RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted April 4, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 4, 2023 Seconded. My main field of interest is the Canton sets that were such a major part of my working life in the mid-70s, but I am delighted that someone of clearly considerable erudition in the matter has taken up the baton from Chris. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevebr Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 Wonderful to see this continue 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pteremy Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 On 03/04/2023 at 21:44, EddieK said: I suspect that much of Chris’ source information originated in Railway Observer, and I admit that I have not been a subscriber to said publication. The Railcar website is very comprehensive. But if you were so inclined the RCTS has digitised all the volumes of the RO. Prior to 2012 they can be purchased (as a 1 year volume) in pdf format. (Not sure if you have to be a member to do this.) I also note that they have just published a book on 1st generation DMUs. I think that keeping the thread going is a fitting tribute to Chris, so thank you for doing that. But when it was in its infancy I did suggest that the curated information would merit a more permanent home/archive. I still think that is worth considering - maybe the Railcar website is an appropriate place. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted April 8, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 8, 2023 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieK Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 (edited) 1988 Western Region Compared with the quantity of Class 116 vehicles in use on the region at the start of 1987, the fleet was significantly reduced as at January 1988 and it remained relatively stable for the year. A survey on 6th June found the following sets: - (L = London area, C = Cardiff area) L307 53083 53820 2x Brakes, had been in Parcels use but returned to passenger use mid 1988. C360 53080 53122 C362 53086 53128 C365 53089 53131 C375 53855 59561 53908 Metro Cammell Trailer C377 53858 59539 53911 Metro Cammell Trailer C390 51128 51141 C391 51132 51145 C392 51134 51147 C393 51135 51148 C394 51139 51152 C395 51140 51153 C985 53624 59039 51509 Class 108 / 116 / 101 hybrid, 59039 supposedly allocated to Landore The Class 116 power twins shown above had no toilets, and in theory were for use on the Valley Lines network where Class 150/2 Sprinters provided most of the service, but I have seen evidence of Cardiff - Hereford and even Cardiff - Shrewsbury workings; leg crossing time, methinks… Another snapshot of the fleet at 18th August found C375 and C377 reduced to power twins, and the sole Class 116 centre trailer in a Landore set with Class 108 power cars: S947 53942 59039 51567 By the end of 1988, the only casualty was 59039, withdrawn from Landore 3/11/88. Eastern Region During 1987, Heaton had gathered together a collection of other depots’ cast off DMU vehicles, including two Class 116 triple sets ex Cardiff to assist in providing a service while the Class 143 Pacer fleet had a reliability. er, blip…. By 1988, it looks as if Class 143 reliability had improved. On 10th March the following Class 116 vehicles moved from Heaton to Chester: - 53847 53856 53900 53909 59364 A snapshot of the Heaton allocation in July found supposedly 24 sets designated “Power Twin / Triple” with a selection of mostly Metro Cammell power cars, and a collection of five centre trailers of classes 101, 116, 118, 119. The Class 116 vehicle remaining was 59040. By December 1988, the fleet of Class 101 Power Twin sets was reduced to eight while 59040 was listed as “spare”, presumably it made occasional forays by augmenting one of these sets. (59040 was obviously a useful vehicle at Heaton as it remained on the allocation there until mid 1990). London Midland Region Bletchley This depot started the year with a solitary Class 116 trailer, 59367, which had been running in a four car set during 1987. By January 1988, the set had been reduced to three cars: 53628 - 59367 - 51570 This vehicle migrated to Tyseley in May 1988 and eventually took up residence within one of the T400 series hybrid four car sets. Chester This depot began the year with eight Class 116 vehicles, and five more vehicles arrived from Heaton in March. By the end of the year, all of these vehicles would be withdrawn. As at February, the units were formed: - 53824 53906 Non Gangwayed set 53904 59054 53910 Class 101 Trailer Brake Van 53081 59120 53123 Class 101 Trailer 53051 53072 Parcels unit, 2x Motor Brakes See above for the five vehicles that moved from Heaton