It does the freight-only line to Cwmbargoed, Ninian Park-Radyr and a couple of odd bits. The main bulk of the Valleys work is covered by class 37-hauled PLPR trains, all now done by Network Rail under contract to TfW since they were transferred ownership of the Valley Lines.
Aye, I regularly photograph the tractors and have done for years.
They never were, they ran to and from Southampton for years. They were however barred any further east than Southampton towards Portsmouth, owing to possible “interface” isuses between platform edges and the bogie steps on the “new” cab end as I understand. As with some of the others areas from which they were banned, one did sneak through once and had to be trailored home I believe!
www.flickr.com
West of Wigan Wallgate??
Wigan Wallgate platforms themselves are the problem. When the 155's (as was then) were going to Steamport at Southport for door modifications in their early days (1987/8?) they had to be routed via the through non-platform loops at Wigan Wallgate both ways - these loops no longer are there so they can't go through the platform roads. There used to be diagrams on the Wigan-Leeds Northern services, if formed of a 2 car + 153 they went into Wigan NW.
The Northern 150's are having C6 overhauls done at Wolverton so I'd expect them to be around for a few years yet (my bold)
Yes, back in mid nineties 1995 to early 2002 etc , ie Regional Railways Norh West, North West Trains and First North Western days on the Lancaster to Carlisle via Barrrow, services, class 153 was quite common either singular or in pairs on the Cumbrian with 142 pacers as well,
Out of interest (and a bit of a tangent): Any idea what the modifications were? Presumably it was to provide clearance for the plug doors and steps.
Yeah, it was a 150 + 153 combo that went up to Treherbert. 153s aren’t allowed North of Radyr and obviously had a few minor modifications before it finally and slowly made it’s way back to Canton, stopping at each station to check the gauge.
Also worth pointing out that 'not cleared' in the Sectional Appendix is not the same as 'out of gauge'. There are many reasons why it may be preferable to get temporary clearance than to get something listed in the Sectional Appendix.
I believe in terms of Gunnislake though it is to do with the tightness of the curve at Calstock causing corridor / coupling issues.
I suspect this is what the mods were primarily related to (if needed, were these mods carried over to Dumbarton Central & Dalmuir I wonder). If 158s were to hypothetcially take over the WHL (or indeed the G&SW) in the medium term prior to new-build stock arriving, how extensive would the mods have to be to accomadate them?
Coaches have to have bars on the drop lights to prevent heads out of the windows.
I’ve literally been on a First Great Western one that was running there!They never were, they ran to and from Southampton for years. They were however barred any further east than Southampton towards Portsmouth, owing to possible “interface” isuses between platform edges and the bogie steps on the “new” cab end as I understand. As with some of the others areas from which they were banned, one did sneak through once and had to be trailored home I believe!
NR stable one of their modified track monitoring 153s at Eastleigh, so that also runs over DC routinely, although of course it may have received further modifications as part of its upgrade work of course.
Picture of a 153 at Southampton Central from Flickr:
View attachment 171245
Wessex Trains Class 153 153369 Southampton Central 5/8/05
On loan from Central Trains to Wessex Trains at the time.
No sorry Southampton. I was concurring that they used to go there but adding that one doesn’t even have to go back to BR times for that, as even in GWR days they were doing it before the transfer to Northern.To Pompey?!
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Having a look at the next couple days, it appears to do a few round trips around Slateford and Falkland S.S. before ending back at Slateford on the 4th. After that no further '2Q' paths appear for at least 2 weeks! So presume it's done then?Just spotted this at NCL heading towards Edinburgh - is this it's final run?
Realtime Trains | 2Q08 0605 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Slateford Depot | 29/01/2025
Real-time train running information for 2Q08 0605 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Slateford Depot on 29/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
it’s expected to do a few more runs in Scotland (not pathed yet) and then to Plymouth next week
Unfortunately I missed its last folly to south / West Wales then.
Unlikely to do so but never say never! 153s do all Eastleighs and Ferme Park runs now.
