Dartmoor Line? According to RTT, 166217 nearly did in the evening for the 18:45 Exeter St Davids-Okehampton, but it was 150207 in the end.

Rare but not unheard of, weekends seem to be the most likely

 

[brad465]

They have often worked there. 166208 1/12/25, 166207 6/5/25, 166203 10/1/22 is the earliest when I was noting turbos on the "Devon Metro". Two car 165's have often been there.

Rare but not unheard of, weekends seem to be the most likely

Thanks for this, having a quick look, you only have to go back to last Saturday to find 166204 on the Dartmoor line all day, while Saturday 9th May (166203) and Sunday 10th May (166221) likewise. If weekends are noticeably busy on the route, passengers will be grateful for the extra carriage.

Realtime Trains | 2E61 1724 Okehampton to Exeter St Davids | 10/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2E61 1724 departure from Okehampton to Exeter St Davids on 10/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2R54 1023 Okehampton to Exeter Central | 09/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2R54 1023 departure from Okehampton to Exeter Central on 09/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[RPI]

Thanks for this, having a quick look, you only have to go back to last Saturday to find 166204 on the Dartmoor line all day, while Saturday 9th May (166203) and Sunday 10th May (166221) likewise. If weekends are noticeably busy on the route, passengers will be grateful for the extra carriage.

Realtime Trains | 2E61 1724 Okehampton to Exeter St Davids | 10/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2E61 1724 departure from Okehampton to Exeter St Davids on 10/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2R54 1023 Okehampton to Exeter Central | 09/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 2R54 1023 departure from Okehampton to Exeter Central on 09/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The Okehampton line usually has no capacity issues with a 2 car, other than the college train in the morning, they're usually well loaded but not at capacity. It could cause wider issues if the Okehampton has a 3 car turbo at the expense of a 2 car 150 being on the Exmouth to Paignton circuit which is by far the busiest part of the "Devon metro".

 

[brad465]

The Okehampton line usually has no capacity issues with a 2 car, other than the college train in the morning, they're usually well loaded but not at capacity. It could cause wider issues if the Okehampton has a 3 car turbo at the expense of a 2 car 150 being on the Exmouth to Paignton circuit which is by far the busiest part of the "Devon metro".

Fair enough, are there still plans to put 175s on Okehampton services?

 

[RPI]

Fair enough, are there still plans to put 175s on Okehampton services?

Yes, later in the year, still a lot of Exeter drivers to learn them.

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like today's 09:32 from Weymouth has been cancelled

Leaves nearly a 4 hour gap between 07:33 and 11:30. Not great when it's half term and beach weather