GWR Class 150s

[TJDevon]

As the thread on 150202 has rightly been shut down I have opened this one to cover all aspects of GWR's 150s.

For starters there is a path showing on RTT for tomorrow morning - 0900 5H70 Exeter TMD to Wolverton Centre Sidings. One assumes that this either 207 or 216 going away for surgery but as these units are running as a pair today there is no clue there as to which one. Anyone know?

 

[507020]

Is there still a plan to sandwich some GWR 150s together into 3 car units a la 150003-006, following platform lengthening at St Erth to allow for much needed 5 car services?

 

[paulwestwood]

As the thread on 150202 has rightly been shut down I have opened this one to cover all aspects of GWR's 150s.

For starters there is a path showing on RTT for tomorrow morning - 0900 5H70 Exeter TMD to Wolverton Centre Sidings. One assumes that this either 207 or 216 going away for surgery but as these units are running as a pair today there is no clue there as to which one. Anyone know?

It should be 207 as that was supposed to go when the last unit returned from Wolverton, before it was promptly returned back for rectification work a couple of weeks ago.

 

[adc82140]

Are there still a couple knocking about in FGW blue livery?

 

[penguin8967]

Are there still a couple knocking about in FGW blue livery?

Yep, 150219 and 238 have FGW blue livery and interior.

 

[150249]

Is there still a plan to sandwich some GWR 150s together into 3 car units a la 150003-006, following platform lengthening at St Erth to allow for much needed 5 car services?

When was this planned?

 

[150249]

All 150s are out today except from 265, heavily graffitied 238 and the long term absentees 263 and 266. More than in recent weeks

 

[DannyMich2018]

Yep, 150219 and 238 have FGW blue livery and interior.

Yes I seen both these at Dawlish Warren when we went on hol in July. Still have 2+3 seating unlike most (all?) Of the rest of the GWR 150 fleet. Also without going off topic too far a few either 165 or 166s in blue too.

 

[150249]

Yes I seen both these at Dawlish Warren when we went on hol in July. Still have 2+3 seating unlike most (all?) Of the rest of the GWR 150 fleet. Also without going off topic too far a few either 165 or 166s in blue too.

219 and 238 don't have 2+3 seating. 202, 207 and 216 do though.

 

[CR165022]

Yep, 150219 and 238 have FGW blue livery and interior.

150232 also had a blue interior, but is green on the exterior

 

[Parallel]

All 150s are out today except from 265, heavily graffitied 238 and the long term absentees 263 and 266. More than in recent weeks

Anyone know why 150263 and 150266 haven't been out for a while?

 

[150249]

Anyone know why 150263 and 150266 haven't been out for a while?

They've been up at St Phillips Marsh for repairs. I think I heard wheel turning from someone.

 

[TJDevon]

150207 has departed for Wolverton.

 

[FGW_DID]

Anyone know why 150263 and 150266 haven't been out for a while?

Should be out in traffic (or at least available for), they aren’t showing as Stopped.

 

[Xavi]

150207 has departed for Wolverton.

Interesting, I’ve read elsewhere that this one may have been beyond economic repair.

 

[Oli Bashford]

150263 and 150266 are showing as running 2F17 Paignton - Exmouth from Exeter St Davids, taking over from 150239.

 

[150249]

150263 and 150266 are showing as running 2F17 Paignton - Exmouth from Exeter St Davids, taking over from 150239.

So I assume it's taking over when 150239 gets back to St Davids. 239 just passed me at Newton Abbot.

Interesting, I’ve read elsewhere that this one may have been beyond economic repair.

It's my least favourite of the lot so it wouldn't be a personal loss but that could be a major blow for GWR.

 

[skyhigh]

Interesting, I’ve read elsewhere that this one may have been beyond economic repair.

It might well be "beyond economic repair" but it's still needed so the work will be done whatever the cost.

 

[507020]

When was this planned?

There was a thread on here last year titled “GWR 150/9s again?” discussing the platform lengthening at St Erth and it’s implications on the GWR 150 fleet, with an explicit plan for 5 car services to St Ives, but I haven’t heard much about it recently.

