Network rail take on class 153s?

[beast66606]

Eccles Road

07 October 2021

153376 on 2Z10, 12:35, Derby R.T.C.(NETWORK Rail) - Norwich Stn C.S.D. (17:19)

(and 158788 on 1R80, 15:48, Norwich - Nottingham (18:46)- vice Liverpool Lime Street (21:30) which was having problems)

 

[woodenhead]

If you are going to run the thing in EM territory, you should at least paint it a different colour or slap a big Network Rail sticker on the side.

 

Just looks like a local unit trundling about to a layman 

[St. Simon]

1 hour ago, beast66606 said:

Eccles Road

07 October 2021

153376 on 2Z10, 12:35, Derby R.T.C.(NETWORK Rail) - Norwich Stn C.S.D. (17:19)

(and 158788 on 1R80, 15:48, Norwich - Nottingham (18:46)- vice Liverpool Lime Street (21:30) which was having problems)

 

 

Hi,

 

They look a lot like Omnicom PVP cameras and lasers on the front and rear, we might be able to get some cheap surveys done now!

 

Simon 

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, woodenhead said:

If you are going to run the thing in EM territory, you should at least paint it a different colour or slap a big Network Rail sticker on the side.

 

Just looks like a local unit trundling about to a layman 

 

And even more confusing to the locals with the Norwich destination blind!

 

(Passengers trying to board test trains isn't a new thing according to Mr Tilt and his tales of the APT)

[adb968008]

Pretty sure this little thing made history today…

 

its run up the brighton mainline, past Redhill and upto Clapham Junction…

i’m not aware of any other time any Sprinter has been through East Croydon, on the Redhill - Clapham section.

its stabled in the Pig Hill sidings at Clapham tonight, just beyond p16/17.

I didnt even know they were still connected.

 

Tomorrow its venturing up around all the Southern Metro lines (Tattenham, Caterham, Epsom Downs and both the Sutton lines, but not Wimbledon), friday its doing the Epsom line too and stabling from Brighton.

 

if your a fan of Purley it will visit 8 times tomorrow, and Coulsdon town 6 times ! Plus two daytime trips to London Bridge !

 

 

seen here tonight speeding through Coulsdon south..(apparently the destination is Cleethorpes!)

 

To an untrained eye, it could bring flash backs of 455’s.

 

weve had 37’s on PLPR and 73’s on the other NR test train, and occasionally the NR 313 in the past, I guess the demise of the 313 has produced this…

Edited July 19, 2023 by adb968008

[adb968008]

More history this morning and the 153 has been to Epsom Downs…

 

In this spot in 3 years there will be a 12 coach siding built to the right.. costing £14mn serving an unmanned station that currently has just 50k return trips a year…

Belmont station, one of Londons least used stations.

 

also seen at Banstead.. a remote isolated station in the wilds, there actually was a passenger here in this mornings rush hour... the postman going back to depot. 

 

The hidden risk here is Belmont is right on Greater London’s boundary, and within in TFL rails grip.. if that happens Belmont may someday become the end of the line, as Banstead and Epsom Downs produce equally little business, but are outside Greater London.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by adb968008

[adb968008]

Continuing its own mini Chessie-Ned railtour the 153 made history as the first Sprinter to Caterham.. (DMUs have visted before, indeed 2 weeks back the Thumper was here).

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by adb968008

[adb968008]

Consensus amongst those Ive spoken to is 950001 has been Reading to Tonbridge via Redhill, 156502 went to Dover via South Eastern lines, and of course 159’s every hour go via the LSW. GWR 158’s have done Gatwick via Redhill, but no data on any sprinter on the BML or its metro lines north of Redhill, south of Clapham until last night / today.

 

One more at Caterham…

 

 

The 153 is making up for that, here is Woodmansterne, on the Tattenham corner branch…

 

 

tbh stripping out the juice, and running 1 car 153 may make sense than an 8 car Electrostar on these lines… Woodmansterne is another station on a branch that the world left behind. What its long term chances are is unknown, theres a very tall brick bridge (c30m tall) thats near its end just north of Chipstead with a speed restriction, replacing that would be an expensive challenge, most of this line is 30 mph…

 

Extremely picturesque though, high gradient up alongside a valley, into a forest, through a tunnel emerging onto the top of Surrey Downs... to think this is still inside London…

 

if Heritage EMUs became a “thing”, both these branches would be ideal candidates.