to Chester in March, giving a fleet size of thirteen though this did not last for long and by June there were three power twin units : - CH297 53081 53904 CH298 53847 53910 CH299 53856 53909 Reference to the railcar website has found these sets typically used on the Chester - Hooton shuttles, where their lack of toilets would not be too much of a problem. By October, only CH297 remained, but this was withdrawn at the end of the month. A few Class 116 vehicles would appear in Chester’s allocation for a couple of months in Autumn 1989, but I am getting ahead of myself…. Newton Heath The year began with twenty eight Class 116 vehicles allocated. The fleet was bolstered by three ex Cardiff trailer cars being reinstated along with five vehicles transferring across from Tyseley. To counter this, however, the Class 116 fleet was cut back during the year to leave only seven vehicles at the end of December. A snap shot in February found these Class 116 units: - Non-Gangwayed 53078 53109 53059 53117 53870 53923 Gangwayed 53087 59037 53129 53091 59041 53133 53839 59433 53857 Class 119 Trailer Buffet; 2x Brakes 53842 59527 53895 Class 101 Trailer (Confusingly, the two power cars were seen by me, operating from Tyseley in January 1988….) 53843 53896 53848 53901 53862 59528 53872 Class 101 Trailer 53866 59114 53887 Class 101 Trailer 53867 59372 53920 Plain Blue livery 53869 59035 53922 As the year progressed, some Class 116 vehicles were withdrawn (see Withdrawals list, below). A small number of vehicles were transferred here from Tyseley, but a couple of these were withdrawn almost immediately. By mid July, the Class 116 fleet at the depot comprised two hybrid triples, three power twins and a new concept, gangwayed Class 116 Motor Brakes running with Metro Cammell Driving Trailers…. Hybrid Triple N358 53867 59114 53920 Plain Blue motor coaches, Blue/Grey Class 101 trailer N361 53839 59433 53922 Class 119 Trailer Buffet Power Twin N650 53059 53117 N651 53078 53109 N652 53870 53923 Hybrid - Cl 101 Driving Trailer N619 53087 54398 N620 53091 54381 N621 53843 54219 N622 53848 54071 N623 53857 54375 N624 53869 54408 By the end of October, the two plain blue Class 116 motor coaches were in Berry’s scrap yard and of the July list, only N619 - 623 sets remained, with a few odd coaches spare. A final stock take in December found only seven Class 116 vehicles at the depot: - Hybrid - Cl 101 Driving Trailer N621 53843 54219 N622 53848 54071 N623 53857 54375 Power Twin N683 53866 53887 N684 53869 53922 Getting slightly ahead of myself, Newton Heath would end its relationship with Class 116 three months later, with four vehicles withdrawn but three moving to Cardiff! An oddity in the history of Class 116s at Newton Heath was the transfer of 53887 to Buxton in May, with it returning in October. I have no information as to what it did when it was based there. Tyseley In 1987, you may recall how the previously (relatively) stable Class 116 fleet gained vehicles (mostly from ScotRail), lost vehicles either to the scrap man or to other depots, and became mixed-up as part of the creation of the T400 series hybrid four car sets, with a number of temporary formations thrown in as part of the process. By February 1988, the shape of the fleet for the next few years was becoming clear. The old faithful “500” series sets (non-gangwayed) that remained were soon to be withdrawn, the “600” series (introduced 1983) gangwayed sets still in existence were to be partly absorbed into the “400” series hybrid four car sets, and three car suburban sets were adopting a new “300” set number series. Confused? Here’s a snapshot dated 5th February. Class 116 vehicles underlined. T200 Power Twin T207 53842 53895 (These vehicles also shown as allocated to Newton Heath…..) T300 Suburban Triple (Gangwayed + Lav) T306 51369 59521 53873 Class 117 set, 53873 temporarily in place of 51411 T319 51129 59756 51149 T320 51138 59720 53890 T321 53854 59723 53907 T322 53071 59760 53880 T323 53818 59724 53093 T324 53053 59672 53101 T325 53060 59757 51142 T326 53822 59668 53881 T331 51133 59595 53090 Two brake vans T332 53865 59598 53073 Two brake vans T333 53082 59617 51131 Two brake vans T334 53054 59596 51136 Two brake vans T335 53844 59674 53827 Two brake vans T336 53849 59721 51130 Two brake vans T337 53853 59751 53838 Two brake vans T338 53050 59722 53058 Two brake vans T339 53850 59597 53863 Two brake vans T340 53826 59719 53837 Two brake vans T341 53061 59753 53079 Two brake vans T359 53866 59114 53887 Class 101 trailer T500 Suburban Triple (Non Gangwayed) T505 53065 59638 53121 T511 53832 59649 53913 T512 53063 59642 53119 T513 53077 59650 53120 T522 53833 59714 53100 T526 53070 59626 53095 T600 