In the past couple of years the size of the old British Rail designed or built train fleets has decreased dramatically with many classes disappearing completely. Others are in terminal decline or are seeing members being sent for store with their future uncertain. One class which has survived intact and that shows no sign of being retired is the seven strong , 2-car class 155 diesel fleet built by British Leyland at their Workington plant back in 1988. Numbered 155341-347 they were the tail end of a much larger order of 40 2-car trains which were converted to single-car units in the 1990s which are now being retired, leaving the West Yorkshire sets as the last of their kind. The reason the seven still exist is that they were paid for by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, who took a proactive approach to developing rail transport by funding mew trains (the Class 158/9s being another example).
The 155s were bought as a replacement for the ageing but powerful class 110 ‘Calder Valley’ units built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW for short) in 1961. To show their allegiance Yorkshire 155s were delivered from new in the WYPTE livery of red and cream with ‘metrotrain’ branding. With the onset of privatisation management of the 155s was taken on by Porterbrook leasing, on whose books they remain to this day. The 155s have remained in the North, having passed through the hands pf all the various Northern franchises right from the original Arriva Trains North. The units have always been allocated to Leeds Neville Hill depot although nowadays they’ve spread their wings and can be seen on other routes than just the Calder valley thanks to the arrival of the new CAF built Class 195s.
Here’s a pictorial review of their lives, times, liveries and the locations where they used to be found (and can be now).
155341, the first of the Yorkshire units is seen in Northern advertising livery approaching Sowerby Bridge in the Calder valley with a service from Manchester to Leeds via Bradford on the 21st January 2013.The builders and owners plate inside 155341 seen in 2017.Seem from the Pennine hills around Todmordon (which can be seen in the background) 155342 has just crossed the historic Gauxholme viaduct on the 12th September 2009 whilst working from Leeds to Manchester.Here’s 155343 carrying WYPTE ‘metrotrain’ branding and the simplified original livery (but operated by the Northern franchise) calling at Todmorden on the 4th September 2006. Here’s when 155344 was almost new and before the 1st generation DMUs they helped displace were still around. This is the very shabby looking Manchester Victoria station shortly before rebuilding on the 18th June 1991. One of the classic locations in the Calder Valley is Hebden Bridge where the station retains many of its original features including a fine selection of wooden signs. 155345 is pictured calling on its way to Manchester Victoria on the 25th September 2007.155346 is pictured in revised WYPTE livery stabled in York station on the 13th August 2004. Here’s 155347 pictured leaving Halifax station en-route to Bradford with the monolithic Halifax Building Society building dominating the skyline in the background. Seen on the 30th May 2017.Here’s 155347 in original condition with the full livery including the orange stripe seen at Blackpool North on the 5th April 1991. In BR years these units weren’t uncommon in the North-West, making it to Blackpool, Preston and Liverpool.
The units interior layout has always been superior to earlier units like the Class 150s. Here’s some views over the years.
Here’s the interior of 155346 seen on the 3rd March 2013. The view’s taken from mid-car, showing the 2+2 seating arrangement and table bays. The seats are covered with the original Northern mocquette. Cycle and luggage storage on the same unit and same date as above. The generous luggage space on 155342. The steel bar construction makes the units seem more airy than the likes of the 150s and 158s. 155344 on a quiet evening. 1st September 2016.
Here’s a few units in their later years when they began to spread their wings…
On the 29th July 2019 155345 is seen under the magnificent station roof at Hull. It’s sporting the latest variation of the Northern Liveries, this time the predominantly white Arriva Northern version. 155345 seen keeping company with converted classmate 153351 (in the old Arriva Northern livery) crossing the viaduct at Knaresborough on the 22nd August 2007. 155344 is seen heading West from the bay platform at Selby on the 12th August 2016.155341 waiting to return to Leeds after reversal at Knaresborough on the 10th August 2017. 155346 calls at Ulleskelf on the 2th November 2021 whilst working 2R21, the 1546 York to Bridlington. 155346 leaves Hull with an unknown service on the 18th April 2023. Hull’s the best place to see these units now as the units are allocated to the local depot and work many services from the town, including the routes to Bridlington, York, Leeds and back to their old haunts at Halifax. The Leyland logo embossed into the steel paneling above the cab end vestibule doors on 153344. Seen on the 18th April 2023.
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Today sees me travelling around the shire from West to South as I’ve a variety of things to do. First off this morning is one that’s familiar – and local. The friends of Mytholmroyd station are having a big volunteer event where Northern Rail staff volunteers are descending for the day to add extra bodies and muscle-power to help tackle some of the bigger and more complex jobs around the station that could do with a hand (and younger sinews). As an old friend of the group I’m dropping in to capture shots of the day, documenting what these partnerships can achieve and also showcase what the community rail sector gets up to.
After Mytholmroyd I’ll be travelling across to South Yorkshire to visit Sheffield where I’ll be catching up with at least one old friend (and maybe more). Feel free to keep popping back to see how things pan out as I document the day.
10:25.
