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2 days out and about. 3/11 and 4/11

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16CSVT2700

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3/11 Shustoke and Water Orton area
Reading to Birmingham International
458029 458021 221130 220012
221123 168003 390025
66093 66046 66193

Shustoke/Whitace Junction
170637 170113 170520 170523
170637 170115 170502 170509
170515 170110 170507 170111
66043 66173 66147 66503
66951 57008 60007

Water Orton
170104 170504 170113 170639
158862 158846
57009 67009 66525 66533 66951
66183 66239 66147 56302 57309

Water Orton to Birmingham New Street
60008 60009 60025 600XX
57001 57009 66538 66571
08993 350107
323219 323210

04/11 - GWR bash
Reading West Yard
66619 66613 66952 66603 66620
66611 66556 66609 66551

Didcot
37605 66202 66242 66046 66048

Gloucester
47033 47828 47200 47714

Cheltenham Spa - Swindon
153329 1502xx 220xxx
43030 43161 43093
31128 + coach (Swindon)
 
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Ascot

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Should of gave us a shout, coulda met ya after school on the Friday as i go via New Street for about half 3ish.
 

Techniquest

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Dunno, but they're useful entities when it comes to local commuter runs, even to some extent on regional semi-fast/stopper runs. Although Bristol TM to Southampton Central on 150265 in March 2005 was a bit horrible, quite packed it was. Trying to sleep on a 150/2 is pretty difficult too, especially in the aforementioned packed conditions.

Besides, they're a million miles better than Pacers!
 

Respite

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Although Bristol TM to Southampton Central on 150265 in March 2005 was a bit horrible, quite packed it was. Trying to sleep on a 150/2 is pretty difficult too, especially in the aforementioned packed conditions.

I always get really upset when I'm waiting at Cardiff central for my return working from Cardiff to Manchester & a 150 heaves into view.Trying to keep to time in a 75mph unit when I could be doing 90mph on quite a lot of the route in a 158/175 is a hassle.They get pretty uncomfortable to drive after a while(but not as bad as a 153). The real ****er is Crewe to stockport where in a 175 I would be 100mph,at 75mph it seems to last for ages.:x
 

Techniquest

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It feels like forever as a passenger mind, so I wouldn't worry.

Didn't think it was cleared for 100mph, it NEVER feels fast! Indeed, a stopper 323 on the route feels faster than an express Arriva working! Mind, Arriva suck donkey balls anyway when it comes to proper service operation!

Oh, and I've had 150/2s on Cardiff - Manchester runs before now. Done 256 IIRC on Cardiff - Crewe, a long journey especially when the primary objective during the journey was sleeping...Also done another one, 250 possibly on Hereford - Manchester Oxford Road last November. I think it is fair to say it is incredibly boring! The 150 was pretty busy too! Crewe - Warrington took ages too! I was staring out of the window for the longest time waiting for the yards! I was glad to change to the next unit...150276 IIRC to Piccadilly...Thankfully FTPX provided an enjoyable 158763 to Leeds from there. That was a nice ride, decent seating, tables, reasonable ambient noise from the engines...

I must say, Arriva did cock up my travel home a small number of weeks ago. Was going home from Cardiff, needing to get the 1550 to Hereford. All fine and well, it arrives on time. However, the stock that came in was...150256 IIRC. I stood by my principles and avoided it, getting a few more HST miles in instead. Got home considerably later, but that's the way of the road...Thing is, this had come down from Manchester in the morning at 06xx all the way to Milford Haven. It then goes back to Manchester from Milford Haven. Milford Haven - Manchester without changing is a long enough journey, but on a 150/2? That's not something I'd want to experience!
 

devon_metro

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Indeed, engine sounds on 150s are pretty loud and annoying, Quiet 158s are more suited to it.
 

