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Class 153
Single-Car Units produced when Class 155's were disbanded.Single exception is 153399,a hybrid with a 153 and 1/2 a 150! This lasted from spring 2011 to late summer.
'Bug' 153910 in the nice bright 'Transport for Wales' livery rolls into Cardiff-Central with '2C21' the 11:32 from Radyr going to Coryton.
..8 june 2023..
153320/153921 are seen forming the 12:38 from Ebbw Vale Town to Cardiff Central. Pictured on the 4-track section at Coedkernew West of Newport.
..3 april 2023..
The 2nd booked Class-37 train from Cardiff (17:46 off) to Rhymney '2R24' was sadly a triple Class-153---153325/153323 & 153672.It was the same combo the next evening as well so it looks like the Class-37's on these trains is ending for sure by the end of the week. With these trains going to Class-153's or something? that brings the curtain down completely on booked Class-37 passenger haulage right across the country.A long long career stretching back nearly 60 years.....A Pity.....
..19 february 2020...
One of the few Single-Car Class-153's left still operating currently with GWR is this one advertising 'Citizensrail.Org' in a livery that cannot fail to be noticed! Here 153325 passes the nice again quite green fields at Berkley Marsh now that the 6-week hot and dryspell is well and truly over.It was working '2O97' the 16:40 from Gloucester to Weymouth.
..16 august 2018..
Here is the 'Visit-Devon' Bug actually working within its appropriate county for a change! Viewed here are GWR's-153333 & 150243 getting away from its Dawlish Station stop working '2T21' the 15:24 from Exmouth going down to Paignton, There is only a small window of opportunity for grabbing this shot at this location as within the hour the cliffs here shadow this section of line quite badly.
..19 july 2018..
GWR's two remaining 'advertising' Class-153's were today coupled together along with one of the durgy green examples.Here are 153338 'Visit Devon' with 153325 'Citizens.Org' with an anonymous GWR version.This triple was working '2C20' the 14:41 from Gloucester to Westbury.Viewed crossing over the Feeder River in Bristol at North Somerset Junction.
..22 june 2018..
Seeing a pair of FGW-Blue DMU's these days is now something a rarity.Here is 153361 partnered with a 150xxx coming out of Westbury at Fairwood with '2C18' from Gloucester to Frome.It having commenced this duty at 12:42.With the shadows getting longer and the temperature now down to about 3 degrees-C plus no freight in the next 15 minutes it was time for a steaming cup of coffee so that was it for today photographically!
..1 december 2017..
153333 which is just about one of the few remaining colourful DMU's on the GWR these days in its bright 'Visit South Devon by Train' advertising livery rattles away from Westbury at Fairwood with '2M09' the 12:47 from Swindon going to Frome.
..1 december 2017..
Mixed liveries here,neither of which is or were particularly inspiring! GWR-Green Dogbox 153380 leads FGW 150131 as it rounds the curve away from Dawlish Warren Station and on to the seawall at Dawlish proper.The service being '2T14' the 10:25 from Exmouth to Paignton.A popular stretch of the coastal path here.It is a pity that the Redrock Cafe situated just here appears to have closed permanantly.Shame as I was gasping for a cup of coffee!
..16 september 2017..
GWR-Green Dog-Box 153368 sets off from Westbury with '2M12' the 14:04 from Frome going to Swindon.
..12 september 2017..
Known locally as the 'Trans-Wiltshire Express' these workings between Westbury and Swindon have proved extreemly popular since introduction a couple of years ago.Significantly they are the only passenger services apart from Paddington-HST's to pass through this station! So here is 153370 that was recently tarted up in the GWR-Green paint scheme departing Chippenham working '2M56' the 12:36 from Swindon to Westbury.Originally this class was supposed to have departed this region for pastures-new when electrification allowed for cascaded replacements.Because of the delays due to total and utter incompetane by NR their move has been seriously delayed hence the green paint jobs!
..5 august 2017..