GWR 150/9s again?

NR western twitter account have posted several updates in regards to their engineering works in the West Cornwall area, including the lengthening of platforms on the St Ives branch. In the text it’s alluded to 5 car 150s, however that is currently only possible with reforming the units into 3...

www.railforums.co.uk

All 150s are out today except from 265, heavily graffitied 238 and the long term absentees 263 and 266. More than in recent weeks

This would suggest that they don’t have sufficient spare units to lengthen any 150s, which would explain it not happening.

 

[150249]

This would suggest that they don’t have sufficient spare units to lengthen any 150s, which would explain it not happening.

Units out of service today are 150207 (likely to stay that way for a while), 150248 and 150265. 150261 is the cornish standby set stabled at Plymouth I believe.

 

[Xavi]

It might well be "beyond economic repair" but it's still needed so the work will be done whatever the cost.

That logic is not universally applied by Treasury (now effectively running England rail), but this is Devon & Cornwall.

 

[XCTurbostar]

150207 is currently on its way to Wolverton as 5H70

 

[150249]

150207 is currently on its way to Wolverton as 5H70

Already been mentioned. I wonder how long it will be up there.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

There was a thread on here last year titled “GWR 150/9s again?” discussing the platform lengthening at St Erth and it’s implications on the GWR 150 fleet, with an explicit plan for 5 car services to St Ives, but I haven’t heard much about it recently.

GWR 150/9s again?

NR western twitter account have posted several updates in regards to their engineering works in the West Cornwall area, including the lengthening of platforms on the St Ives branch. In the text it’s alluded to 5 car 150s, however that is currently only possible with reforming the units into 3...

www.railforums.co.uk

This would suggest that they don’t have sufficient spare units to lengthen any 150s, which would explain it not happening.

I’m not convinced there ever was a solid plan to do it tbh. I think NR mentioned it in their blockade press release when the branch platform at St Erth was being lengthened and then GWR Twitter seemed to take it and run with it. It’s been explained elsewhere that having 3 car units mixed into the DMU diagram cycling in Cornwall makes it very inefficient, you’d basically need to have 2x 3-car sets to cover one diagram and a logical means of cycling them via Exeter Depot, and still maintain the cycling/ diagramming of the 2-car units on the other branches. Not particularly practical when very few main line services are DMUs.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I’m not convinced there ever was a solid plan to do it tbh. I think NR mentioned it in their blockade press release when the branch platform at St Erth was being lengthened and then GWR Twitter seemed to take it and run with it. It’s been explained elsewhere that having 3 car units mixed into the DMU diagram cycling in Cornwall makes it very inefficient, you’d basically need to have 2x 3-car sets to cover one diagram and a logical means of cycling them via Exeter Depot, and still maintain the cycling/ diagramming of the 2-car units on the other branches. Not particularly practical when very few main line services are DMUs.

It is still a long term aspiration but requires some cascaded rolling stock to allow this to happen. Time will tell if GWR is successful in securing any of the ex TfW units.

 

[150249]

Has anyone else noticed that recently some 150s look like they could do with a new coat of paint. In particular 150239 which has looked a bit worse for wear for a while now.

Wow GWR must be short. 5 short formed 150s on the Exmouth to Paignton line on the hottest Saturday of the year

 

[TJDevon]

Wow GWR must be short. 5 short formed 150s on the Exmouth to Paignton line on the hottest Saturday of the year

And the other two diagrams are 2 car as well (158 and Turbo). With both Exeter City and Exeter Chiefs at home it could be an interesting afternoon!

 

[150249]

And the other two diagrams are 2 car as well (158 and Turbo). With both Exeter City and Exeter Chiefs at home it could be an interesting afternoon!

I'm going to that Exeter City match too... on the train!

 

[michael74]

I count myself lucky and was working to Bristol today, from what I hear, today didn't go too smoothly......

 

[150249]

Any updates on 150207?

Also, how long has 150246 been at Laira for and what is it doing there?