Eagle
Established Member
Is the performance of the 150 that much worse than the 166 ii though they were pretty sluggish.
150 has a top speed of 75; 166 has a top speed of 90.
Is the performance of the 150 that much worse than the 166 ii though they were pretty sluggish.
I've noticed as well 001 & 002 are on paper based at Reading (RG). Is this just for operational purposes in order to get training etc. done before they start timetable workings on the Reading-Basingstoke route, or is it permanent? Just seems strange just 2 of their fleet are based at Reading, with the rest shared between Bristol St Phillips Marsh & Exeter.
150 has a top speed of 75; 166 has a top speed of 90.
Ok, what is the line speed between Reading & Basingstoke?
75, it seems... maybe the extra minutes are to do with 150s' poorer acceleration compared to 166s then.
Just seems to me as well, FGW have gone out of their way to make these 2 units *special*, seeing as they are the 2 pioneer/prototype Class 150 units. Lets hope then they look after them, & don't run them into the ground, let them go all shabby etc.
Ok, what is the line speed between Reading & Basingstoke?
I think as they are both different they are keeping them at reading. It was seen as an effective use of two 'oddballs' within the 150 fleet.
Even at a 150 depot i think they are different mechanically so it isn't that big a deal.
I noticed on their website FGW issued a revised timetable 6 for Reading - Basingstoke from 6 Feb. I've not compared them in great detail, but it looks as though some end to end times have been extended by a minute for the 150s?
I wouldnt for another week or two - whether or not this is true, but the 17th seems to have been mooted, presumably until the arrival of 002.
Though FGW seems to have lived up to one statement on the poster, we do seem to be getting more 3 car operated services now, with 165117 & 165114 (3 cars) both out and about on the branch over the last couple of days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl3eIxkqpZY
Now reformed 3 Car 150127 out and about on the Cardiff to Paignton service.
There seems to be confusion over 165s and 166s. Yes, 166s have a top speed of 90, but it is 165s that do the Reading Basingstoke, which have top speed of 75
I think they were upgraded upon construction, if that makes sense...Oh right. Were the 165/1s always 90mph, or were they upgraded?
I think they were upgraded upon construction, if that makes sense...
That does make sense as to why I thought they were 75...
It's interesting the (former) drivers door on the 150/2 centre car wasn't repainted pink like all the other doors, as it can be used as a normal door from now on (central painted it yellow). Do we know why this is? Also why does the 150/2 centre car retain its snow plough?
Should be a 150 out every day this week on the normal diagram.
Would either of the 150's be running this weekend?
I've seen 150121 nearly every day this past week - it's haunting me! Saw it last Wednesday at 17:00 at CDF, then again today at 0700 at NWP, and numerous places inbetween.
So they'll operate the line they've been acquired for M-F, do a fairly lengthy ECD transfer Friday night, run around Bristol for the weekend, then run ECS back to Reading on Sunday night?No 150 use planned at weekends on Reading-Basingstoke services at all. Same is true after about 2100 each day. In the long term the two 150s are planned to be used in the Bristol area at weekends.