Not the greatest start. Having walked down to Sowerby Bridge station for the short hop to Mytholmroyd I find my train is losing time by the minute. Due in at 10:24 it’s now scheduled to arrive at 10:29, having slipped as each minute’s passed. It’s a minor inconvenience in the scheme of things but it makes me late for the briefing and being late is one of my personal bugbears.
10:30.
Hmm, a 2-car 195 working all the way to Chester. That’s going to be cosy!
12:15.
I arrived just in time to miss the group briefing in the local church hall, but as I’m very familiar with the station and the group it wasn’t a big deal. Seventeen volunteers from Northern rail had turned up to offer a hand and they were allocated a variety of tasks such as digging up old Daffodils, repotting the planters on the platforms, general weeding or moving larger plants that had outgrown their spaces. The place was a hive of activity as people dressed in high-vis buzzed around like a swarm of angry bees! Here’s some examples of the activities.
Northern Rail volunteers clearing out old plants from the recycled plastic planters on the platforms before replanting them with a fresh display.The platform approaches at Mytholmroyd have steep banks on either side. Here, volunteers clear the entrance to the car park of old Daffodils and weed the area before replanting. Doing the hard work (digging out and moving plants) under the watchful eye of one of the station friends. The latest art installation is these terracotta impressions of the various station friends!
Sadly, I couldn’t stay for lunch so I bid adieu and caught the 11:53 to Leeds via Bradford Interchange, which gave me enough time to download, edit and post the pictures as a Class 195 makes a decent mobile office – unlike the train I changed onto in Leeds where a Class 150/2 was waiting to take me to Sheffield. These things have neither tables nor power sockets and I dislike balancing my laptop on my knee. So, it’s back to typing via my smartphone.
My steed awaits…
18:45.
Well, that’s been an interesting day…
Due to timings Richard Clinnick and I ended up catching the same train to Sheffield. I joined it at Leeds whilst Richard picked it up at Wakefield where he’d been to meet the staff at the Rail Business Daily offices where he was inducted into his new role as Editor of Inside Track magazine. On arrival at Sheffield we met up with another rail industry partner in crime – Lucy Prior. The three of us spent over an hour swapping intel and gossip before I headed off to explore parts of the region I wasn’t familiar with. In this case, Rotherham. Having taken a short break between towns I now know why I’d never had it on my radar. It’s a depressing place. Ignoring the fact the station is famous for turning into a place where you’re more likely to use a canoe than a train in heavy rain, the town itself isn’t exactly what I’d call buzzing. Here’s my introduction to the town centre after leaving the railway station.
Nice…
Frankly, if you wanted to make a ‘zombie apocalypse’ film, Rotherham’s your place. Not only does it have the right levels of decay and dereliction it’s also pretty much deserted. Plus, many of the few souls still shambling around the town centre could easily be signed up as extras – and it wouldn’t cost you much money in make-up either…
I didn’t hang around. One lap of the centre was enough. After that I was on the train back to Sheffield!
– but not on one of these tram-trains, seen here approaching Rotherham Central central station earlier. I caught the Northern rail service following behind. At least the fact I managed this shot was worth the trip…
21:15.
I’m now back at Bigland Towers after uneventful journey’s home. Neither of my Northern trains back to Halifax was particularly busy but then neither was Leeds station. Mind you, Halifax was even quieter – almost everything seemed to have closed down for the night despite it being before 8 ‘o clock. Even the pubs had given up and decided to shut up shop.
Now I’m having an easy evening editing pictures from the day. I might as well make the most of my time – Dawn’s gone round to a friend’s for supper, so there’s only me in! Ah well, it’s another day tomorrow…
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I’ve had a few days off blogging to concentrate on more family orientated activities over the weekend and also to spend time ploughing through 100s of old slides that are surplus to requirements and have now ended up on eBay. Like the scanning and editing of their luckier cousins it’s a long, laborious process getting them prepared for sale but by the end of today I’ve added over 500 UK, Indian, Irish and Sri Lankan railway pictures to my account. You can find them here. Prices start from £1.99 but each image is in an auction as many go for a lot more – so place your bids now. The first sale ends in a couple of days with each tranche being made available for 5-7 days before the sales close. I’ve still several hundred more slides to add which I’ll be doing over the next week or so. There’s also other railway memorabilia (badges, notebooks, branded merchandise, old TOC souvenirs etc) to add which I’ll do as time allows.
However, tomorrow I’m having a day away from the scene. The weather’s been rather mixed of late. There’s been a fair bit of sun but the wind has taken the shine off it (so to speak) leaving the temperature feeling decidedly chilly. The forecast’s not much better tomorrow but an old friend will be gracing West Yorkshire with his presence so I’ve arranged to meet up with Richard Clinnick, late of RAIL and the International Railway Journal who’s taken over as editor of Inside Track magazine, one of the stable of magazines published under the Rail Business Daily flag which I’m also lucky enough to write for. No doubt my day out will include a rolling blog and a few pictures from within ‘God’s own country’ as I’ll be journeying to and from Sheffield for our rendezvous.
