[CH] 1E85 10:16 Manchester Piccadilly - Cleethorpes (1992)

This is a scenario for Just Train's Midland Mainline Hope Valley extension route.

In the autumn of 1992, British Rail faced serious issues with Class 158 units during the leaf-fall season. Unlike their earlier "Sprinter" brothers, Class 158s were fitted with disc brakes, rather than traditional tread brakes. This meant mulch would accumulate on the tyre of the wheel, leading to poor braking and the units disappearing from track circuits.

To tackle this, a short-lived hybrid was created by pairing half of a Class 158 with half of a Class 156, using special fittings to join the mismatched units. This experimental combo, later numbered 158652, aimed to combine the 158's speed with the 156's superior braking, but it proved ineffective and was never repeated. In this scenario, you'll drive this rare formation between Manchester and Sheffield, via the Hope Valley, through slippery autumn conditions and see why the idea was quickly abandoned. Date: 19th October 1992.

An image of this combination is available on Flickr.

Essential Requirements:

AP Class 86 EP
AP Class 142
AP Class 150/2
AP Class 156
AP Class 158 Cummins EP
AP Mk2D-F Coaches
DTG Class 101 Regional Railways

Non-Essential Requirements:

AP Class 31 EP
AP Class 87
AP Class 90/Mk3 DVT
AP Class 303 Sound Pack
AP HST Valenta Pack
AP Mk3a Coaches
AP Sky & Weather EP 2.0
ATS RES Mail pack
DTG Class 303
DTG Settle Carlisle
VP Class 303 GMPTE Reskins

Tags: 1990s dmu manchester mml piccadilly provincial sprinter wtt