Class 153s - further use, preservation and scrap

[Phil Scott]

Hello

I can't see a thread for listing disposal or reuse details of Class 153 - but mods please merge with an existing thread if there already is one.

I was wondering if anyone could confirm which 153s have actually been scrapped, and where/when if possible. It's interesting that it mostly seems to be former Northern examples that have been scrapped so far.

Are there any Sprinter preservation groups out there who are likely to preserve any other examples?

I've listed the disposals I already know about below, colour coded as to their previous operator (Green=LMR, Red=EMR, Purple=Northern)

Thanks

Network Rail
153311
153376
153379
153384
153385

Preservation/further use
153308 - Great Central Railway
153334 - Ashville Aggregates
153371 - Great Central Railway
153374 - Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway

Scrapped
153302 - EMR, Kingsbury (Jul 21)
153316 - Sims, Newport Docks (Sep 23)
153324 - Sims, Newport Docks (Sep 23)
153330 - Sims, Newport Docks (Dec 23)
153332 - Sims, Newport Docks (Dec 23)
153358 - Sims, Beeston (Jan 24)
153359 - Sims, Newport Docks (Sep 23)
153360 - Sims, Newport Docks (Jan 24)
153363 - ???
153364 - Sims, Beeston (Apr 22)
153365 - ???
153366 - Sims, Beeston (Jan 22)

 

[meld3]

I have 363 and 365 marked as scrapped, but I don't record when/where.

 

[Trainman40083]

Hello

I can't see a thread for listing disposal or reuse details of Class 153 - but mods please merge with an existing thread if there already is one.

I was wondering if anyone could confirm which 153s have actually been scrapped, and where/when if possible. It's interesting that it mostly seems to be former Northern examples that have been scrapped so far.

Are there any Sprinter preservation groups out there who are likely to preserve any other examples?

I've listed the disposals I already know about below, colour coded as to their previous operator (Green=LMR, Red=EMR, Purple=Northern)

Thanks

Preservation/further use
153308 - Great Central Railway
153334 - Ashville Aggregates
153371 - Great Central Railway
153374 - Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway

Scrapped
153302 - EMR, Kingsbury (Jul 21)
153316 - Sims, Newport Docks (Sep 23)
153324 - Sims, Newport Docks (Sep 23)
153330 - Sims, Newport Docks (Dec 23)
153332 - Sims, Newport Docks (Dec 23)
153358 - Sims, Beeston (Jan 24)
153359 - Sims, Newport Docks (Sep 23)
153360 - Sims, Newport Docks (Jan 24)
153364 - Sims, Beeston (Apr 22)
153366 - Sims, Beeston (Jan 22)

I guess for completeness, the ones used by Derby RTC ought to be included. Forgotten how many there are. Something like 153376/379/384, maybe more?

 

[5562]

153311 & 153385 also.

 

[Discuss223]

153311 is the unit that hit a car at Haxby Level Crossing in 2011. I must say I was impressed with how well it held up considering it utilises parts from Leyland bus bodies.

 

[dgl]

Well GO-OP plan to use 153's on their service that's just been approved, though whether or not that happens is another thing.

 

[50002Superb]

I saw 153365 at Reid Freight Services yard on 8 October 2024

 

[Defiance149]

One of the 153s stored at Long Marston was moved to Millenium Site Services at Derby last week, ID unknown. Possibly another for NR as all of the video units went there for some of the conversion work?

 

[MickeyN]

Got 363 as scrapped at Sims metal Newport about 12/2023

 

[dmkc]

Given Ashville Aggregates unfortunate financial situation as of late, is it likely they will still do something with 153334 in terms of converting it to office accoms which i think was the original plan?

 

[Anonymous10]

I believe the tfw 153 / 9 withdrawal has commenced.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I believe the tfw 153 / 9 withdrawal has commenced.

Was it not said before that they're all already stood down?

 

[Anonymous10]

Was it not said before that they're all already stood down?

Yes but not formerly off lease nor mentioned in this thread that they're withdrawn

 

[Ashley Hill]

153367 noted at Newport this afternoon.

 

[sad1e]

153s seem to have become like many of the 1st gen single carriage DMUS. having quite a few of them converted into departmental units.
Lets hope they see a long life on the mainline like many of these 1st gen DMUS did after being converted for departmental use.

 

[Wyrleybart]

153s seem to have become like many of the 1st gen single carriage DMUS. having quite a few of them converted into departmental units.
Lets hope they see a long life on the mainline like many of these 1st gen DMUS did after being converted for departmental use.

