Trainbike46
Established Member
However, if GC doesn't extend their lease, it seems unlikely (but not impossible) that the ROSCO will find someone else interested in taking them
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Class 221 for Grand Central
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RobShipway
Established Member
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With that someone else possibly being XC, if still requiring stock at that time.
You're in cloud cuckoo land if you think XC will ever take on ex-GC 180s as is being discussed.
trainswitheddy
Member
I'd be surprised if anyone wanted to take the risk with 180s, seeing as how any operator who have had them have had terrible luck (First, Hull Trains and now GC...)
To be honest I'd be entirely surprised if there was ANY future for them at all if they're withdrawn from GC, unless significant investment to fix the problems (Which begs the question of worth for nearly 20 year old trainfleets)
Anonymous10
Established Member
I suppose the best you could do with them is use the center cars in the class 175 fleet, given their slightly better reliability and hope the lower speed helps.
trainswitheddy
Member
True, wasn't this discussed? I seem to recall someone explaining they had different systems in them, or maybe I'm getting confused between the 222s and 221/220s
Anonymous10
Established Member
The 175s and 180s can interior (couple) to my knowledge.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Indeed and for the avoidance of doubt, the vast majority of train operators lease their rolling stock from a leasing company - hitherto known as a Rosco.
So when the train operator stops using those trains they are handed back to the owner, who decides what to do with them.
trainswitheddy
Member
Fascinating. I suppose this would be a good bet to at least save some of them...
spotify95
Member
There's more chance of XC taking on more of the Vorager/Meridian fleet than there is XC taking on 180s.
In fact, there's more of a chance the 180s will be scrapped, than there is XC taking them on.
trainswitheddy
Member
Anywhere you reckon they might end up? Maybe Northern want another go
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
I feel like if GC get enough Voyagers to run their whole fleet, the 180s will be going for scrap.Anywhere you reckon they might end up? Maybe Northern want another go
trainswitheddy
Member
Only time will tell
dk1
Veteran Member
Hopefully one will end up preserved at Llangollen for the DMU gala weekend.
spotify95
Member
The 180s? Probably Newport SIMS Metals.Anywhere you reckon they might end up? Maybe Northern want another go
trainswitheddy
Member
That would be interesting, a 180 in preservation...
Not a long lifespan for them, then!
danbarjon
Member
Interesting to note that Grand Central are using the 221s now up to York. A YouTube video shows a GC 221 at York leaving as 1A66 which should have originally been a 180. It would be great to see them up in Sunderland in the future.
Link to the YouTube video.
Link to the YouTube video.
trainswitheddy
Member
That's very interesting. Will have to see where they go over to next!
sprinterguy
Established Member
They're doing very well for such a small and notoriously unreliable fleet. There are a number of more successful modernisation plan-era locomotive and DMU classes that barely managed twenty years squadron service, and a number of unsuccessful ones that achieved far less.
trainswitheddy
Member
180111 was meant to join Grand Central as well, why didn't this happen?
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Haha. Yes. a 180 being hauled up and down by an S160 2-8-0. That would be worth doing, but only in cooler weather when the HVAC isn't so important !!!
dk1
Veteran Member
I take it that's a kettle
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Yes, a USA built loco shipped over to Europe for WW2 and which several examples are preserved in the UK - and are handily fitted with air brakes !!!I take it that's a kettle
Rail Advent saying that a refurbed GC 221 in a new livery is out and about and being advertised by GBBO winner John Whaite? Haven’t been able to find anything on YouTube bar this article. Any ideas?
On my phone so can’t paste the text of the link: https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/1...BgFV08P__0oWlwOmhUzo5P-kP1axThmpA2nL9GDBY&
On my phone so can’t paste the text of the link: https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/1...BgFV08P__0oWlwOmhUzo5P-kP1axThmpA2nL9GDBY&
The fact they’ve used a 180 to highlight the livery isn’t very confident…
Still the same as highlight above - driving vehicles vinyled but coaches still in Virgin silver. Interiors untouched minus GC branding inside (though not really much needs to be done given Avanti refurbished them recently)
I did wonder. Just with the date of the article so recent and it mentioned two sets, I didn’t know if one had been refurbed whilst the other out and about.The fact they’ve used a 180 to highlight the livery isn’t very confident…
Still the same as highlight above - driving vehicles vinyled but coaches still in Virgin silver. Interiors untouched minus GC branding inside (though not really much needs to be done given Avanti refurbished them recently)
Jamesrob637
Established Member
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- 12 Aug 2016
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Shinkansen often only go 15-20 years in service: mind you there is the Japanese climate and much higher speed to factor in, meaning they'll have covered several million kilometres by the time they are cut up.
spotify95
Member
I think EMR even had a few cancellations when their services (select Nottingham services) were covered by 180s instead of 222s...
Given that any TOC would be barmy to take these on, I would suggest the only future for 180s are: preservation on a heritage railway that has enough track to take advantage of such a train (unlikely), or scrap at some scrapyard (highly likely).