A tribute to class 153 - leaving us in the very near future

[whole diary]

[grahame]

A few images of class 153 units on Trans-Wilts services;

Love 'em ... but I know I'm not trying to squeeze in the cab, maintain all the equipment, or travel home from Swindon every dat on the 15:18 or 17:36!

[RA]

A couple of 153 images elsewhere on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) network;


153333 is paired up with 150207 as they are seen leaving Dawlish Warren with the 16:43 St James' Park to Paignton service on 05th September 2018.


153325 is paired up with classmate 153369 as they are seen passing St Blazey with the 15:01 Newquay to Par service on 09th October 2018.

[GBM]

Thank you RA.  Lovely shots.  Much appreciated

[Adrian]

Today a 153 has been shuttling to and fro between Cardiff and Taunton coupled to a 150/0.  Seems strange when there are so many diagrams on that route they can only find a 150/2 for, at the moment.  And, with no gangway connection I wonder whether, strictly speaking, they're allowed through the Severn Tunnel?  I did wonder whether the plan was to leave the 153 behind at Cardiff at the end of the day, but no - it's on its way back to Bristol for the night, via Taunton.

[grahame]

Today a 153 has been shuttling to and fro between Cardiff and Taunton coupled to a 150/0.  Seems strange when there are so many diagrams on that route they can only find a 150/2 for, at the moment.  And, with no gangway connection I wonder whether, strictly speaking, they're allowed through the Severn Tunnel?  I did wonder whether the plan was to leave the 153 behind at Cardiff at the end of the day, but no - it's on its way back to Bristol for the night, via Taunton.

My understanding is that new types through the Severn Tunnel must have doors that close between carriages.  Old types have "Grandfather rights", and no gangway (on the end of a 150/0) isn't a problem. 

What do the 387s and 345s have between carriages?  May be issues there if they're to go west of Parkway.

[Adrian]

My understanding is that new types through the Severn Tunnel must have doors that close between carriages.  Old types have "Grandfather rights", and no gangway (on the end of a 150/0) isn't a problem. 

Ah - so I'd misunderstood.  I thought the issue was that passengers needed to be able to move to the safety of another carriage if, for instance, there was a fire on board.  Being able to seal off part of the train is maybe good too, but seems perhaps less important than being able to evacuate part of it.

[Umberleigh]

I must be something of a single railcar fan. As well as the 153 I have an affinity for the class 121 bubble cars which used to run on the Henley branch on a Sunday in the 1980s.

Quite like the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) railcars too but don’t remember them in service!

Me too.

Once travelled from Barnstaple to Exeter (late 80s) in service comprised of two 121s, they bounced around a bit!

As regards their “coffin nail” nickname, I’m too young to remember the Beeching era, however I was walking alongside the South Devon Railway at dusk a decade ago and their green bubble car rattled past me, a pleasant surprise but also one tinged with regret that the scene I had witnessed represented the end for many a line.

[phile]

Today a 153 has been shuttling to and fro between Cardiff and Taunton coupled to a 150/0.  Seems strange when there are so many diagrams on that route they can only find a 150/2 for, at the moment.  And, with no gangway connection I wonder whether, strictly speaking, they're allowed through the Severn Tunnel?  I did wonder whether the plan was to leave the 153 behind at Cardiff at the end of the day, but no - it's on its way back to Bristol for the night, via Taunton.

Trains without through access have been running through the Severn Tunnel for years

[RichardB]

The end gets ever closer and 153325 is no longer "Citizens' Rail" .  The livery was designed by my colleague Mike Parker-Bray and included a photo of the launch of the additional Newton Abbot - Paignton shuttles in December 13, which meant me, various GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), Devon CC and Torbay Council managers had their picture on the side of a train to much amusement.

The livery was on for four years so we had a good run and thanks to GWR for doing it.  More information about Citizens' Rail here  https://www.citizensrail.org/

From Facebook -

[grahame]

From Facebook -

Also from Facebook from earlier this week, reproduced with permission of Richard Mallett ... 153-361 arriving at Paignton and still advertising TransWilts.

[MVR S&T]

Not a fitting end with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), for 153 333. the picture of the day for today, 18th March.

http://www.railway-centre.com/march1.html

[RichardB]

Travelled on the Trans-Wilts branded 153 back from Torre to Newton Abbot this afternoon.  It was attached to a Pacer as part of a three coach train.  As an aside, our Citizens' Rail shuttles (NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains) - PGN) are now a Cl 158 having started in 2013 as a Cl 153.

[TJ]

From information received today the 153s are off to Bristol tomorrow, Sunday 24th March, and I note that there is a 16:22 from Exeter TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot) to Westbury DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) sidings.

Today, 333,369 and 329 were operating on Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth)/Riviera/Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) services coupled together, 325 was on Exeter depot and 361 was, by elimination, the one working on the Looe branch.

End of another era.

Would post photo of the three but can't work out how to!

[grahame]

From information received today the 153s are off to Bristol tomorrow, Sunday 24th March, and I note that there is a 16:22 from Exeter TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot) to Westbury DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) sidings.

Today, 333,369 and 329 were operating on Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth)/Riviera/Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) services coupled together, 325 was on Exeter depot and 361 was, by elimination, the one working on the Looe branch.

End of another era.

Would post photo of the three but can't work out how to!

We have some too-well-hidden information on that ... which I have just extracted and put in its own thread in "News and Assistance" at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=21265.0

For a one-off (and the departure of the 153s is a one-off ...) happy for you to email me a picture or two and I can put them in my own web space for inclusion in your posts.  My email is graham - at - wellho - dot - net .

[phile]

From information received today the 153s are off to Bristol tomorrow, Sunday 24th March, and I note that there is a 16:22 from Exeter TMD^▸ (Traction Maintenance Depot) to Westbury DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) sidings.

Today, 333,369 and 329 were operating on Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth)/Riviera/Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) services coupled together, 325 was on Exeter depot and 361 was, by elimination, the one working on the Looe branch.

End of another era.

Would post photo of the three but can't work out how to!

That 16+22 move from Exeter could be just a move to balance units, there have been similar ones recently and going to Westbury because the line is closed between Weston and Bristol.    This move is being operated by GW^▸ (Great Western) where transfers from TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) to TOC are arranged by ROSCOS who use Freight/ROG companies thus are shown as ZZ in Real Time Trains.