Sprinters working in multiple

[dk1]

That's impressive! Longest service I've used with 153s on was Weymouth to Bristol formed of 3x153 + 150.

There was another SO Cardiff-Paignton that was booked for 4x153 & Canton once turned them all out in separate liveries.

 

[HLE]

One early 90s Summer Saturdays timetable was booked to have 4x158 Ely to Yarmouth after the Birmingham & Liverpool portions where attached at Ely. Used to pass through Norwich around 12:30 then return from the East coast resort at 13:23 if I remember correctly.

Norwich EMT used to sign yarmouth?

 

[dk1]

Norwich EMT used to sign yarmouth?

That was BR then followed by Central. Don't think EMT ever did.

 

[185]

158s - I took four sets: 3 x threes and a two over a diversionary route once (11car). The rarely used diversionary route only had a handful at only one depot signing it. As long as you do not exceed the maximum number of TCAs (track circuit actuators) it's not a problem. Platforms on the other hand...

 

[atraindriver]

<deleted>

 

[route101]

18th December 2016, I had all 3 East Kilbride services as being triples late evening. Usual half hourly service, just sheer weight of passengers. Can't remember if there was any event on (other than it being close to Christmas)

On Tuesday morning i noted 3 6 car 156 sets , i was on one which was the first service , 0618 from EK . All in old first colours too

 

[Bayum]

Think I saw a Northern 150+GWR liveried 153+ Northern 153 just departing Leeds about Midday

 

[Michael.Y]

I don't know if anyone caught it but there was a 7-car sprinter combo forming 1F34 1923 Portsmouth Hbr - Cardiff >> 2C97 23:27 CDF-BRI last night.... 150207, 150125 with 158955 - in that order (so that the non-corridor unit was sandwiched between two corridor units). I expect on the latter service the pax were asked to stay in the front 2 with the rear 5 locked out, especially considering it called at 7TJ, Patchway, Filton, Stapleton Rd and Lawrence Hill on its way.

 

[The Ham]

I don't know if anyone caught it but there was a 7-car sprinter combo forming 1F34 1923 Portsmouth Hbr - Cardiff >> 2C97 23:27 CDF-BRI last night.... 150207, 150125 with 158955 - in that order (so that the non-corridor unit was sandwiched between two corridor units). I expect on the latter service the pax were asked to stay in the front 2 with the rear 5 locked out, especially considering it called at 7TJ, Patchway, Filton, Stapleton Rd and Lawrence Hill on its way.

Reported elsewhere that the rear unit (158) war locked out of use.

 

[sannox]

1721 is normally booked a 6 car - 3x156 but recently we have been getting it diagrammed as a 4 car 2x156 on some days of the week. Runs express to Clarkston, Hairmyres and EK with a booked crossing at Busby then all stops back via Hairmyres loop to allow a cross over and then splits 3 ways on arrival back into Glasgow Central.

The 1748 used to be a 6 car did it not? Ran from Corkerhill, did 1 trip and used to go into plat 11 after terminating from EK, join with the Barrhead local and run to Corkerhill. Many of them have a ticket examiner and guard in place (or 2 guards) so one can do revenue, one doors.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

When they were brand new 3x150/2 was a common formation on the TP North route.

Northern have used tripled up 150s on the Bolton line before.

During the summer of 2014 there was a blockade between Chorley and Euxton Junction with only a single line available west of Blackrod. To maintain some semblance of the usual capacity an hourly service ran between Manchester Victoria and Chorley and was booked to be formed 3x150/2, the intention being to ensure a fully gangwayed train due to platform length issues.

 

[strimmer]

There was another SO Cardiff-Paignton that was booked for 4x153 & Canton once turned them all out in separate liveries.

153308/312/370/355: 09:15 Cardiff - Paignton, Saturday 1st September 2001, passing Langstone Rock.

 

[alistairlees]

When they were brand new 3x150/2 was a common formation on the TP North route.

Indeed. Some Liverpool to Scarborough services from (I think) May 1986 were 3 * 150. They didn't have yellow ends / warning panels then either - they were white (same as bodyside).

 

[Spartacus]

One tonight, 2W25 1955 Nottingham - Worksop formed of 3x153s.

 

[Parallel]

153308/312/370/355: 09:15 Cardiff - Paignton, Saturday 1st September 2001, passing Langstone Rock.View attachment 51257

Cracking photo! Was always quite fond of the advertising liveries (except the Ginsters one...)

 

[Cowley]

Cracking photo! Was always quite fond of the advertising liveries (except the Ginsters one...)

Much agreed. Nice to see a Regional Railways one in there too.

 

[dk1]

153308/312/370/355: 09:15 Cardiff - Paignton, Saturday 1st September 2001, passing Langstone Rock.View attachment 51257

Superb. Thanks mate. Remember our Norwich DTM being so chuffed he'd got x3 in differing liveries on a Yarmouth until I poured water over it with my Devonian recollections.

 

[strimmer]

Much agreed. Nice to see a Regional Railways one in there too.

