Porterbrook Cl.769 'Flex' trains from 319s, initially for Northern

[Halish Railway]

I took my first ride on a 769 today - 769442 between Wigan Wallgate and Salford Crescent. I have to say, are they always that slow between Hindley & Westhoughton? According to a GPS speedometer on my phone, yes not the most reliable measure, the train only got up to 35mph.

On a more positive note, the power changeover went smoothly and it accelerated just like how any other 319 would accelerate on electric.

 

[175001]

Yes. The gradient is pretty steep from Wigan all the way to the M61.

Saying that, I drove 434 today and probably got it to 50 before Westhoughton. Although i shut off and brake later on a 769 than a Sprinter now.

 

[Lewis Tickle]

Units still designated as Class 319, to my knowledge:

LNWR (14): 005, 012-013; 214-220; 429, 433, 457, 460.
Northern (15): 361, 366-370, 372, 375, 378-379, 383-386.
Rail Operations Group (5): 011; 373 (601), 377, 380; 441.
Stored (8): 362-365, 371, 374, 376, 382.
Scrapped (4): 004, 451, 453, 455.

319001 is the Class 799 HydroFlex unit.

Apologies for the late reply, but you missed 319381 off the list, which is still with Northern. Otherwise good list, thanks!

 

[D9006]

Yesterday wasn’t a good day for the 769s on the SOP-ALD route...

Realtime Trains | Departures from Hindley all day on 16/06/2021

Train information at Hindley all day on 16/06/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

What ever was wrong with 442 was sorted out as it did a round trip to Alderley Edge later on

 

[507021]

Apologies for the late reply, but you missed 319381 off the list, which is still with Northern. Otherwise good list, thanks!

No need to apologise, well spotted!

 

[Gricer99]

They seem to have sorted out the change to diesel at Bolton now. Only the occasional delay there this week. Seems to be more problems with everyth being late out of Southport today.

 

[The_Train]

They seem to have sorted out the change to diesel at Bolton now. Only the occasional delay there this week. Seems to be more problems with everyth being late out of Southport today.

That will explain why this thread has gone so quiet then

 

[py_megapixel]

What are the allocations like at the moment (i.e. how common is it that Sprinters end up on 769 routes?)

 

[Jamesrob637]

What are the allocations like at the moment (i.e. how common is it that Sprinters end up on 769 routes?)

Not too bad in fairness. I catch the 16:16 Southport to Alderley Edge (17:30 from Deansgate) most days and it's a 769 most times. If it's 2-car I rush across to Piccadilly for the 17:24 to Buxton which is booked 4-car.

 

[D9006]

What are the allocations like at the moment (i.e. how common is it that Sprinters end up on 769 routes?)

All 5 diagrams on Alderley edge to Southport run with 769s today

 

[AM9]

All 5 diagrams on Alderley edge to Southport run with 769s today

So it' looking like the failures are really just teething problems, and they are being fixed which is what might be expected. The old bits of the trains are well established and known quantities, the new bits (genset, switchgear, a small amount of electronics with software and cables) - are all pretty noddy stuff. So no yaw damper brackets to break, no running out of fuel, even PIS operation doesn't get a mention now.

 

[Senna1210]

Well running out of fuel and how to stop a engine might still be a issue but the driver should get it at some point

 

[AM9]

Well running out of fuel and how to stop a engine might still be a issue but the driver should get it at some point

Running out of fuel would be a planning or operational failure once their range is known. There were suggestions that the range of the 769 was inadequate bit that is a planning issue unless an obscure failure mode used an unexpected amount of fuel.
I don't understand what you mean by 'how to stop an engine', - has that been a problem?

 

[IanXC]

Running out of fuel would be a planning or operational failure once their range is known. There were suggestions that the range of the 769 was inadequate bit that is a planning issue unless an obscure failure mode used an unexpected amount of fuel.
I don't understand what you mean by 'how to stop an engine', - has that been a problem?

I read that comment as, running out of fuel because rather than switching to electric, a driver who doesn't know 'how to stop an engine' might just leave it in diesel mode while under the wires.

 

[skyhigh]

I read that comment as, running out of fuel because rather than switching to electric, a driver who doesn't know 'how to stop an engine' might just leave it in diesel mode while under the wires.

I think there's actually a lack of local engine start/stop buttons- currently the engines are controlled by putting the unit into diesel mode or electric, rather than the more usual start buttons you find on other traction (so if an engine cuts out the train has to be stopped, all off then back into diesel to attempt a restart). That's what I understand from colleagues, I don't actually sign them as 769s.

 

[Senna1210]

No there is a engine stop button and you cannot have the engines running and in ac mode but when disposing of the unit you should shutdown the engines and put it back in ac mode with the pan up but a few have been left going overnight hence running out of fuel,

 

[D9006]

Unable to see on realtimes site which 769s allocated today, heard a few pulling out, is it something I’ve done or are unit numbers and how many carriages not listing, was ok last night

 

[Killingworth]

Unable to see on realtimes site which 769s allocated today, heard a few pulling out, is it something I’ve done or are unit numbers and how many carriages not listing, was ok last night

Seems RTT have an issue on most routes, nationally. Very few train formations seem to be available since early today.

 

[D9006]

Seems RTT have an issue on most routes, nationally. Very few train formations seem to be available since early today.

Showing units now, wanted a lie in on a Saturday morning

 

[Gricer99]

Not a single 769 out today according to Realtime Trains.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Just on the day they're most needed too.

 

[Brian1947]

Not a single 769 out today according to Realtime Trains.

Not entirely correct as I was on, I think, 424 this morning when it was deemed to have a fault. An announcement was made somewhere around Wigan, but the unit was only taken out of service at Oxford Road.

 

[Gricer99]

Apologies. Must have missed that one.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Not entirely correct as I was on, I think, 424 this morning when it was deemed to have a fault. An announcement was made somewhere around Wigan, but the unit was only taken out of service at Oxford Road.

That's like England awarded a goal in the first half, only for it to be disallowed by VAR in the second half!

 

[D9006]

the 1st one is a 769 550 from Wigan Alderley edge, just heard it pulling out of Hindley, still a sound hard to get use to, when next was a 150 and definitely hear that, the 769 is not even noticeable

 

[Jamesrob637]

Are any actually out today either?

 

[Gricer99]

769 442 had an early morning return journey to Alderley Edge but that was the only trip today I can see on RTT.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Not brilliant, not by a long shot.

 

[Grumpy Git]

769 = North British diesel electric (= not fit for purpose).

How long do you give someone to "get it right" before you realise it's a waste of time?

How many 319 to 769 conversions have been "completed"?

 

[Gricer99]

Looks like only 442 and 448 are out today. 442 seems to be almost on time but 448 was 22 mins late starting at Southport.
Wdited to say: Just heard 434 on Stalybridge to Southport, pass Hindley and appears to be on time!