London Midland Class 150s Farewell

[85A]

The Farewell 150 train will operate on Saturday 12th November 2011; Full details will be available online next week including ticket prices, confirmed times and routes.

For those of you who would like some advanced information we can confirm, The charter is being run to bid a fond farewell to the majority of London Midlands Class 150 units, only 3 of 27 units will remain with LM. All proceeds from the train will go to the Railway Children charity and the staff operating the train will be donating their wage for the day. Proposed Routes (SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION) for the train will include the Straford upon Avon, Leamington Spa, Worcester, routes in and out of Birmingham New Street, Rugeley Trent Valley via Walsall, The Severn Valley Railway and some routes that LM dont usually run passenger services!

More information will be available on London Midlands (www.londonmidland.com) and Severn Valley Railways (www.svr.co.uk) website during the next week.

Those with Facebook can keep up to date with the 'Farewell 150' page.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

Me likey, me very interested, me might consider doing this instead of going to Sleaford that day

 

[theblackwatch]

Will it cover the connection onto the Severn Valley Railway?

 

[Ivo]

Unlike that Blue Train thing that c2c did, this actually seems worthwhile! I would hope to join you all in Brum for this

 

[IanPooleTrains]

Unlike that Blue Train thing that c2c did, this actually seems worthwhile! I would hope to join you all in Brum for this

I wanna see how much it is and then go the full way with it

 

[sprinterguy]

What are we thinking here? Twelve car lash-up of each and every 150 still available to London Midland?

I might, actually, be quite interested in doing this, depending on cost and timings. Bring a few beers, just a shame that you can't get heads out on a 150!

And on the flip side, hooray for the imminent full deployment of a fleet of shiny new 172s on the Snow Hill lines.

 

[Ivo]

Where could they go that they don't normally serve? Camp Hill? XC do that...

 

[IanPooleTrains]

XC do that...

Those are dirty words around here Ivo

 

[anthony263]

Nice to see this going ahead., now if only FGW will do their class 142 farewell tour, perhaps a trip into Paddington

 

[sprinterguy]

Where could they go that they don't normally serve? Camp Hill? XC do that...

Could go round the Sutton Park line. It would form a suitably circuitous route to get from the Leamington lines to New Street, and then run through to join the Snow Hill lines towards Stourbridge again at Smethwick via Galton Junction.

 

[12CSVT]

Where could they go that they don't normally serve? Camp Hill? XC do that...

Lichfield T V to Wichnor Jct ?

 

[85A]

Hi Guys, likeley routes will include Goods loops (where possible), depot visit to Tyseley, New Street to Stourbridge via Galton Junction, St Andrews (Camp Hill)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I like the goods loop and SVR connection aspects here. Will await more info with anticipation.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What are we thinking here? Twelve car lash-up of each and every 150 still available to London Midland?

I think it'll be 6 cars as it says 3 units will remain. Maybe 8 cars if 001 and 002 are included?

 

[Techniquest]

Excellent! Some gen at long last!

*Starts getting very excited*

If the connection onto the SVR actually happens I will be very happy, I was looking at that last week and wondering when I'll ever get it in. I really want to know more about the ching, starting location, ending location and times, but most importantly I need to get the time off now.

This 150 man will be very annoyed if I miss it. As soon as I get to work tomorrow I'm going to be requesting the day off for sure!

 

[Simon Poole]

I'm happy that London Midland are doing a farewell Tour, The Class 150 doninated The Snow Hill Lines for a long time and they derserved the farewell tour, be intresting to attend but i have to book a day off work for it, so i'm guessing after November 12th they be no more Class 150's on the Snow Hill Lines

 

[Techniquest]

Well if it's owt like the FGW Valenta Farewell (or the EMT one actually), they may carry on for a little bit after to cover for 172s, but I wouldn't count on it.

I was making a posting about something else on the WNXX forum and suddenly realised that November 12th is already a day I have off. Booked it off ages ago as it's the last day of my final Y-P, so I know I have the time off for this event. That made my day, just need the full details soon and I'll book a Travelodge move. In a way, I'd like to use my Y-P for something that day, as I'll not have a railcard again for a very long time unless I move, but we'll see.

One thing is for sure, I refuse to pass up the opportunity to say farewell to the 150s on my home territory! I'm mighty tempted to do a WMDR on Monday to get some more 150 mileage, indeed I might actually red pen 150216 finally. Going to take some doing now, what with the 172s getting in the way, but I might just find a 150 and stay with it as much as I can. We'll see, but those unable to do the 12th November, you've got the Great Escape starting soon so a perfect excuse to get to the Midlands for some 150 action before it's too late.

Will the last 3 LM keep be just for Marston Vale workings then? Not kept up too much with the gen there lately.

EDIT: I wonder what the odds are of Hereford seeing the farewell are? Since 150s were the staple traction on stuff to/from the Midlands for a long time, it would be most fitting. A lot of non-stop running available too, as Hereford to Ledbury is quite the distance and no intermediate stops. Not holding my breath on that one, but we'll see.

 

[SSL1990]

I'd be interested in this! Would be great for me to go on a train between Birmingham New Street and Stourbridge or something, it's a shame they stopped that service in the first place, although having written to London Midland about it they said they'd take my suggestion to bring it back into consideration.

