Wacky formations

[Ex-controller]

A class 156 ended up in Perth in 2010 during severe weather. Last time they were up there I think.

 

[fgwrich]

Further to the ScotRail 158+170 combos discussed earlier, 156+170 combos could also occur with ScR (not sure how often it happens now, if at all), albeit mostly confined to ECS workings. Both units being in Barbie or a Barbie/Saltire mix was most common when such combos occurred - and ofc going back to the National Express era, both units being in that franchise's house colors - but a SPT combo cropped up in July 2005:

156436 - Wormit

156436 and 170470 are seen at Wormit forming 5Z02 17.03 Dundee to Leuchars empty stock for an additional service to Edinburgh

www.flickr.com

(156436 & 170470 at Wormit with a Dundee to Leuchars ECS for an additional service to Edinburgh - 16th July 2005. Copyright of Jim Ramsey)

This is the first picture I've ever seen of a SPT 156 & 170 running in multiple (can't have happened too often at all). Bonus points for it being one of the last times a 156 was seen in normal service in/north of Dundee/Perth. The last time was during the 2007 British Open Golf Championship, which brought a trio of SPT 156s to Carnoustie.

I've seen it happen in the past on the Bathgate branch, unfortunately as a young kid I was more interested in the then shiny and new 170 than the more rateable 156 on the back But it certainly is one of the more rarer ScotRail combinations.

I had no idea any 170s were in SPT livery!

9 170s carried SPT livery over the course of the ScotRail franchise - the original pair (470-471) were received as part of a compensation deal and were painted into the first version of this livery (with BR style lining) while the later batch (472-478) received the later and final version of the SPT livery with a mint green stripe. They were largely used on the SPT Sponsored Glasgow to Cumbernauld / Falkirk G / Stirling services but could often find themselves elsewhere including on the Bathgate services and the then Edinburgh Crossrail (Bathgate > Edinburgh > Newcraighall). Nowadays, all but the first two, along with most of the "suburban" 170s (452-461) reside with Northern Rail.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Two - one I was on and one I read about.
A three car DMU made up entirely of side corridor stock - two Class 123 DMSKs sandwiching a Class 124 TBS (former non driving MBSK)

And a Southern MLV pressed into service as the result of a power failure to provide a standing room only shuttle between Dover Western Docks and Priory

 

[Hommagat]

Transport for Wales sometimes do 170+175/158, 170+ 153/8

 

[43096]

Transport for Wales sometimes do 170+175/158, 170+ 153/8

I can guarantee you that they do not do 175 plus anything other than another 175. The couplings are incompatible with everything else in the TfW fleet.

 

[150249]

Transport for Wales sometimes do 170+175/158, 170+ 153/8

TfW are just weird like that

 

[CBlue]

Transport for Wales sometimes do 170+175/158, 170+ 153/8

News to me that 175's are able to couple with 170s or Sprinters - I thought the types weren't compatible?

 

[Strathclyder]

A class 156 ended up in Perth in 2010 during severe weather. Last time they were up there I think.

Something similar happened with ex-SPT Saltire 156510 & Barbie-livered 158722 during that particular winter. On 23rd December 2010, these two units worked (in the event delayed) 19:00 1L53 from Edinburgh to Dundee and the return 21:42 2Z82 to Edinburgh (in place of the usual 20:42 2L82 due to it's late arrival into Dundee) in place of the usual 170. Linked video copyright of YT's Roy TheMouth):

I've seen it happen in the past on the Bathgate branch, unfortunately as a young kid I was more interested in the then shiny and new 170 than the more rateable 156 on the back But it certainly is one of the more rarer ScotRail combinations.

Aye, it's the unusual formation that had the highest chance of happening it seems. The only ScR DMU formation that could rival it would likely be a 150+170 combo (as mentioned in a eariler post in this thread). The EMU equivalent would likely be a 314+322 combo, which did happen on occasion during ECS moves between Shields Depot & Glasgow Central).