Edited July 20, 2023 by adb968008

[uax6]

The observant will note that the NR 153's have had their footboards removed, which increase their route availablity, and mean that the NR three (311/376 &385) can go places the others can't.

 

Andy G

[adb968008]

After a spin to Epsom downs this morning from the Mitcham lines, this afternoon was the West Croydon lines turn..

 

Seen here at Carshalton Beeches

 

 

The footbridge here is on borrowed time. It’s cracked / rusted out and propped up by sleepers. It’s complicated by its position of emptying into the booking hall at half bridge height level. According to staff it’s £3mn Network Rail doesnt have to replace. (They spent the money on a £14mn siding for a barely used station at Belmont instead).

[adb968008]

So after some digging today…

 

950001 (RTCs Sprinter) travelled Selhurst to Brighton on 17th, 18th and 19th Jan 2011 running up and down the BML to both London Victoria and London Bridge, via Selhurst and Norwood Junction.

It arrived from Derby on Jan 10th and had also done a number of SE workings to kent etc, and been based from HG.

 

so this is only the second time for a Sprinter on the London end of the BML.

 

its looking like a first time for the Southern Metro lines however (covered today).

Tomorrow its heading through Epsom to Sutton (also new territory for Sprinter kind).

 

 

 

 

[6990WitherslackHall]

Here's my photos of 153376 at York on two different days.

 

26/05/23 - stabled in York parcel sidings opposite platform 11. The DRS Class 66 next to the 'skateboard' is 66422 Max Joule 1958-1999

 

 

 

16/06/23 - About to depart from platform 9. The same 66 from before is in the background.

 

[John M Upton]

It turned up at Barnham earlier this week and apparently is spending the night in Brighton Wall Sidings!!

[adb968008]

Tomorrows itiniery

 

Brighton - Bognor - Horsham - Redhill - Tonbridge - Guildford - Epsom - Sutton - Tulse Hill - London Bridge

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R06222/2023-07-21/detailed

then return as outward as far as Redhill, then Littlehampton and back to Brighton.

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R06223/2023-07-21/detailed

 

Saturday

 

A spin up to East Croydon and Back, the Littlehampton and Horsham.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R01020/2023-07-22/detailed

followed by a run to Kensington Olympia via Epsom and Wimbledon

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R01022/2023-07-22/detailed

 

Then To Alton and reverse to Eastleigh down the LSWR

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R01024/2023-07-22/detailed

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by adb968008

[phil-b259]

On 20/07/2023 at 15:52, adb968008 said:

After a spin to Epsom downs this morning from the Mitcham lines, this afternoon was the West Croydon lines turn..

 

Seen here at Carshalton Beeches

 

 

The footbridge here is on borrowed time. It’s cracked / rusted out and propped up by sleepers. It’s complicated by its position of emptying into the booking hall at half bridge height level. According to staff it’s £3mn Network Rail doesnt have to replace. (They spent the money on a £14mn siding for a barely used station at Belmont instead).

That £14 million for Belmont was a specific grant from the DfT that is ring fenced and can only be spent on the extra siding at Belmont.

 

As even if NR wanted to divert the monies they legally cannot do so!

Granted you might want to why the DfT want to waste money on frivolous schemes while the core infrastructure rots… but that’s not NRs doing.

 

Its the same with the roads - West Sussex CC are busy conversing loads of footpaths to dual use cycling facilities which is causing considerable anger given the months of traffic chaos and a distinct lack loads of cyclists plus a distinct lack of maintenance when it comes to the parts of the road used by motor vehicles.
 

What many people don’t understand is that the funding for all this is also coming directly from the DfT with the proviso it must be spent on upgrading cycling / walking facilities. No doubt the CC see it as a useful vehicle to get footpaths re-surfaced for free - and to some extent it’s the same with NR where some projects which seem a bit silly are getting pushed forward because they are a useful opportunity to get minor works done as part of the package.

[adb968008]

10 minutes ago, phil-b259 said:

That £14 million for Belmont was a specific grant from the DfT that is ring fenced and can only be spent on the extra siding at Belmont.

 

As even if NR wanted to divert the monies they legally cannot do so!

Granted you might want to why the DfT want to waste money on frivolous schemes while the core infrastructure rots… but that’s not NRs doing.

