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Class 159
Exclusive to South-West Trains used on Waterloo-Exeter and Bristol services mainly..
159022 runs non-stop as an ECS from Waterloo to Salisbury Depot.Viewed on the approach to Basingstoke.
..10 august 2023..
Due to a signalling failure between Salisbury and Yeovil-Jn several services to Exeter from Waterloo were diverted via Westbury to gain access to the line south of Yeovil. Here is '1L37' the 13:20 from Waterloo to Exeter.SWRly liveried 159001&159016 making up the train as it passes Clink nr Frome.
..12 august 2022..
With the superbly clear late evening lighting shining 159108 still in the older SWT livery passes Berkley Marsh with '1V55' the 17:50 from Waterloo going to Yeovil. Junction. What a difference 215 minutes makes,prior to then it was extreemly dull!
..2 july 2022..
SW Trains 159006 with '1O60' the 10:44 from Yeovil Pen Mill to Waterloo via Westbury passes Fairwood shortly after passing over the junction there.
..16 june 2022..
159107 continues to wear the old SWT livery as it is seen with '1V23' the 10:38 from Basingstole to Yeovil Junction service via Westbury.Once many years ago this view at Berkley Marsh was very popular but became completely ruined when the 'Coms' mast and cabin were installed by Network Rail.
..4 may 2022..
DMU-159011 wearing the original South Western Railway livery version done in vinyl's instead of the newer painted efforts passes Fairwood near Westbury with '1O40' the 10:44 from Yeovil-Pen Mill to Waterloo via Westbury.
..17 march 2022..
159105 still wears the old SWT colours as it passes the ugly communications mast and cabin at Berkley Marsh whilst working '1V23' the 10:38 from Basingstoke to Yeovil-Junction service.
..15 march 2022..
Sister DMU to the one written off in the Salisbury Tunnel Accident last month 159108 still in the older SWT colours passes Berkley nr Frome with '1V27' the 11:37 from Basingstoke to Yeovil Junction.Autumn Gold's are now pretty much gone after the recent gales leaving just winter-brown/green colouring the leafless trees and bushes.
..8 december 2021..
'South Western Railway' Unit 159108 still currently retains the old colours of the previous franchise 'South West Trains'.Here seen operating a 11:37 from Basingstoke to Yeovil Junction via Westbury service '1V27'.Viewed approaching Frome at Clink.
..27 may 2021..
South Western railway's 159020 is sen working '1V35' the 14:09 from Salisbury to Yeovil Pen Mill service.Seen at Masters Farm Crossing at Fairwood. Its hard to believe that these Class 159's are now nearly 30 years old and are now in fact as old as the Class-47 loco's they replaced on the Waterloo-Exeter services all those years ago!
..19 april 2021..
South Western Railway's Salisbury based 159006 is viewed working '1V35' the 14:09 from Salisbury to Yeovil Pen Mill at Clink in Frome.
..8 march 2021..
South Western Railway's 159007 is in the first incarnation of their new livery using vinyl's.(They eventually adopted 'cheapo' plain paint!).Pictured coming away from Fairwood Junction with '1V35' the 14:12 from Salisbury to Yeovil-Pen Mill.Can it really be 28 years since these Units replaced Class-47 LCHS from Waterloo to Exeter?
..1 september 2020..
159003 in the earlier 'darker' version of the South Western Railway's current livery.159003 was operation '1V35' the 12:50 from London-Waterloo going to Yeovil-Pen Mill via Westbury.Here viewed at Clink Road in Frome going west.
..4 march 2020..
The 10:45 from Yeovil Pen Mill via Westbury passes Wylye running as '1O40'.'Upon arrival at Salisbury it combines with '1L40' from Exeter running onwards to London-Waterloo.South Western Railway 159002 was forming the service.
..29 november 2019..
The 'South Western Railway' appear to have been concentrating their efforts to relivery the EMU/DMU fleet mainly at this time on the Class 158/159 DMU's.Here is 159005 in the Mk-2 or is it the Mk-3 version ? of that colour scheme working in tandem with 159104 that is still in SWT livery.Here it is seen at Worting Junction nr Basingstoke with '1L22' the 06:19 from Honiton to London-Waterloo.As these DMU's are based in Salibury they do seem to get a regular wash with the carriage washer there.Unlike the EMU's that are currently absolutely filthy and never seem to have the dirt removed!