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s picture which is of rather a railway bywater nowadays, although at one time this was the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway’s main line from Liverpool to Manchester. Engineered to the gradients you’d expect of a main line it boasts some substantial structures, but now it ends at a set of bufferstops at Kirkby in Merseyside where the line from Wigan ends. You have to change trains and catch a Merseyrail electric train to get to Liverpool nowadays. I took this shot on my day out last week. It’s from Rainford, which was once a busy junction. Nowadays it’s the end of the double-track line from Wigan but it still possesses a signalbox and semaphore signals as trains need to collect the single-line token to proceed West. Miraculously, it still carries freight to/from a waste terminal near Knowsley where ‘binliner’ trains remove containerised trash to landfill at Wilton in Teeside.
150143 working a Kirkby to Blackburn service passes 66187 hauling empty ‘binliner’ containers from Wilton to Knowsley whilst being protected by traditional semaphore signals – an increasingly rare sight on UK railways.
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It’s another short blog from me today. After yesterday’s day out I’ve been very much home and office based trying to catch up on stuff. I’ve been threatening to get back to selling surplus slides and other railway memorabilia on eBay but having let my account lapse over the past year that’s been made even more complicated by the fact I’m starting from scratch. I’m having to relist everything, which is a major PITA, but it’s allowed me to be more organised this time when it comes to record keeping. In theory I’ll benefit in the long run as I’ll find it easier to keep track of stuff. Well, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway!
I’ve managed to reload a couple of hundred surplus slides so far and hope to at least double that over the weekend before getting into all the memorabilia. All this stuff’s been sitting in cupboards for years so it’s time it went to new homes. I’ll be adding the occasional link to stuff in the future, bit for now, the picture of the day is a slide that’ll be on eBay very soon.
I took this shot in Limerick, Ireland way back in 2003 when Irish Rail was still using locomotives and coaching stock on a lot of services. This meant many locations had station pilots – engines who’s only job was to shunt empty coaches around the place. Like this one.
‘Baby GM’ 146 prepares to haul a rake of the old ‘Cravens’ coaches out of Limerick station whilst a brand new railcar sits in the opposite platform. Their introduction would lead to the demise of scenes like this.
As well as UK railways going back to 1990 I’ll be putting pictures up for sale from other countries (like Ireland) that will include Sri Lanka, Malaysia and also the last days of Indian steam trains. Watch this space…
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
It’s a gloriously sunny day here in the Pennines – albeit a tad chilly at the moment due to a breeze that’s knocking a good few degrees of the ambient temperature. As I’d a lunchtime appointment at Milnesbridge in the neighbouring Colne valley I’d decided to make a day of it and head out early with the camera to get some pictures at the same time. Having strolled into Halifax to catch the train I’d just arrived at the station when my phone rang and the people I was meant to be seeing called off the meeting due to staff sickness. Ho hum! So, I’m now at a looser end…
The weather’s far too good to go back to the office. Instead, I’m on a half-full 3 -car Class 195 heading to Manchester whilst plotting what my next move is going to be. Feel free to keep popping back to see what I get up to and where…
11:00.
I arrived in Manchester without a plan but one soon came together after 10 minutes of checking the internet and social media. I was torn between a couple of ideas but the fact a friend from Ireland who’s travelling the UK on a railrover ticket had a visit to Wigan on his itinerary swung it for me. I’m now sat on a rather pedestrian Class 150 heading west to Southport.
The Stygian gloom of Victoria’s through platforms under the Manchester Arena is hardly a place you’d want to linger on a bright sunny day. Thankfully, I didn’t have to. The train approaching is the 10:50 to Southport, which has whisked me away from here. It’s about to pass 150003, one of Northern’s reformed sets made up by adding an extra car to a 2-car set to emulate the first 2 prototype Class 150s.
The service I’m on is an ‘all shacks’ stopper which calls at every blade of grass en-route. Stations with exotic names like Moses Gate, Kearsley, Westhoughton, Hoscar and Meols Cop. It passes from areas once dominated by the old coalfields, power stations and cotton mills to cross the West Lancashire plains and rich farmland to reach the coast. It’s actually a fascinating trip through time and one day (when I finally have enough time) I’m going to write a historical route guide as it really deserves one. Nowadays you’d have no idea what it used to like like when I was a boy. Even I struggle to remember sometimes!
12:35.
I’m now enjoying Wigan (or Wiggin as the locals pronounce it). No – seriously! I know I’ve been somewhat unkind about the place in the past as (like any old industrial town) it has its problems, but it is a friendly place and certainly has its recent upsides if you’re a fan of real ale. The area around the stations is graced with two cracking pubs. The restored and reopened Swan opposite North Western station (you can see it from passing trains) and ‘Wigan Central’ in the arches underneath North Western. Plus, the local Community Rail Partnership has commissioned a local artist who’s decorated the station subway with an attractive guide to the local lingo…
Ironic, I keep mentioning how glorious the weather is but all my pictures are taken underground! Here’s on taken above ground at Wigan North Western to redress the balance.
