Why would it? As far as I know 150/2s didn't run regularly anywhere between reading and Paddington in 2017. Maybe sometimes a 150/0 would go to Reading but that's it.
The only regular use of 150's in the Reading area was the three car sets, 150001 and 150002 (affectionately known as Scud 1 and Scud 2) which covered the Reading to Basingstoke services for a while. Very occasionally in Wales and West days, one might have substituted for a 158 on the overnight service from South Wales to Paddington which had a return working in the early morning, but they were never diagrammed on Thames Valley local services otherwise.
I know it’s not realistic to see them, but would’ve liked to have the option to drive the 150’s or 158’s on GWR. You see a constant flow of BR class 86’s 30x on that route in the timetable, that’s not realistic.
Their recent refurbishment was done at Wolverton Works. They ran from Reading to Acton Main Line, then joined the West Coast Main Line South route near Willesden Junction, running through Milton Keynes to Wolverton. Generally speaking they would only be in GWR livery on the return run, but I have seen one in green going back to Wolverton for rectification.
There are no Class 86 services on Great Western, it's not even electrified for the most part. It sounds like you're talking about the West Coast Main Line, in which case you'll need to clarify which route you mean as there are three WCML routes. JB
You said its not realistic, which is correct I guess... But it's substituting for the class 57 sleeper services, since we obviously don't have any Mk3 SLEP or class 57s in the game. And on the subject of this, I do wish this could have had a green livery on it in the timetable, even unbranded like the fake D stock. 47s and 57s really aren't that different to my knowledge.
To add more context to my previous comment. Since the sleeper services only run once per night, we shouldn’t be seeing them during the day. Do I care about that? No. More rolling stock the better. So realistic or not, I would’ve liked to have seen the 150’s 158’s on this route. I still enjoy the 165/166’s though
Wait hold on, when do you see them in the day, at 5am like your screenshot? That's the service arrived from Penzance, there's one in each direction.
I tend to drive daytime services on GWE and don't think I've ever seen a 47, let alone 30 of them...Sounds like you're driving a scenario you created yourself; as even if you're driving at sleeper service times you should only be seeing one, maybe two 47s at most. Here's a photo of an electric Class 86 with a pantograph, three windscreens on the front and lots of sharp angles around the cab, alongside a nicely rounded diesel 47 with ttwo windscreens. Apart from the fact they both have buffers and bits of yellow, Muting this thread now as it's turned to nonsense after the 4th post. JB
The sleeper train is scheduled to arrive at London Paddington at 7:00am, so even if my screenshot says 5:47am it’s still not 100% accurate. I’ve also seen the sleeper service or standard 47 w/ MK coaches at other times of the day.
You've probably seen a Railtour. 47 hauled Railtours on the Great Western are common and so some have been added to the timetable.
On the current timetable to Sleeper in due to arrive about 5am but passengers can remain on board until 6:45. That’s always been the case for as many years as I can recall (give or take minor variations) These days because the sleeper is stored and maintained (well patched up) at Reading the sleeper is actually topped and tailed between Paddington and Reading in both ways (atleast it was when I’ve travelled on it). But the timetable for the era is roughly correct and is probably as prototypical as possible. You are right that they are some incredibly rude forum members on here
Oh okay, useful info, see I didn’t know that. That would make sense seeing them earlier on the platform than expected then. How was the experience for you? I hope to do a sleeper journey IRL one day myself, I don’t know if it’s a solo experience though or I should invite a friend. I would like to go with someone.
It’s ok, not as good an experience as the Scottish sleeper but then not as much either. I did it with my partner, we took the Pullman service to Plymouth and had a weekend in Cornwall and came back on the sleeper for my 45th birthday. If you’ve never done a sleeper before I’d recommend either the Scottish sleeper or a night jet sleeper in Europe over the GWR sleeper and from what I’ve heard recently due to unreliability you’ve a large chance of an IET being subbed in rather than the sleeper berth you’ve booked and paid for (but presumably they refund the sleeper supplement in such an eventuality)