 

Its the same with the roads - West Sussex CC are busy conversing loads of footpaths to dual use cycling facilities which is causing considerable anger given the months of traffic chaos and a distinct lack loads of cyclists plus a distinct lack of maintenance when it comes to the parts of the road used by motor vehicles.
 

What many people don’t understand is that the funding for all this is also coming directly from the DfT with the proviso it must be spent on upgrading cycling / walking facilities. No doubt the CC see it as a useful vehicle to get footpaths re-surfaced for free - and to some extent it’s the same with NR where some projects which seem a bit silly are getting pushed forward because they are a useful opportunity to get minor works done as part of the package.

Agreed.

 

lets hope the bridge doesnt collapse though, it moves when I walked over it.. imagine a fully loaded commuter train disembarking.

it isnt going to fix itself.

Lets hope it doesnt make a grand exit.

The one at Coulsdon South wasnt much better either last week.

 

Then again look at the rust and decay on the railway bridges between London Bridge/ Elephant and Castle to blackfriars.

Edited July 21, 2023 by adb968008

[phil-b259]

1 hour ago, adb968008 said:

Agreed.

 

lets hope the bridge doesnt collapse though, it moves when I walked over it.. imagine a fully loaded commuter train disembarking.

it isnt going to fix itself.

Lets hope it doesnt make a grand exit.

The one at Coulsdon South wasnt much better either last week.

 

Then again look at the rust and decay on the railway bridges between London Bridge/ Elephant and Castle to blackfriars.

 

Yup.

 

In fact Network Rail are anticipating the state of railway infrastructure to decay rather than improve over the next control period as HM Government won't give them enough money to stop even maintain the status quo.

 

As such NR are openly talking about needing to focus resources on the busiest routes.

 

If you want to know more then its worth being signed up to Roger Fords mailing list where he usually airs stuff that the industry would rather keep to itself.

 

live.ezezine.com/ezine/archives/759/759-2023.07.21.02.36.archive.txt

 

 

[4630]

Network Rail Video Inspection Unit 153311 on a tour of various lines around Yorkshire on 29th September 2023, passing through Brighouse working as 2Q14, Wakefield Prison Sidings to Derby RTC.

 

 

[johnofwessex]

I have been told that 153's have corrosion issues.

[adb968008]

20 minutes ago, johnofwessex said:

I have been told that 153's have corrosion issues.

Pretty much every at 30 years continual use in the UKs variable and damp climate does. If it works predominantly by the coast its even faster.

 

if we had deserts like in the US stuff might last a lot longer, even Europe has a less damp climate the further inland you go.

Edited September 29, 2023 by adb968008

[ess1uk]

Are these still out and about?

[newbryford]

10 hours ago, ess1uk said:

Are these still out and about?

 

Looking at flickr pics.

153311 was out about 10 days ago. (also see pic a couple posts up)

153376 about 2 weeks since

Edited October 8, 2023 by newbryford

[newbryford]

On 29/09/2023 at 23:20, johnofwessex said:

I have been told that 153's have corrosion issues.

 

Send em off to Newton Heath.

They are very adept at replacing floors in 150s and 156s!

[icn]

On 21/07/2023 at 20:44, phil-b259 said:

Its the same with the roads - West Sussex CC are busy conversing loads of footpaths to dual use cycling facilities which is causing considerable anger given the months of traffic chaos and a distinct lack loads of cyclists plus a distinct lack of maintenance when it comes to the parts of the road used by motor vehicles.

 

What many people don’t understand is that the funding for all this is also coming directly from the DfT with the proviso it must be spent on upgrading cycling / walking facilities. No doubt the CC see it as a useful vehicle to get footpaths re-surfaced for free - and to some extent it’s the same with NR where some projects which seem a bit silly are getting pushed forward because they are a useful opportunity to get minor works done as part of the package.

Chickens and eggs: lack of cyclists isn't a surprise if the infrastructure isn't there. Often it's a case of build the infrastructure and they will come - ideally by switching away from cars (which helps reduce the traffic issues). Can't tell if that's the case here though since I don't know the area.

[6990WitherslackHall]

153376 at Loram, Derby yesterday. The Class 43 is 43301 which has recently joined Colas Rail's fleet of 43s for Network Rail's New Measurement Train.