A Euston bound 9-car Pendolino calls at Wigan North Western earlier today.
20:00.
Apologies for the interregnum in blogging but it’s been a busy day. I arranged to meet my Irish friend in ‘Wiggin’ after which we explored local lines familiar to but unfamiliar to him. Hence us ending up in Rainford. on the Wigan – Kirby line. Unless you knew about this route’s history you’d never guess it was a former main line – unless you understand how railways were built and notice there wasn’t a single level-crossing on the route which also has some heroic earthworks and structures in order to make it as level as possible.
We stopped off at Rainford to get some shots of trains, admire the work of the local station friends – and have a pint at the adjacent local hostelry. Well, it would’ve been rude not to! The pub has some wonderful photographs from the 1960s when Rainford was a triangular junction – an era long gone.
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Only a short blog from me tonight. It’s been a quiet day here at Bigland Towers with the pair of us making the most of the bank holiday to catch up on jobs around the cottage rather than try and compete with all the others who’re trying to ‘get away from it all’ which normally means prices rise as you’re all competing with each other!
Instead, we spent the day enjoying the warmer weather here in the Calder Valley. Dee was busy indulging in some DIY whilst I spent the day cleaning windows, tidying up the garden, repotting and planting lots of seeds and cuttings. Not exactly the ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle admittedly, but who cares! I find gardening really therapeutic and it makes a change from staring at computer screens.
So, without further ado, here’s the picture of the day, which is one of the series I took yesterday. I found this plaque at Wigan North Western station. It’s new (well, nearly new) as it was only installed last year. Installed by the British Transport Police History Group outside their offices on Wigan North Western station it commemorates an officer of one of the precursors of the BTP, Detective Sergeant Robert Kidd who was murdered at Wigan on the 29th September 1895 by a gang stealing from railway wagons in the nearby sidings. You can read about the events and subsequent trial here.
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
After my enforced absence due to Covid I’m back on the rails today for the first time in a couple of weeks. It’s nothing terribly exciting – I’m taking a trip over to my birthplace to drop something off for my niece’s husband, but there’ll be time for a few pictures and the change of scenery is certainly appreciated. And who know what might happen?
Right now I’m crossing the Pennines on Northern’s 08:05 from Sowerby Bridge to Wigan North Western which is worked by a pair of Class 158s. Once the ‘top flight’ units in Northern’s inventory these 90 mph trains have been relegated to the 2nd Division by the newer, faster and more nippy CAF built Class 195s. With it being Good Friday there’s no commuters aboard, merely a few family daytrippers and people dragging suitcases who’re away longer. I’ll be interested to see what the footfall looks like at other stations en-route.
Feel free to keep popping back to see how my day unfolds…
08:40. My train’s the ‘all shacks’ stopper which calls at every station on the line, most of which have been very quiet. Having crossed the Pennines I’ve lost the sunshine as Lancashire’s covered in wavy low grey cloud. Add in the fact it’s a chilly start to this bank holiday and I can understand why not many people are venturing out right now – it’s a day for a lie-in! Our stop at Rochdale did manage to generate an extra dozen passengers, many of whom seemed less than enthusiastic to be travelling so I’m assuming they’re shop workers!
10:00.
As expected, Manchester Victoria was busy with day-trippers making the most of the bank-holiday but I didn’t stop as I was changing trains at Salford Crescent in order to pick up a Southport Service. There were few students about so the station was quiet. The heaviest traffic was for the bird-feeders that station staff have hung up on a station sign. These saw a stream of Pigeons, Tits and Jays taking advantage of the feeding station!
Feeding station…
I’m still getting used to seeing electric trains on this route which is a far cry from how it was in my youth. The feeling of oddness is compounded by seeing old friends in the form of ex-Thamelink trains converted to bi-modes plying the route. One of which formed my train to Southport.
100mph capable trains to Southport. Who would have thought?
Our route was via Bolton where we successfully swapped from electric to diesel power, a transition that doesn’t always go smoothly but teething problems seem to have been ironed out nowadays, reducing the numbers of failures.
Having changed traction we continued to Wigan, calling at the beautifully tended stations of Westhoughton and Hindley bothe of which have gorgeous station gardens maintained by local volunteers.
Wigan Wallgate provided plenty of custom for the train as large groups of families and friends were waiting to take a trip to the seaside. Buckets and spades may be in order, but any suntan lotion will be surplus to requirements!
11:30.
My neice was waiting for me at the station so the Tux’ was handed over in double-quick time. I didn’t want to stay long but I gave myself long enough for a quick lap of the town centre just to see what had changed. It was all a bit depressing. Many more shops are empty and shuttered, as is another old haunt – the ‘Coronation’ pub opposite the market which has been dying a death for years gas finally expired. I did pop into the indoor market which has changed completely. All the tradional stalls are gone. Instead, a large bar surrounded by tables occupies much of the space. Fast food stalls line two sides whilst on sode’s been opened up to encompass outdoor seating.
