BR Class 150

The **British Rail Class 150** *Sprinter* is a class of diesel multiple-unit trains built by BREL York from 1984 to 1987. A total of 137 units were produced in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier, first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.

The 150s are still operated by Great Western Railway, Northern, West Midlands Trains and Transport for Wales.

## Class 154

150002 proved to be the worse of the two for reliability and was consequently chosen for use as the testbed for the Class 158, being re-geared to a maximum speed of 90 mph (140 km/h) and fitted with Cummins engines and Voith transmission, and with a Class 158 interior. One car was fitted with the Class 151 Twin Disc 'hot-shift' transmission, which it used successfully once the control software was sorted out. To distinguish this unit, it was reclassified as the **Class 154**. It has since been returned to the standard configuration and reverted to its original number. Both prototypes were still in service with London Midland until 2011. 150001 entered service with First Great Western in January 2012, with 150002 to follow after refurbishment and re-livery. They are now used primarily on the Reading-Basingstoke line, with both 150001 & 150002 in the new Great Western Railway green livery.

## Accidents

* On 15 December 1987, 150212 collided with an engineer's crane near Seamer West signal box in North Yorkshire.
* On 11 November 1988, 150209 derailed at St Helens Central, Merseyside. The train struck the abutment of an overbridge, crushing the leading cab and killing the driver. Sixteen passengers sustained minor injuries.
* On 12 July 2012, 150217 collided with cattle at Letterston, Pembrokeshire, and was derailed. There were no injuries amongst the 30 passengers and crew on the train.
* On 11 May 2014, 150239 collided with a motorcycle on a level crossing at Frampton Mansell, Gloucestershire, killing the rider.
* On 14 May 2015, two Class 150 units formed a train that collided with an agricultural tractor on an occupation crossing between Knaresborough and Cattal, North Yorkshire. Three people were injured.
* On 7 November 2015, units 150133 and 150204 formed a passenger train that was derailed near Knaresborough due to a signalman's error.
* On 3 April 2016, 150219 collided with a stationary InterCity 125 train at Plymouth. Thirty-five people were injured, and both trains were damaged.
* On 3 September 2017, 150217 collided with a tree near Llanbradach in Caerphilly, Wales, at around 10pm. Three people were injured and five fire crews were in attendance.
* On 7 February 2018, 150203 divided on the approach to Leeds. There were no injuries, but passengers had to be evacuated across the tracks.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Book220Issue.pdf
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Traction Recognition, Colin J. Marsden, ISBN 978-0-7110-3277-4
3. ↑ https://www.rcts.org.uk/features/querycorner/page.htm?id=query/Q14.02
4. ↑ http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/HSE\_StHelensCentral1988.pdf
5. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment\_data/file/410860/121120\_B052012\_Letterston\_Junction.pdf
6. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5565cda540f0b63d11000004/R052015\_150528\_Frampton\_LC.pdf
7. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/collision-between-train-and-tractor
8. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/derailment-near-knaresborough
9. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment\_data/file/543630/R162016\_160804\_Knaresborough.pdf
10. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-35954361
11. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/collision-at-plymouth-station
12. ↑ https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/three-people-injured-after-train-13567800#ICID=FB-Wales-main
13. ↑ https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/mayhem-at-leeds-station-as-train-splits-in-two-1-9006706
14. ↑ https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/photos-show-decoupled-train-stranded-after-splitting-outside-leeds-station-1-9006967