Suburban Triple (Gangwayed + Lav) T611 53055 59611 53116 T620 53056 59612 53878 T400 Suburban Quad (Gangwayed + Lav) T401 51662 59743 59610 53886 T402 51851 59658 59614 51146 T403 51852 59641 59616 53106 T404 51853 59604 59445 53919 T405 51854 59726 59615 51143 T406 51856 59606 59344 53132 T407 51858 59594 59442 53916 T408 51859 59448 59592 53114 T409 51860 59600 59375 53894 T410 51862 59602 59713 53124 T412 51867 59446 59591 53102 T413 51868 59632 59593 53902 T414 51869 59661 59613 51144 T415 51870 59589 59353 53921 T416 51876 59609 59648 53891 T417 51877 59603 59444 53893 T419 51884 59629 59590 51151 T420 51892 59032 59607 53092 T422 51898 59608 59335 53897 T800 Suburban Quad (Non-Gangwayed + Lav) T802 51865 59748 59636 53914 Stored awaiting material: 53825 (Subsequently withdrawn without re-entering traffic) Stored Unserviceable at Crewe: 59330 As an illustration of how things were changing at Tyseley, a month later the above list had the following changes: - Sets disbanded: T611, T620, T802 New set: T342 53055 59673 53056 Two brake vans This new set included the two Motor Brakes previously in T611 and T620 New set: T418 51880 59643 59611 53116 (Last two vehicles ex T611) New set: T421 51897 59741 59612 53878 (Last two vehicles ex T620) 53873 had been taken out of T306 set, where it had stood in for the “proper” Motor Second vehicle, and gone on to stand in for 53893 in T417. 53893 was awaiting material. By early April, there was only one of the long-serving T500 sets still in traffic, T511 (see above), also the final Suburban Quad had been formed: - T411 51865 59625 59597 53873 Note that 53873 was in its “proper” set and 53893 was back in T417. Also, to release 59597 for T411, set T339 was reformed with 59670 as centre car. The Tyseley fleet of Class 116s had, by around mid 1988 reached a fairly steady state, with the last of the non-gangwayed Class 116 triples leaving the depot allocation in May; the power cars went to Newton Heath where they only lasted a short while before withdrawal, and the Class 115 trailer went for scrap. The remaining triple sets were all gangwayed, with T319 - T326 being “correctly” formed and T331 - T342 being formed with two brake vans. The hybrid Suburban Quad sets all had Class 116 Motor Seconds at the opposite end to the Class 115 Motor Brakes, and there were odd Class 116 trailers to be found. One Class 116 trailer of note was 59367, which had been the lone Class 116 vehicle at Bletchley; upon arrival at Tyseley it displaced 59375 out of T409 set and on its way to the scrapyard. When new, the Tyseley Class 116 fleet had been mainly used on local services, as befitting their non-gangwayed, high density seating layout. By 1988, the remaining vehicles not only operated local services in the West Midlands but also longer distance timetabled weekend services to destinations including Skegness, Scarborough and Yarmouth. They also formed Football specials and excursions, which seems a little at odds with their “suburban” design. The overall reduction in Class 116 units at Tyseley had been caused by an influx of Class 117 and 118 units from the “Provincial” (i.e. not London) area of the Western Region, including the celebrity Western Region Chocolate and Cream set B430, which became T305, but that is another story. Class 116 Withdrawals 53051 CH 12/6/88 53052 TS 17/1/88 53059 NH 6/11/88 53063 TS 31/3/88 53065 TS 12/3/88 53070 TS 31/3/88 53072 CH 12/6/88 53077 TS 16/5/88 53078 NH 6/11/88 53081 CH 30/10/88 53087 NH 6/11/88 53091 NH 6/11/88 53095 TS 31/3/88 53100 TS 7/2/88 53108 NH 17/1/88 53109 NH 6/11/88 53112 TS 3/1/88 53117 NH 6/11/88 53119 TS 31/3/88 53120 TS 13/5/88 53121 TS 12/3/88 53123 CH 12/6/88 53129 NH 19/6/88 53133 NH 2/6/88 53819 NH 17/1/88 53824 CH 12/6/88 53825 TS 19/6/88 53832 NH 17/7/88 See Transfers 53833 TS 7/2/88 53839 NH 18/9/88 53842 NH 17/7/88 53847 CH 6/11/88 See Transfers 53856 CH 2/10/88 See Transfers 53862 NH 30/10/88 53867 NH 30/10/88 Plain Blue livery 53870 NH 6/11/88 53871 TS 17/1/88 53872 NH 19/6/88 53895 NH 30/10/88 See Transfers 53896 NH 2/6/88 53900 CH 12/6/88 See Transfers 53901 NH 2/6/88 53904 CH 30/10/88 53906 CH 12/6/88 53909 CH 2/10/88 See Transfers 53910 CH 6/11/88 53913 NH 2/6/88 See Transfers 53914 TS 27/3/88 53920 NH 30/10/88 Plain Blue livery 53923 NH 6/11/88 59035 Reinstated NH 17/1/88 59035 NH 2/6/88 59037 Reinstated NH 17/1/88 59037 NH 2/6/88 59039 LE 3/11/88 59041 Reinstated NH 17/1/88 59041 NH 2/6/88 59345 TS 17/1/88 59364 CH 21/3/88 See Transfers 59372 NH 2/6/88 Plain Blue livery 59374 TS 17/1/88 59375 TS 19/6/88 Class 116 Transfers 53083 OO Parcels to Passenger use 7/88 53820 OO Parcels to Passenger use 7/88 53832 TS - NH 11/5/88 See Withdrawals 53847 HT - CH 10/3/88 