I have mixed feelings about the redevelopment. None of the food outlets appeal, it’s all bog-standard, uninteresting stuff (pizza, tex-mex etc) not world cuisine or Asian street food and it’s displaced specialist food stalls – one of which sold a fantastic array of Lancashire cheeses. I’ve no idea where to go to buy those now. Still, Ivwish it well and hope the new market prospers – even if I’ve no reason to visit anymore.
Taking my leave via the same train I arrived on I stopped off at Burscough Bridge to get a couple of pictures. After being derelict for years the old station building’s being renovated. It was a private residence so I’m assuming its finally been bought by someone. It’s a fine old building that’s very much in need of some TLC – which it’s now receiving.
14:30.
My next stop was at Wigan, a town that was really buzzing as it was match day. Not that I have the faintest clue what sport that involved. To be honest, portly blokes wandering around in very tight copies of team strips was never going to engage my attention. It might be football, it might be rugby, but to be honest, I don’t have a ‘Scooby Do’!
What was nice was the fact the atmosphere was quite relaxed (but then, it’s early doors and no-one’s lost yet). Whilst in Wigan I called in to a hostelry I’d always meant to visit but never got around to. Wigan Central is a large, railway-themed bar that fills two arches under Wigan North-Western station. The bar spills out onto the pavement to give a large outdoor seating area which copes well with events.
14:45.
I really enjoyed my visit to Wigan, a place I’ve not always flattered (sorry Sheila!) but on this occasion I found the people whom I met and talked to lovely.
Right now I’m heading back to Yorkshire. The weather didn’t pan out quite how I’d have liked so some of the photos I wanted were non-starters. Even so, I’ve ideas for the future. I’ve not expored the old Lancashire and Yorkshire main line via Walkden for years. I’ve always meant to but it’s never been prominent on the list.
22:30.
Time to bring some closure! I stayed on the train from Wigan all the way home – ish. Lulled into a false sense of security by the fact I was on a Class 195 I ignored the stopping pattern I knew in my head until we pulled out of Sowerby Bridge when the PA announced the next stop as Brighouse, not Halifax. Bugger! On the bright side – I was able to retrace my steps with a 20 minute delay – and there’s a real ale pub right next to the station…
Having met up with Dawn at home the pair of us adjourned to the ‘Big 6’ pub to join friends and enjoy the quiz. As usual our quizmaster bans me from answering the geography questions – much to everyone else’s amusement. It’s not that I’m that encyclopedic (honest), but I have travelled a bit! Dawn and I had a lovely night laughing and joking as you bounce humor off friends – the stuff you miss when you’re isolating. Hopefully, this is the precursor for the Bank Holiday…
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Finally, after what seems like an age, my morning Covid test was negative – which was a great start to a new week. Time seems to have dragged over the past 10 days, but at last I’m in the clear. All I want to do now is one last test tomorrow to make sure the result wasn’t a fluke and then my mind’s at rest. Mind you – so’s Dawn’s mind. She’s been hugely supportive whilst I’ve been a (sometimes temperamental and impatient) patient.
Dee’s off work this week so the pair of us celebrated by going out for a long (ish) walk. Rather than going local we drove over to Todmorden to explore the hills to the North of the town. We’ve been walking on the tops of the valley to the North of the Todmorden to Burnley railway several times. There’s some great walking around there as the views are fantastic. Add in the fact there’s some fascinating old buildings and wonderful rock outcrops and it’s a winner. But today we tried somewhere different and explored the opposite side of the valley and the area known as Todmorden moor. Our experiences were mixed. On an O/S map the area teems with footpaths but when you’re on the ground it’s obvious many of them are so little used they’re almost impossible to find. That said. the views across the valley were superb, as was looking down from on high into the valley around Lydgate and the A646 road to Burnley. I’d certainly come back with the camera sometime, but if it’s the quality of walking we’re after we’d stick to the North side of the valley. What was interesting was finding out that Todmorden moor was once the site of industry. Collieries and a tramway once graced the area which must have been a desolate place to work. Imagine tramping all that way uphill from Todmorden only to return 12 hours later?
Having enjoyed our wanderings we headed back via an old haunt that we realised we’d not visited since before the first Pandemic lockdown. We used to walk from home to the Robin Hood pub in Cragg Vale above Mytholmroyd several times a year but Covid put a stop to all that. Our last visit was in 2019 so today we thought ‘why not’? and dropped in for a drink at this brilliant local boozer. It still retains its character (and characters) despite everything that’s happened in the last few years. It was lovely to be able to sit at the bar, enjoy the heat from the fire and join in the banter and laughs between the bar staff and regulars. It’s something I’d really missed in isolation.
Now we’re back at home preparing for the week ahead which is looking a lot more optimistic – and far busier! But for now I’ll leave you with the picture of the day which was taken from our walk.
