3 car Class 150 sets

[rufuskins]

I understand that from the mid 1990s (Railway Centre site) that some Class 150 3-car sets were operated comprising 2 @ DMSL + 1 @ DMS.

I would be very grateful for any answers to the following three questions:-

1. Did the 2 DMSLs face the same direction?

2. What region/area did they operate in?

3. How long did they run like this?

I am wanting to form some suitable consists for inclusion in my TRAINS folder.

In anticipation, Alec

[gswindale]

There are some still in use by London Midland (formerly Central Trains).

They are the class 150/0 and were formed by taking a coach from the 150/2 and placing it into a 150/1.

Both Northern & Central Trains operated these 3 car units; however as I understand it the Northern units have been returned to their original formations.

[welshdave]

Hi,

AFAIK, there are units formed DMS + DMS + DMSL and DMS + DMSL + DMSL.

I'm not sure there is any hard-and-fast rule about whether the centre car was pointing in a particular direction. I can't imagine so! It would probably depend what way round the units were when they were split.

Some units have the 52xxx vehicle as the centre car, others have a 57xxx. Otherwise, you'd have a fair few perfectly good DMS's sitting out-of-use at Tyseley!!

I recall seeing 3-car GMPTE 150s formed in this way (in the old GMPTE Reggie Railways grey/white/black/red livery), and some of the West Midlands ones certainly are still three-car. London Midland have the two prototype 150s, which have a proper MS, rather than a makeshift one.

The LM/Central Trains ones were re-numbered to 150/0 by deducting 100 from the original 150/1 number, e.g. 150110 became 150010. Presumably to help distinguish between 2 and 3 car units. However, I don't recall the GMPTE/Northern ones being re-numbered.

I do recall seeing some of these makeshift three car units on the Cambrian Coast line as far back as the late 1980's (would be after 1987, when the 150/2s were introduced), in their original liveries, looking a bit of a mish-mash - the 150/1 cars in their original turquoise livery, and the 150/2 car in its later Sprinter livery! I also think they were still allocated to Derby Etches Park (DY) at the time, as opposed to Tyseley.

I'm not sure whether any units stayed like this, or whether they returned to their original formations until Tyseley went about creating the current formations. I may have a photo or two somewhere of the original makeshift 3-car sets on the Cambrian.

I hope this info is of use

Regards

Dave Randles

[rufuskins]

Many thanks for the prompt replies, which are most appreciated.

I can now work up some consits.

Alec

[Hymek]

yes, 150001 and 002 are the original three car units with a proper centre car (and were for a time 154s)

Most of the 150s you are on about still operate the worcester - Snow Hill - Straford area trains and yes, the centre car direction depends on what was used and which way round the unit was. Either (DMSL - DMSL - DMS or DMSL - DMS - DMS)

The best way to find out which way round the centre car faces is to search for it on fotopic or try and find the unit in service

[glasgowworks]

yes, 150001 and 002 are the original three car units with a proper centre car (and were for a time 154s)

In fact in 1987, 150002 was converted to a Class 154 after having problems with it's Rolls Royce engines. The unit was renumbered to 154001, then renumbered to 154002 only a year later. 150001 still runs as Class 150/0 during the duration and has not been converted.

It is interesting to note that the 154 unit had electronic destination boards on DMSL, the other end (DMS) still have manual roller destination boards! The Class 154 ran in 2 car formation, sometimes 3 car when a centre car is added.

[Hymek]

001 and 002 also have smaller fuel tanks than the rest of the fleet, which was why they were being considered for withdrawl earlier this year, before the class 172 exhaust debarcle.

002 is still i believe a regular performer on the Worcester runs. (every time im in that area, i always see it anyway)

[davidcoates8]

In fact as these units are considered non-standard London Midland have use of them for free, also of note when we do eventually get the 172's will continue to use scud 1 and 2 for the foreseeable future!!! The other 150's being cascaded to FGW

[allypally]

Class 154 was a prototype for Class 158 - hence the air conditioning and electronic displays. It was converted back to as near as damn it 150001 afterwards but there are some differences.

[Hymek]

In fact as these units are considered non-standard London Midland have use of them for free, also of note when we do eventually get the 172's will continue to use scud 1 and 2 for the foreseeable future!!! The other 150's being cascaded to FGW

Yes, that is correct, as i believe it is seen that as they are non standard, Only the fitters at Tyseley have experience working on them, so those two will probably remain based there untill withdrawl

[passedcleaner]

Am I right in saying that 150001 and 002 are mechanically different to the rest of the 150/1 fleet even now? I'm sure there's an engine difference, or something similar. Definitely cosmetic differences in the passenger saloons as well, particularly around the door areas.

Seb

[Hymek]

Am I right in saying that 150001 and 002 are mechanically different to the rest of the 150/1 fleet even now? I'm sure there's an engine difference, or something similar. Definitely cosmetic differences in the passenger saloons as well, particularly around the door areas.

Seb

Different sized fuel tanks is the main thing, with 1 and 2 having smaller than the 150/1s