Railways in Worcestershire

RAILWAYS IN WORCESTERSHIRE
Go to content
Class 150/1 Diesel multiple units in Worcestershire

CLASS 150/0 & 150/1 DIESEL MULTIPLE UNITS

The two examples of the three-car class 150/0 (Nos 150001 & 2) (car nos.55200/1, 55300/3 and 55400/1) were built at BREL York in 1984 as prototypes for a new generation of diesel multiple units.

No.154001 at Bromsgrove

On 1st October 1987 three-car prototype class 150/0 sprinter unit No.154001 is seen at Bromsgrove Station. This unit had been built as No.150002 but by this time had been rebuilt with new engines and new number. Subsequently it was re-numbered to 154002 before being rebuilt again and renumbered back to 150002. The oil terminal behind the unit was subsequently demolished and most of the sidings removed. Photograph taken by Robert Pritchard.

No.150002

On 22nd August 2006 prototype 'Sprinter' unit No.150002 painted in Centro livery leaves Stourbridge Junction with a train to Kidderminster. Previously this unit had carried Nos.154001 and then 154002. Photograph by Andrew Smith.

During 1984/85 a production series fifty (50) two-car 'Sprinter' diesel multiple units of class 150/1 were built at the BREL Workshops at York as replacements for life-expired first generation units. They carried running numbers 52101 to 52150 and 57101 to 57150. All fifty units were initially based at Derby. The 521xx cars were fitted with a toilet and can be identified as these cars have four large and one small window on the left hand side of the unit whereas the 571xx have five large windows. However the right hand side of the 5271xx cars also have five large windows.

No.150149

Some units were made into three-car units by adding one half of a class 150/2 unit. The photograph shows No.150149 running as a three-car unit with the addition of No.57202 (from No.150202) at Towyn in Mid-Wales on 5th October 1990. The unit is in the original BR Provincial livery as delivered from BREL. Photograph by Andrew Smith.

No.150018

Two-thirds of the class were moved to Tyseley and the remainder (Nos.150133 to 150150) to Newton Heath in Manchester. Tyseley continued the practice of augmenting two-car sets by the addition of a class 150/2 vehicle in the middle. Confusingly when working as three-car units the fourth digit was amended from '1' to '0' thus No.150110 became No.150010 etc as seen in this photograph of No.150018 taken at Worcester Shrub Hill on 26th April 2006. Photograph by Andrew Smith.

Seven of the Tyseley based units were transferred to Willesden as two-car sets and by 2006 most of the Tyseley based class 150/1s were operating as three-car units but with numbers in the 1500xx series.

No.150102 at Great Malvern

On 19th January 2011 the 15:31 from Great Malvern to Whitlocks End was formed as diagrammed with two two-car class 150/1 diesel multiple units. The leading unit being No.150106 with No.150102 at the rear. Photograph taken by Andrew Smith.

No.150010 at Droitwich

Featuring the ghastly Network West Midlands livery class 150/0 three-car diesel multiple unit No.150010 had charge of the 13:47 from Worcester Shrub Hill to Whitlocks End on 8th March 2011. Other units noted in this livery in March 2011 were Nos.150003, 150126 and 150132. Photograph taken by Andrew Smith. The flexible nature of the three-car sets was recorded on 7th April 2011 when No.150010 was noted running as a two-car set without the car from the class 150/2 unit.

Centre car No.55401

Class 150 centre car No.55401 (above) and No.55402 (from units Nos.150001 and 150002) are the only cars in the class 150s that have no driving cabs. Photographed by Andrew Smith at Worcester Shrub Hill on 18th March 2011.

No.150109 in London Midland livery

In the autumn of 2012 Tyseley's three remaining class 150/1 two-car diesel multiple units (Nos.150105, 150107 and 150109) were repainted into London Midland livery with large set numbers on the yellow end panels. On 6th December 2012 Robert Cooke photographed No.150109 leaving Malvern Link Station with the 13:49 service from Birmingham New Street to Hereford.

Back to content