..24 july 2019..
159012 in what must be the 2nd or 3rd incarnation of the newish South Wastern Railway livery passes Freshford in the Limpley Stoke Valley with '1V49' the 16:20 from London-Waterloo to Bristol-Temple Meads. If I was travelling from this area to London I would certainly choose the old Southern route on these 159's instead of the overpriced 'plastic' route into Paddington.
..3 july 2019..
South Western Railway seem to have finally settled on their livery of choice after several attempts using vinyls-etc.So here is the ghostly 159018 with the 13:38 from Basingstoke to Yeovil Pen Mill via Westbury. '1V35'.The Waterloo to Basingstoke leg of the journey being caped because of a person being hit by a train east of Basingstoke. Seen at Masters Crossing nr Fairwood-Westbury.
..14 may 2019..
'South Western Railways' have been super-slow in re-liverying their DMU stocks.Here is one of the few that has been treated working along with one of the older SWT coloured Units. 3-car 159008 along with 2-car 158890 form a diverted Waterloo to Exeter St Davids service '1L33' here seen at Fairwood having reversed in Westbury.Certainly far more colourful than the dull uninspiring GWR livery efforts I must say!
..10 february 2019..
Former SW-Trains 159105 now labelled up as South Western Railways runs into platforn-1 at Westbury with '1O48' the 12:49 from Bristol-Temple Meads going to London Waterloo.The station here today is in a terrible mess with work taking place on all platforms,scaffolding and barriers everywhere.Coupled with that and the complete closure for 2 weeks over Christmas to rebuild to North-Junction lets hope its a far tidier place in a month or so?
..19 december 2018..
South Western Rly-159108 with '1V35' the 12:50 from Waterlooto Yeovil-Pen Mill passes the slowed HST-Set led by 43093. 43197 was the rear P/C on '1A87 the 12:55 from Plymouth to Paddington.
..17 september 2018..
This STP listed as '5O86' departed from Loughborough-Brush Works this morning at 09:30 originally bound for Yeovil Junction ended up being diverted after Bristol-TM to Salisbury T&R.S.M.D instead. Looking immaculate in fresh paint 159005 now in South Western Railway colours is viewed at Heywood Village off the public foot crossing there perfectly legally despite appearances for all you paraniod numpties out there!
..24 july 2018..
The slightly back-lit sun at Ladydown nr Trowbridge shows off the latest livery worn by 159007 for 'South Western Railway' to good effect.It was operating the 09:20 service from London-Waterloo going to Bristol-Temple Meads.
..11 july 2018..
Still in SWT-Livery but with 'South Western Railway' branding 159002 runs through the reverse curves at Sherrington in the Wylye Valley working '1O48' the 12:49 from Bristol-Temple Meads going to London-Waterloo.
..10 july 2018..
159014 wearing the latest colours of 'South Western Railway' passes Heytesbury with the 12:49 service from Bristol-Temple Meads going to London-Waterloo.
..28 june 2018..
Here is a newly reliveried 159007 returning to its base at Salisbury T&R.S.M.D from Loughborough-Brush where the repaint was carried out.It departed there at 10:30 and ran as '5O80'.Interestingly this shiny new 'South Western Railway' liveried 159 was the only thing I saw in 4 hours running to time,in fact it was 25 minutes early! Viewed with a backdrop of rapidly thawing snow at Church Road in Heywood nr Westbury.
..19 march 2018..
159017 still currently wearing 'South West Trains' colours but soon almost certainly to get reliveried and rebranded as 'South Western Railways' comes away from Westbury with '1V35' the 12:50 from London-Waterloo to Yeovil-Pen Mill via Westbury.Here viewed at Fairwood Crossing in the now yellowing late afternoon light albeit at only 15:00 (Only 3 days to go to the shortest day).
..18 december 2017..
SW-Trains liveried 159022 speeds down through Frome taking the 'long way round' from London-Waterloo (12:50 off) going to Yeovil-Pen Mill as '1V35'.That change of route between Salisbury and Yeovil via Westbury adds nearly an hour to the journey time!
..25 october 2017..