See Withdrawals 53856 HT - CH 10/3/88 See Withdrawals 53866 TS - NH 2/10/88 53887 TS - NH 11/5/88 53887 NH - BX 17/5/88 53887 BX - NH 2/10/88 53895 TS - NH 10/7/88 See Withdrawals 53900 HT - CH 10/3/88 See Withdrawals 53909 HT - CH 10/3/88 See Withdrawals 53913 TS - NH 11/5/88 See Withdrawals 59364 HT - CH 10/3/88 See Withdrawals 59367 BY - TS 10/5/88 Edited April 20, 2023 by EddieK Highlighting the headings in bold text to make them more obvious 5 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj_crisp Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Thanks for posting! Useful info. I've thought modelling 53867/59372/53920 seeing as think they're about the last BR Blue examples on the network. One thing I wasn't sure about is if they had gangways fitted or not near their end. I see you've marked them as having gangways so thanks for that info. Cheers Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 08221 Posted April 21, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2023 Great update, thanks @EddieK! Here are a couple of poor photos of mine of the 108/116 3 car combo on the branch at Bow Brickhill heading for Bedford. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted April 22, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 22, 2023 Really glad @EddieK has carried on with this. Especially liked the info on Tyseley sets in mid 1980s as I well remember travelling on the Cross City line then. There seemed to be very varied sets, including using 121 or 122 bubble cars in place of motor cars and the ex Cardiff sets with valley line logos and maps inside. Interesting seeing actual set formations including some sets formed with 2 DMBS - just like the Lima models 😉 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted April 22, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 22, 2023 I have a tyseley set under construction, with ex 115 or 127 trailer. After this a rebuild of B430 and then 5 HD sets done. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 On 02/03/2023 at 12:17, The Stationmaster said: But while the Southern region used red blonds on its DEMUs The Southern region being an early advocate of equality and diversity? 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 On 27/02/2023 at 13:07, Halvarras said: I assume you are referring to the RailAir Express Parcels W51137/50, as converted at Newton Abbot in 1969 - according to the 1969 Ian Allan Combined Volume they were not gangwayed RailCar says: Quote To operate the service the two power cars and two GUVs were converted at Newton Abbot. The GUVs were wired for DMU operation and had strengthened floors to accommodate consignments on pallets or in BRUTE trolleys. The power cars had their seats removed, and could take larger packages not suitable for bulking in BRUTES or for palletisation. Does "seats removed" mean the same as "not gangwayed"? https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-116/railair-express-parcels 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 Here's a Class 118 I used to be on, to go to school and back. In winter time, with a high tide and an offshore wind, waves would break over the roof of the Down platform (on the right) and land on the Up platform (on the left). As school children, we thought it was all hilarious, with us cheering-on the station staff. As they peered through a crack in the office door, waiting for the right moment for a run along the Up platform in between the waves. Copyright (C) RailCar and David Mant. https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/18843 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted April 22, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 22, 2023 45 minutes ago, KeithMacdonald said: RailCar says: Does "seats removed" mean the same as "not gangwayed"? https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-116/railair-express-parcels The 116s were non-gangwayed when built. Since the references say only seats removed, it must be assumed that they remained non-gangwayed, or one assumes it would have said so. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted April 22, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 22, 2023 3 hours ago, KeithMacdonald said: The Southern region being an early advocate of equality and diversity? Not so much a red blind as 'red and stop that or you'll go blind' (ok, I'll just do it til I'm short-sighted, then). