Sprinters!

[43021HST]

Yes, having thought about it briefly I believe you could get all the way from Thurso to Penzance entirely on Sprinters.

Sounds like my idea of hell!

 

[michael769]

The 156 was the best thing to hit Central Scotland, thanks for the rail strike that brought these instead of 150/2 units as had been planned

I agree I remember the first time I got on one. The difference to what they were replacing....

However they are tired and looking their age now

They are not so bad - certainly nowhere close to as awful as the Scotrail 150s used on the East side were before we got rid of them. They seem to be standing the test of time very well

I won't miss the 156 on the GSW and WHL, these should have been upgraded years ago with a basic air con DMU for such long journeys

That's what the windows are for!

The big problem with the 156s is that the heating has 2 options - non-existant or blast furnace! Even just getting proper control for that would be a big step towards extending their life!

 

[Schnellzug]

By South West Main Line, I was referring to London Paddington to Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance via the Berks & Hants. That's probably not its' proper title (Cornish Main Line would have been less ambiguous), but I wouldn't consider Southampton as "South West" (even though it was on the main line of the London and South Western Railway!): It's just a part of that strange and mysterious area known as "The South", which might as well be on Mars for all I know of third rail territory.

Cornish main line it is then.

I thought SWT still ran through to Paignton. Thanks for the correction. It would be possible to take a FGW Portsmouth service through to Yeovil and then travel on a SWT 159 to Exeter though, as part of my plan.

Well, there are locals from Bristol T.M. to Taunton, and a few continue through to Paignton or Plymouth, so you should be able to arrange it that way, if one should wish.

 

[richw]

Well, there are locals from Bristol T.M. to Taunton, and a few continue through to Paignton or Plymouth, so you should be able to arrange it that way, if one should wish.

There's a couple bristol tm to penzance direct services operated by 150s each day

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[ACE1888]

There's a couple bristol tm to penzance direct services operated by 150s each day

we even have '150's' in different liveries at present, such variety in Cornwall these days you see...:roll:

 

[Blindtraveler]

waw what a debate! If sprinterguy is com4ng to the Birmingham pub/meal next week I shal enjoy talking 15x north south journeys with him! 142094, yes a charitty pacer bash was muted but it seams to have gone of the radar. Shame as would have been fun and for the 14x haters may wel have killed the unit!

 

[507 001]

well if the advert for next months rail magazine is anything to go by, the ROSCOS are looking at a major rebuild of the sprinter fleets! Don't know how much is true though. Will believe it when I see it!

 

[SouthEastern-465]

never been on one in fact ive only been on merseyrail 3rd rail stock so no comment from me on networkers!

Class 465s and Class 365s are not bad at all.

Talking of Sprinters I've only ever been on a Class 159 and Class 150 both of which I've no complaints about.

 

[tbtc]

well if the advert for next months rail magazine is anything to go by, the ROSCOS are looking at a major rebuild of the sprinter fleets! Don't know how much is true though. Will believe it when I see it!

They'll need to rebuild them by 1 January 2020 to comply with DDA legislation (disabled toilets etc).

It won't be cost effective to rebuild Pacers to comply, but Sprinters are going to have to be around for a long time to come (given lack of widespread electrification since privatisation, reluctance for ROSCOs to invest in new DMUs etc)

 

[Ivo]

158s are used to strengthen a select number of Highland Main Line services, so it would go something like this:
1. Thurso to Inverness: SR 158
2. Inverness to Glasgow: I don't know if any of the Inverness to Glasgow direct services use 158s for strengthening. If not, you would have to catch an Edinburgh train (strengthened with a 158) into the Central Belt, and then hunt out a 156 or 158 working a short distance service into Glasgow.
3. Glasgow to Carlisle via Kilmarnock & Dumfries: SR 156
4. Carlisle to Leeds via the S&C: NO 158
5. Leeds to Manchester via the Caldervale: NO 150/153/155/158
6. Get across to Chester from Manchester using a Northern service. There are some Sprinters make it out that way, right?
7. Chester to Birmingham New Street: ATW 158
8. Birmingham New Street to Worcester: Now that LM are in the process of getting rid of their 150s, this leg of the journey is a lot more difficult. I believe that there is still intended to be a single 150 diagram down to Worcester though when all the 172s are in service.
9. I think FGW 158s make it as far north as Worcester from Cheltenham. You'd need to take one of these south towards Bristol.
10. Various links between FGW 150s and 158s from Bristol to Penzance, and possibly an SWT 159. I don't know which sections of the South West (Cornish) main line the FGW local services cover, but I think you could make it all the way through Devon and Cornwall on 150s, 153s and 158s.

Regarding the LM leg, not to worry! Bail out at Shrewsbury instead. You may well have a long wait ahead, but a 153 will turn up for the Heart of Wales eventually! Head down to Swansea and wait for a Sprinter to Cardiff. They aren't that common, but they do exist! I believe SwanLine services may use 158s?

Now imagine doing all that on a 14x!

Wasn't there a plan a few months back to have a charity Pacer ride from somewhere like the Far North down to PNZ?

Here you go!

 

[43021HST]

Class 465s and Class 365s are not bad at all.

Talking of Sprinters I've only ever been on a Class 159 and Class 150 both of which I've no complaints about.

Your opinion is biased becuse you like notworkers I hate thames turbos, I will always wait around at Reading for a HST into london even if it takes an hour. The turbos smell of wee and are way too cramped and noisy. One good thing though is that Ive found them to never break down.

