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

[generalnerd]

What rolling stock would you consider as interesting or unique/you didn’t realise that company owned/operated the rolling stock?

For example, the southwest trains class 73, used for rescue operations:

 

[trainmania100]

Gbrf and class 73s. They obviously serve their purpose with RHTT etc for a short part of the year, but by the end of the season just gone most of the workings (including W90) were covered by 69s anyway. There was even a few 66 workings.

With more 69s still rolling off the production line and new gbrf locos on their way, I can't see 73s been used much longer ....

I guess their main benefit is the 3rd rail.

 

[Towers]

Gbrf and class 73s. They obviously serve their purpose with RHTT etc for a short part of the year, but by the end of the season just gone most of the workings (including W90) were covered by 69s anyway. There was even a few 66 workings.

With more 69s still rolling off the production line and new gbrf locos on their way, I can't see 73s been used much longer ....

I guess their main benefit is the 3rd rail.

Indeed. They offer a very useful ‘green’ credential, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that buys them a good few years more use doing circuits on the southern. This is particularly relevant when you consider locations which are actively ‘anti-diesel’, like certain London terminals etc; presumably that stance is only likely to expand as the years go by. I’d imagine a 73 also likely has much better route availability than a large heavy diesel?

 

[Doomotron]

Gbrf and class 73s. They obviously serve their purpose with RHTT etc for a short part of the year, but by the end of the season just gone most of the workings (including W90) were covered by 69s anyway. There was even a few 66 workings.

With more 69s still rolling off the production line and new gbrf locos on their way, I can't see 73s been used much longer ....

I guess their main benefit is the 3rd rail.

There are only 16 Class 69s. The majority of RHTTs (in Kent at least) are still hauled by 73s, and there have been no plans to replace them.

Indeed. They offer a very useful ‘green’ credential, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that buys them a good few years more use doing circuits on the southern. This is particularly relevant when you consider locations which are actively ‘anti-diesel’, like certain London terminals etc; presumably that stance is only likely to expand as the years go by. I’d imagine a 73 also likely has much better route availability than a large heavy diesel?

Yes, the 73s have very good route availability.

What rolling stock would you consider as interesting or unique/you didn’t realise that company owned/operated the rolling stock?

For example, the southwest trains class 73, used for rescue operations:

If you think SWT having 73s is weird, you'll probably find their Class 960 (121) even weirder.

 

[py_megapixel]

I remember being taken by surprise on the through platforms at Manchester Piccadilly when a Transpennine service to the airport was announced and a shiny new EMU whizzed into the station, apparently fresh out of the factory (it hadn't even had the vinyl livery put on yet), in place of the expected 185!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Gbrf and class 73s.

They've done sterling work along the West Coastway route (West Sussex-Hampshire): Railhead Treatment, Snow & Ice Treatment, Network Rail inspection, plus route learning out Tonbridge and out Crawley.

 

[Class15]

There are only 16 Class 69s. The majority of RHTTs (in Kent at least) are still hauled by 73s, and there have been no plans to replace them.

Most of the 3W75/3W90 RHTT circuits last year were 69s which was a trend on all Tonbridge RHTTs from what I have seen.

Another example: I was amazed to find out that London Overground had Class 508s. Apparently they even had to be hauled into Willesden depot by a 313 due to no third rail!

 

[Bringback309s]

The Hornsey shunter! http://ukrailways1970tilltoday.me.uk/NVR2008DdayMarch4.html

This class 03 was based at First Capital Connects Hornsey Depot in 2008 . It job was move the EMUs about the depot. This was only when there was no overhead electricity or the EMU pantograph was not working or damaged or some other fault that meant it could move under its own power.

The class 3 did just a a few miles around the yard at Horsey, is why it was so clean or had it been doon up for it visit to the NVR.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The Hornsey shunter! http://ukrailways1970tilltoday.me.uk/NVR2008DdayMarch4.html

Knights Rail Services (Eastleigh): 07007. I was astonished to see it, in BR Blue livery, when I flew into Southampton Airport 5 years ago.


Until I first saw them in spring 2023, I hadn't realised Network Rail was using class 153s for track inspection.
153385 and 'blue brick' 153376 have been fairly regular along the West Coastway and Portsmouth Direct lines.

 

[Mag_seven]

Gbrf and class 73s. They obviously serve their purpose with RHTT etc for a short part of the year, but by the end of the season just gone most of the workings (including W90) were covered by 69s anyway. There was even a few 66 workings.

