Super Sprinters

[dickdarlington]

Wiki is of no use whatsoever.

Would you please be able to tell me what the difference is between Sprinters and Super Sprinters?

Also, I thought that 156's were the only sprinters, but the wiki page says that all manner of DMU's fall into the Sprinter category.

Clarification please.

Many thanks

Confused of Darlington.

 

[Hydro]

Sprinters encompass 150, 153, 155, and 156 - 75mph regional and local trains.

Super Sprinters are 158/159 - 90mph inter regional trains. All part of the same family.

 

[142094]

IIRC the 156 is the Super Sprinter, whereas 150s, 155s are just Srpinters.

EDIT: Have a look here:

http://dysgraphyk.madasafish.com/156/class156_origins.htm

 

[Darandio]

You can see why it would be confusing, with some Class 156's having "Super Sprinter" decals yet others only having the "Sprinter" decal.

 

[Hydro]

I always thought it was just 158/9's that were "Super", due to their higher top speed and longer distance services.

 

[sprinterguy]

Sprinters encompass 150, 153, 155, and 156 - 75mph regional and local trains.

Super Sprinters are 158/159 - 90mph inter regional trains. All part of the same family.

Wrong I believe. “Super Sprinters” covers the 23 metre length units, principally class 156 but also logic would dictate the 155s, which are intended for longer distance regional use, and many of the 156 units carried the “Super Sprinter” branding on the bodysides. “Sprinters” originally referred to the 20 metre class 150s intended for suburban and commuter use, and since the original Provincial 155s were split down into single carriage 153s, the 153s have also been included in the “Sprinter” category.

The class 158 units (and 159s) were originally termed “Sprinter Express”, and the earlier units carried the “EXPRESS” legend as part of the livery.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

Double correction as well is that the 153 is a super sprinter

150s are sprinters and come in three variations; the 150/1 and 150/0 are identical on the outside whereas the 150/2 looks more like the 153

155s are basically two 153s bolted together

156s are like the 155s but much more rounder on the edges

158s and 159s are the same much they are much more rounded that then 156s

 

[Z12XE]

The 156s are definetly the Super Sprinters.

This website suggests that The 155s when new were Super Sprinters.

 

[Hydro]

I stand corrected.

 

[sprinterguy]

The 156s are definetly the Super Sprinters.

This website suggests that The 155s when new were Super Sprinters.

Were the 158s offically Express Sprinters?

Aha! I thought the 155s fitted into the "Super Sprinter" category.

The "Sprinter Express"/Express Sprinter name for the 158s seems to have been dropped early in their lives, as the appearance of the "EXPRESS" title on units only up to 158814 upon delivery will testify, but it was the official title bestowed upon them by BREL during development.

 

[90019]

155s are basically two 153s bolted together

Technically, a 153 is half of a 155

 

[Chapeltom]

I like the way that 150s and 156s are supposed to cover local / inter regional routes... these were used on the once a day Buxton to Barrow in Furness train which took way over 3 hours and stopped about 40 times. Probably in double formation though.

 

[90019]

150s are sprinters and come in three variations; the 150/1 and 150/0 are identical on the outside whereas the 150/2 looks more like the 153

The two 150/0s were the prototypes, they were built as 3 cars rather than 2 like the rest of the 150s. I believe they have different internal couplers as well.

156s are like the 155s but much more rounder on the edges

155s and 156s have different bodies. They're similar, but the 156s have a slightly rounder profile, as you can see on the cabs, longer windows, and sliding doors, rather than the plug doors the 155s have.
I believe the way they were built is different, meaning the 155/153s aren't as strong, and you can see some of them sagging in the middle.

158s and 159s are the same much they are much more rounded that then 156s

I don't think there are actually that many similarities between 158s and 159s and other sprinters?

 

[theblackwatch]

Technically, a 153 is half of a 155

Indeed - a 155 isn't two 153s together, a 153 is half of a 155 (literally too - they were built as 155s).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't think there areactually that many similarities between 158s and 159s?

Apart from the fact all the 159s were built as 158s!

 

[90019]

Apart from the fact all the 159s were built as 158s!

I was meaning from other sprinters, but obviously didn't make that clear

 

[Z12XE]

155s and 156s have different bodies. They're similar, but the 156s have a slightly rounder profile, as you can see on the cabs, longer windows, and sliding doors, rather than the plug doors the 155s have.
I believe the way they were built is different, meaning the 155/153s aren't as strong, and you can see some of them sagging in the middle.