A pair of Northern Class 150s (150149 and 150127) cross the viaduct at Lydgate whilst working 2N98, the 12:53 from Kirkby to Blackburn. As you can see, it’s not exactly flat around here! The bizarre thing? This is the first picture I’ve taken in 10 days…
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Here’s a look at yet another of the BR commissioned ‘new’ train fleets which were built to replace the 1st generation of diesel and electric trains back in the 1980s but that are now being retired themselves.
The single car Class 153s – or ‘Dogboxes’ as they’re nicknamed were originally 2 car Class 155s which were built by British Leyland at their Workington factory back in 1987-1988. 42 sets were built but only 7 remain in original form.
How they started out. 2-car set 155305 seen at Manchester Piccadilly before working to Cardiff Central on the 19th June 1991. Note the original ‘Sprinter’ branding and BR Double-arrow.
The other 35 sets were split and rebuilt as railcars by Hunslet-Barclay at their works in Kilmarnock between 1991-92. Squeezing a second cab into the bodyshell was a challenge which led to the new cab being very cramped, causing surprise that the rail unions agreed to such a restricted space. The cars were renumbered by changing the 523xxx numbered 155301 – 335 to 153301-335 and adding 50 to the numbers of the 573xxx cars to make them correspond to set number 153351-153385.
The 70 new railcars (each with 72 seats) were spread around the regional railways network. The depots that received an allocation were Newton Heath (Manchester), Tyseley (Birmingham), Heaton (Newcastle), Canton (Cardiff) and Crown Point (Norwich).
On privatisation the fleet was divided to became the property of rolling stock companies Angel and Porterbrook.
Over the years the trains have been operated by a wide range of TOCs which include former franchises Central Trains, Anglia, Arriva Trains North, Arriva Trains West, and Wessex trains. Later they were used by Greater Anglia, First Great Western (later GWR), East Midlands Trains (later EMR), London Midland, Northern Trains, and the Welsh Franchises which became Transport for Wales. Over the years they’ve been a familiar sight – from Penzance to Carlisle, across the Midlands and North-East and through Wales. The only places they’ve never operated in have been Scotland and the Southern 3rd rail Network.
In recent years the vehicles have suffered from the fact most of them are not PRM (Persons of Restricted Mobility) compliant. Add to this the reduction of services due to the Covid pandemic and their use has dropped dramatically. The majority of the vehicles are now stored with just two passenger operators using them. Transport for Wales retains 26 cars which are all PRM compliant for services across its network, although these are due to be made redundant by the arrival of new trains by 2023.
Scotrail – who never operated the trains before – received 5 units in 2019-20 which have been converted to carry bicycles. These hybrid (part bike, part seating) trains are coupled to Class 156s and used between Glasgow and Oban.
Apart from passenger service handful of sets have been taken over by Network Rail for departmental use.
In this blog I’m not going to try and give an exhaustive list of their movements as individual cars have swapped between franchises many times. Instead, I’m going to illustrate the wide range of liveries and places the trains have operated.
The first of the Class, 153301 seen between duties at Darlington on the 24th April 1997. MTL Holdings had taken over services in the area just a few weeks before on the 2nd March 1997. The unit’s still in full Regional Railways livery and branding.153302 is the first of the 153s which has been cut up. It’s seen here when it was operated by East Midlands Trains. On the 12th July 2018 it was calling at Market Rasen with a service from Grimsby to Newark North Gate. In 2020 it was transferred to Transport for Wales who stripped it for spares to keep other units in service. The shell of the unit went for scrap in June 2021. Sporting Arriva Trains Wales livery and branding 153303 is pictured at Cardiff Bay on the 24th September 2012 when it was working the shuttle service from Cardiff Queen St. Northern Rail’s 155304 on jacks at Leeds Neville Hill depot on the 21st January 2014. At the time, Northern had 18 of the railcars based at Neville Hill for operating services across their empire, along with other sets at Heaton and Newton Heath. Here’s as far West as you can get on the UK rail network! 153305 in full First Great Western livery is seen at Penzance on the 10th August 2009. Based at Exeter, this was one of 12 153s operated by FGW which worked services across the Devon and Cornwall branches and sometimes further afield. This unit is now in Scotland having been converted into a bike carrier for use on the Glasgow – Oban line. 153306 wearing the base Anglia livery but with the added National Express white stripe and branding, seen at Norwich on the 22nd July 2010. It was one of 5 such units operated by the TOC, all of which were based at Norwich Crown Pont and used on Norfolk and Suffolk services plus the Marks Tey – Sudbury branch. An unidentified Anglia 153 crosses the Great Ouse at Ely whilst working the 14.54 Ely to Ipswich on the 22nd March 2003. Several years later this bridge collapsed and the replacement is far less photogenic.Former First North-Western 153310 seen after transfer to Arriva trains Wales at Llanwrtyd Wells on the ‘Heart of Wales’ line on the 26th June 2007.The 153s see regular service in Pembrokeshire working trains on some of the more lightly used branches. Here’s 153312 calling at Tenby en-route to