Great Western Coffee Shop

Apparently FGW are to receive two class 150/1 units this weekend to help sort out the poor class 143 availability in the Bristol area...................

Some Exeter Boys used to sign 150/1's, as Wessex did a special Booklet on working them.

Is this just a temporary measure oooooo?

Surely there are loads of units spare today anyway with much of Devon shut down?

Information I have gleened is that they are to be based at Exeter  for Devon and Cornwall use. My informant told me he heard they were Silverlink sets whose franchise ends today.

My informant also told me that the 142's are not allowed to go off
depot UFN as no paperwork is in place and this only came to light after pictures of the two based at Exeter were published. 3 more 142's should have arrived this last week from Newton Heath but the move was cancelled but no reason offered unless its also paperwork issues.

Anyone elaborate.

150/1's should be good for commuter services with 3+2 seating.

At a recent meeting where Andy Mellor was present, he did say that we were due to have two ex Silverlink 150's but not until next May, obviously someones pulled some strings! I'm pretty sure these units are due to stay with FGW and be refurbished to the same standard of the 150/2's.

Now arriving Monday 12/11/2007.

Not exactly elaborate , but I can give you the last known (by me anyway) whereabouts of all Class 142 units that are not in service with either Arriva Trains Wales or Northern Rail :

142001 - Exeter depot.
142004 - In storage somewhere in Sheffield.
142009 - Heaton depot.
142028 - Heaton depot.
142029 - Heaton depot.
142030 - Newton Heath depot.
142062 - Heaton depot.
142063 - In storage at Blackpool South.
142064 - Exeter depot.
142067 - Heaton depot.
142068 - Exeter depot.
142070 - In storage at Blackpool South.
142071 - Heaton depot.
142078 - Railcare Glasgow works.
142095 - Heaton depot.

Wonder what stock London Midland is replacing these two 150s with? I take it all 150/1s are three carriage?

Ah, are these 150's coming from the London Midland split of the Silverlink franchise or are they displaced from the split of the franchise which is tranferring to TfL ?

The 150/1's with Silverlink are 2 car sets.

So let me get this straight.

We are genuinly getting two 150/1s on Monday and are keeping them?

Any ideas what route they will be worked on?

Brilliant ^_^. Looks like a concerted effort is being made to turn things around. Are they going to send these two units straight into be refurbed so they can debut in the new livery? Are they really three car units?

They're two car sets and will probably go into the 150 pool so will pop up anywhere, they probably won't go into service straight away as staff will have to be briefed as these unit's have minor operational differences to 150/2's.

There are paperwork issues stopping the 150/1's going straight into service and staff will be required to sit a 'conversion' course from 150/2's to 150/1's. But they are here to stay.... Mr Haines is indeed making a difference...

Excellent. So just 10 more sets to find between now and December 7th and we are all square once the 12 158s go.

Lucky for the crew with a slam door cab  ;D ;)

Ideal for throwing scroates out of en route!

After just being delayed at Taunton for due to a broken down train and eventually being sent home in a taxi as the one after was also cancelled I can't wait until more reliable units are provided!