Thanks for kind comments. To wander completely off topic, does anyone know what's happened to the Red Rock cafe?

 

[dk1]

Thanks for kind comments. To wander completely off topic, does anyone know what's happened to the Red Rock cafe?

The Elephant Rock Cafe as it's now known is open Thursday-Sunday & doing good business this morning as I stopped for refreshment.

 

[strimmer]

The Elephant Rock Cafe as it's now known is open Thursday-Sunday & doing good business this morning as I stopped for refreshment.

Cheers for that.

 

[Eric]

Think I saw a Northern 150+GWR liveried 153+ Northern 153 just departing Leeds about Midday

That GWR 153 was attached to a 156 today.

 

[Cowley]

The Elephant Rock Cafe as it's now known is open Thursday-Sunday & doing good business this morning as I stopped for refreshment.

Good work DK. It’s a rather lovely spot for a brew I must say...

 

[driver9000]

Is the 10 with 153 specific to a certain TOC?
I ask because I was taught 12-in-12 (max. 12 cabs in max. 12 cars for any 15x formation), albeit that was "some time ago".

I haven't heard a 153 making it 10 so it could be a specific company instruction. I was taught a 153 counts as 2 vehicles for multiple working when I signed them.

 

[dk1]

Elephant Rock looking very busy again this morning as I just passed on the 1056 Torquay-Manchester.

 

[Tractor2018]

Sprinter type units are restricted to a maximum of 12 cabs. Anymore than that and the voltage drop between the rear cab and the leading one may prevent a brake release. (Brakes release from the rear cab forwards)

Yeah, on paper 12, like you say.

I've got no experience of it myself, but I've heard in reality random happenings start occurring at 10 cars. And that was from new, nothing do with the age of units.

 

[AndyW33]

I'm beginning to get a bit confused. Some posters are referring to a maximum number of cars, and others to a maximum number of cabs. Now as long as trains are made up of 150/1, 150/2, 155 and 156 units, the two make no difference. But as soon as you add 153s into the mix, with two cabs per car, things get complicated. Next 150/0s are always 3 car, with a powered non-driving centre car, and there are some powered non-driving 158 cars used to make up 3 car sets (though there have also been 3 car sets made up of 3 cars each with one cab). So is it cars or cabs?
I can imagine that drivers in Scotland, for example, would regard cars and cabs as meaning the same because 150/0s, 153s and purpose-built 3-car 158s haven't been allocated there, whereas a Northern driver really needs to understand which definition to use.

 

[MichaelAMW]

I'm beginning to get a bit confused. Some posters are referring to a maximum number of cars, and others to a maximum number of cabs. Now as long as trains are made up of 150/1, 150/2, 155 and 156 units, the two make no difference. But as soon as you add 153s into the mix, with two cabs per car, things get complicated. Next 150/0s are always 3 car, with a powered non-driving centre car, and there are some powered non-driving 158 cars used to make up 3 car sets (though there have also been 3 car sets made up of 3 cars each with one cab). So is it cars or cabs?
I can imagine that drivers in Scotland, for example, would regard cars and cabs as meaning the same because 150/0s, 153s and purpose-built 3-car 158s haven't been allocated there, whereas a Northern driver really needs to understand which definition to use.

My interpretation as I've read this is that both apply, i.e. you're not allowed more than 12 cars or 12 cabs, which as you say is "six and two threes" where all units are two cars. All 159s would then mean only 8 cabs max, for example.

 

[Eccles1983]

To complicate matters the amount of cabs is irrelevant.

It's brake units. No more than 12 with 153's being the odd one as we were always told no more than 10 if a 153 is involved.

Apparently the brake wires get muddled when in multiples of the above - and it's rumoured that you end up with a swinger at the end of the formation.

 

[driver9000]

I'm beginning to get a bit confused. Some posters are referring to a maximum number of cars, and others to a maximum number of cabs. Now as long as trains are made up of 150/1, 150/2, 155 and 156 units, the two make no difference. But as soon as you add 153s into the mix, with two cabs per car, things get complicated. Next 150/0s are always 3 car, with a powered non-driving centre car, and there are some powered non-driving 158 cars used to make up 3 car sets (though there have also been 3 car sets made up of 3 cars each with one cab). So is it cars or cabs?
I can imagine that drivers in Scotland, for example, would regard cars and cabs as meaning the same because 150/0s, 153s and purpose-built 3-car 158s haven't been allocated there, whereas a Northern driver really needs to understand which definition to use.

Essentially it's the same thing. A centre car still has control equipment (albeit without an ability to drive from it) so it counts when forming up a train. The 153 counts as 2 vehicles because it has some equipment doubled up as it has 2 cabs. When Northern received the MS cars for the 158s it didn't come with a lengthening of the maximum length of 12.

 

[craigybagel]

ATW have run a 9 car set this evening. The two 158s on 15:13 Milford Haven - Manchester were joined at Shrewsbury by another 158, a 153 and a 150. It will be coming back from Manchester as the 22:35 to Crewe.