'Casper' the ghostly 153305 in its 'off lease' neutral colour scheme continues to work for FGW/GWR far longer than was originally anticipated due to (to put it politely) operational difficulties.Here it is working a severly overloaded 12:27 from Southampton going up to Great Malvern with its odd-ball reporting number '9M98'.Seen departing Trowbridge after a lady with a child in a pushchair was unable to board because it was very overloaded.This service should have been at the very least a 2-car Class 150 but due to lack of operational 150's this insufficiency was supplied instead.
..16 june 2017..
The 'Trans Wiltshire Express' 153353 speeds through Beanacre east of Melksham working '2M14' the 16:21 from Westbury over to Swindon.
..9 may 2017..
'The Ghost' 153305 was today doing the Westbury-Swindon shuttles. Here is '2M13' the 15:12 from Swindon.Despite the blind saying 'Swindon' it was actually heading for Westbury.Seen passing Heywood Village in yet another brief burst of sunshine.
..5 april 2017..
153305 'The Ghost' ambles away from Westbury with '2M09' the 12:47 from Swindon going to Frome.Viewed at Fairwood.This odd livery has been applied to this expectant disentranchised 'Bug' in readiness for it to move on elsewhere sometime in the future.However with all Unit transfers currently on 'Hold' from the GWR due to electrification difficulties this odd-ball could be with us in the west for quite some time.
..5 april 2017..
153333 in its decorative 'Visit Devon by Train' colour scheme passes Heywood Village with '2M12' the 16:07 from Swindon to Westbury via Melksham.Pictured from a public foot-crossing located there.
..26 march 2017..
'Dog-Box' 153369 is seen working in tandem with 150122 on '1C45' the 13:19 from Bristol-Temple Meads to Exeter St Davids.Pictured passing Parson Street in the western suburbs of the City of Bristol.
..13 february 2017..
153305 in its unique 'citizenrail.org' red livery trundles away from Westbury with '2M08' the 11:47 from here going to Swindon.These Dog-Boxes are the regular choice of Unit on this now very well patronised service that travels via the Melksham line.
..3 january 2017..
Dog-Box 153369 runs into platform-3 at Westbury with '2M07' the 10:47 shuttle from Swindon.This is known locally as the 'Trans-Wiltshire Express'.
..22 december 2016..
A unknown 153+++ shoots over the Lacock to Gastard road working '2M59' the 17:35 from Westbury going only as far as Chippenham instead of its usual destination Swindon due to weekend engineering works east of Chippenham.
..02 july 2016..
I actually went to this location here at Masters Farm Crossing nr Fairwood to picture the first run of the 2nd GWR-Green HST Set 43005/43041 which followed this 'Bug' barely 3 minutes behind it.Needless to say despite the apparent clear skies as seen here I was well and truly screwed by an inevitable floater! So here is 153329 with '2M10' the 14:04 from Frome to Swindon thus avoiding the filthy hordes from Glastonbury/Castle-Cary.
..27 june 2016..
153370 was coupled with 158763 to form '2V93' the 17:30 from Weymouth bound for Bristol-Temple Meads.Here passing Berkley Marsh shortly after it has cleared Clink Road Junction in Frome.This 'hole in the hedge' only appeared a month or so ago when Steam A1-Replica 60163 'Tornado' passed this way.A crowd of rampant 'beards and sandals' hacked out this hole so as to get their late evening back-lit steamy shots when it passed through at sunset back then in early April.
..03 june 2016..
'DogBox' 153370 in FGW-Blue which compared to the new GWR livery effort is actually quite acceptable in the sunshine passes Dunch Lane- Melksham on '2M11' the 15:12 from Swindon going to Westbury.These daily services are known locally as the 'Trans Wiltshire Express'.
..26 may 2016..
Dog-Box 153318 in plain FGW-Blue runs down past Dunch Lane slowing for its booked stop at Melksham with '2M11' the 15:12 from Swindon to Westbury shuttle-service.
..23 march 2016..
