Autumn refresh for GWR Class 165/166 Turbos

[JonathanH]

Of note, that area in the first photo is the former First Class area. I’ve never understood why they chose to re-seat this end with 3+2 seating, and place the large luggage rack in the other end (the former 3+2 seated area with 3 windows).

Doesn't it better equalise passenger capacity in the two vehicles - eg one gets the toilet and the other gets the racks?

It does admittedly result in a pair of seats without a window which is a bit unfortunate.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Allocated to a depot only means that depot holds overarching maintenance and “ownership” of that unit.

It doesn’t forbid it being outstationed at Reading for say, 2 weeks at a time and just rotating through SPM for major work every couple of weeks or so.

Not impossible that all the two cars could be officially allocated to SPM but rotate to cover the Thames Valley work.

Indeed that is exactly what is going happen and if you look at the timetable for after Dec 21 you will see there are some swap over opportunities to cycle the units back to their ‘home’ depot for heavy maintenance as appropriate.

At Worcester in the morning the arrival from Oxford then goes to Gloucester and vv

 

[cactustwirly]

Indeed that is exactly what is going happen and if you look at the timetable for after Dec 21 you will see there are some swap over opportunities to cycle the units back to their ‘home’ depot for heavy maintenance as appropriate.

At Worcester in the morning the arrival from Oxford then goes to Gloucester and vv

To me it doesn't really make sense.
Reading has maintained these since they were new and have the experience, which SPM doesn't have. Look at the state of 166s since they transferred west, they've gone downhill massively since they were Reading based.

Plus it seems like a massive waste of fuel transferring 165s to and from Bristol. I'm struggling to see the advantage here.

 

[JonathanH]

Plus it seems like a massive waste of fuel transferring 165s to and from Bristol. I'm struggling to see the advantage here.

How is it a waste of fuel if the exchange of units is at Worcester with the units operating in service to that point?

2G79 0604 Gloucester to Worcester Foregate Street works 2E80 0652 Worcester Foregate Street to Didcot Parkway

2E77 0510 Oxford to Worcester Shrub Hill works 2O72 0707 Worcester Shrub Hill to Weymouth

There isn't an empty stock working from, for instance, St Philips Marsh to Didcot Parkway.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

To me it doesn't really make sense.
Reading has maintained these since they were new and have the experience, which SPM doesn't have. Look at the state of 166s since they transferred west, they've gone downhill massively since they were Reading based.

Plus it seems like a massive waste of fuel transferring 165s to and from Bristol. I'm struggling to see the advantage here.

How is it a waste of fuel when it’s been explained the changeover take places at Worcester.

The advantage is so there is capacity within Reading Depot to maintain the class 769s which will be working on Thames Valley services - how else do you propose these are maintained bearing in mind they are longer and take up more shed space than the turbos they replace…. The front line railway doesn’t do things for the sake of it!

RE 166s, when they were at Reading most units either got back to Reading each night or stabled at Oxford. At Bristol the 166s have a tough life with over half the fleet outstabled every night at places such as Fratton, Weymouth, Westbury and Gloucester. A fleet with returns more often to its Home Depot will be by its nature more reliable.

The rebuilt Exeter depot will take over some of the works on 158s from SPM which will alleviate pressure there.

 

[REVUpminster]

Exeter has been built to service three coach trains (and two) with it's lifting road although the bogies look like they will be delivered by road. It also seems to favours modular replacement and not repair.

 

[Dan15812]

I would expect the only difference and the reason for starting on the 165 is they don't have carpets.
Although some 166's had the GWR carpet retrofitted, so I wonder if it will all be replaced from fresh.

Also I wonder what will happen to 166205 as its green interior is already starting to age so will become out of line with the other newly refurbed turbos.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I would expect the only difference and the reason for starting on the 165 is they don't have carpets.
Although some 166's had the GWR carpet retrofitted, so I wonder if it will all be replaced from fresh.

Also I wonder what will happen to 166205 as its green interior is already starting to age so will become out of line with the other newly refurbed turbos.

You’d expect them to redo 205 as well, but they refused to re-livery the all blue 166s as they’d been done more recently, so will probably refuse to redo 205 for the same reason

 

[cactustwirly]

You’d expect them to redo 205 as well, but they refused to re-livery the all blue 166s as they’d been done more recently, so will probably refuse to redo 205 for the same reason

Depends on how extensive the 166 refurbishment is. If it's new seat coverings and floors. I'd expect 205 won't be touched

 

[Dan15812]

205 was done in 2015 IIRC as part of some trial to showcase the GWR brand. Part of the reason why GWR didn’t continue with the trial was because the interior wasn’t wearing well. So it would be strange for it not to get touched.

 

[JonathanH]

205 was done in 2015 IIRC as part of some trial to showcase the GWR brand. Part of the reason why GWR didn’t continue with the trial was because the interior wasn’t wearing well. So it would be strange for it not to get touched.

