Marston Vale 150s condition

[david l]

They work so well that Northern are reducing their availability by 5 from December...

The Newton Heath fleets (150/1, 150/2, 156) have been covering for months/years for the 769 fleet whose availability has been dire. The availabilty (booked 6 out of 8, now 10 with the 2 ex TfW units, one of which still to appear, the other that has worked 2 days and failed in service both times) has varied between 0 and 6, but generally 3-5 which means that unless short-formed NH has to supply aanything from 6-10 DMU's additional. From December there are more EMU workings utilising the newly electrified Wigan to Bolton line with a new EMU service from Stalybridge to Wigan North Western, together with the fact that the 8 Northern 769's 'should' have been to Brodies for overhaul but their reliability on return has been shall we say 'hit and miss'.
Back on topic, the 3 units sent to BY were all longstanding NH units, no different to any other of the 150/1's but they have been worked hard for many years. If they are so bad, we'll have them back, even with allegedly dirty seats - from the photos shown though, they don't look so bad.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Back on topic, the 3 units sent to BY were all longstanding NH units, no different to any other of the 150/1's but they have been worked hard for many years. If they are so bad, we'll have them back, even with allegedly dirty seats - from the photos shown though, they don't look so bad.

I though the case was when they were sent down they chose the worst three.
That would match with 150141 being the only /1 (currently a /1) that I've not ridden.

Edit: I've just checked my notes and noticed that I rode 150141 back in November 2022, so that's all 44 ridden!

 

[Starmill]

I though the case was when they were sent down they chose the worst three.
That would match with 150141 being the only /1 (currently a /1) that I've not ridden.

That'd make very little sense. If they sent a unit that was then out of service for many moons for corrosion repairs, they'd be under pressure to send another to cover.

 

[Bikeman78]

I wouldn't be surpassed if Northern sent over their grubbiest 150 units in the first place. That seemed to happen during the Secro/Abellio days when some Northern Class 156s were transferred to EMT.

In all seriousness, who decides which units and based on what criteria?

 

[diligentdave]

In all seriousness, who decides which units and based on what criteria?

I know who decides this info but cannot say. It's all to do with where the units are within their heavy maintenance life. C4 overhauls and C6 overhauls.

 

[Bikeman78]

I know who decides this info but cannot say. It's all to do with where the units are within their heavy maintenance life. C4 overhauls and C6 overhauls.

Thanks for the info.

 

[DarloRich]

the 2 units at Tyseley have returned so hopefully a full service from tomorrow

Realtime Trains | 5Z50 1126 Tyseley L.M.D. to Bletchley T.M.D. | 04/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Z50 1126 departure from Tyseley L.M.D. to Bletchley T.M.D. on 04/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Silverlinky]

Street word ( local rumours)

2x MV 150 at tysley: One with bad flats and one needing a new wheel set.

No idea what is up with the third.

SO annoying as the service falls apart yet again

Correct, the two (139 and 141) got sent up there with bad wheelsets. When the three originally came down one of them had crap wheelsets and was off to be done pretty much as soon as it arrived.

The third unit (137) was due an exam and these have to be done as per the specified timescales and mileages.

All three units "should" be available for service tomorrow and a full service is expected.

 

[DarloRich]

Correct, the two (139 and 141) got sent up there with bad wheelsets. When the three originally came down one of them had crap wheelsets and was off to be done pretty much as soon as it arrived.

The third unit (137) was due an exam and these have to be done as per the specified timescales and mileages.

All three units "should" be available for service tomorrow and a full service is expected.

First round trip of th day cancelled but, touch wood, all running now

 

[DaveyJones]

They need a deep clean and new seat covers (don't care if they're blue or grey though). There's a heck of a lot of ingrained filth and the headrests are brown with hair grease.

TBH I'd have prioritised an interior refresh over painting the outside; they could have just removed the Northern branding and put a blue version of the LNR brand in its place.

Late to the party, but you know how "Antimacassars" got their name?

 

[Starmill]

From December there are more EMU workings utilising the newly electrified Wigan to Bolton line with a new EMU service from Stalybridge to Wigan North Western, together with the fact that the 8 Northern 769's 'should' have been to Brodies for overhaul but their reliability on return has been shall we say 'hit and miss'.

Sadly not. There is no new opportunity for EMU work. To put it another way, everything is riding on 769s coming good. I think we can all see how that's likely to end.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Late to the party, but you know how "Antimacassars" got their name?

Protecting the seat from macassar oil which was used in hair.

 

[DarloRich]

Well the good service lasted maybe 3 days before failing today. Sigh.