5x Class 153 conversion to bike and baggage vans for Scotrail

scotraildriver · 23 Mar 2019

An 8 car set comes from Corkerhill on nightshift. 3x156 then form the 6.15 to Alloa and return then form the 08.21 WHL service.

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CM · 23 Mar 2019

I was under the impression that the inner couplings of the 156 were BSI couplers as per the outer couplers but without the air/electrical connections. I've yet to see photographic evidence to suggest otherwise.

Mathieu · 23 Mar 2019

Colin M said:
I was under the impression that the inner couplings of the 156 were BSI couplers as per the outer couplers but without the air/electrical connections. I've yet to see photographic evidence to suggest otherwise.

I believe they are as they used to half 156s to make a 3 car 156 on the WHL

http://dysgraphyk.madasafish.com/156/class156_misformed.htm

Wst71Pa2 · 23 Mar 2019

Colin M said:
I was under the impression that the inner couplings of the 156 were BSI couplers as per the outer couplers but without the air/electrical connections. I've yet to see photographic evidence to suggest otherwise.

I know some of the 158's are such (semi permanent) and some are rigid bar. I think 156's are he same. Another reason they were never going inside.

hexagon789 · 23 Mar 2019

Colin M said:
I was under the impression that the inner couplings of the 156 were BSI couplers as per the outer couplers but without the air/electrical connections. I've yet to see photographic evidence to suggest otherwise.

I thought that too, certainly that was how it was originally - from May 1989 to May 1990 BR ScotRail reformed Inverness sets as 3-cars for use on Aberdeen-Inverness and in the summers of 1989 & 1992 reformed Corkerhill sets as 3-car for use on the West Highland, running two 3-car sets to Crianlarich and splitting there to run 3 coaches to Oban or Fort William/Mallaig.

James James · 23 Mar 2019

43096 said:
I’ve no idea why this myth about them going in the middle of sets is being repeated despite the evidence to the contrary.

Rather than being a myth... could this just be a miscommunication?

156 (2-cars)+153+ 156 (2-cars) - that's a 153 coupled in the middle of sets of 156's. (But no 153 in the middle of a single 156.)

(I'm just speculating here of course...)

TheEdge · 23 Mar 2019

Colin M said:
I was under the impression that the inner couplings of the 156 were BSI couplers as per the outer couplers but without the air/electrical connections. I've yet to see photographic evidence to suggest otherwise.

The physical coupling mechanism is similar but not identical to a normal BSI, they are bolted together for example. So they can't be just coupled to a normal BSI.

JModulo · 23 Mar 2019

Colin M said:
I was under the impression that the inner couplings of the 156 were BSI couplers as per the outer couplers but without the air/electrical connections. I've yet to see photographic evidence to suggest otherwise.

Mathieu said:
I believe they are as they used to half 156s to make a 3 car 156 on the WHL

http://dysgraphyk.madasafish.com/156/class156_misformed.htm

As already stated a good few times now in this thread, the original BSIs have been / in process of being removed and changed to bolt couplings with air hoses and electrical jumpers.

Failed Unit · 23 Mar 2019

craigybagel said:
You'll have to fit RETB in order for them to lead.

They have had RETB fitted to them in the past - when they we operated by central trains. The often operated in mid-wales (either solo or in pairs).

I remember a Saturday working from Aberystwth - Lincoln back in CT days that was a solo 153 so it must have had RETB (unless they used mobile units)

CM · 23 Mar 2019

JModulo said:
As already stated a good few times now in this thread, the original BSIs have been / in process of being removed and changed to bolt couplings with air hoses and electrical jumpers.

But I'm pretty sure no physical evidence of this work has actually been provided, not that I can find anyway.

JModulo · 23 Mar 2019

Colin M said:
But I'm pretty sure no physical evidence of this work has actually been provided, not that I can find anyway.

CM · 23 Mar 2019

JModulo said:
View attachment 60696

Thanks.

LowLevel · 23 Mar 2019

To be fair not many people bother taking photos of the underside of the corridor connection

I spend half my life on 156s and 158s and can cheerfully assure that all of ours have had their within set BSI replaced with a bar.