With more 69s still rolling off the production line and new gbrf locos on their way, I can't see 73s been used much longer ....

I guess their main benefit is the 3rd rail.

They are of course used by GBRf on the Caledonian Sleeper.

 

[Warrior2852]

Until I first saw them in spring 2023, I hadn't realised Network Rail was using class 153s for track inspection.
153385 and 'blue brick' 153376 have been fairly regular along the West Coastway and Portsmouth Direct lines.


Knights Rail Services (Eastleigh) - 07007. I was astonished to see it, when I flew into Southampton Airport 5 years ago.

I do find it amusing how Network Rail sometimes doesn't repaint stock they've acquired from elsewhere, like with the ex-EMT 153 here, leading to finding some heritage liveries that have disappeared from everywhere else still among their ranks.

 

[43066]

Eurostar’s 08 shunter, based at Temple Mills.

 

[CaramellDansen]

For example, the southwest trains class 73, used for rescue operations:

I wonder, given Merseyrail's desire for more unelectrified expansions, if 3rd-rail/diesel bi-mode loco(s) would be of interest to them! Not sure how else they'd rescue a failed battery loco!


(They could always put some bloody wires above the tracks!! )

 

[BrettSy96]

Was watching a video of trains from around 20 years ago and saw a class 31 in West Coast livery which I never knew that had!

 

[Deepgreen]

Class 701s, supposedly operated by SWR...

They are of course used by GBRf on the Caledonian Sleeper.

Never alone now, though?

 

[Prime586]

I wonder, given Merseyrail's desire for more unelectrified expansions, if 3rd-rail/diesel bi-mode loco(s) would be of interest to them! Not sure how else they'd rescue a failed battery loco!

In the early 90s Merseyrail aquired 5 Class 73s (4 active and one parts source) that were used for departmental, engineering, and sandite duties (two that were renumbered into 73/9s). They were all withdrawn by 2002 and sold into preservation (the 73/9s were converted back to 73/0s and later sold on to GBRf to be converted into their 73/9 'Ultra' configuration).

 

[Taunton]

I wonder, given Merseyrail's desire for more unelectrified expansions, if 3rd-rail/diesel bi-mode loco(s) would be of interest to them! Not sure how else they'd rescue a failed battery loco!

Maybe not aware (purpose of this thread) that previously there was indeed a small fleet of Class 73 which were on Merseyside for quite some years after the Liverpool Loop opened, they replaced equally odd battery service stock rebuilt from Euston-Watford Class 501 trains, being there in the 1980s-90s, although I never saw them move from outside Birkenhead North depot.

 

[12LDA28C]

Never alone now, though?

Occasionally, yes although more usually in pairs.

 

[Davester50]

Never alone now, though?

Aberdeen portion often is.

 

[xotGD]

Am I right in thinking that GBRF have a Class 47?

 

[Class15]

Am I right in thinking that GBRF have a Class 47?

They used to have three

 

[5562]

And in regular use on stock moves, especially for SWR.

 

[adc82140]

I always forget the brief time that SWT had class 170s.

 

[Rail Quest]

It baffled me to learn Northern (whatever the franchise at the time) operated a small number of Adelantes (three I believe) for a short time on the Hazel Grove to Blackpool services, a service with many differences from their designed use cases.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Am I right in thinking that GBRF have a Class 47?

Yes: three. I photo'd two of them: 727 and 749.

GB Railfreight trains - GBRf

 

[hexagon789]

It baffled me to learn Northern (the franchise at the time) operated a small number of Adelantes (three I believe) for a short time on the Hazel Grove to Blackpool services, a service with many differences from their designed use cases.

Also did Manchester Vic/Blackpool

 

[CaramellDansen]

In the early 90s Merseyrail aquired 5 Class 73s (4 active and one parts source) that were used for departmental, engineering, and sandite duties (two that were renumbered into 73/9s). They were all withdrawn by 2002 and sold into preservation (the 73/9s were converted back to 73/0s and later sold on to GBRf to be converted into their 73/9 'Ultra' configuration).

You don't say! Thanks for the shout, and the pictures!
I wonder what they're using now

they replaced equally odd battery service stock rebuilt from Euston-Watford Class 501 trains, being there in the 1980s-90s

How bizarre! That's certainly news to me!

 

[generalnerd]

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

 

[D365]

They are of course used by GBRf on the Caledonian Sleeper.

Indeed. The Brush modified 73/9s are the only diesels currently available which are compatible with the coach control/communication systems.

 

[hexagon789]

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

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