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted April 22, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 22, 2023 (edited) Railcar has a page on the various mods over the years inc. gangways. https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-116/modifications Says WR vehicles fitted 1968-70 but I doubt they would have bothered with the Parcels cars as they were not in normal passenger use. Edited April 22, 2023 by keefer 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halvarras Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 5 hours ago, KeithMacdonald said: RailCar says: Does "seats removed" mean the same as "not gangwayed"? https://www.railcar.co.uk/type/class-116/railair-express-parcels Had the vehicles concerned (W51137/50 initially, followed by W50819/62/72/915) had gangways fitted they would have been retained in passenger service - in parcels service the gangways would have been redundant as the two GUVS (W86174/572) were never so equipped - here's W86174 back in normal (loco-hauled) parcels service at Bristol Temple Meads c. October 1984 shortly after becoming TOPS-compliant W93174 - I wasn't in the habit of photographing GUVs but, having often seen the '128+GUV+116' combos at Reading in the 1970s, recognized the number and significance of this one (is that the former MU bracket below the buffer?): I had hankered after doing one of those Reading sets as they were an interesting mix of vehicles, although not really relevant to my favoured modelling location so I resisted........until one day Hattons offered a mint pre-owned Heljan Class 128 in the correct livery/configuration for an inexplicable £46 "with loose detailing" (didn't they all come like that anyway?!) and my resistance crumbled.....so still in my long paint queue is this Lima Class 117-to-116 DMBS conversion clearly with no seats - oval buffers identify it as W50862 - and 'wired' Lima GUV on Bachmann B1 bogies, which will be W86174 (the body is on the lean as it's not clipped to the chassis pending a repaint - these things are difficult to take apart without damage, I broke off one of the lower corner stanchions so I only wanted to do it once!) I was lucky enough to order a '128' parts sprue from Howes not long before they stopped being the UK Heljan agents which included both bufferbeams and all four bogie sideframes, so these - glued to a pair of old MTK plastic coach bogie stretchers - were used to upgrade the Lima underframe, together with Hornby 12.6mm disc wheels and Lima Class 101 bogie steps: Hopefully this summer I'll figure out where I can permanently set up my airbrush gear without having to pack it all away every time, as I have had to in the past, so I can begin chewing through that paint queue at last......... 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted April 22, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 22, 2023 5 minutes ago, Halvarras said: is that the former MU bracket below the buffer? Certainly looks like it, bracket with a hole for wiring of each of the two control jumpers. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieK Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 8 hours ago, Ramblin Rich said: Really glad @EddieK has carried on with this. Especially liked the info on Tyseley sets in mid 1980s as I well remember travelling on the Cross City line then. There seemed to be very varied sets, including using 121 or 122 bubble cars in place of motor cars and the ex Cardiff sets with valley line logos and maps inside. Interesting seeing actual set formations including some sets formed with 2 DMBS - just like the Lima models 😉 As I recall, the use of a bubble car vehicle in place of a power car in a suburban triple was common practice both at Reading and Tyseley. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted April 22, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 22, 2023 3 hours ago, EddieK said: As I recall, the use of a bubble car vehicle in place of a power car in a suburban triple was common practice both at Reading and Tyseley. I recall glimpsing a data panel on a vab front that had been embellished with "Class 121i Ghia" (in the days when the lads wanted an XR3i) 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold franciswilliamwebb Posted April 23, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 23, 2023 Tyseley set T322 (M53071/M59760/M53880) at Sutton Coldfield with a cross-city service to Longbridge via Birmingham New Street on 23/12/87. This is a gangwayed Class 116 set with a Class 115 TS(L) in the middle. Class 116 DMBS M53071 at Sutton Coldfield on 23/12/87 (my photo) Class 115 TS(L) M59760 at Sutton Coldfield on 23/12/87 (my photo) Class 116 DMS M53880 at Sutton Coldfield on 23/12/87 (my photo) 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidlandRed Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 On 22/04/2023 at 20:01, Halvarras said: Had the vehicles concerned (W51137/50 initially, followed by W50819/62/72/915) had