'2C73' the 11:00 from Cardiff to Taunton passes Magor with 153325 the 'Citizensrail.Org' liveried 'Bug' leading along with an anonymous 150+++ in behind.
..23 february 2016..
153325 the Citizenrail.Org liveried BugBox was today partnered with a 'FlatFace' Class-150 which in unidentified due to a busy road and me having no desire to commit suicide trying to cross it to note the number! The working being '2C73' the 11:00 from Cardiff-Central going to Taunton.Viewed here on the approach to Pilning shortly after it had exited the Severn-Tunnel.
..11 february 2016..
Citizenrail.Org 'Bug' 153325 with '2M08' the 11:47 from Westbury to Swindon via Melksham gets away from Westbury,passing under the heavily corroded and now weight restricted overbridge that leads from the Town to a Major Trading Estate.No consideration has been given to replacement of this reason for serious bottlenecks in the area due to long forced diversions.No doubt if it was on the route of the flawed electrification scheme it would have been replaced by now.Come on 'Fail-Track' there are some far more important things to sort out than that over-budget farce.
..09 february 2016..
Citizenrail.Org Dog-Box 153325 sits in Westbury waiting time with '2M10' the 14:04 from Frome heading for Swindon.
..19 novenber 2015..
Today the Westbury-Swindon 'Shuttle' used 153333 the Vinyl covered Bug-Box inviting people to 'Visit South Devon by Train'.Here it is on '2M08' the 11:47 from Westbury to Swindon passing Ladydown nr Trowbridge.
..10 november 2015..
153305 sways through Broughton Gifford approaching its only stop (Melksham) on the single line between Bradford Junction and Thingley Junction.This duty '2M08' departed Westbury at 11:47 with its destination being Swindon.This service is advertised locally as the Trans-Wiltshire Express! Hardly an Express but a useful service never the less.
..20 october 2015..
'Dog-Box' 153372 runs into Westbury with the 10:47 from Swindon to Westbury shuttle-service,this one being '2M07'..
..28 september 2015..
'citizensrail.org' liveried 153325 heads an unidentified Class-150 on '2U14' the 11:04 from Taunton to Cardiff service.Seen here passing Malago-Vale in the western suburbs of Bristol.
..01 september 2015..
Bug-Box 153325 wears the distictive 'citizenrail.org' livery and is currently the only one to do so.Here it is running back into the Westbury-DMU Sidings after leading a working into Westbury from Weymouth.Amazingly the ECS trip away from the station past the PowerBox to be able to gain access to the DMU parking point in allocated a reporting number! In this case '5V90'.
..05 august 2015..
153382 works '2M06' past Hay Lane between Royal Wootton Basset and Swindon.These Westbury to Swindon and return local shuttles are the only non-HST passenger train services to use this stretch of line. Note the failed OHLE-Pile standing proudly as a monument to the vastly over-budget/under resourced and un-necessary Electrification project that continues to stagger/crawl slowly into the future!!!!!!!
..23 june 2015..
Having seen this 'mini' celebrity 153333 earlier in Westbury I knew it would be operating the Swindon-Westbury Shuttles all day so not wanting to look a gifthorse in the mouth and ignoring it a trip over Melksham way was taken to hopefully picture it in a bit of sunshine on the single line there.As can be seen the 12:47 from Swindon to Westbury '2M09' luckily passed me at Broughton-Gifford in a nice patch of blue.Seconds after it had passed though all was dark!
..07 may 2015..
Amazingly whilst the newly re-vinyled 153333 was sitting in the platforms the other recently tarted-up '153' 153325 in CitizenRail.Org-Pink arrived on a working from Great-Malvern.Prior to today I hadn't seen either of them! It then proceeded as '5F97' to move from the station and eventually is seen here entering the DMU-sidings in Westbury Up Yard.153325 was coupled with 150120 whilst 66728 is about to depart bound for Stud farm as '6M40'
..07 may 2015..
