I didn’t know they had that!! Rolling stock you didn’t know that company operated.

[sprinterguy]

Oh wow! I wonder why? (It didn’t reply and didn’t work so pretend the image attached is the original post)

Lack of more suitable diesel units to directly strengthen weekday services in the TfGM area saw three units employed on two Hazel Grove/Man Vic - Blackpool North diagrams for a couple of years, until the ex-LM class 150s were released following the late introduction of 172s in the West Midlands.

 

[generalnerd]

Lack of more suitable diesel units to directly strengthen weekday services in the TfGM area saw three units employed on two Hazel Grove/Man Vic - Blackpool North diagrams for a couple of years, until the ex-LM class 150s were released following the late introduction of 172s in the West Midlands.

Ah, thank you. I’m assuming the trains had non northern (or neutral) interiors/logos

 

[krus_aragon]

Ah, thank you. I’m assuming the trains had non northern (or neutral) interiors/logos

First colours (like FGW), but with a purple flavour.

See https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/guess-the-train.141490/post-3840474 for an example photo

 

[sad1e]

Didn't GNER have some class 321's And some class 373's at some point

 

[hexagon789]

Didn't GNER have some class 321's And some class 373's at some point

373s definitely, not aware of them having 321s though?

I've a vague idea they hired one temporarily (or a 317, I can't recall exactly) to do a London to York semi-fast or something possibly post-Hatfield but I think that was a one off.

 

[Rail Quest]

373s definitely, not aware of them having 321s though?

I've a vague idea they hired one temporarily (or a 317, I can't recall exactly) to do a London to York semi-fast or something possibly post-Hatfield but I think that was a one off.

According to the Wikipedia page for the Class 321s, under the Class 321/9 subsection (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_321):

In June 1998 they were loaned to GNER to operate Leeds to London King's Cross services while its InterCity 225 fleet was grounded with mechanical issues.[24]

The citation is for an article from RAIL magazine (issue 334) so I'm assuming this is legit. Not clear what livery they were wearing at the time if so.

 

[hexagon789]

According to the Wikipedia page for the Class 321s, under the Class 321/9 subsection (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_321):

The citation is for an article from RAIL magazine (issue 334) so I'm assuming this is legit. Not clear what livery they were wearing at the time if so.

It is actually what I was thinking of, but it was a short term loan rather than a lease.

 

[MCR247]

They were short of stock and they were available. Eventually some ex-London Midland 150s were transferred and the 180s withdrawn.

Lack of more suitable diesel units to directly strengthen weekday services in the TfGM area saw three units employed on two Hazel Grove/Man Vic - Blackpool North diagrams for a couple of years, until the ex-LM class 150s were released following the late introduction of 172s in the West Midlands.

And even odder was the fact they were sub leased to Northern by East Coast as they were initially earmarked for new Kings Cross - Lincoln services

 

[P156KWJ]

I'd forgotten all about the 180s going to Northern, strange times.

Easily forgettable is that Central Trains operated the first Class 350s in a joint pool with Silverlink.

 

[hexagon789]

And even odder was the fact they were sub leased to Northern by East Coast as they were initially earmarked for new Kings Cross - Lincoln services

Indeed. ISTR Virgin was initially after some 180s around that time too, but then settled on the Cl. 90 + Mk3 set.

 

[brad465]

Class 170s ran out of London with Midland Mainline and Hull Trains in the early years before 222s came along was a surprise to me. This was more especially surprising with Hull Trains, given the 125mph potential for most of the route.

 

[Towers]

Didn't GNER have some class 321's And some class 373's at some point

And the class 89!

Other examples, possibly better known:

Virgin operating class 158s.

GWR operating the twin 150/0s, not a surprise in itself but I wonder how many realise that they had a spell dedicated to the Reading - Basingstoke branch.

 

[hexagon789]

Class 170s ran out of London with Midland Mainline and Hull Trains in the early years before 222s came along was a surprise to me. This was more especially surprising with Hull Trains, given the 125mph potential for most of the route.

Testing the water really, as initially they sub-leased from Anglia before obtaining their own dedicated fleet of 4 units.

They did have some sharp timings in 170 days, a 69 min booking to Grantham for instance.

