Heritage DMU's on the Great Western

[MatthewRead]

When were the last 1st Gen DMU's withdrawn from the GWR network I know they last ran on the Chiltern on 29th July 1992. I think they were withdrawn from the Great Western Main line before they were withdrawn from the branch lines. Correct me if I'm wrong there were still Heritage units running around Exeter until about 1992 and they were still using 117's on the Cornish Branch lines until as recently as 1997.

 

[Spartacus]

The last Chiltern bubble car ran as recent as May 2017.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I can't confirm for 1997 but I certainly travelled on what I think was a 117 from St Erth to St Ives during June 1996.

 

[MatthewRead]

The last Chiltern bubble car ran as recent as May 2017.

I meant First Gen DMU's on the Chiltern Main Line.

 

[davetheguard]

I think the reason first generation DMU's lasted longer in the West Country was problems with the then new Class 142 so-called "Skipper" DMU's.

In the London area, on suburban routes out of both Paddington & Marylebone first generation DMU's (and 47/50-hauled trains of Mk 1 coaches) were replaced by 165 & 166 Turbos & the older trains withdrawn.

However, the chocolate & cream-liveried Class 142's built for Devon & Cornwall local trains were not a success on these routes; indeed Pacers remain barred from Cornish branches to this day. So the solution was to transfer the 142's to the north, and bring back first generation DMU's for a few more years. In turn, these were later replaced by what we have operating the lines today: a mixture of 150, 153, and, in Devon only, 143's.

 

[MatthewRead]

I think the reason first generation DMU's lasted longer in the West Country was problems with the then new Class 142 so-called "Skipper" DMU's.

In the London area, on suburban routes out of both Paddington & Marylebone first generation DMU's (and 47/50-hauled trains of Mk 1 coaches) were replaced by 165 & 166 Turbos & the older trains withdrawn.

However, the chocolate & cream-liveried Class 142's built for Devon & Cornwall local trains were not a success on these routes; indeed Pacers remain barred from Cornish branches to this day. So the solution was to transfer the 142's to the north, and bring back first generation DMU's for a few more years. In turn, these were later replaced by what we have operating the lines today: a mixture of 150, 153, and, in Devon only, 143's.

But when was that when did 150's and 153's first start running in the West Country?

 

[davetheguard]

But when was that when did 150's and 153's first start running in the West Country?

O.K., I've got this from a book "The Exeter & Exmouth Railway" by Colin Maggs published by The Oakwood Press (ISBN 0 85361 430 X). Obviously given the title of the book, the comments relate specifically to services on the Exmouth branch, rather than Devon & Cornwall generally:

"By the 16th of May 1988 timetable, services were again worked by the older Heritage DMU's brought in to replace the Pacers which had been prematurely withdrawn the previous autumn."
"The Winter timetable for 1993-4, based on an increased allocation of the new Sprinter units, extended some workings to Milford Haven (!) and Gloucester for diagramming convenience."
But to muddy the water, there's also a picture of a 155 at Exeter Central working the 14.14 Barnstaple - Exmouth train on 6th April 1991, and two first generation DMU's crossing at the intermediate station of Topsham on 3rd April 1991. So it looks like the change over to Sprinter type sets, on this line at least, was a gradual process.

I hope this helps, up to a point.

 

[MatthewRead]

What about in the Thames Valley when were the last Heritage DMU's withdrawn then?

 

[nanstallon]

What about in the Thames Valley when were the last Heritage DMU's withdrawn then?

I saw old Modernisation Plan dmus working around Newbury in summer 1991, and the new Turbos when I revisited in April 1994.

 

[MatthewRead]

I saw old Modernisation Plan dmus working around Newbury in summer 1991, and the new Turbos when I revisited in April 1994.

I know they were gone by 1994 because I watched a YouTube video form October of that year and all the Main Line Trains were either Turbos or HST's!

 

[Bishopstone]

I started at Exeter University in October 1992, and the first generation DMUs had all gone from the Exmouth, Paignton, Barnstaple etc services by then. But as others have said, they lingered in Cornwall for a few more years.

I think 1993 was the last year that first generation units appeared on Thames Valley and North Downs duties.