9 170s carried SPT livery over the course of the ScotRail franchise - the original pair (470-471) were received as part of a compensation deal and were painted into the first version of this livery (with BR style lining) while the later batch (472-478) received the later and final version of the SPT livery with a mint green stripe. They were largely used on the SPT Sponsored Glasgow to Cumbernauld / Falkirk G / Stirling services but could often find themselves elsewhere including on the Bathgate services and the then Edinburgh Crossrail (Bathgate > Edinburgh > Newcraighall). Nowadays, all but the first two, along with most of the "suburban" 170s (452-461) reside with Northern Rail.

Thanks (or rather my OCD thanks you lol) for pointing out the differences between the SPT livery as applied to the 170s.

One final ScR 156+170 combo from me, showing 156450 with 170477 at Stirling, dated 5th November 2004 (the very start of the First era). From the 'madasafish' 156 site:

 

[Anonymous10]

Transport for Wales sometimes do 170+175/158, 170+ 153/8

class 175s arent compatible with class 170 or class 158

 

[Class800]

1A86 Exeter St Davids to Reading operated by a trio of Class 150s yesterday - and diverted to run via Swindon after Westbury. I have been informed that this was due to issues with stock clearance via Pewsey!

 

[GJ37425]

ScotRail have run 153, 156 & 158 then 156, 153 & 170 in Glasgow, all empty stock though

The first formation can appear between Eastfield & Corkerhill depots then the second usually runs in the afternoon from Eastfield to Queen Street

Then in the evening at Glasgow Queen Street there's a 170 & 153 working

There is also EMU moves between Yoker & Shields depot that can run a 9 car 318/320's or 334's

 

[150249]

1A86 Exeter St Davids to Reading operated by a trio of Class 150s yesterday - and diverted to run via Swindon after Westbury. I have been informed that this was due to issues with stock clearance via Pewsey!

Which 150s were they?

 

[Class800]

Which 150s were they?

150248/150265/150246 according to Twitter

 

[150249]

150248/150265/150246 according to Twitter

Interesting! 150248 is back down in exeter today. Are there any pictures anywhere?

 

[43096]

Interesting! 150248 is back down in exeter today. Are there any pictures anywhere?

They’re in the Storm Franklin thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...her-weather-disruption-possible.228386/page-6

They went back on 1Z92 1902 additional from Reading: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:14108/2022-02-20/detailed

 

[Class800]

https://twitter.com/Tall_Controller/status/1495403416293683204 offers some photos

 

[Ken H]

I think testing of the class 91 qualifies as wacky. Replacing one class 43 with a class 91 in an HST rake. The 43 had to be powered to provide ETH, and also to provide traction power to overcome issues by being continually idling. Performance was, according to commentators of the day, exciting.

There was concern that dragging the cl43 a lot would lead to commutator glazing (whatever that is) so the train was configured for the cl43 to give traction power.

 

[GLC]

Is there not a photo of a 12 car formation of 156s, I think in Strathclyde Orange, possibly even going over Glenfinnan viaduct? I want to say it was part of the tour to the Netherlands that a Strathclyde 156 did, but that didn’t involve 6 of them. I’ve been trying to find the photo but no luck so far. Does anyone recognise the photo I’m describing?

 

[Speed43125]

Is there not a photo of a 12 car formation of 156s, I think in Strathclyde Orange, possibly even going over Glenfinnan viaduct? I want to say it was part of the tour to the Netherlands that a Strathclyde 156 did, but that didn’t involve 6 of them. I’ve been trying to find the photo but no luck so far. Does anyone recognise the photo I’m describing?

1980s Metro-Cammell Products

Scroll to the very bottom, I think that's the one you're thinking of

 

[route101]

I'm sure Scotrail had a few instances of 158 and 156s together on the Shotts line.

 

[scotrail170407]

I'm sure Scotrail had a few instances of 158 and 156s together on the Shotts line.

