Modelling and running hybrids....

[Matthew-peter]

Howdy everyone,
well Ive been reading up on the DMU's of UK and I am impressed. A friend of mine sent me this link and I have to admit it was a very interesting read.

http://members.madasafish.com/~dysgraphyk/156/class156_misformed.htm

I was just wondering if anyone on here has modeled and ran any of the various hybrid formations on their layouts?
If so have you any photos/videos?
Fancy discussing the subject?

And I am sorry if I have brought this up before.... 

[bluedepot]

how common was it to see mixed up first generation dmus?

pretty common in preservation to see a mix up i notice.


tim

[Matthew-peter]

For the first gen very common,
but the photos of the say 3 car 156 or 1 156 carriage with a class 158 carriage are the kind of things that I would class as quite interesting to see running on a layout.

[PLD]

First Gen units - yes very common, especially trailer cars of one type in a unit of another but there was always a preference to keep powered cars matched.

Mixed Second Gen units are much rarer because there are more variations on coupling types, electrical connections and computer incompatabilities.

The 156/158 combinations in the early days of the 158s were to overcome a specific issue where the 158s were getting 'lost' and not activating track circuits...

More recent combinations are usually a case of mating up the good parts of two accident damaged units. for example there was a 2 car unit around South Yorksire area recently made up of a 153 and 1 car of a 156...

[Karhedron]

Another fairly common hybrid in the late 80s and early 90s was splitting up 150/2 sprinters and inserting them inbetween the cars of 150/1 sprinters to make a 3-car set. It was done this way round as the 150/2s had end ganways but the 150/1s did not.

EDIT: Seems they are still about. Too bad Farish do not produce a dummy version of their dmus the way dapol do.

[EtchedPixels]

FGW 158's in 1½ units regularly turn up at Cardiff, often in pairs so you get what looks like 3 2 car units with the middle unit inside out.

[Tank]

I read on the internet that Class 455/8's EMU's were made so that they could work with Mk1 Passenger Coaching stock (not barrier coaches), but I'm yet to see that in any pictures!  Maybe BR never needed to use that configuration in the end.

Another fairly common hybrid in the late 80s and early 90s was splitting up 150/2 sprinters and inserting them inbetween the cars of 150/1 sprinters to make a 3-car set. It was done this way round as the 150/2s had end ganways but the 150/1s did not.

All of these poor models of 150's being used for EMU's and now potentially 3 car sets of 150's!   There won't be any left in a few years!!!!

[dodger]

Whilst working at Reading Depot in the late 1960's the fleet consisted of class 117 3-cars, class 119 2-cars and single unit power cars sometimes with a driving trailer units. That is until one looked closely, 3 of the class 117 units  had a class 118 trailer and all class 117 gangwayed units temperarily included one of the depot's three class 101 trailers to make  a 4 car units. These trailers replaced the 3 Hawksworth CK's modified to work with DMU's in the early days.

Other temporary formations used a single power car in a class 117 3 car set to replace defective power car or in one case a 3 car unit formed with two DMS power cars and no DMBS (always part of a 6 car formation). One class 117 unit had a class 116 DMBS to replace a condemned DMBS that was hit broardside by a diesel shunter.

There were also two 3 car parcels units formed of a class 128 parcels car, Mk1 GUV and a class 116 power car. The GUV was wired for DMU work and the class 116 had the seats removed.

The highlight however was a 9 or 10 car class 123 rake hauling a Mk1 RMB on a Paddingtion - Paignton  summer weekend extra.

At times as long as there was a driving cab at each end, sufficent engines working, a guards van and 1st class accomodation anything went.

[Matthew-peter]

Hmmm by the sounds of it there was quite a few modelling opportunities haha. Im thinking of a 3 car 156 for Delfryn, will cost a few bob but it would be worth it, especially when renumbered into correct numbers for the units that ran in such a formation.