How to find classes of trains?

[Meridian richard]

Hi there I was just wondering if there was any way of finding out what class of train I would be on. I live in Sheffield and I am very intrested to find out what Northern Rail I will be travel on as I travel on them every day at diffrent times.

Is there anyway I can find out all of the class of services throughout the day?

 

[northwichcat]

There are unit diagrams which dedicate what unit is booked to operate a particular service. Some Northern Rail staff will know these.

I highlighted the word 'booked' because unit swaps do occur when a unit fails a 150 diagram could for example be a 142 diagram for the day. Then because not all types of unit are cleared for all lines it means that if a 150 working a Manchester-Buxton service fails and they can only source a 142 to replace it then it means a 150 or 156 has to be stolen from another diagram and replaced with a 142 as Pacers and 153s can't cope with the gradient on the Buxton line.

 

[142094]

There used to be a few websites with the diagrams on, have a search for Heaton Class 142 diagrams, that brings up a website with old diagrams on. Normally still pretty accurate but of course will have changed slightly over the years. Eitehr that or stay in the station and note down the classes. AFAIK Northern will not give out the diagrams as it is data they don't want competitors to look at apparently.

 

[sprinterguy]

AFAIK Northern will not give out the diagrams as it is data they don't want competitors to look at apparently.

They just don't want passengers to find out which trains are going to be operated by Pacers

 

[142094]

They just don't want passengers to find out which trains are going to be operated by Pacers

All the more choice of seats on board for me then!

 

[4SRKT]

All the more choice of seats on board for me then!

Maybe he means that pacers are so popular that if passengers knew which trains they would operate, severe overcrowding would be the result?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There used to be a few websites with the diagrams on, have a search for Heaton Class 142 diagrams, that brings up a website with old diagrams on. Normally still pretty accurate but of course will have changed slightly over the years. Eitehr that or stay in the station and note down the classes. AFAIK Northern will not give out the diagrams as it is data they don't want competitors to look at apparently.

Although these competitors could just spend the day hanging around at the end of Leeds station, cunningly disguised in a windcheater and bobble hat, and carrying a flask and camera, if they were really that interested in finding out this oh-so-sensitive data.

 

[142094]

Exactly what I said when I was told, but it seems it is sensitive after all. Supposedly means that someone in the know could find out the class of train used and therefore the number of seats provided and other stuff. Not exactly hard to do by sitting there all day.

 

[sprinterguy]

Maybe he means that pacers are so popular that if passengers knew which trains they would operate, severe overcrowding would be the result?

It's a well known fact that the favoured means of transport for us in the north is by Pacer and that we never want them to be replaced Or at least, that seems to be what the DfT think, seeing as the north of England is the natural habitat for the vast majority of the units. :roll:

All the more choice of seats on board for me then!

Ah the perfect opportunity for a bit of quality time with a 142 unit, bouncing around the north east...oh the memories...oh the back ache...

Actually, and I better not shout this too loud, since I moved away to Birmingham from Sunderland, I have begun to MISS the 142s I left behind; any trip up to Manchester or back home is the opportunity for a nostalgic "bounce" on a 142 Though if anybody tries to take away my beloved 323s from the cross-city line and stick a few 142s in their place, I'll 'ave yer ; I'm not quite THAT nostalgic about them

 

[northwichcat]

There used to be a few websites with the diagrams on, have a search for Heaton Class 142 diagrams, that brings up a website with old diagrams on. Normally still pretty accurate but of course will have changed slightly over the years. Either that or stay in the station and note down the classes. AFAIK Northern will not give out the diagrams as it is data they don't want competitors to look at apparently.

I'm not sure that'll be the same for Neville Hill and Newton Heath diagrams. Neville Hill has got rid of it's 142s and 150s and significantly increased it's number of 158s and there are extra services to Nottingham and on Calder Vale via Dewsbury. Newton Heath has lost it's 158s and gained 3x180s and services have changed significantly on the Buxton, Bolton, Macclesfield, Styal and Northwich corridors, while Southport-Airport services that hasn't seen any major changes in the timetable see a lot more 142s.

Someone once posted on a forum that they'd requested diagrams off Arriva Trains Wales and theire request was refused for security reasons.

 

[yorksrob]

Although these competitors could just spend the day hanging around at the end of Leeds station, cunningly disguised in a windcheater and bobble hat, and carrying a flask and camera, if they were really that interested in finding out this oh-so-sensitive data.

Perhaps they give railway photographers such a hard time because they're worried about industrial espionage