Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

[dk1]

Looks like one more 156 made its way to Etches Park today, leaving 1 x 156 & 170271 as the only remaining legacy fleet on the rural routes.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K06107/2020-01-27/detailed

Can anyone confirm whether 156416 or 156417 transferred today?

No but they are absolutely filthy. One has 'RIP 156' sketched into the grime of the yellow front end.

 

[59CosG95]

Looks like one more 156 made its way to Etches Park today, leaving 1 x 156 & 170271 as the only remaining legacy fleet on the rural routes.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K06107/2020-01-27/detailed

Can anyone confirm whether 156416 or 156417 transferred today?

156416 transferred yesterday. Only 156417 and 170271 remain of the 'legacy' fleet.

 

[Bikeman78]

The open button at bottom is now standardised.
The original system was direct pneumatic control with the buttons to open so easy to have on both sides, retrofitting electronic control and duplicating and getting them communicating on ~35year old stock less easy. (following what was done on the SN 455 a decade ago and works well)

The 800s have the open button on top so it doesn't appear to be standard. It certainly confuses me. Back in the 1990s I'd reach for the top button and hold it in as the train stopped. The the doors would open as soon as they were released by the train crew. Now I have to look which way round they are.

Anyway, with regard to 317s, I took my 3 year old for a ride the other day. We went on a few unmodified units. Then we went on a modified set and he said "Daddy, someone has taken the buttons!" Also, despite the shiny new buttons, they retain the feature that you have to hold the button in to open the doors, rather than press and release. I'm always astonished by how many people cannot cope with this and stand by the doors looking helpless. Are they all first time travellers?

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

Haha yup as someone who works these units every single station there's someone who jabs the buttons repeatedly (door doesn't open), gets frantic and runs to a set of already open doors. The refurbished units are getting "Press and hold" stickers applied on the exterior I saw yesterday

 

[Rick1984]

I've never come across buttons you have to hold down to open doors. This unique to class 317?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I've never come across buttons you have to hold down to open doors. This unique to class 317?

313s, 315s, 317s, 455s all the same.

 

[bluegoblin7]

315s haven’t had this feature for a long time now since their refurb.

 

[samuelmorris]

315s haven’t had this feature for a long time now since their refurb.

and only the Southern 455s still have them I believe. PRM modifications normally do away with them. I guess with the 317s since they have such little life left, it was a token gesture.

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

The doors are still air powered on 317's not electrical which is why you have to hold it down

 

[samuelmorris]

The doors are still air powered on 317's not electrical which is why you have to hold it down

Indeed - air operated doors can still be converted to be electrically actuated, but presumably the cost of doing so wasn't deemed justified for PRM modifying the 317s with barely a year of service left.

 

[59CosG95]

According to a post on LinkedIn, 170s have now finished with Greater Anglia.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paul...ve-finished-activity-6627995191468937216-hys5

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

Indeed - air operated doors can still be converted to be electrically actuated, but presumably the cost of doing so wasn't deemed justified for PRM modifying the 317s with barely a year of service left.

Yeah,and I'm not sure the doors on 317's cause that much of an issue, it doesn't strike me as being a weak link or anything. I know last year they had a lot of work done in Coldhams Lane on the 317 doors, to clean them all out and service them.

 

[samuelmorris]

Yeah,and I'm not sure the doors on 317's cause that much of an issue, it doesn't strike me as being a weak link or anything. I know last year they had a lot of work done in Coldhams Lane on the 317 doors, to clean them all out and service them.

Not really but I'd imagine it's probably not actually PRM compliant. The properly blind may struggle with the fact you have to hold the button in several seconds before the door opens.

 

[TheEdge]

According to a post on LinkedIn, 170s have now finished with Greater Anglia.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paul...ve-finished-activity-6627995191468937216-hys5

271 is now waiting to go to its new Welsh home (possibly on Friday) but is out of squadron service. 156417 is out today for its last day but once it gets to Crown Point today it brings the curtain down on Sprinters in East Anglia.

The King is dead, long live the King.

 

[eastdyke]

271 is now waiting to go to its new Welsh home (possibly on Friday) but is out of squadron service. 156417 is out today for its last day but once it gets to Crown Point today it brings the curtain down on Sprinters in East Anglia.
The King is dead, long live the King.

Thank you for the update. Notable day!
Here's hoping that all things new become gold standard for operational reliability to bring all of their benefits to the many before too long

 

[59CosG95]

I've heard that 321448 might be making (another) comeback shortly.

Any further news on this front?

 

[Alfie1014]

Thank you for the update. Notable day!
Here's hoping that all things new become gold standard for operational reliability to bring all of their benefits to the many before too long

Good job there are more 755s than the ‘heritage’ units as the failure rate seems astronomical, or are there just some lemons in the fleet that keep failing?

 

[Bikeman78]

Not really but I'd imagine it's probably not actually PRM compliant. The properly blind may struggle with the fact you have to hold the button in several seconds before the door opens.

They'll definitely struggle now because two thirds of the fleet have the open button above the close while the 15 or so that have been modified have it underneath!

Also I doubt that the 317s will be gone by the end of this year. Unless they keep the 379s and use them for Hertford East.

 

[DannyMich2018]

271 is now waiting to go to its new Welsh home (possibly on Friday) but is out of squadron service. 156417 is out today for its last day but once it gets to Crown Point today it brings the curtain down on Sprinters in East Anglia.

The King is dead, long live the King.

Class 158's will still be seen at Norwich on the EMR Liverpool to Norwich service so not all is lost.

 

[samuelmorris]

Class 158's will still be seen at Norwich on the EMR Liverpool to Norwich service so not all is lost.

For a short while, it won't be long before they're replaced by 170s.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Last cl 156 has left
https://twitter.com/busandtrainpage/status/1224275622681333760?s=19

 

[Alfie1014]

I noticed this morning the last 170 is still lurking at the back of Ilford CS.

 

[59CosG95]

170271 is apparently due to move from Ilford to Tyseley (via the ECML) today on this: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/86295/2020-02-04/detailed
It is auto-activated, however, so may not actually run.

 

[jamieintercity]

170271 is apparently due to move from Ilford to Tyseley (via the ECML) today on this: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/86295/2020-02-04/detailed
It is auto-activated, however, so may not actually run.

Its running, just seen it go past Peterborough railcam at 1213

 

[greaterangrier]

317681 spotted pulling into Clacton csd this morning. Lovely morning treat

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

317681 spotted pulling into Clacton csd this morning. Lovely morning treat

Must have been 881, there is no 681 lol There for PRM mods no doubt

 

[Icky Qualms]

Saw in the distance an ex GA 156 at Ely this afternoon
Was it working an East Midlands service does anyone know?

 

[59CosG95]

Saw in the distance an ex GA 156 at Ely this afternoon
Was it working an East Midlands service does anyone know?

It could have been an EMR 158 - 158773 & 774 are both in white with orange doors. 156406 is in white with purple doors, or it could easily have been an ex-GA 156 as you say.

 

[Peter Bonner]

Was at Worksop this afternoon. There was a stored emu in G Anglia colours.

Is it a 720/5?

Any offers

 

[theblackwatch]

Was at Worksop this afternoon. There was a stored emu in G Anglia colours.

Is it a 720/5?

Any offers

I gather 720522 is now at Worksop.