Craig

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I must say, Arriva did cock up my travel home a small number of weeks ago. Was going home from Cardiff, needing to get the 1550 to Hereford. All fine and well, it arrives on time. However, the stock that came in was...150256 IIRC. I stood by my principles and avoided it, getting a few more HST miles in instead. Got home considerably later, but that's the way of the road...
Sounds like you "cocked up" your own journey there, you could have got on the 150 and been home when you intended to. Fair enough, you have principles and didn't get it, but that's hardly Arriva's problem. Would you prefer they got rid of the 150's and cancelled a load of trains instead?
 

voyagerdude220

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If you don't want 150/2 's on the Manchester to Cardiff route, please send more of them down to the Bristol/Weston/Taunton stoppers, and get rid of the rancid 143's .

Even though the 150/2 I had from Bristol to Higbridge a few weeks ago was packed (standing room only) until Yatton, I enjoyed it alot more than the usual 143, and was lucky enough to have a 143+150 on the way back as well.

(I jumped on the 150 on the way back.)

I wonder what you'd say to a 142/3 on a Cardiff to Manchester trip?
 

Techniquest

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I do believe the following would come to mind...:

'Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick...'

followed with a swift run to the lavatory.

And Craig, it was a cock-up from Arriva due to the fact that they should NEVER allow a unit that they got specifically for their Valley Lines network to run a West Wales - Manchester run. By GOD, that's as bad as putting a 317 on a KGX - EDB run!

Yeah, I could have got that run, but I'd have left it with the biggest headache, aching feet from having to stand until Abergavenny (circa 40 minutes or more) and even more hatred of Arriva...Like I said above, putting a 150/2 on a West Wales to Manchester run, that's cruel and unusual punishment...
 

Craig

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And Craig, it was a cock-up from Arriva due to the fact that they should NEVER allow a unit that they got specifically for their Valley Lines network to run a West Wales - Manchester run. By GOD, that's as bad as putting a 317 on a KGX - EDB run!
No it's not, KGX - EDB, is a longer intercity route. A 150 and 158/175 are a lot more comparable than a 317 and an HST/91 and Mk4s. In terms of things such as capacity, speed, acceleration then a 150 wouldn't have made a huge difference to that particular service, whereas putting a 317 on an IC ECML service would. Admittedly a 150 on that route is not ideal, but it's better than cancelling the service altogether. If you don't get the train then that's your problem, not Arriva's.
 

Techniquest

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I'd have been unlikely to be able to get on it anyway, as the crowds getting on were quite big.

A 150 vice 158/175 on the Marches DOES make a lot of difference, the drive is incredibly difficult to keep anywhere near time, the ambient noise is incredible, the comfort levels are not the same (a lack of tables on the 150s being a primary factor on a run which is used well by business travellers on laptops and stuff), and of course you hold everything up behind you too.
 

Craig

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I'd have been unlikely to be able to get on it anyway, as the crowds getting on were quite big.
But you didn't even attempt to get on...

A 150 vice 158/175 on the Marches DOES make a lot of difference, the drive is incredibly difficult to keep anywhere near time, the ambient noise is incredible, the comfort levels are not the same (a lack of tables on the 150s being a primary factor on a run which is used well by business travellers on laptops and stuff), and of course you hold everything up behind you too.
How much time does a 150 generally loose when operating a Marches service? As for your other points, I'll stand by what I've already posted - yes it's not ideal but it's better than no train at all.
 

Techniquest

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Never timed a Marches run on a 150/2, but I'm going to one day, just to see if it can beat 47:10:xx on Newport - Hereford...Do excuse me whilst I go off on a laughter bender at the thought of a 150/2 out-pacing a 158 or 175 on that section...

I might have got on, but the idea of getting on was totally wiped out by the busyness of the service. Besides, the HST next to it was much more tempting!

My main complaint originally was how it could be put on a run from Milford Haven - Manchester. That is over 5 hours, a considerably long time in the presence of a 150/2! Nice mileage run if you like 150s, but otherwise no.