Within 15 minutes or so of arriving at Westbury 153333 once again shuttled off towards Swindon,this time as '2M08' the 11:47 departure from Westbury.I quickly scuttled over to the adjacent platforms to obtain a more wide view of the departure showing clearly the graphics on the flanks of this 'Bug'.
..07 may 2015..
'2M07' the 10:47 from Swindon rumbles into Westbury.The newly re-vinyled 153333 formally in Metro-Green now sports this 'Advertising' style extolling the virtues of South-Devon as a holiday destination.
..07 may 2015..
The very colourful East Midland-Trains Single-Car DogBox 153381 gets away from Barnetby with '2T21' the 09:35 from Newark -North Gate heading for Grimsby Town.
..18 april 2015..
It seems that for the evening rush-hour this service '2T66' is doubled in capacity by using 2x153's.Here are East Midland Trains 153357&153311 running into Barnetby on the 18:28 from Grimsby going to Newark-North Gate.
..17 april 2015..
An 'East Midland Trains' DogBox 153326 speeds past the Singleton Birch-Lime Works operating '2T40' the 11:28 from Grimsby heading for Newark-New Gate.A pretty scary location here as the main road is single carriageway working due to weight constraints and apparantly the police will move you on if seen on the bridge or stood on the armco!
..17 april 2015..
East Midlands Trains operated 153313 is approaching its Barnetby Station stop passing signal BE49.The service is the 07:11from Newark North Gate going to Grimsby Town.That signal and all the others visible in the distance are to be swept away before the end of the year as this area is modernised,for want of a better word!
..17 april 2015..
One of FGW's Dog-Boxes 153380 clatters past Little Langford in the Wylye-Valley working '2O05' the 11:11 from Westbury going only as far as Southampton.In the background in the ancient 'Church of St Nicholas' that was originally built in the 12th century although it did undergo a rebuild around about 1864 just 150 years ago.
..09 april 2015..
Dog-Box 153361 drones along past Beanacre with '2M11' the 15:14 shuttle from Swindon to Westbury.Next stop Melksham.
..06 march 2015..
With the shadows now lengthening quite rapidly 153380 rattles past Dunch Lane in Melksham with the 15:14 from Swindon going to Westbury '2M11'. This service has been running for a year and is now proving very popular.It is one experimental service which has now become a firm favourite with the locals as a direct route to Swindon.
24 february 2015..
'2M07' from Swindon runs into Westbury with 'Dog-Box' 153361 making up the single-car consist.This new service has now been up and running now for just over a year and by all accounts has been very successful.In its own way it is quite unique being the only DMU service to call at Chippenham on a regular basis.
..17 february 2017..
With the temperature barely above zero-degrees C, 153380 still has about 15 minutes to go before its departure time of 13:38 to Swindon as '2M09'.So far the train was still empty as was seemingly the entire station.
..01 february 2015..
Bug-Box 153370 partnered with an unidentified '150' powers away from a very crowded Dawlish going to Paignton with '2T23' the 16:55 from Exmouth.This working was jammed full of passengers most of which got on here after spending the day on the beach watching the annual Air-Day here over the Bay.
..23 august 2014..
Dog-Box 153372 formed todays '2M04' the 07:32 from Westbury to Swindon over the Melksham Branch.Seen here at Broughton-Gifford. There was some kind of operational difficulty as some workings had a pilot-man on board and services were being delayed at either end on the section from Bradford-Jnc and Thingley.
..07 july 2014..
Here is the recently introduced service that shuttles between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham.Always a '153',todays allocation is 153380.The actual working is '2M08' the 11:47 from Westbury.Here passing Wootton-Bassett.
..05 june 2014..
After the cloudless start to the day at Westbury confidence was high for a worthwhile session at Royal Wootton Bassett.On the Menu was potential shots of 66414/70001/66731 and a 59/2.In the end the whole lot were screwed by very slow moving puffy clouds. However on the bright side (If there is one) I did manage a shot of this ex-Midland 153325 passing the mess in the Electrification Prep Yard here at RWB.It was on the 11:47 from Westbury to Swindon '2M08'.