Pembroke Dock on the 18th June 2019.A few years earlier on the 22nd March 2003 153314 in a version of ‘ONE’ livery but with Anglia branding is seen at Ely with the 13.54 to Ipswich. On the 26th July 2003 Arriva Trains Northern liveried 153315 sits at Doncaster with a service for Scunthorpe. This franchise was merged with the North-Western franchise to become Northern in December 2004. Post Covid with the railways reducing capacity on the order of the Government more 153s found themselves surplus to requirements now that trains no longer needed strengthening. Here’s former Northern unit 153316 in store at Porterbrook leasing’s site at Long Marston on the 17th June 2021. Here’s 153317 in more productive times, when it was covering services on Northern’s isolated outpost in Lincolnshire otherwise know as the Barton-on-Humber branch. Seen on the 18th May 2017. Here’s Wessex trains 153318 seen at Exeter depot on the 31st July 2004, sporting ‘Heart of Wessex’ advertising livery. This franchise operated 13 of the units between and 1st October 2001 and the 1st April 2006 when it was absorbed by First Great Western who took over the 153s. Arriva Trains Wales operated 153320 crosses the Knucklas viaduct on the ‘Heart of Wales’ line on the 27th June 2007. On the 17th July 2003, 153322 in full Anglia livery is pictured at Bury St Edmunds whilst working the 13.19 to Peterborough. 153323 bearing Arriva livery and Welsh branding is stabled in the carriage shed at Cardiff Canton on the 18th November 2008. On the 24th May 2000 Regional Railways liveried (but First NorthWestern branded) 153324 sits in the bay at Llandudno Junction in the days when First NW ran services along the North Wales coast. Here’s 153353 in a revised version of the Arriva Trains Wales livery, seen departing Cardiff Queen St on the shuttle service to Cardiff Bay. 24th July 2017. London Midlands 153s were regulars on the Bedford to Bletchley branch shuttles. Here’s 153356 at the pretty station at Ridgemont (visit the lovely tea room in the old station building) on the 3rd July 2014. Here’s Northern’s 153360 being used to strengthen a service on the glorious Settle and Carlisle line, seen arriving at Garsdale on the 2nd April 2009. Another of the first Class 153s to go for scrap (this time only recently) 153364 is seen in Regional Railways livery working a service out of Birmingham New St bound for for Coventry on the 29th of March 1997.Still in Central trains livery but now working for London Midland here’s another of the first units to be scrapped. 153366 arrives at Birmingham New St on the 28th November 2007. Here’s 153366 again several years later on the 19th May 2011. Wearing London Midland livery it’s very ‘off-route’! It was on loan to Northern at the time and it’s seen coupled to one of what it used to be – a Class 155 at Huddersfield. First Great Western liveried 153372 approaches Freshford en-route to Bristol Temple Meads on the 6th May 2008Here’s 153376 at Lincoln on the 17th July 2009. Still sporting Central trains livery but East Midlands branding having been inherited from the former franchise operator in December 2007. The difference in the size of the two cabs is very noticeable in this shot. EMT had 17 of these units on its books at the time, all based at Nottingham’s Eastcroft Depot. 153380 pictured at journey’s end at Looe on the scenic Cornish branch line on the 12th June 2006. Thanks to the community rail movement these branches have seen massive growth in passenger numbers which outstripped the capacity of the 153s.It’s the 31st January 2020 and who knew what craziness was about to befall the railways due to a global pandemic? Former GWR 153380 still wearing the company’s green livery but minus branding is stood in Sheffield station after being transferred to Northern. It didn’t stay long before moving to Scotrail who had it converted into a hybrid bike carrier. First Great Western’s 153382 crosses the viaduct at Penryn on the Falmouth Harbour branch from Truro on the 11th August 2009. Here East Midlands Trains 153385 and 153376 near Hubberts Bridge on line to Skegness seen on the 27th July 2018. 153369 and 153962 sporting Transport for Wales and East Midlands Trains livery are pictured at Liverpool Limes St on the recently introduced service to/from Chester on the 18th April 2021. The same train with the renumbered ex-EMR vehicle leading.
Here’s a few internal views to show the difference between different TOCs (or not).Here’s GWRs well loaded 153370 operating on the Falmouth branch on the 7th March 2013. At this time the franchise operated 14 Class 153s after the fleet had been strengthened with arrivals from Arriva Trains Wales and London Midland. Here’s the interior of Northern’s 153351 seen on the 7th March 2013. The same design of seats as GWR are in use.This is East Midlands Trains 153308 seen on the 20th September 2016. The general layout is the same but the seat type is different.
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Here’s the final blog on the BR built Class 321s. I’ve lumped the final build of 3 Class 321/9s and 5 Class 322s together as they were both such small fleets.
The trio of 321/9s were built at BREL York in 1991. They were the final build of the Class 321 design. They were built for Regional Railways but paid for by for West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive who wanted them to operate local services on the newly electrified route from Doncaster to Leeds, so the units were built with all Standard Class seating. They shuttled between the two locations for several years before their sphere of operation was extended to include the Wharfdale line when the route was electrified in 1995.
