Autumn refresh for GWR Class 165/166 Turbos

[387star]

STP 10/09 5Q74 0829 Wolverton - Reading Traincare Depot dep 0824
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04828/2022-09-10/detailed

STP 10/09 5Q70 1125 Reading Traincare Depot - Wolverton dep 1135
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K04827/2022-09-10/detailed

Which units?

 

[Siemens Staines]

I assume 165136 was 5Q74 and 5Q70 was one of 165104, 105 or 117?

 

[CR165022]

I assume 165136 was 5Q74 and 5Q70 was one of 165104, 105 or 117?

117 is currently at reading about to work 2O55, so it would have been 104 or 105

 

[FGW_DID]

165104 has gone to Wolverton.

Yes it was 165136 that came back.

 

[REVUpminster]

165131 at Paignton Saturday. Looks nice but 2 car train with all that luggage space not needed especially when following 10 minutes after an 800 9 car to Paddington.

 

[Siemens Staines]

165104 has gone to Wolverton.

Yes it was 165136 that came back.

Thank you for this reply. I had noticed that 165104 has been dormant for the past couple of weeks.

 

[Class172]

Looks nice but 2 car train with all that luggage space not needed especially when following 10 minutes after an 800 9 car to Paddington.

I’d argue it’s just making efficient use of space. If you’re allocating space for cycles, which I think is clearly a good thing to do, you might as well make use of the space above the bikes that would otherwise be fresh air.

 

[davetheguard]

165131 at Paignton Saturday. Looks nice but 2 car train with all that luggage space not needed especially when following 10 minutes after an 800 9 car to Paddington.

However, the vast majority of Paignton to Exmouth stoppers don't follow a 800 9 car to Paddington; and never on the Exmouth branch itself! People with large amounts of luggage do board these trains at places like Dawlish Warren, before changing at Exeter St. David's. I think the train looks very smart indeed - not bad considering its age.

But thanks for the pictures!

 

[GWVillager]

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165131 at Paignton Saturday. Looks nice but 2 car train with all that luggage space not needed especially when following 10 minutes after an 800 9 car to Paddington.

As much as I think they're dreadful on Portsmouth-Cardiff and the Westbury lines, I can imagine these are a step up in the Exeter area, better than a 143 at least! All that bike space is great, GWR seems to have learnt their lesson from the 800s.

 

[REVUpminster]

As much as I think they're dreadful on Portsmouth-Cardiff and the Westbury lines, I can imagine these are a step up in the Exeter area, better than a 143 at least! All that bike space is great, GWR seems to have learnt their lesson from the 800s.

Not a two car one though. The 143s did have decent seats and usually worked as four car with another 143 or 150.

 

[Jrocks]

It wasnt that long ago that you would have a single 153 turn up! A lot of people complimented the 'new' trains when they started running in Devon, a real step up for some people (even though we all know reliability isnt the best)

 

[michael74]

I will likely work this unit this week, please tell me they have added more door controls in the other vestibules....

 

[Towers]

I will likely work this unit this week, please tell me they have added more door controls in the other vestibules....

Unlikely!

 

[michael74]

Unlikely!

Not so bad on a 2 car but a 3 car is a real pain in the DKS....

 

[CC 72100]

Unlikely!

Definitely not.

 

[northernbelle]

It wasnt that long ago that you would have a single 153 turn up! A lot of people complimented the 'new' trains when they started running in Devon, a real step up for some people (even though we all know reliability isnt the best)

I worked one of the refurbished 2-car 165s on the Paignton route a while back - it was actually very well suited to it and certainly a step up from the 143s/150s.

 

[387star]

Any gen on the 3 car 165s keeping the old first class comfy seats? Or are they deemed too comfortable for a three hour plus journey?

 

[cactustwirly]

Any gen on the 3 car 165s keeping the old first class comfy seats? Or are they deemed too comfortable for a three hour plus journey?

They're staying in the Thames Valley and first class is needed for the Thames Valley.

The longest journey they work is Reading to Gatwick which is 90 minutes

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

They're staying in the Thames Valley and first class is needed for the Thames Valley.

The longest journey they work is Reading to Gatwick which is 90 minutes

Other than the (usually approx.) three or four in the South West, which unfortunately make it onto Cardiff Portsmouths often. No tables for my PC

 

[jackot]

Other than the (usually approx.) three or four in the South West, which unfortunately make it onto Cardiff Portsmouths often. No tables for my PC

Other than the minuscule ones you can sometimes find in the 165s first class area . I still wonder today who thought they were a good idea, hardly big enough for a cup of coffee.

 

[cactustwirly]

Other than the (usually approx.) three or four in the South West, which unfortunately make it onto Cardiff Portsmouths often. No tables for my PC

But that's only a tiny handful, and the fault of the west for diagramming them on the Portsmouth trains.
The 165s had separate diagrams to the 166s when they were Thames Valley based

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Other than the minuscule ones you can sometimes find in the 165s first class area . I still wonder today who thought they were a good idea, hardly big enough for a cup of coffee.

They’ve almost all been removed
I have no idea whether this was done by GWR, vandals, or if they all just weakened and fell off.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

But that's only a tiny handful, and the fault of the west for diagramming them on the Portsmouth trains.
The 165s had separate diagrams to the 166s when they were Thames Valley based

They are still diagrammed separately to 166s in the West however the current rolling stock challenges (turbos covering for 150 shortages due to protected C6 exams etc) often mean the first priority is just covering each diagram with a train before the niceties of ideal utilisation.

 

[FenMan]

The longest journey they work is Reading to Gatwick which is 90 minutes

1h24m actually. Which used to be 1h17m.

 

[RPI]

They are still diagrammed separately to 166s in the West however the current rolling stock challenges (turbos covering for 150 shortages due to protected C6 exams etc) often mean the first priority is just covering each diagram with a train before the niceties of ideal utilisation.

Digressing slightly-but relevant to diagrams, is 150202 (or is it 216?) Still away?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Digressing slightly-but relevant to diagrams, is 150202 (or is it 216?) Still away?

150202 went away in February, not expected back until mid December now.

 

[Towers]

They're staying in the Thames Valley and first class is needed for the Thames Valley.

The longest journey they work is Reading to Gatwick which is 90 minutes

Redhill is actually lengthier in terms of journey time, being a stopper as opposed to the 'express' Gatwick services.

 

[fgwrich]

150202 went away in February, not expected back until mid December now.

It’ll be brand new by the time they’ve finished with it. Hopefully fitting a more Wessex / FGW style interior into it as well.

 

[387star]

Has the first 3 car 165 been completed yet and has the First Class end been retained?

 

[FGW_DID]

Has the first 3 car 165 been completed yet and has the First Class end been retained?

Not been released from Wolverton yet.