159010 catches some of the final rays of the day passing Berkley Marsh with '1O64' the 16:46 from Yeovil-Junction to Waterloo via Westbury.Upon arrival at Salisbury it will reform with '1L64' the 16:24 from Exeter-St-Davids for the run onwards east to London-Waterloo.
..10 october 2017..
SWT 159013 speeds up through Berkley Marsh nr Frome with '1O64' the 16:41 from Yeovil-Junction to Waterloo via Westbury.This idyllic countryside scene is soon to be ruined forever as news appears to have filtered out that all these bridges in the local area are to be disfigured with needless and ugly palisade fencing.Worryingly the latest crap has just been installed at Great Cheverell on the B&H and the new type has insufficient width between the slats to poke a standard lens through.All bridges with this shite will require a decent set of telescopic steps to see over....I actually fear for this country when the dumbo's that run it find this type of crap such a high priority in such low risk areas ??????????
..14 july 2017..
South West Trains operated 159002 (Now 25 years old unbelievably) speeds past the wide open spaces at Bapton in the Wylye Valley working '1V33' the 12:20 from London-Waterloo to Bristol Temple Meads.This week it was announced that SWT had lost its franchise bid to continue running the services out of Waterloo to a bunch of Chinese (MTR) working in co-operation with First-Group (Yes that bunch!!).Talk about getting kneed in the crutch after 22 years of entirely satisfactory service! So that's another relivery exercise in the next 18 months or so. Literally 1000's of carriages.perhaps they will just leave the trains in these colours?
..3 april 2017..
A 159xxx catches a partial glint off the weak sunshine as it passes beneath Scratchbury Hill at Norton Bavant whilst working a rather delayed '1V35' the 12:50 from London-Waterloo going to Yeovil Pen-Mill via Westbury.
..23 february 2017..
SWT-159017 passes Arn Hill on the approach to Warminster with '1O48' the 12:49 from Bristol-Temple Meads to Salisbury.
..28 december 2016..
SWT's 159003 accelerates away from the Westbury Station stop/reversal with '1V35' the 12:50 from London-Waterloo to Yeovil Pen Mill.On such a superbly clear day such as this one the White Horse on the hill overlooking the local town really stands out.Sadly the other local landmark,the Cement Works chimney which was also clearly visible from this vantage point was demolished last month on the 18th.A sad day.
..5 october 2016..
SWT's 159013 operates away from Trowbridge with '1O48' the 12:49 service from Bristol-Temple Meads to London-Waterloo.This service is definitely a more comfortable option than an overcrowded FGW-HST on the WRML.It is probably less expensive as well albeit rather slower!
..5 october 2016..
This is a bit of an 'odd' working.DEMU 159009 works '5B91' from Salisbury T&R.S.M.D (15:08 off) to Winchester for a booked train '2B91' the 16:38 Winchester to Totton.A rare working on this almost 100% EMU line.
..26 august 2016..
SWT 159101 now sports the revised-revised new livery for these Class-159 Units.The previous effort with jagged edges instead of nice curves now seems to have been abandoned.The only really obvious change being the doors are now yellow instead of orange.It was viewed in Westbury working '1V22' the 09:20 from Waterloo to Bristol-TM.At least SWT had the guts to change a livery after realising it was a failure. Hello GWR are you listening?????????
..21 june 2016..
3-car 159004 in the now superceded older SWT-Livery passes Ladydown nr Trowbridge with '1V22' the 09:20 from London-Waterloo heading for Bristol-TM.Can it really be over 23 years since this actual Unit became the first to arrive at Salisbury for training purposes on the new Depot.Then all the seats were covered in plastic-bags and it was in the attractive NSE-livery.
..24 may 2016..
Although now over 20 years old these SWT DMU's still look pretty fresh,probably because they pass through the Washer-Plant most nights at Salisbury-Depot (FGW take note!).So here is 159020 departing Westbury with '1L35' the 12:50 from London-Waterloo going to Yeovil PenMill via Westbury (reversal).This one is still sporting the older livery,however a newer variant is now being progressively applied to members of this class.Fairly similar but different colour doors and jagged lines instead of smooth curves on the flanks.It almost looks like a small child had designed it!!!!
..06 april 2016..