Little changed for many years apart from liveries as they transferred from British Rail to Northern Spirit, then Northern Rail in all its incarnations. The units were refurbished by Hunslet-Barclay in Kilmarnock during 2006-2007 when they received an internal refit and and lost their original WYPTE livery for a derivative of the livery applied to the Class 333s with whom they shared Wharfdale services.
They remained based in West Yorkshire until they were displaced by the new CAF built Class 331s in 2020 when they were sent to Abellio Greater Anglia services to allow older (unrefurbished) Class 321s to be retired. The units hang on in service at the moment but are clearly living on borrowed time and their use could finish any time. They’ve been joined in Anglia by the Class 322s, which have had a much more varied career!
The 5 Class 322s were Class 321s in all but name. Like the rest of the fleet they were constructed at BREL York but in 1990, the year before the 321/9s. They were numbered Class 322 as they had minor detail difference to the rest of the builds and were designed for the new Stansted Express service from Liverpool St to Stansted Airport so they were fitted with a much larger 1st Class seating area and 2+2 seating in Standard Class. They were also delivered in their own ‘Stansted Express’ white livery.
The some of the units were loaned out a couple of times. in 1998 a pair were sub-leased to North-Western trains for the short-lived service from Manchester to London Euston. It folded after a year. They also appeared on Silverlink services from Euston and worked for Anglia trains from Liverpool St to Norwich.
They continued to ply their trade to Stansted airport until 2000 when they were displaced by refurbished Class 317/7 trains – after which they became ‘common-user’ and shared duties with the rest of the WAGN fleet on services to Cambridge and Peterborough. This led to their biggest move. In December 2001 all the units were transferred to Scotland to replace slam-door Class 305s on Edinburgh – North Berwick Services. They remained in Scotland until 2004 when they had a brief return to old haunts in order to cover services for the new ‘ONE’ franchise. This was short-lived, within a year they’d returned to Scotland and the North Berwick branch
Like the Class 321/9s they were refurbished in by Hunslet-Barclay in 2006-07 when the 2+2 and 1st class seating layouts where changed and Standard seating increased. The trains remained in Scotland until 2011 when they were displaced by the new Siemens Class 380s. This time they joined the Class 321/9s operating electrified services around West Yorkshire until they too were displaced by the new CAF built Class 331s by May 2020. Following the 321/9s they too were transferred back down to Anglia services which is where they remain to this day until their final withdrawal.
Here’s a selection of pictures of both classes during their time in service.
On the 1st September 2011 class leader 321901 pulls out of the bays at Doncaster en-route to Leeds.At Doncaster five years earlier on the 29th July 2006 321902 takes the same journey. It’s sporting the original WYPTE livery the units were delivered in, complete with ‘Metrotrain’ branding but with the addition of the ‘Northern’ logo.Fast forward another 15 years to the 12th June 2021 and 321902 is seen in the company of a ‘Renatus’ Class 321/3 passing Manor Park whilst bringing up the rear of a service to London Liverpool St.Here’s 312903 operating a Wharfedale service arriving at Kirkstall Forge on the 13th September 2019.A few months earlier on the 27th June 2019 322481 is pictured at Leeds before departing with a service to Ilkley. Here’s 322482 in the ‘as delivered’ Stansted Express’ livery. The driving cars carried ‘Stansted Express’ on one side of the vehicle and ‘Network SouthEast’ on the other. The unit’s seen diverted from its normal route, passing through Stratford on the 15th April 1993. Many years and many moves later, 322482 is pictured at Leeds Neville Hill on the 10th October 2011. In a revised form of its original ‘Stansted Express’ livery minus all branding bar the First group ‘Flying F’ 322483 is pictures at Edinburgh Waverley between turns to North Berwick on the 25th May 2005. Many years later after having spent time in West Yorkshire 322483 is seen eking out its last days working Anglia services. It’s pictures here pulling out of Wivenhoe on its way to Clacton on the 8th June 2021. Pictured at Liverpool St on a day in October 1996 is set 322484 showing the opposite side branding to ‘Stansted Express’. Also on display is the revised window layout for the extended 1st Class section which takes up 2/3 of the driving car. The same unit several years later in First North-Western livery with gold star on the driving car end seen passing Harringay at speed when it had been returned to WAGN and used as part of the generic fleet. It’s en-route to Peterborough, pictured on the 17th October 2000.322484 again after it has been transferred to Anglia services. It’s seen at Colchester Town on the 20th August 2004. Back in Scotland on the 9th September 2009 where 322485 in First Scotrail livery is seen arriving at Glasgow Central. Whilst the units were normally used on the Edinburgh – North Berwick services they also appeared on services to Glasgow Central via Carstairs – useful for returning them to base as the units were actually allocated to Glasgow Shields Rd depot. Fat forward to the 7th June 2021 and 433485’s seen passing Witham at speed with a service from Ipswich to Liverpool St. The interior of refurbished Driving Trailer 78163 when it was in service with Northern. This was originally a 1st Class section, the fact being given away by the large gap between the windows. It’s seen on the 10th October 2019.
Paul Bigland 