..15 may 2014..
This is '1F06' the 06:06 from Portsmouth Harbour bound for Cardiff-Central.Dogbox 153382 was leading 3-car mongrel 158954.Viewed passing Hawkeridge shortly after departing Westbury.Seen is stunning early morning crystal light.
..15 may 2014..
Just two days ago 153333 was on the Westbury to Swindon Shuttles.Now it was 153325's turn to do the duty.As these two are the only FGW single-car units not in bog standard FGW-Blue that is quite impressive photographically!. So here is 153325 slowing for Westbury passing the Power-Box there with '2M11' the 15:14 from Swindon.
..14 may 2014..
Ex-Midland 'DogBox' 153333 rattles past Heywood with the 15:14 service from Swindon to Westbury '2M11'. I spotted this one of a pair FGW-Green 153's whilst waiting for '6M40' earlier in the day near Melksham so knew it was doing this Roster all day.Hence the extra wait after a few freights had passed. Railways are not just all about Freight and LCHS !!!!!!
..12 may 2014..
Single-Car 153380 was today handling '2M08' the 11:47 from Westbury to Swindon via Melksham.Here is it seen passing a remote foot-xing at Broughton-Gifford.Next stop is Melksham.
..11 april 2014..
This is '2M08' the 11:47 stopping service from Westbury going to Swindon via Melksham. The service is invariably worked by a single-car bug-box.Here is 153382 passing Broughton-Gifford in a brief patch of weak sun.
..10 april 2014..
Today 153386 was the assigned 'Bug-Box' on the Swindon-Westbury Shuttles.Here the 12:47 departure from Swindon '2M09' is seen approaching its Chippenham stop.This service is unique because it is the only non-HST passenger working currently operating on this stretch of line from Swindon as far as Thingley-Junction where of coarse it turns off the mainline heading for Melksham-etc.
..01 april 2014..
The solitary Ex-Midland liveried 153333 Bug-Box was today allocated to the Westbury-Swindon Shuttle Service.Hence I was waiting here at White Horse Business Park Foot-Xing nr Trowbridge safe in the knowledge it was actually on this working. This being '2M09', the 12:47 off Swindon going to Westbury-Wilts.There was a bit of a glimmer from the partially shrouded sun just about making it worth the effort (I think this is what local photographer Steve-McM calls full sun!)
..24 march 2014..
Bug-Box 153308 forms the 11:28 from Grimsby Town going to Newark North Gate.Its next stop is Barnetby just a mile or so West of this iconic location with the Singleton-Birch Lime Works forming the backdrop.
..14 march 2014..
East Midland Trains operated '2T11' with 153376 hurries past New Barnetby going to Grimsby from Newark North Gate (departed at 07:40).The gang of NR Contractors spent about five hours here digging out old ballast from about 4 sleepers distance then proceeded to infill with old ballast taken from the cess about 10 yards away.What that achieved is a bit of a mystery? You do the maths----9 workers for 5 hours at £10 an hour for what---you tell me? Amazing!
..14 march 2014..
Former 'Midland' 153333 still retains it previous 'TOC' livery but now carries FGW branding.Here is that distinctive 153-BugBox running around the curve on the approach to Hawkeridge-Junction nr Westbury with '2M08' the 11:36 from Swindon going only as far as Westbury.
..08 march 2014..
Somewhat spurred on by the possible prospect of the sole remaining Green-Midland 'Bug-Box' being on this Swindon to Westbury duty I waited here at White Horse Business Park in Trowbridge just in case.Today however it was one of the more mundane FGW-153's number 153318 doing the duty today.This working was '2M09' the 12:47 of Swindon via Melksham (All Stations) to Westbury.
..04 march 2014..
The sole remaining 'Midland' liveried 153325 in the FGW-Fleet working '2M09' from Swindon to Westbury passes 59005 on '7Z12' from Merehead going to Royal Wootton Bassett-FY. Amazing really, you could stand here for 3 hours and everything would be FGW-Blue then two different liveries come along at once! Location is Ladydown in Trowbridge.