Mathieu · 24 Mar 2019

Speaking with the guard working the 16:11 OBN - GLQ, the 153s will not be sandwiched as the owners of the 156 will not allow their units to be separated

big all · 24 Mar 2019

Mathieu said:
Speaking with the guard working the 16:11 OBN - GLQ, the 153s will not be sandwiched as the owners of the 156 will not allow their units to be separated

a bit more information needed
special operating conditions will override unrestricted fully variable use
in general no restrictions will apply as it will be very restrictive to easy day to day activity requiring often fairly randon shunting and movements

Highlandspring · 24 Mar 2019

big all said:
a bit more information needed
special operating conditions will override unrestricted fully variable use
in general no restrictions will apply as it will be very restrictive to easy day to day activity requiring often fairly randon shunting and movements

Good night at the pub then?

big all · 24 Mar 2019

Bletchleyite · 24 Mar 2019

Highlandspring said:
“They” will not be particularly bothered about that. Why would they be?

Some drivers prefer the small cab anyway, more legroom, apparently.

Class 170101 · 28 Mar 2019

scotraildriver said:
Given how utterly dead the 20.36 is I would seriously doubt it. The most passengers I've ever had on that train in the middle of summer was 13. It would also result in an additional unit overnighting in Oban to do what in the morning? The 05.20 certainly doesn't warrant a 4 car. Despite claims of overcrowding on forums such as this, the only train with real issues is the 12.11 from Oban. The Fort William is rarely full and I've never seen standing passengers on a northbound service, unless the train is short formed or one cancelled.

Mathieu said:
The 18:23 is always packed full of people returning to Oban after a day out in Glasgow. Although the 20:36 may be quiet I would say it’s a fair assumption that if there was a ~20:30 service from Glasgow to Oban it would have a decent amount of people on board

I would say that even heading to the sticks a 20:36 Glasgow to Oban service would have more people than the 20:36 from Oban to Glasgow.

GrimShady · 29 Mar 2019

scotraildriver said:
The WHL timetable is about to undergo a revamp which may result in seperate portions to Oban and Fort William. The 153s cannot be added to the busiest services at present as they run 6 car Glasgow to Crianlarich which is the maximum permitted. The 12.11 from Oban is one of the most overcrowded so would be a good candidate for a 153, but would need to run to Queen St without joining. The 153s will NOT be in the middle of a 156, the 156s all have permanent bar couplings so would need major work and would remove any flexibility. They will be added and removed as required. They will be used exclusively on Oban services initially then Kyle and Far North routes.

Surprisingly none running to Fort William.

jopsuk · 29 Mar 2019

I'd have thought the bike carrying capacity would have been most use on Fort William services

Bletchleyite · 29 Mar 2019

jopsuk said:
I'd have thought the bike carrying capacity would have been most use on Fort William services

That and luggage, though the 156s do have big overhead racks so it's not the sort of issue it is on a Class 170 (say).

d9009alycidon · 2 Apr 2019

So fitting a 153 with a vista dome observation lounge is a non starter then?

Bletchleyite · 2 Apr 2019

d9009alycidon said:
So fitting a 153 with a vista dome observation lounge is a non starter then?

To be fair the all-round view from a 153 is excellent due to the "wall of glass" of narrowish windows but with narrow pillars. Same as any Pacer.

LOL The Irony · 2 Apr 2019

d9009alycidon said:
So fitting a 153 with a vista dome observation lounge is a non starter then?

At one point, some ScotRail 156's were going to be heavily refurbished and have windows fitted in the lower bodyside. The seating would then be changed to a lounge style. I believe they were to be used on routes around the highlands.

OmniCity999 · 2 Apr 2019

LOL The Irony said:
At one point, some ScotRail 156's were going to be heavily refurbished and have windows fitted in the lower bodyside. The seating would then be changed to a lounge style. I believe they were to be used on routes around the highlands.

April fools was yesterday...

LOL The Irony · 2 Apr 2019

OmniCity999 said:
April fools was yesterday...

You say that but it was a genuine plan by Angel Trains (I think) a few years back.

Journeyman · 2 Apr 2019

LOL The Irony said:
You say that but it was a genuine plan by Angel Trains (I think) a few years back.

Yup, I remember seeing a range of proposals, some of which were quite radical. One of the best featured seats with very large amounts of luggage space between them. Can't find any examples online right now, though.

LOL The Irony · 2 Apr 2019

Journeyman said:
Yup, I remember seeing a range of proposals, some of which were quite radical. One of the best featured seats with very large amounts of luggage space between them. Can't find any examples online right now, though.

Indeed they were. I couldn't see the windows in the lower bodyside becoming reality, maybe the windows going upwards a bit.

61653 HTAFC · 2 Apr 2019

LOL The Irony said:
Indeed they were. I couldn't see the windows in the lower bodyside becoming reality, maybe the windows going upwards a bit.

Lower windows would be easier on the 153s than 156s... just remove a panel and replace it with a new one, then rivet it back in!

5x Class 153 conversion to bike and baggage vans for Scotrail

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