The original cloth seat coverings were replaced by moquette ones though so to that extent they don't need to be changed as part of the current work. Clearly if the first class area were to be removed as part of this work, it will need to be included.

 

[43102EMR]

The original cloth seat coverings were replaced by moquette ones though so to that extent they don't need to be changed as part of the current work. Clearly if the first class area were to be removed as part of this work, it will need to be included.

I hope it isn’t removed as it’s the closest the Turbos will get to a 2+2 interior layout at the moment - saying that though, half the time it’s sealed off due to Covid and will likely get removed in line with the rest of the WOE fleet.

 

[FGW_DID]

any news as to when 165123 will be back (that is if it isnt back already?)………

Swap should take place today
165123 Wolverton > Reading then,
165126 Reading > Wolverton.

 

[3973EXL]

Swap should take place today
165123 Wolverton > Reading then,
165126 Reading > Wolverton.

VSTP 5Q69/70

Realtime Trains - 5Q69 1300 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot
Realtime Trains - 5Q70 1526 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings

 

[cactustwirly]

Well 165122 is in service.

The interior looks very smart, a lot better than the old FGW one.
Basically everything is the same, except there is new flooring and seat covers. Plus the interior has been repainted.

 

[fgwrich]

Well 165122 is in service.

The interior looks very smart, a lot better than the old FGW one.
Basically everything is the same, except there is new flooring and seat covers. Plus the interior has been repainted.

Indeed, I happen to have It on a Padd - Oxford the other night. Not really much to write home about in my opinion, it is just a Turbo in GWR colours. Though Wolverton could have cleaned the ceiling before they returned it (Walls and seat frames repainted) and covers replaced.

 

[43096]

Indeed, I happen to have It on a Padd - Oxford the other night. Not really much to write home about in my opinion, it is just a Turbo in GWR colours. Though Wolverton could have cleaned the ceiling before they returned it (Walls and seat frames repainted) and covers replaced.

If it’s not in the spec it doesn’t get done. If GWR wanted the ceiling cleaning, they should have included it in the scope!

 

[cactustwirly]

According to RTT 165123 is out on Oxford services today. 165122 worked empty to Reading this morning from Oxford so not out today.

 

[3973EXL]

16x or 769?
STP 26/11

Realtime Trains - FRGT 0845 Reading Traincare Depot to Long Marston

 

[FGW_DID]

16x or 769?
STP 26/11

Realtime Trains - FRGT 0845 Reading Traincare Depot to Long Marston

Despite the timing load shown on RTT, it is a 769 path.

 

[FLIRTfan18]

I was on 165122 today. Very nice and tidy. In my view the best job they could possibly have done whilst keeping the seating layout as it is. I always detested the First pink and blue colour scheme.

 

[CR165022]

Realtime Trains - 553C 1034 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

looks like 126 returned yesterday, however it could have been a 769 drag, any idea what will be going next after 126?

 

[warwickshire]

Realtime Trains - 553C 1034 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

looks like 126 returned yesterday, however it could have been a 769 drag, any idea what will be going next after 126?

Was 769949.
Wasn't a 165 I am afraid.

 

[FGW_DID]

Realtime Trains - 553C 1034 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

looks like 126 returned yesterday, however it could have been a 769 drag, any idea what will be going next after 126?

That was a 769 move, next 165 has yet to be notified.

 

[Recessio]

That interior looks very snazzy, looking forward to seeing these on the North Downs line!

Sole complaint is the grab handles dont contrast very well, but that might just be the lighting in the photo.

 

[DelW]

I was on 165122 today. Very nice and tidy. In my view the best job they could possibly have done whilst keeping the seating layout as it is. I always detested the First pink and blue colour scheme.

I don't mind the blue, but I agree the lurid pink grab handles and poles are pretty hard on the eyes.

That interior looks very snazzy, looking forward to seeing these on the North Downs line!

Sole complaint is the grab handles dont contrast very well, but that might just be the lighting in the photo.

Which will be seen in service on the North Downs first, a 'refreshed' Turbo or a 769?

 

[Siemens Staines]

Perhaps it depends whether you count Wokingham as the North Downs?

Realtime Trains - 1O56 0603 Reading to Wokingham

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I am sure that 165122 or 165123 have already worked the booked 2-car diagram 1O55/1V39, but they have not done so within the last week.

 

[387star]

These painted (?) tables haven't lasted well at all whereas class 377 tables still look new !

 

[3973EXL]

STP 9/12

Realtime Trains - FRGT 0905 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot 5Q74 dep 0856
Realtime Trains - FRGT 1212 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings 5Q70 dep 1158

 

[Melancholia]

165126 coming back

Am I right in thinking it's 165118 going up next?