..17 february 2014..
'2F24' is a relatively new service introduced a few years ago from Ebbw-Vale Parkway to Cardiff Central.After the steelworks up this Welsh Valley closed a passenger service was re-introduced in 2008 after many years (It closed for passenger way back in 1962). The line has become a real success story with most trains now running to capacity.Indeed many are now made up of coupled pairs of units to meet the demand.Here are 153320 and 150245 at Long Dyke-Junction approaching Cardiff-Central.Standing room only on this one!
..23 november 2013..
Now this must be a first! FGW have repainted 153361 even though it was already wearing the company blue livery. Here it is looking like it must be only hours back in circulation after the full repaint in harness with a 3-car mongrel 158955 on '2O94' from Worcester-Shrub Hill going to Weymouth. This relatively unusual combination is passing Berkley-Marsh nr Frome.
..12 april 2013..
The 17:15 from Looe going to Liskeard gets away from the Terminus and passes along the side of the Estuary of the Looe River.The Unit on todays trains is 153333,one of just 2 ex London-Midland Units still in original colours now working for FGW.
..26 september 2012..
Now something of a rarity.One of the two remaining Units (Both 153's) drafted in to boost the overworked FGW fleet that has not been repainted yet in the bland FGW-Blue. Here is Ex-London-Midland Green recently rebranded only as FGW, 153333 working in tandem with 150247 on '2O90',the 12:50 from Great Malvern going to Weymouth.Seen slowing at Clink for the Frome stop.
..23 july 2012..
BugBox 153313 rounds the curve away from Willington with the 14:40 Derby to Crewe service.The redundant cooling towers of the long closed Willington-PS forming the industrial backdrop.
..26 july 2012..
'2C45' the 09:28 stopping service from Exeter-St-Davids going to Penzance rounds the curve at Langstone-Rock. Bug-Box 153325 still wearing its 'London-Midland' colours was coupled with 150249.
..23 june 2012..
153325 is the sole remaining 'import' into the FGW fleet that still retains its original previous owners livery.In this case 'London Midland' Here it is seen paired with the mongrel 3-car 150127 with '2E25' from Warminster going to Great Malvern.The working had just departed Filton Abbey Wood.Due to it being unique now a 'going away shot of a unit' in this case had to be done!
..21 may 2012..
Bubblecar 153313 passes Findern Level Crossing shortly after taking the route to Crewe at North Stafford-Junction.The working is the 14:40 from Derby going to Crewe.The now redundant Cooling Towers from the long decommisioned Power-Station at Stenson stand sentinal over the superbly lit scene.
..29 march 2012..
'LM' Green 153333 passes Millbook with the 11:11 from Westbury to Southampton.These units are barred east of Southampton due to the footsteps on the 'added' cab when converted from 155's being out of gauge. ..02 september 2011..
Only a 'Unit' shot but this is a combination I have not seen before.'Bugbox' 153380 runs in tandem with 'Hire-in' 150246 from the Arrive-Wales fleet. Working the 12:51 from Great-Malvern going to Weymouth '2O90' the pair are seen shortly after departing Westbury at Fairwood. ..31 august 2011..
Recent Transferee from 'London-Midland' is 153325 still for the time being wearing that Companies-Colours.Such a pleasant change from the drab FGW livery.Here 153325 slows for Dilton-Marsh Halt with the 10:08 from Westbury going to Warminster. ..28 july 2011..
153305 having swung away from the coast passes Powderham with the 19:40 from Newton-Abbot going to Exeter...................
..25 june 2011..
London-Midland Liveried Interloper 153325 heads past Clink nr Frome going as speed.taking the avoider so probably working a Westbury to Castle-Cary service or heading to Taunton to operate shuttles from there to Castle-Cary.All in conjunction with the addition services in place over this period due to increased passenger loadings as hoards of music fans converge on Glastonbury for the annual Mud-Fest! ..24 june 2011..
