Nat Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Hi, sorry for the slightly odd question, and hope this is the right place for it! I know the 153's were converted in 1991/92, but can anyone tell me when they were first regularly used on the looe banch? The reason being that I am modelling sections of this line and was aiming to do it prior to the changes made in 1998 (notably to the halts at Sandplace & St Keyne). If the answer to the first question is yes, then would they have carried the regional railways stripes livery? Many thanks, Nat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted April 10, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 10, 2012 Sorry I can't be absolutely specific about introduction date here, but I've found pictures in John Vaughan's "Branches & Byways - Cornwall " of 153 362 on the Looe line in September 1995 and 153 373 on the Newquay line in September 1994 (both in Regional Railways "blue stripes" livery). So definitely used before your 1998 cut-off date. HTH EDIT - just for interest, the earliest picture in Devon I've found is 153 380 at Crediton in November 1992 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted April 11, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 11, 2012 The reason being that I am modelling sections of this line Which bits are you modelling Nat? Bit of a fan of the line myself... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DavidLong Posted April 11, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 11, 2012 Which bits are you modelling Nat? Bit of a fan of the line myself... Didn't think it would be long before you spotted this one, Pete David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted April 11, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 11, 2012 Didn't think it would be long before you spotted this one, Pete Oh yes David...The 'Looe branch' radar is always gathering intelligence... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 34008Padstow Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I've just had a look through my branchline to Looe book and have found a pic of 153362 at coombejunction in october 1993, the year that they began to appear on the line. hope this helps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nat Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 Thanks to all for the comments - I originally found this forum when a google search came up with Pete's Coombe and Moorswater layouts - which I must say look absolutely fantastic! The eventual aim is a bit more ambitious (ooh, say the whole horseshoe from Liskeard to Coombe J), but as I have been out of the modelling scene for over 20 years, I thought I'd try to start simple with Sandplace (and a fiddleyard based more loosely on Liskeard Platform 3). Can't get much more simple than Sandplace Oh, and at the risk of alienating myself from about 98% of, you, it's in T gauge: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted April 11, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 11, 2012 Thanks for your kind comments Nat. In T gauge That's impressive...You could probably do the whole line from Moorswater to Looe including Liskeard and still use less space than me... Look forward to see it progress....and yes, that 153 looks Tremendous... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted April 11, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 11, 2012 The Looe branch is one of the least-used in Cornwall when taken across the year (in common with all the others it sees a marked summer spike in traffic) and a single car is more than adequate most of the time. 153 bubblecars went onto the branch as soon as they were available as much as anything because it released a 2-car unit for use on a busier duty and were definitely there by 1993. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted April 12, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 12, 2012 Nice vid Mickey. Is that one of yours? If so, you must have been balancing in one of those pedal boats whist filming the first part of it. Can almost smell the sea air too... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted April 12, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 12, 2012 Our recent visit to Looe just before Easter, the trin was a class 150 two car unit and was very well loaded going to Looe in the morning but quiet on te retun. Reverse happens later on inthe day. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 It is worth remembering that Classs 155's ran in Cornwall prior to conversion to Class 153's and I witnessed them working on thr Falmouth Branch but do not know if they ever operated on thr Looe bramch XF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 34008Padstow Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 Apparently some class 155s were used on the looe branch during the busier periods Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nat Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share Posted April 12, 2012 They were definately still using DMUs in 1993 also.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6fmTgznAs My aim was to have a period where I could have a bit of a crossover of stock - I prefer the 1st gen diesel stock, but thought easiest to start off with a 153 and see how it goes. I think a T gauge Prairie might be going a bit too far for the time being! Apparently some class 155s were used on the looe branch during the busier periods I think I found a photo on the internet somewhere of a rather grubby 155 set at looe when looking for 153's - but I can't find it again now! The eventual aim is a bit more ambitious Having re-read that, it sounds like I'm aiming to be more ambitious than Pete. I'm not - I just meant more ambitious than just Sandplace! Again, thanks for all the helpful and positive comments. I'll start a new thread either in the Cornish Railways or T Gauge sections when I have any progreess updates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted April 17, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2012 June or July 1994 117 305 was operating the branch (was B430) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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