Pairing 159001 & 159104 drop down through Stoford minutes after departing from Yeovil-Junction with '1L17' the 08:20 from London-Waterloo going to Exeter St Davids.Both Units are still in the older SWT swoopy lines livery.Having seen just one of the revised 'jagged-edge' styling livery revisions with different colour doors I wonder why they even bothered??????
..02 april 2016..
159005 is seen at Stoford just west of Yeovil-Junction with '1L36' the 09:25 from Exeter St Davids going to London-Waterloo.Its a pity not a lot of any interest passes this way as some of the linesides around here are still very clear even over 20 years+ since loco hauled duties were replaced by these DMU's.
..02 april 2016..
SWT-159016 works '1L35' the 12:50 from London-Waterloo to Yeovil-Pen Mill.This quite new service which commenced on 14 December 2015 runs on a Monday to Friday basis only. Here it is seen rathering speed downhill working away from Warminster on the Upton Scudamore Incline at Holybush Road Foot-Xing nr Arn-Hill.
..22 march 2016..
Recently a brand new service commenced from London-Waterloo going to Yeovil.However its destination being Pen-Mill and not the Junction Station.This service diverges at Salisbury,calls at Westbury,Frome,Bruton and Castle-Cary. Here it is viewed shortly after the Westbury stop at Fairwood continuing on its way to Yeovil. Unit-159010 is still in the original SW-Trains livery.Having seen the newer revised version quite honestly I feel they should have stuck to this design instead.
..21 march 2016..
'5Z18' the regular ECS working from Weymouth (11:39 off) to Salisbury T&R.S.M.D via Castle-Cary climbs Bruton Bank in full light less than 5 minutes after 37025 had passed in less satisfactory light. SWT-159013 was todays offering on this duty.
..03 march 2016..
Obviously this is not 59001 the well known Prototype-GM that lives in the Mendip Hills of Somerset! It is of coarse 159001 the first of the class of 159's that operate on this route between London-Waterloo and Exeter.This service is '1L42' the 12:47 from Salisbury going up to Waterloo.Viewed here slowing for its booked passenger halt at Grateley in-between Salisbury and Andover.
..19th december 2015..
South-West Trains operated 159012 commences the climb to Upton-Scudamore here at Penleigh shortly after departing from Westbury.The working is '1O32' the 08:51 from Bristol-Temple Meads to London-Waterloo. This location was the favourite gathering point for all the young local 'spotters',me included.The Westbury Avoider, lines into the Station there and all the workings bound for the south coast passed within easy eyesight.Can it be well over 50 years now since those days?-errrrrrrrrrrrr yes! Note--this shot taken from a public footpath despite appearances ..26 november 2015..
159105 (which was a later addition to the Class159-SWT fleet having been rebuilt and refurbished in 2007 from Ex-Trans-Pennine 158/0's) gets away from Westbury working '1V22' the 09:20 from London-Waterloo going to Bristol.This is a much more civilised way to get to London and is far more economical than the more direct route run by 'First' up the B&H.
..28 september 2015..
159104,one of SWT's converted ex-158's runs into Westbury past the Power-Box there with '1O60' the 16:04 from Bristol-Temple Meads going to London-Waterloo.
..21 june 2015..
There is no mistaking this SWT Class-159 as it speeds towards Bath at Newton-St-Loe.The unidentified Unit was operating '1O48', the 12:51 from Bristol-Temple Meads going to London-Waterloo.A far cheaper and altogether more pleasant experience than the FGW 'direct' cattle-truck method!
..23 may 2015..
A pair of 158/159 3-cars from opposing TOC's pass each other at Sherrington in the Wylye-Valley.South-West-Trains 159101 was on '1O48' the 12:51 from Bristol-TM to Waterloo whilst FGW's 158951 on '1F18' on the 12:23 from Portsmouth to Cardiff heads in the opposite direction.No prizes for guessing which one would provide the better travelling experience.A good clue is it is not the blue one!
..09 april 2015..
One of the South West-Trains immaculate 3-car DMU's 159021 passes Sherrington in the Wylye-Valley on '1V33' the 12:20 from London-Waterloo to Bristol-Temple Meads.A nice clear stretch of track here due to the close proximity of two foot crossings within about 200 yards.Lately Network-rail have become very pro-active about keeping the visabily at these places particulary clear. And about time too!
..07 april 2015..