Running in the path of last years LCHS that is now regretfully been downgraded to a 'Unit' diagram is this ensemble.Lead Unit on '2V93' from Weymouth going to Bristol-TM is the 'borrowed' Midland 153325 along with 153382/150261 and 153305.Altogether providing a reasonably satisfactory number of seats for this popular seaside working.Pictured at Feltham-Lane on the single-line approach to the booked stop at Frome. ..19 june 2011..
153399,the hybrid 150/153 combo runs back down from Warminster on the 18:18 off of there going only as far a Westbury.Arn-Hill setting the scene. ..14 june 2011..
People seem to have settled upon the name of 'Frankenstien' for this hybrid combination of half a 150 and a 153.Certainly worth a picture or two as it will soon disappear along with the novel number 153399 when the damaged other half of the 150 is repaired. Anyway here is 'Frank' 153399 climbing up past Old-Dilton with the 16:45 from Bristol-Parkway going only as far as Warminster. ..14 june 2011..
Distinctive Midland Interloper 153333 coupled with 158793 passes Arn-Hill shortly after departing Warminster with the 17:28 from there going to Bristol-Parkway. Certainly a vast improvement on the drab FGW colours we have to put up with!
..14 june 2011..
Hybrid-Unit 153399 seen heading for Taunton past Brent-Knoll on the 19:00 off Cardiff.Amazing that just last year this service was Loco-Hauled with 4 spacious mk-2 carriages.Now? Reduced to using a cobbled together mongrel with a 153 and part of a burned out 150! ..11 june 2011..
With the ex-150221 end leading Unique Hybrid 153399 heads the 17:28 from Warminster going to Great Malvern.Although now running as a 2-car 153399 is still banned beyond Southampton eastwards due to the additional footsteps added at the new 'driver-end' of the other half '153369' when these 153's were produced when Class 155's were split up.Ironically these were the units that displaced LCHS originally on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route over 20 years ago. ..14 may 2011..
All is not what it first appears with this 'Unit'. It is an Oddball Hybrid made up from 153369(57369) and the undamaged half of 150221(57221)--52221 being in for repair after an internal electrical fire....To give the combined-unit an air of respectability it now carries a revised number 153399. It could continue like this for ages or be disbanded again in a matter of weeks so well worth a shot. 153399 climbs Upton-Scud Bank with '2F96' from Westbury to Warminster.From there it will go to Gt-Malvern as '2E27' the 17:28 off. ..14 may 2011..
FGW dymanic-lines Bug-Box 153369 slows for the Dilton-Marsh Halt stop with the 10:08 from Westbury going to Warminster.Total distance for this service is just 4 miles!
..28 april 2009..
Back in the days when Wessex-Railways ran the local network in the South-West an attempt was made to advertise the various Cornish branch-lines with brightly coloured and vinyled advertising on the flanks.Here is the one supposed to operate on the Looe-branch in Cornwall.153369 was done in a rather pleasing light blue livery with a sticker nameplate 'The Looe Valley Explorer' It is seen at Bruton with a morning Weymouth to Cardiff-Central service. Naturally when First-GW absorbed the local railway franchise into the larger main-one such niceties were quickly eliminated replacing all the coloured 150/153's (There were Red/Orange/Blue and Black ones) with a nice uniform FGW dull dynamic-lines scheme.
..23 august 2007..
During the Summer Saturdays this service to Weymouth from Bristol-Temple Meads and return was usually Class-67's and coaches.However on Sundays it was invariably a strengthened cobble-up of any spare units that were available in Bristol due to high passenger loadings in the summer period on Sundays.Here is the return evening working '2V93' the 18:00 from Weymouth passing Feltham Lane on the single line loop to Frome Station.Here is a typical mixed rake of that period with a 'Special' Cornwall black liveried 153377 leading with an AlphaLine-158 and a recently transferred to the south Northern liveried 158.No chance of a combination like that now in 2016,that is for sure!