Class 155s at Gillingham (Dorset)

[Ostrich]

Two pictures have emerged on our local FB page of class 155 2-car sprinters 155313 and 155317 in Gillingham (Dorset) station, dating from (?) late 1980's / early 1990's. It's not clear if they were in service or not.
Can anyone recall if class 155s were seriously trialled in some way for the West of England line?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I wonder if they might have been either diversions or stock positioning moves?

They were used on the Portsmouth - Cardiff services, so it's not out of the question that they might have to venture between Salisbury and Bristol at some point if the regular line was closed?

 

[randyrippley]

Two pictures have emerged on our local FB page of class 155 2-car sprinters 155313 and 155317 in Gillingham (Dorset) station, dating from (?) late 1980's / early 1990's. It's not clear if they were in service or not.
Can anyone recall if class 155s were seriously trialled in some way for the West of England line?

late 80's there was an up train which got to Gillingham early evening and was normally worked from Exeter with a three car DMU or a type 2 + 3 coaches. Not sure if it reversed at Gillingham or ran through to Salisbury
not impossible it was running on that as a trial or stand-in?

 

[Ostrich]

Thanks, both.

313 is a daytime shot - the destination blind is indistinct but could just be displaying Exeter. It's nigh on impossible to tell.
317 is a nighttime shot - it doesn't look like the vestibule lights are on, but from the lit cab and the headlights, it's due to be heading west.
Both photos show the units stationary in Platform 1 (up).
In both cases, there's no staff / passengers in the photos so ECS or trial workings seems the most logical reason ........ unless they are indeed that up service from Exeter, dwelling in Gillingham before reversing.

 

[paul1609]

I think there was a brief period when the Brighton to Exeter via Gillingham Sunday trains were formed of class 155 or 156s. There was an issue whereby the first 158 service to Brighton displaced about 200 metres of the down platform at Shoreham by sea on its return and all regional railways dmu services to Cardiff and Exeter went back to 155/6 until the route was properly cleared. The Exeter trains were later operated by 159s from Salisbury.

 

[randyrippley]

Just a thought.......had the 158/159 damper body lugs cracking problem been solved by the time they took over on the line?