Not really agreeing with you there. I am thinking of the drivers having to squeeze into the short cab for half the time the departmental 153s work, and the vulnerability of a single powered vehicle potentially hundreds of miles from Derby when it breaks. The TfW 150/2s albeit some a little rotten, would be a better choice

 

[sad1e]

Not really agreeing with you there. I am thinking of the drivers having to squeeze into the short cab for half the time the departmental 153s work, and the vulnerability of a single powered vehicle potentially hundreds of miles from Derby when it breaks. The TfW 150/2s albeit some a little rotten, would be a better choice

From a drivers point yes I agree with you.
But from the point of view of an enthusiast i hope they get as long as possible on the Mainline as they run in many areas you never typically see sprinters eg: London .

 

[61653 HTAFC]

From a drivers point yes I agree with you.
But from the point of view of an enthusiast i hope they get as long as possible on the Mainline as they run in many areas you never typically see sprinters eg: London .

In my (admittedly limited) experience, drivers are just as likely to grumble about the big cabs as they are the small ones. AIUI a bit more thought went into the ergonomics of the smaller cabs because it was needed to make everything fit!

 

[Wyrleybart]

In my (admittedly limited) experience, drivers are just as likely to grumble about the big cabs as they are the small ones. AIUI a bit more thought went into the ergonomics of the smaller cabs because it was needed to make everything fit!

It was actually a case of "needs must". In a previous life my mate was a driver in the south west and hated the damn things. If you look at the bulkhead behind the driver's seat in the little cab, you will understand.

From a drivers point yes I agree with you.
But from the point of view of an enthusiast i hope they get as long as possible on the Mainline as they run in many areas you never typically see sprinters eg: London .

Yes. I get that. A youtuber who calls himself Wallsrail spends most of his time driving test trains around Anglia and North London. He recently posted this video which is an "out of place" example.

 

[sad1e]

It was actually a case of "needs must". In a previous life my mate was a driver in the south west and hated the damn things. If you look at the bulkhead behind the driver's seat in the little cab, you will understand.

Looking at an image of a class 153 cab it looks quite cramped. i couldn't imagine having to drive one from derby to London and back.

 

[fgwrich]

Looking at an image of a class 153 cab it looks quite cramped. i couldn't imagine having to drive one from derby to London and back.

This does seem to be a debate as old as the units themselves, but, a number of drivers do seem to prefer the small end. It might seem smaller (and wedged into the vestibule) but there’s more legroom under that desk that the big desk.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I always found the small cabs more comfortable. The legroom was far better and the seats were mounted better and your legs didn’t rub against the underside of the drivers desk like the large cabs. Likewise the guards/secondmans seat in the large cab was so low to be of little use,one couldn’t look out of the window or write at the desk.

 

[Class15]

It was actually a case of "needs must". In a previous life my mate was a driver in the south west and hated the damn things. If you look at the bulkhead behind the driver's seat in the little cab, you will understand.


Yes. I get that. A youtuber who calls himself Wallsrail spends most of his time driving test trains around Anglia and North London. He recently posted this video which is an "out of place" example.

I must say that’s a neat shot at Primrose Hill! Not often you can get onto the platform…

 

[Trainman40083]

From a drivers point yes I agree with you.
But from the point of view of an enthusiast i hope they get as long as possible on the Mainline as they run in many areas you never typically see sprinters eg: London .

Yes, I saw a pair coming through Stratford in East London, both in EMT livery. Seemed so out of place.

 

[WirralLine]

Likewise the guards/secondmans seat in the large cab was so low to be of little use,one couldn’t look out of the window or write at the desk.

However the 2nd man's "desk" in the small cab is so narrow cashing up is quite the challenge!

 

[Ashley Hill]

However the 2nd man's "desk" in the small cab is so narrow cashing up is quite the challenge!

True.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

However the 2nd man's "desk" in the small cab is so narrow cashing up is quite the challenge!

I always used to cash up on the driver's seat in the small end, unless the last move was ECS in which case I would commandeer a table in the saloon!

 

[Ashley Hill]

I always used to cash up on the driver's seat in the small end, unless the last move was ECS in which case I would commandeer a table in the saloon!

I’d stack the change on the larger bit under the droplight and fill out the shift sheet by using my journal to lean on. Yes,I suppose the other end was better for cashing up but the small end was better for dossing. Right leg on the small ledge and left leg on the door hook.