SWT's 159020 climbs Upton Scudamore Incline past Old-Dilton with '1O60' the 15:51 from Bristol-TM going only as far as Salisbury.This livery is so much more pleasing than the dire FGW-Blue although even that looks fairly presentable on a day like this if its clean! which is not very often,particularly on their fleet of 158's.
..06 april 2015..
One of the nicely liveried SWT-sets 159010 passes the Fishermans-Crossing near Dundas Aquaduct in the Limpley-Stoke Valley.It was working '1O32' the 08:51 from Bristol-Temple Meads going to London-Waterloo.
..24 february 2015..
The appears to be some kind of test run, '5Z50' from Salisbury T&R.S.M.D and return via Basingstoke checking out something or other.If you look carefully some hazard-taped cables seem to be connected from the under body engines on coaches 1&2 through open window ventilators possibly to some kind on monitoring equipment installed inside the carriages.The Unit was 159002 and it is seen at Worting Junction nr Basingstoke about to dive under the flyover to take the Salisbury route.
..24 january 2015..
Despite several interesting diversions running via Westbury today the only working successfully pictured in a bit of weak sun was '1O48' the 12:41' from Bristol-TM heading for London-Waterloo.Here pristine (compared to the tired FGW versions) 159010 climbs Upton Scudamore Incline at Dilton-Marsh.
..10 january 2015..
South-West Trains operated 159106 comes out from under a threatening sky as it heads for Waterloo from Bristol-Temple Meads.This working '1O48' departed Bristol at 12:51.It is viewed having just crested Upton-Scudamore Incline at Arn-Hill nr Warminster.
..27 december 2014..
159002 ,one of SWT's superior in every way Class-159's compared to the ramshackled FGW's 158/mongrel versions motors past Bapton in the Wylye-Valley with '1V33' the 12:20 from London-Waterloo going to Bristol-TM. The tall grass has died down here now Autumn is upon us this shot is now available again.Its just typical that a huge black cloud marred the shot of 60001 that was 10 minuters behind it. A pity.
..30 october 2014..
The South-West Trains operated service from Bristol-TM (15:51 off) to Waterloo rolls into Westbury.159012 was doing the service.When this working '1O60' gets to Salisbury it joins a service from Exeter (15:25 off) '1L60' and goes forward as 6-cars.
..07 october 2014..
Here is 159004 which was the first 159 to go into service with SWT way back in Jan-1993,unbelievably now over 20 years ago! The entire class continues to do stalwart service on services to the West Country and also Bristol from Waterloo. So here is that Pioneer Unit at Arn-Hill approaching Warminster with '1O46' the 13:47 off Bristol-TM going to London-Waterloo.These trains are a less expensive and a far more pleasant experience than the FGW 'Cattle' HST's which go to Paddington!.
..18 july 2014..
SWT 159008 works '2B91', the 16:38 from Winchester to Totton.See how immaculate these SWT-159's are compared with the filthy condition of the FGW versions.Salisbury Depot Carriage Cleaner equipment certain keeps its allocation looking clean and smart!
..02 july 2014..
With the information that 56113 would be passing through the Wylye-Valley on a diverted Hinksey to Eastleigh Engineers working hopes were high for a cracking shot in the clear blue afternoon.Its booked time was not long after this SWT Unit 159001 on '1O48' from Bristol-TM going to Salisbury.A good location for it as well at Codford in the Wylye-Valley.Regretfully it never happened as after a long delay at Swindon waiting for a slot on the busy single line through Melksham it terminated at Westbury due to the driver being out of hours! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
..27 december 2013..
The SWT livery is really quite stylish,particularly in comparison with the dour blue that FGW offers.Here is 159107 on the 15:51 from Bristol-TM to Salisbury running as '1O60' passing Ladydown on the approach to Trowbridge. At Salisbury it will join up with another 159 that has arrived from Exeter and together they will form '1L60' to Waterloo. This particular unit used to be a Trans-Pennine Express 3-car number 158811,one of the few original 158's built as a 3-car.
..06 april 2013..
159010 prepares to depart London-Waterloo with the 18:20 to Exeter St Davids. No tripods were used for any of these 'time exposures'.Use of the station posts and signs being the only thing available!
..23 february 2013..