Cant comment on the construction, but its obvious to see that the outer skin on a 156 is one continous piece, where as the 153/5 is sheets of metal riveted to a frame. I remember some time ago one of the rolling stock companies suggesting that Leyland National bus parts can be used to fix and damage!

 

[Failed Unit]

I cant remember when it changed but the earlier deliveries of 156 just had Sprinter on the side. 156401 - 156429 this was certainly true. Later units had super sprinter on the side 156441 is the lowest number I recall.

You could tell the depot by this. DY at the time had the sprinter and more baggage space. NL had the Super Sprinters. (under BR following their displacement from 158 duties)

 

[IanPooleTrains]

Okay let us get everything sorted so that there is no confusion

Here are the Sprinters/Super Sprinters:

A 150/0



A 150/1



A 150/2



A 153



A 155



A 156



A 158



A 159



Now you can all be able to tell the difference between them

 

[tbtc]

A 155

View attachment 3632

I'm at work, so can't open the links to see the pictures "full size" but isn't your 155 in First colours? Or are my eyes confusing me?

 

[Oswyntail]

I seem to recall that the 158/159 family were never referred to as "Sprinter", simply "Express". IIRC, the Sprinter family came from the same set of design briefs, essentially in high and low density versions, whereas the Express were a completely new exercise.

 

[sprinterguy]

I'm at work, so can't open the links to see the pictures "full size" but isn't your 155 in First colours? Or are my eyes confusing me?

The 155 and 150/2 pics are under the opposing headings. Plus the 150/0 image is of one of the West Midlands "hybrid" sets, as opposed to either of the original three carriage 150 prototypes.

 

[90019]

Here are the Sprinters/Super Sprinters:

A 150/0

View attachment 3635

That's not a 150/0, it's a hybrid 3 car unit made up of a 150/1 with a 150/2 car in the middle of it, you can just see the yellow of the cab of the /2

 

[Bungle]

Now you can all be able to tell the difference between them

Or not... because you've mixed up your pictures of a 155 and 150/2... :roll:

 

[Hydro]

We are forgetting the ultimate, the most Sprintiest of Sprinters - the 950.

 

[tbtc]

Talking of Sprinters, does anyone remember the race in about 1986 (ish?) between some athletes from Bathgate to Edinburgh and a 150 from Dundee to Edinburgh, intended to promote the new Sprinters in Scotland, and the newly opened Bathgate line?

 

[Bastiaan]

I seem to recall that the 158/159 family were never referred to as "Sprinter", simply "Express". IIRC, the Sprinter family came from the same set of design briefs, essentially in high and low density versions, whereas the Express were a completely new exercise.

I don't know how reliable this information is, but according to Wikipedia the class 159 is called 'South West Turbo' or 'Wessex Turbo'.

Also, the explanation of Sprinters being class 150 (20 m vehicles) and Super Sprinters being classes 153, 155 and 156 (23 m) sounds quite reasonable to me.

 

[Z12XE]

I don't know how reliable this information is, but according to Wikipedia the class 159 is called 'South West Turbo' or 'Wessex Turbo'.

Where's Peter Skuce when you need him, he's been having DIPTACs over this issue


:roll:

 

[CarterUSM]

Where's Peter Skuce when you need him, he's been having DIPTACs over this issue


:roll:

Who is Peter Skuce? :-/

 

[Failed Unit]

We are forgetting the ultimate, the most Sprintiest of Sprinters - the 950.

Or the 151 the metro-cammel prototype that spend lots of time in the midlands.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Double correction as well is that the 153 is a super sprinter

150s are sprinters and come in three variations; the 150/1 and 150/0 are identical on the outside whereas the 150/2 looks more like the 153

155s are basically two 153s bolted together

156s are like the 155s but much more rounder on the edges

158s and 159s are the same much they are much more rounded that then 156s

Your post makes no sense! Your criteria for similarity seems to be a corridor connection; a 156 and 155 are profoundly different as are the 150/2 and 153.

Okay let us get everything sorted so that there is no confusion

The only person confused here seems to be you! The OP simply wanted to know which was a "Super" Sprinter and which wasn't.