Either way, it'll be a nice farewell to the Class 150's and welcome to the new 172's fully in service!

 

[Blindtraveler]

ooo 150 bashing! hated them when scotrail ran them in Fife but they were in bad nic there. That said had many happy years riding them in the midlands and in the dying days of CT Even got one on a Birmingham to Leicester0stopper. When price etc is confirmed, may give it a go!

@ Techniquest, never met you but as an overnight would be needed for me too we could maybe club together.

 

[323235]

Where could they go that they don't normally serve? Camp Hill? XC do that...

1544 Worchester Shrub Hill - Birmingham New Street goes via Camp Hill on a Saturday and is or was booked to be a 150. Did it once.

 

[DarloRich]

Will the last 3 LM keep be just for Marston Vale workings then? Not kept up too much with the gen there lately.

That is what i understand. Not sure what will happen to the 153 or whether we are going over to 2x150.

A farewell run round the Midlands then down the WCML and along to Bedford wuld be fun!

 

[duffman82]

I'll be on this hopefully! Wonder how many units they'll use? 6 car job maybe ?

 

[IanPooleTrains]

I'll be on this hopefully! Wonder how many units they'll use? 6 car job maybe ?

if they have kept both prototypes, that seems plausible

 

[317666]

I'm hoping to go on this, what with 150s being my favourite DMUs

 

[NXEA!]

Well if it's owt like the FGW Valenta Farewell (or the EMT one actually), they may carry on for a little bit after to cover for 172s, but I wouldn't count on it.

I was making a posting about something else on the WNXX forum and suddenly realised that November 12th is already a day I have off. Booked it off ages ago as it's the last day of my final Y-P, so I know I have the time off for this event. That made my day, just need the full details soon and I'll book a Travelodge move. In a way, I'd like to use my Y-P for something that day, as I'll not have a railcard again for a very long time unless I move, but we'll see.

One thing is for sure, I refuse to pass up the opportunity to say farewell to the 150s on my home territory! I'm mighty tempted to do a WMDR on Monday to get some more 150 mileage, indeed I might actually red pen 150216 finally. Going to take some doing now, what with the 172s getting in the way, but I might just find a 150 and stay with it as much as I can. We'll see, but those unable to do the 12th November, you've got the Great Escape starting soon so a perfect excuse to get to the Midlands for some 150 action before it's too late.

Will the last 3 LM keep be just for Marston Vale workings then? Not kept up too much with the gen there lately.

EDIT: I wonder what the odds are of Hereford seeing the farewell are? Since 150s were the staple traction on stuff to/from the Midlands for a long time, it would be most fitting. A lot of non-stop running available too, as Hereford to Ledbury is quite the distance and no intermediate stops. Not holding my breath on that one, but we'll see.

I've read that there will be two diagrams for the 3 remaining 150's, one Marston Vale diagram, and one diagram on the Snow Hill lines to keep Worcester crew's trained on the type, don't quote me on it though as its only information I've seen on here.

 

[Simon Poole]

I've read that there will be two diagrams for the 3 remaining 150's, one Marston Vale diagram, and one diagram on the Snow Hill lines to keep Worcester crew's trained on the type, don't quote me on it though as its only information I've seen on here.

I heard that one Unit will work the Marston Vale Line but the other Unit working the Birmingham NEW STREET to Hereford and the last unit keep to one side as a spare DMU

 

[newtownmgr]

Latest info received regarding LM 150's from DEC is as follows.

1 - Marston Vale.
1 - New st - Worcs - Hfd. (Starting from Worcs 06.28 to New st ending with
17.59 New st to Gt Malv. Diagram includes 2 trips Gt Malv & 2 Herefords).
1 - Spare TYS.

Also:

2 x 170/6 (3 cars). 07.35 Worcs SH - Dorridge - Snow Hill then ECS TYS.
1 x 170/6 + 153 13.17 Worcs SH - Dorridge then rest of diagram.

To release the 2 170/6 two former 3 car 170 diagrams will be 170/5 + 153
off Worcs.

 

[Simon Poole]

Latest info received regarding LM 150's from DEC is as follows.

1 - Marston Vale.
1 - New st - Worcs - Hfd. (Starting from Worcs 06.28 to New st ending with
17.59 New st to Gt Malv. Diagram includes 2 trips Gt Malv & 2 Herefords).
1 - Spare TYS.

Also:

2 x 170/6 (3 cars). 07.35 Worcs SH - Dorridge - Snow Hill then ECS TYS.
1 x 170/6 + 153 13.17 Worcs SH - Dorridge then rest of diagram.

To release the 2 170/6 two former 3 car 170 diagrams will be 170/5 + 153
off Worcs.

So will the Chase Line be still using 170/6?

 

[Class172]

So will the Chase Line be still using 170/6?

I think there will be a couple of 170/6 services, but as far as I'm aware, many are being reduced to a single 170/5.

 

[Simon Poole]

I think there will be a couple of 170/6 services, but as far as I'm aware, many are being reduced to a single 170/5.

so they could be a chance that the Chase Line might suffer again there always one on the Chase Line

Rugleley TV 1236 (A) 1306 (D) 1636 (A) 1642 (D) 1836 (A) 1846 (D)
Birmingham New Street 1139 (D) 1404 (A) 1407 (D to Walsall) 1539 (D) 1739 (D)

A = Arrival, D= Depart