South-West-Trains operate a Bristol-TM to London-Waterloo service.Here is the 12:51 from Bristol running into Westbury for a passenger pick-up.This Unit 159106 was one of the later additions to the main 159 fleet being a conversion from a 158 with a new centre-carriage added.Certainly a more attractive livery than the dour (usually filthy) FGW-Blue that forms most of the workings in this area! Of coarse SWT possess a state of the art carriage cleaning facility at Salisbury whereas FGW make do with buckets and mops for their Unit-fleet!
..31 january 2013..
Waterloo to Exeter services actually dive under the Girder Bridge here at Worting as they turn off on to the Salisbury line.Here is a 9-car configuration with 159020 leading on the 12:20 off Waterloo going to Exeter-St-Davids.Shot taken with (In 35mm terms) effectively a 340mm lens.....
..17 april 2012..
You have to hand it to South-West-Trains the depot at Salisbury always turn out their fleet of 158/159 units in immaculate condition.Something FGW could well take notice off.Most of that Company's stock is pretty filthy and dull through lack of attention. Here is a gleaming 159003 running into Westbury with the 15:51 service from Bristol-TM to London-Waterloo.It even sports a small nameplate (just visible on the rear of the leading carriage) 'Templecombe' named after the reopened station on the LSWR route between Salisbury and Exeter.
..29 february 2012..
An unidentified SWT Class-159 passes Fairwood nr Westbury as it operates a diversion from Yeovil-Junction to Salisbury via Westbury.These workings are happening whilst the signalling at Yeovil,Templecombe, Gillingham and Sherbourne is renewed regretfully meaning all these Signal-Boxes are to close within the next few weeks.An end of an era on the old LSWR route to the West.
..26 february 2012..
South-West Trains 'Table-20' working from Bristol-TM (depart at 13:15) passes Hawkeridge Village nr Westbury on its way to London-Waterloo via Salisbury.159006 doing the duty today.
..07 december 2011..
159103 runs round the bend on the approach to Westbury at Hawkeridge with the 08:51 from Bristol-TM going to London-Waterloo.This route is a much cheaper option to get to London than the extortionate prices FGW charge for their B&H route using HST's.
..30 november 2011..
The 10:26 from Exeter to Waterloo was today diverted via Southampton due to engineering work near Andover.Here is 159012/159+++, passing Maritime on its alternate route.
..22 october 2011..
The 12:20 from Waterloo going to Exeter-St-Davids leans into the curve that takes the Salisbury line under the Flyover here at Worting.159012 was the leading unit,the other two 159's were unidentified. No prizes for guessing how far this location is from London!
..06 october 2011..
The original 159+++ series were built as 3-car,unlike the 158 series that were 2.However when South-West-Trains identified the need for more 159's some 158's were converted and renumbered in the 1591++ sequence.Here is 159105 approaching Bradford-on-Avon seen at the exit of the local spot known as 'The Avenue' for obvious reasons.Working is the 13:15 off Bristol-TM going to Waterloo. ..03 may 2011..
SW Trains service from Bristol to Waterloo (15:51 off BTM) climbs Upton-Scudamore Bank past the Full-Bloom Hawthorn there. 159103 made up this service today. ..30 april 2011..
Here is what Cockwood Harbour at Dawlish used to look like before the pathetic'safety' fence along the track edge was installed about 5 years or so ago.I have never been back there since1..Anyway here is SWT-159005 passing a waterless Harbour scene on a Paignton to Exeter service.No SWT services now pass here on a regular basis however,.presumably because mainly they have been redeployed on the more lucrative Waterloo to Bristol services which after a slow start are now quite regular.
..15 july 2005..
South-West Trains used to operate their services to Paignton from Exeter.However 10 years later in 2015 these workings are long gone.Here is 159018 cruising past a busy Dawlish Seawall nr Langstone Rock on an idyllic warm summer's day (Remember those?).
..15 july 2005..
This view off a small jetty had remained the same for over 150 years until H&S decreed there was a possibility of a track worker falling into the sea .hence an ugly railing fence was installed completely ruining this location forever!. Anyway here is 159017 with an Exeter to Paignton service then operated by Network South East.This livery was far superior to the liveries that followed due to privitisation----But these corporate type never learn do they? The location is Starcross a few miles from Dawlish.....Summer Saturdays along this line were so interesting back then.mainly Loco-hauled and Hst's plus a few dmu's.