gangways fitted they would have been retained in passenger service - in parcels service the gangways would have been redundant as the two GUVS (W86174/572) were never so equipped - here's W86174 back in normal (loco-hauled) parcels service at Bristol Temple Meads c. October 1984 shortly after becoming TOPS-compliant W93174 - I wasn't in the habit of photographing GUVs but, having often seen the '128+GUV+116' combos at Reading in the 1970s, recognized the number and significance of this one (is that the former MU bracket below the buffer?): I had hankered after doing one of those Reading sets as they were an interesting mix of vehicles, although not really relevant to my favoured modelling location so I resisted........until one day Hattons offered a mint pre-owned Heljan Class 128 in the correct livery/configuration for an inexplicable £46 "with loose detailing" (didn't they all come like that anyway?!) and my resistance crumbled.....so still in my long paint queue is this Lima Class 117-to-116 DMBS conversion clearly with no seats - oval buffers identify it as W50862 - and 'wired' Lima GUV on Bachmann B1 bogies, which will be W86174 (the body is on the lean as it's not clipped to the chassis pending a repaint - these things are difficult to take apart without damage, I broke off one of the lower corner stanchions so I only wanted to do it once!) I was lucky enough to order a '128' parts sprue from Howes not long before they stopped being the UK Heljan agents which included both bufferbeams and all four bogie sideframes, so these - glued to a pair of old MTK plastic coach bogie stretchers - were used to upgrade the Lima underframe, together with Hornby 12.6mm disc wheels and Lima Class 101 bogie steps: Hopefully this summer I'll figure out where I can permanently set up my airbrush gear without having to pack it all away every time, as I have had to in the past, so I can begin chewing through that paint queue at last......... By way of clarification, 51137/51150 were withdrawn and scrapped from WR parcels service in the early 1970s - they’d spent a brief period on the ScR also. The others (50819/62/72/915) were all returned to passenger service in 1977 at Tyseley - seemingly without gangways - 50862/72 were in one of the first Tyseley sets given gangways to operate with redundant ex ER class 101 trailers in the early 80s. All info from Railcar.co.uk. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 Many thanks for picking this up, it's a fantastic resource and positive legacy for Chris. The gen on Tyseley's pick and mix formations is a Godsend. My experience of Tyseley's Random Unit Generator XL on the Cross City was more from 1990 onwards when I got a job at Centro in Birmingham, but the real anarchy started in 1993 when the go-slightly-faster triple power car lash-ups were slotted in between geriatric Class 304 and the West Yorkshire liveried 308s, plus a few 310s, to try and keep some sort of service going whilst the 323s went on strike. I remember one peak hour service to Four Oaks turning up at BNS as the two car class 119, which already had fewer seats and a larger guard's van reducing the capacity to cope with a huge crowd on the platform. Suffice it to say it was already behind time, the guard could barely open the door there were so many wedged in the van, so I gave it a swerve. I bet that was fun on the slog out of Gravelly Hill. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted April 24, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 24, 2023 I do remember travelling around Cardiff with one of the last 116 power twins. The Barry 3 car was driven properly with gaps in gear changing for making it last better. The 2 car power twin was being power shifted, no letting off throttle, just change gear. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieK Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 On 23/04/2023 at 09:30, franciswilliamwebb said: Class 115 TS(L) M59760 at Sutton Coldfield on 23/12/87 (my photo) 59760 betrays its origins as a TCL as the far end saloon (5 bays) still has the headrest sides from being First Class. As an aside, the new-to Allerton Class 115 vehicles had similar side sections on the second class headrests. 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj_crisp Posted September 15, 2023 Share Posted September 15, 2023 I'm just modelling this unit https://www.railcar.co.uk/images/20702 And I'm not sure what's written on the set number in the bottom left window. I assume top left is TS with 702 at the bottom. Does anyone know whats written top right to the right of the TS? Thanks Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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