TPE Class 185 movements at Wigan

[GhostManDN91]

Hey folks. Was just curious as I keep seeing a single set Class 185 passing through Wigan with no passengers. Ran through Wigan North Western then as 5P64. Any ideas if this is for some sort of new service I wonder in the future? https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:N02851/2023-09-07/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[175001]

Looks like a road learning train. To either keep competency up on Golborne or learn it for new drivers.

 

[_toommm_]

I believe it’s done as a shake-down run after maintenance. It does Ardwick T.M.D. to Preston via Manchester Victoria, a few runs between Preston and Manchester Oxford Road (and vice versa), then back to Ardwick T.M.D. via Manchester Airport and Manchester Victoria.

 

[CAF397]

I believe it’s done as a shake-down run after maintenance. It does Ardwick T.M.D. to Preston via Manchester Victoria, a few runs between Preston and Manchester Oxford Road (and vice versa), then back to Ardwick T.M.D. via Manchester Airport and Manchester Victoria.

That is incorrect. No TPE units need 'shake down' runs following maintenance. They are driver training runs for Manchester drivers to refresh/learn the Chat Moss route via Eccles and Wigan. Preston depot no longer sign 185s.

 

[_toommm_]

That is incorrect. No TPE units need 'shake down' runs following maintenance. They are driver training runs for Manchester drivers to refresh/learn the Chat Moss route via Eccles and Wigan. Preston depot no longer sign 185s.

Fair enough. I thought I’d read it on here before when it had been asked previously, but I must be mistaken.

 

[driver9000]

Chat Moss route learning special.

 

[voyagerdude220]

How long ago is it since 185s went through Wigan/Preston in passenger service?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I've noticed this movement a lot on Realtime trains recently.
As said above, via Golborne is a useful diversion route for when via Bolton is unavailable.

 

[507020]

How long ago is it since 185s went through Wigan/Preston in passenger service?

Without knowing exactly, it must have been before it went over to 350s, but iirc the service was diverted via Chat Moss because it went over to 350s, when Chat Moss was electrified but Bolton wasn’t, so 185s may never have regularly been that way.

 

[Geeves]

185s were covering for poorly 397s as recently as 2020 through Wigan NW to Scotland, maybe later.

Transpennine Express Class 185, 185138

Working 1S57, the 12.12 from Liverpool Lime Street to Glasgow Central, Transpennine Express Class 185, No. 185138 is seen as it arrives into Wigan North Western on the afternoon of the 28th January 2020. Supposed to be one of the new Class 397 units, an ongoing programme of driver training for...

www.flickr.com

On a related note I can see that 185134 is finishing the night at Crofton depot, I didnt realise it was stabling TPE trains or is this a throw back to the 68s?

 

[driver9000]

How long ago is it since 185s went through Wigan/Preston in passenger service?

Finished early 2020 around the time the 350s were withdrawn with the first reduced Lockdown timetable when all diagrams went over to 397s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2023 ==

Without knowing exactly, it must have been before it went over to 350s, but iirc the service was diverted via Chat Moss because it went over to 350s, when Chat Moss was electrified but Bolton wasn’t, so 185s may never have regularly been that way.

They were regularly through Wigan North Western supplementing 350s especially at weekends when 8 car trains ran to Edinburgh meaning a couple of diagrams were covered by 185s.

 

[Starmill]

Without knowing exactly, it must have been before it went over to 350s, but iirc the service was diverted via Chat Moss because it went over to 350s, when Chat Moss was electrified but Bolton wasn’t, so 185s may never have regularly been that way.

185s worked the entire service using the Chat Moss route before 350s first worked. They then continued working that way once or twice a day most days until 2020.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

On a related note I can see that 185134 is finishing the night at Crofton depot, I didnt realise it was stabling TPE trains or is this a throw back to the 68s?

Just guessing here, but possibly related to the planned extension of the Manchester to Huddersfield stoppers to York via Wakefield and Castleford? Think that's still due for the December timetable change, but I have slept since it was last discussed.

 

[_toommm_]

On a related note I can see that 185134 is finishing the night at Crofton depot, I didnt realise it was stabling TPE trains or is this a throw back to the 68s?

Hopefully I'm not wrong this time as Sheffield was my stomping grounds for most of my life...

Crofton has had 185s for a while from Sheffield and Doncaster:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Crofton Depot all day on 07/09/2023

Train information at Crofton Depot all day on 07/09/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Fokx]

Just guessing here, but possibly related to the planned extension of the Manchester to Huddersfield stoppers to York via Wakefield and Castleford? Think that's still due for the December timetable change, but I have slept since it was last discussed.

Nothing to do with that. 185’s are stabled and serviced at Crofton for the South Route.

The 0553 Huddersfield to Manchester originates from Crofton depot and has done for a number of years and the 1900 from Piccadilly returns to crofton depot. These services are ran by a Sheffield driver and Piccadilly guard for route retention purposes when the Hope Valley is closed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Sep 2023 ==

On a related note I can see that 185134 is finishing the night at Crofton depot, I didnt realise it was stabling TPE trains or is this a throw back to the 68s?

A small number are daily stabled at Crofton for fueling, cleaning and toilet tanking for the South route and one of the two Manchester local stopping services.

Heavy maintance is carried out at Ardwick and will usually result in set swaps at either Piccadilly or Liverpool (by switching them onto the Hull diagrams) currently

 

[voyagerdude220]

Thank you for the replies to my question.

 

[route101]

How long ago is it since 185s went through Wigan/Preston in passenger service?

I took a service from Glasgow to Liverpool in early 2020 perhaps March which was a Class 185. It went via Golborne.