 

[NSE]

Southern used 350s for a while. While dual voltage 377/2’s went to TL awaiting the 387’s, LM loaned a few to SN. Didn’t really appreciate what that was all about at the time. Would have enjoyed seeing that.

 

[D6975]

One of the oddest uses of a class 90 was Scotrail hiring in a 90 + short Mk3 set for use on the North Berwick branch.

 

[43096]

One of the oddest uses of a class 90 was Scotrail hiring in a 90 + short Mk3 set for use on the North Berwick branch.

There were three or four sets in total leased from Porterbrook and the entire North Berwick service was loco hauled for quite some time.

 

[hexagon789]

One of the oddest uses of a class 90 was Scotrail hiring in a 90 + short Mk3 set for use on the North Berwick branch.

And on the weekends in particular at that time, they were bunging out anything that moved on the North Berwicks - with 170s, 158s and even 156s appearing.

 

[sad1e]

Thameslink also had some class 377's during the end of the 319's life before the 700s were fully in service
Those 377's are running with Southeastern now I think

 

[NSE]

Thameslink also had some class 377's during the end of the 319's life before the 700s were fully in service
Those 377's are running with Southeastern now I think

Yes they had the whole /5 subclass. Ordered/purchased/made for Southern (hence the Southern interiors) but subleased to TL and then off to SE. They’ve never turned a wheel in service for Southern.
Still maintained at Selhurst, so you’ll often see them on the blocks at the depot and passing through Selhurst or Norwood Junction on their way to be maintained. You can tell the difference alongside SE 375’s as their base coat is FCC purple not SE blue. You may not notice it on its own, but side by side it’s quite clear.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

How bizarre! That's certainly news to me!

May I present 501 178 and 501 180 ( well... part of it anyway!! ) at Birkenhead North at 15.44 on 5th October 1985?

 

[CaramellDansen]

May I present 501 178 and 501 180 ( well... part of it anyway!! ) at Birkenhead North at 15.44 on 5th October 1985?

Brilliant! What were the 501s used for?

 

[D6130]

Brilliant! What were the 501s used for?

De-icing units, IIRC.

 

[harrytn]

Current one for me which I think is easy to forget is GC using ex avanti voyagers to run to Bradford. Always looks strange whenever I see them, especially sitting at Kings Cross.

Current one for me which I think is easy to forget is GC using ex avanti voyagers to run to Bradford. Always looks strange whenever I see them, especially sitting at Kings Cross.

Also, its probably quite well remembered, but Northern using class 37s with DRS coaches on the Cumbrian Coast line was a great example of strange rolling stock being used.

 

[D6130]

According to the Wikipedia page for the Class 321s, under the Class 321/9 subsection (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_321):

The citation is for an article from RAIL magazine (issue 334) so I'm assuming this is legit. Not clear what livery they were wearing at the time if so.

The 321s were wearing West Yorkshire PTE red & cream livery at that time.

 

[trainswitheddy]

Also, its probably quite well remembered, but Northern using class 37s with DRS coaches on the Cumbrian Coast line was a great example of strange rolling stock being used.

Worth mentioning other uses such as on Greater Anglia and Arriva Trains Wales (Or was it TfW at that point?)
Another mention is Virgin XC had a 158 and used 67s on summer extra loco hauled serivces with Mk2s (Often in the debranded Virgin livery!)

 

[boiledbeans2]

Class 701s, supposedly operated by SWR...

Supposedly SWR also ran some 442s.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Wessex Trains’ use of Fragonset Class 31s with Mk2 coaches in what was an otherwise diesel multiple unit fleet, with 31601 receiving the bright pink livery with Heart of Wessex logos perhaps?

The late 2000s also saw First Great Western utilising top and tailed EWS Class 67s on Cardiff to Taunton services for a couple of years. I think Class 57s later took over the diagrams.

 

[xotGD]

Trans Pennine use of Mark 3s. Blink and you've missed it.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Thames Trains had a 158 on hire from Central Trains at one point. Not sure whether CT supplied the drivers too. It worked Bristol-Oxford and Oxford-Bicester services.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Nothing will ever top my surprise in 2009 when I was standing on Balham High Street and saw a London Midland class 350 roll over the bridge. Genuinely thought I was seeing things.