WMR 172/1s

[CR165022]

So, these still have their Chiltern interiors, and I was wondering if this will be changing any time soon?

Another point is that I've noticed the /1s are staying out of service for lengthy periods of time at the moment, is this interior related? 172102 was out for two months and came back recently on 22nd April, and just days after that on the 25th, 172103 went out of service and hasn't been back out since. 172101 hasn't been out since 5th March as well.

 

[Liam L]

So, these still have their Chiltern interiors, and I was wondering if this will be changing any time soon?

Another point is that I've noticed the /1s are staying out of service for lengthy periods of time at the moment, is this interior related? 172102 was out for two months and came back recently on 22nd April, and just days after that on the 25th, 172103 went out of service and hasn't been back out since. 172101 hasn't been out since 5th March as well.

I don't think it's interior related, I think WMR are struggling with diesels at the moment. Plus with the TFWM requiring 4 cars 196s on the camp hill line, the 172 fleet has had to cover diagrams to Hereford so I doubt they will be releasing them for a refurb yet.

Happy to be corrected though

 

[Sparks807Evo]

I heard on the railway grapevine that they will be done, but no timeframes...as already mentioned by Liam L, WMR are struggling currently. This goes back to the issue of never training / clearing the 196s for Snow Hill line services as was originally planned given you can in effect only substitute 172 for 196s and never the other way round if there is a shortage of 2 car 172s. Something that should look to be sorted to increase the fleet flexibility.

 

[CR165022]

I see.

Ironically enough, a 172 went down to Ilford this morning, not sure which one, however.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

Thanks for the update re: the 172 that went down to Ilford - interesting. I'd have thought, like the 378s, they would be getting up to repaint time soon.

 

[CR165022]

I think they've been going for maintenance but I hadn't noticed any paths for those moves until this one today. Have checked and it was 172331 that went down.

 

[Kite159]

I heard on the railway grapevine that they will be done, but no timeframes...as already mentioned by Liam L, WMR are struggling currently. This goes back to the issue of never training / clearing the 196s for Snow Hill line services as was originally planned given you can in effect only substitute 172 for 196s and never the other way round if there is a shortage of 2 car 172s. Something that should look to be sorted to increase the fleet flexibility.

196s can work into Snow Hill from the north, normally nonstop from Droitwich on Sundays where there be engineering works closing the main route via Bromsgrove. However I suspect it's only a percentage of staff who sign both traction and the route.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

196s can work into Snow Hill from the north, normally nonstop from Droitwich on Sundays where there be engineering works closing the main route via Bromsgrove. However I suspect it's only a percentage of staff who sign both traction and the route.

Thanks, forgot about that working. Exactly - expect it's a Worcester crew. The original plan was to use 196s on the Stratford-upon-Avon line, which would have involved training up Snow Hill depot but Covid got in the way.

I think they've been going for maintenance but I hadn't noticed any paths for those moves until this one today. Have checked and it was 172331 that went down.

Thanks for checking. Typically Angel have sent /0s and /1s for C4 overhaul there and been some tyre turning in the past - wonder if 172331 (given it's Porterbrook) is getting some heavy maintenance work or a repaint (given it was one of the first Porterbrook units used for testing). That's where the refurbishments were carried out.

 

[Liam L]

Thanks, forgot about that working. Exactly - expect it's a Worcester crew. The original plan was to use 196s on the Stratford-upon-Avon line, which would have involved training up Snow Hill depot but Covid got in the way..

Leamington crew at the other end also sign 196s. But id imagine with how the diagrams work and crew changes at Snow Hill etc, it makes it a nightmare to diagram 196s in

 

[Sparks807Evo]

Going back to the above, has 172331 returned yet from Ilford does anyone know please?