reading to gatwick rolling stock

[big all]

I've just watched an episode of The Railway First Great Western.

The crew seemed to start from Reading on what looked like perhaps a class 150 (with end doors)b but the rest of the journey was on classes 165 or 166.

The question is, do they now use stock other than classes 165/166 on Reading to Gatwick services, or have they used such stock in recent years?

Also, are class 150 units based at Reading now, or have they been in recent years?

cheers

 

[JN114]

150001 and 150002 were based at Reading for a few years from 2012-2017; but they exclusively worked Basingstoke services.

Both have now migrated westward.

All Redhill/Gatwick services are in the hands of 165s and 166s; and have been since NSE days.

I suspect the programme was following a particular driver or guard; and their turn involved both Basingstoke and North Downs work.

 

[MML]

165 and 166 3-car units which are normally packed, especially with those carrying suitcases.
Often when late running, the service gets terminated at Redhill and the passengers with all their luggage get put on the Thameslink services to/from Gatwick.
The 769s can't come soon enough.

 

[Kite159]

Suburban 165s are the main-stay on that line (with the odd 166 thrown in). The luxurious 3+2 seating, hardly any tables (certainly no folding seat back tables if you wanted to place a hot drink), and not a lot of luggage space.

 

[pdeaves]

If the '150' had end doors it would not be 150001 or 150002. The filming could have bits spliced in from all over the place (e.g. Bristol, Westbury, Cardiff) where the end door 150/2 type works/worked.

 

[big all]

ok people thanks
was based at redhill and used to drive the turbos till 94 so understand that bit
i dont often go down the town but with the station in such a raised position and being quite observant was surpried to see older stock on tv that possibly could find its way to redhill
when i said end doors what i ment was corridor doors usable by gaurd and iff permitted passengers rather that within the cab on a 165/166

 

[Kite159]

If the '150' had end doors it would not be 150001 or 150002. The filming could have bits spliced in from all over the place (e.g. Bristol, Westbury, Cardiff) where the end door 150/2 type works/worked.

It depends, the 150/0s do have end doors, but they open inwards rather than the sliding type on the 2s.

 

[TEW]

Suburban 165s are the main-stay on that line (with the odd 166 thrown in). The luxurious 3+2 seating, hardly any tables (certainly no folding seat back tables if you wanted to place a hot drink), and not a lot of luggage space.

I will never understand why the much more suitable 166s were taken off the line to work the Severn Beach Line. The 3 car 165s should have been the first to go to Bristol.

 

[Fincra5]

It depends, the 150/0s do have end doors, but they open inwards rather than the sliding type on the 2s.

150001 has sliding doors. One of the prototypes wasn't it?

 

[pdeaves]

It depends, the 150/0s do have end doors, but they open inwards rather than the sliding type on the 2s.

Oh, I took 'end doors' to mean the corridor connectors.

 

[big all]

sorry my bad description

 

[Kite159]

150001 has sliding doors. One of the prototypes wasn't it?

My mistake, it's been too long since I last had one of the prototypes for sight

 

[Ken H]

could have been this...

 

[big all]

was that the metcamel one ??

could have been this...

 

[AlistairCowell]

was that the metcamel one ??

That's right, the Metro-Cammell Class 151. Two sets were built in 1985 and only ran in service for a few years.

 

[FGW_DID]

150001 has sliding doors. One of the prototypes wasn't it?

SCUD! Oh the nightmares

150001 & 002 were the prototypes and not only did they differ from the production series but differed to each other especially when it came to things like wiring!

 

[big all]

That's right, the Metro-Cammell Class 151. Two sets were built in 1985 and only ran in service for a few years.

reminds me off i think it is the hong kong metro

 

[317 forever]

Isn't this route due to go over to 769s eventually?

 

[swt_passenger]

Isn't this route due to go over to 769s eventually?

Yes definitely, but most of the existing discussion is in the various other 769 related threads.

 

[sprinterguy]

I will never understand why the much more suitable 166s were taken off the line to work the Severn Beach Line. The 3 car 165s should have been the first to go to Bristol.

The 166s are ultimately replacing 158s on Cardiff - Portsmouth; introducing them on the Severn Beach line was at least partially an interim measure until the 2-car 165s were available to accompany them, as well as consolidating one 3-car fleet at St Phillips Marsh.

 

[big all]

ok just found the offending episode just looks like bad edditing from reading 150 to 166 to redhill in 1 min flat
minuite 21
https://uktvplay.uktv.co.uk/shows/the-railway-first-great-western-1/watch-online/5851652365001