This did happen from time to time and even as recently as last November surprisingly

 

[Class800]

Not sure I would see combinations of different sprinters as that 'wacky' unless used on a route that isn't usually served by sprinters

 

[GLC]

1980s Metro-Cammell Products

Scroll to the very bottom, I think that's the one you're thinking of

Perfect thank you! Funny what was right and what was wrong from my memory of it

 

[Trackman]

I think sometime in the mid 70's due to a strike in the Manchester region some 1st gen DMU's were hauled by class 40's. Anyone have any info? I'm sure it was because of a driver's strike.

 

[O L Leigh]

Is there not a photo of a 12 car formation of 156s, I think in Strathclyde Orange, possibly even going over Glenfinnan viaduct? I want to say it was part of the tour to the Netherlands that a Strathclyde 156 did, but that didn’t involve 6 of them. I’ve been trying to find the photo but no luck so far. Does anyone recognise the photo I’m describing?

I've also been struggling to drag a memory back of a not dissimilar formation of Cl158s that was used for a Derby Works staff family outing to the seaside(?). I recall seeing a published photo taken somewhere in the vicinity of Edale.

 

[Strathclyder]

1980s Metro-Cammell Products

Scroll to the very bottom, I think that's the one you're thinking of

For those who can't access the above link:

Copyright of D. McCorkindale

Quoting the above link:

This view was taken with all the "south of bridge" Inverness sets coupled together on Culloden Viaduct in March 1989 during Voltage Drop type testing."South of bridge" refers to the fact that the Inverness to Dingwall line was closed because the main bridge had been washed away in January 1989.

 

[Scotrail84]

When Scotrail had 150s I saw a 170/150 combination. Think it was an Edinburgh - Dunblane service.

I've worked a 170/156 combo on the Bathgate branch years ago. 158/156 as well but ScotRail tried avoid these sort of combos as it takes the speeds down to 75mph max because of the sprinter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Feb 2022 ==

Something similar happened with ex-SPT Saltire 156510 & Barbie-livered 158722 during that particular winter. On 23rd December 2010, these two units worked (in the event delayed) 19:00 1L53 from Edinburgh to Dundee and the return 21:42 2Z82 to Edinburgh (in place of the usual 20:42 2L82 due to it's late arrival into Dundee) in place of the usual 170. Linked video copyright of YT's Roy TheMouth):

Aye, it's the unusual formation that had the highest chance of happening it seems. The only ScR DMU formation that could rival it would likely be a 150+170 combo (as mentioned in a eariler post in this thread). The EMU equivalent would likely be a 314+322 combo, which did happen on occasion during ECS moves between Shields Depot & Glasgow Central).


Thanks (or rather my OCD thanks you lol) for pointing out the differences between the SPT livery as applied to the 170s.

One final ScR 156+170 combo from me, showing 156450 with 170477 at Stirling, dated 5th November 2004 (the very start of the First era). From the 'madasafish' 156 site:

View attachment 110545

Dundee and Perth crews stopped signing 156 units years ago so that would have to have been an Edinburgh crew that worked that up to Dundee. Now Edinburgh men don't even sign 156 units as they very rarely visit Edinburgh since the wires went up on the Shotts line. The only depots that sign 156's now are Glasgow Central, Glasgow Queen Street, Ayr, Stranraer, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Oban, Fort William and Mallaig

 

[vlad]

Was also a completely standard thing to get on Northern, right up until the last few of the awful things were sent for scrap.

There are plenty of 150s still in use with Northern.

 

[py_megapixel]

There are plenty of 150s still in use with Northern.

Indeed... my comment was referring to the pacers, but I honestly wouldn't mind seeing the back of the 150s as well. Admittedly now they're refurbished they aren't as horrible as they were, but still feel very dated.

 

[Class800]

Indeed... my comment was referring to the pacers, but I honestly wouldn't mind seeing the back of the 150s as well. Admittedly now they're refurbished they aren't as horrible as they were, but still feel very dated.

Lots of GWR 150s and they are fine down here anyway