Yes, cancelling the train could have been worse, but the fact is Arriva have enough units to cover their inter-regional services, to call upon a 150/2 to do one of their longest runs is absolutely ridiculous. I'm surprised though that they didn't cancel it, they don't usually care if a service is cancelled or withdrawn without warning, notice or anything!
 

87015

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I'm surprised though that they didn't cancel it, they don't usually care if a service is cancelled or withdrawn without warning, notice or anything!

2033 Brum-Aber was caped tonight, announcer claiming connection would be held at Shrewbury off 2057 Brum-Sallop, somehow i have my doubts!
Today the 1633 was caped but the 1833 did run :shock:
 

voyagerdude220

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My main complaint originally was how it could be put on a run from Milford Haven - Manchester. That is over 5 hours, a considerably long time in the presence of a 150/2! Nice mileage run if you like 150s, but otherwise no.


I've personally seen FGW run a 150/2 on the 10:25 Penzance to Cardiff Central vice 158 2 or 3 times, which is nearly a 6-hour run.
 

Craig

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Yes, cancelling the train could have been worse, but the fact is Arriva have enough units to cover their inter-regional services
Oh sorry, I didn't realised you'd spoken to Arrive control and found out all their stock allocations for that particular day.
 

yorkie

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I always get really upset when I'm waiting at Cardiff central for my return working from Cardiff to Manchester & a 150 heaves into view.Trying to keep to time in a 75mph unit when I could be doing 90mph on quite a lot of the route in a 158/175 is a hassle.They get pretty uncomfortable to drive after a while(but not as bad as a 153). The real ****er is Crewe to stockport where in a 175 I would be 100mph,at 75mph it seems to last for ages.:x
I've had a 153+158 combination and it felt like we were doing 90. What's the rule regarding multiple working of such units? Can you do 90 if the 158 is leading and the 153 is not providing power?
 

devon_metro

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I've had a 153+158 combination and it felt like we were doing 90. What's the rule regarding multiple working of such units? Can you do 90 if the 158 is leading and the 153 is not providing power?

I believe it is the lower speed unit that has a say on the limit. So unless the driver forgot about the 153 then he must have been doing 75!

I may be wrong though.
 

Jim

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If you don't want 150/2 's on the Manchester to Cardiff route, please send more of them down to the Bristol/Weston/Taunton stoppers, and get rid of the rancid 143's .

You'll be lucky, we are apprentallyt sending some 150's off to ATW to leave 143's for that

I wonder what you'd say to a 142/3 on a Cardiff to Manchester trip?


BASH IT is what I would do
 

16CSVT2700

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I've had a 153+158 combination and it felt like we were doing 90. What's the rule regarding multiple working of such units? Can you do 90 if the 158 is leading and the 153 is not providing power?

No.
The rule is that when driving a mixed combination of locomotives, locomotives and coaches/ wagons or units, you must not exceed the maximum speed of the unit, locomotive or coach which has the lower maximum speed.

Examples;
You have a 110mph Class 87 with a mixture of 90-100mph coaching stock.
Going by the rules you are not permitted to exceed 90mph due to a coach or number of coaches in the consist that can only operate up to 90mph.

Same goes for units:
You have a mixed unit consisting of a Class 158 (90mph), a 150/2 (75mph) and another Class 158 (90mph).
The maximum speed you are permitted with this consist is 75mph due to the 150/2 having the lower maximum speed of 75mph, regardless of whether it is providing power or not.

Now this will either totally confuse you, or explain things :santa:
 

voyagerdude220

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I had the same conversation with my Uncle, who works for Network Rail at Swindon.

After explaining the rule, he asked me one or two questions about max speeds of different combos e.g. 158+143 etc
 

AlexS

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153s don't cope with 90 mph very well, put them on a 100 mph 170 and forget about them and they break pretty badly.

A 75 mph 156 however will reach 90 easily under it's own power if you let it, so while not strictly legal, the consequences for whazzing it along faster aren't so severe.
 
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