 

[route:oxford]

2. Inverness to Glasgow: I don't know if any of the Inverness to Glasgow direct services use 158s for strengthening. If not, you would have to catch an Edinburgh train (strengthened with a 158) into the Central Belt, and then hunt out a 156 or 158 working a short distance service into Glasgow.

Maybe a little leniency would be permitted - on the basis that it would take longer and cover further sprinter miles?

Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (Sprinter)
Transfer by Bus
Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street (Sprinter)

 

[Blindtraveler]

and would use the cumbrian coast to Preston and pic up 1 of the stopping blackpool, preston, manchesters from there with an overnight stop in man or Preston.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

And Klambert that's rich coming from you, plus I live in the south east so its 465s and no 'Sprinters'.

 

[2Dogbox]

Sprinters are great!

 

[Kneedown]

Except 158s are not Sprinters, they are Express units

150 = Sprinter.
153/5/6 = Super Sprinter.
158/9 = Express Sprinter.

I won't miss em at all when they go. Unreliable with claustrophobic, uncomfortable driving positions and completely gutless.
I wasn't a fan of the 170's when we had them, they were even more underpowered but at least they were comfortable and bright from a Drivers point of view.

 

[Blindtraveler]

think that wil be a good few years yet bud

 

[Class172]

8. Birmingham New Street to Worcester: Now that LM are in the process of getting rid of their 150s, this leg of the journey is a lot more difficult. I believe that there is still intended to be a single 150 diagram down to Worcester though when all the 172s are in service.

There are services using 153 combinations that could be used also.

9. I think FGW 158s make it as far north as Worcester from Cheltenham. You'd need to take one of these south towards Bristol.

Generally there will also be 150s and 153s coming up to Worcester.

 

[tbtc]

There are some Sprinters on the Manchester - Cardiff ATW service (there are even stories on here about 150s deputising for 175s when no 158s can do it.

However I don't know whether the Sprinters are scheduled for any regular duties

 

[headshot119]

Best way to get south from Manchester would be to get a Northern service to Chester (they throw up 156s 150s, and 142s.)

Then head south to Shrewsbury on a an ATW 158 towards Birmingham.

Then get a 153 towards Swansea.

 

[Blindtraveler]

you know this sounds fun! May actually do it one day!

 

[sprinterguy]

waw what a debate! If sprinterguy is com4ng to the Birmingham pub/meal next week I shal enjoy talking 15x north south journeys with him!

Yeah, we may well have a chance to further refine this North to South Sprinter idea next Wednesday!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Regarding the LM leg, not to worry! Bail out at Shrewsbury instead. You may well have a long wait ahead, but a 153 will turn up for the Heart of Wales eventually! Head down to Swansea and wait for a Sprinter to Cardiff. They aren't that common, but they do exist! I believe SwanLine services may use 158s?

and would use the cumbrian coast to Preston and pic up 1 of the stopping blackpool, preston, manchesters from there with an overnight stop in man or Preston.

There are services using 153 combinations that could be used also.
Generally there will also be 150s and 153s coming up to Worcester.

With all the alternative options that have been suggested for a journey from Thurso to Penznce entirely on Sprinters, it seems that there are plenty of different possibilities for such a journey! The vague scheme I came up with was only one possibility.

 

[Blindtraveler]

ok so whos doing this for charitty next year? i have a feeling sprinterguy wil have to or the credabilitty of his username may be in doubt! Ivo I would hope your game too? oh and yes look forward to refinining the idea next Wednesday, will put0the thinking cap on and see exactly how many days it should take!

 

[Kneedown]

think that wil be a good few years yet bud

The newest Sprinters are 20 or so years old now, which gives only another 10-15 years before they reach life expiry. Time to start planning a long term solution for their replacement, ie mass electrification!

 

[sprinterguy]

The newest Sprinters are 20 or so years old now, which gives only another 10-15 years before they reach life expiry. Time to start planning a long term solution for their replacement, ie mass electrification!

Hear hear! Although there are some routes where current frequencies and passenger numbers will never, realistically, warrant electrification.

Btw, there really is an awful lot of discussion of Sprinters going on on this forum at the moment, isn't there?

 

[tbtc]

there are some routes where current frequencies and passenger numbers will never, realistically, warrant electrification

This is the problem.

Putting Turbostars on some of these branches would be overkill (100 mph, 3 coaches...), so what do we do with them?

I'm all for mass electrification, but there are some line (with under one service an hour) where its going to be a waste of money.

 

[WatcherZero]

Theres has been talk of derating the engines so their more fuel efficent on lower speed lines, rev limiters and changes to gearing ratios.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Theres has been talk of derating the engines so their more fuel efficent on lower speed lines, rev limiters and changes to gearing ratios.

sounds sensible to me, and quite likely now you come to think of it. Like people say i don't think many want new orders of DMUs.

 

[aspierail]

I like sprinters myself infact my favorite one is the class 150 as i like the sound of them.

 

[krus_aragon]

Regarding the LM leg, not to worry! Bail out at Shrewsbury instead. You may well have a long wait ahead, but a 153 will turn up for the Heart of Wales eventually! Head down to Swansea and wait for a Sprinter to Cardiff. They aren't that common, but they do exist! I believe SwanLine services may use 158s?

Rarely. 150s or 153s are commonplace on Swanline services, though.