Bubble cars of 1960 vintage still working the Cardiff Bay line

[editor]

Great to see this well seasoned diesel still on active duty on the Cardiff Queen St - Cardiff Bay line!

Feature: http://www.urban75.org/blog/fifty-y...class-121-rumbles-along-the-cardiff-bay-line/

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Not what I expected at all. I thought you meant one of these...

 

[editor]

I don't think you'd get many passengers in that vehicle.

 

[ddraig]

i do like those trains
nearly got one yesterday but the bus came first
only 4 mins between stops as well
you can (try to) race them on bike up and down Lloyd George Avenue parallel to the tracks

 

[T & P]

Do they have revamped engines? They don't look terribly fuel efficient or clean...

 

[bi0boy]

My first and only cab ride was in a class 120 across the Fens when I was five. I don't remember the 121s though - just seen on Wikipedia there were only 26 units built, which is probably why!

 

[19sixtysix]

I thought the HSE had killed off the slam door?

 

[laptop]

I thought the HSE had killed off the slam door?

On new stock, I think so.

"Grandfathering" strikes again...

 

[legz]

regardless of age, I can see these being around for a while yet. They're a sight better than the more modern class 153 (? i think?) single car things that supposedly replaced them.
I'm pretty sure that a lot of these have been snapped up by preserved lines - they're ideal for little branch lines such as theirs. I think out of 26, only 3 of them have ended up in a scrappies, the rest have been too good to scrap for one reason or another. Something I can't see happening to any of the nodding donkeys that replaced them

 

[editor]

How many modern trains do you think will still be going strong after 50 years? I think most people prefer having a big window they can slide down and a door they can open themselves. Least, I do.

 

[19sixtysix]

Thinking about it it was the crash worthiness that killed the slam door stock down here in the south east not the doors themselves. The fact the door could be opened when the train was moving was not often so good though it did keep people back from the edge of the platform.

 

[Epona]

I don't think you'd get many passengers in that vehicle.

My dad used to have an Isetta - got himself + 6 others into it. They were all jockeys though, so it was 7 skinny little short blokes. And it did turn over and roll down a hill (no-one hurt mind you), so there's a lesson in there somewhere

 

[editor]

Thinking about it it was the crash worthiness that killed the slam door stock down here in the south east not the doors themselves. The fact the door could be opened when the train was moving was not often so good though it did keep people back from the edge of the platform.

And it wasn't like platforms were knee deep with casualties from the slam doors either.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

My dad used to have an Isetta - got himself + 6 others into it. They were all jockeys though, so it was 7 skinny little short blokes. And it did turn over and roll down a hill (no-one hurt mind you), so there's a lesson in there somewhere

There was a real craze for that sort of thing back in the day, phone boxes, minis and lord knows what else....



Not the sixties, a sort of re-enactment....

 

[editor]

(((my thread)))

 

[ddraig]

well i love the bubble car trains and hope they stay
and i do use them off and on

they are on about trams in Cardiff now

 

[Mrs Magpie]

(((my thread)))

Sorry, it's just for some of us, the combination of 'bubble car' and '1960' conjures up a really powerful image and connected memories flood in

 

[Epona]

Sorry, it's just for some of us, the combination of 'bubble car' and '1960' conjures up a really powerful image and connected memories flood in

Indeed, can I also add my apologies.

I actually clicked on the thread thinking it was about 1960s 3-wheeled automobiles, which were insanely popular because you could drive one on a motorbike licence without having to be accompanied by a licence-holder, making them a very practical choice for a number of people, not least bikers who found themselves with a young family and requiring more practical transport than a Honda!

The trains are good too mind you, there was nothing wrong with those doors and as was previously stated they made people on the platform stand away from the edge when a train was coming in.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

The trains are good too mind you, there was nothing wrong with those doors and as was previously stated they made people on the platform stand away from the edge when a train was coming in.

And such a satisfying noise as you closed them! Really ergonomic handles as well, felt good under the hand and unable to be opened by a child. The first time I ever put my arm out of the window to open the door at my destination felt like a rite of passage!

 

[Epona]

And such a satisfying noise as you closed them! Really ergonomic handles as well, felt good under the hand and unable to be opened by a child. The first time I ever put my arm out of the window to open the door at my destination felt like a rite of passage!

tbh I could never operate the bloody things what with my poor grip and dodgy joints, I always had to ask another passenger to open the door for me - never had anyone unwilling to help though Automatic or button-press doors do have their benefits, but I do miss the style and ambience of older train carriages, modern ones are soulless.

 

[ddraig]

saw some delighted tourists stop in their tracks as one headed towards the bay so told them it goes one stop from queen st
they were v greatful and imagine they would be getting it back sometime today

 

[spacemonkey]

I wish Cardiff and the valleys had a modern, efficient light rail system.

I do love those old trains but it also makes me incredibly sad that we haven't got something more modern.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

editor

fancy a new runabout?

 

[Crispy]

I wish Cardiff and the valleys had a modern, efficient light rail system.

I do love those old trains but it also makes me incredibly sad that we haven't got something more modern.

All the valley lines are being electrified, for better trains and services.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...sh-rail-electrification-boost-91466-31398985/

 

[editor]

I liked it when we used to get Class 37 loco hauled valley trains.

 

[19sixtysix]

editor

fancy a new runabout?

If I could get the siding rebuilt at Gipsy this could be very handy. I wonder how much a parking siding at Victoria would be

 

[ddraig]

was on the Dylan Thomas train (carriage) to the bay earlier

 

[editor]

Eme was mightily unimpressed with the noise from the Class 37 video but she's learnt how to recognise them by their audio signature when they pass our flat.

So there's one useful thing she's gained from going out with me.

 

[spacemonkey]

All the valley lines are being electrified, for better trains and services.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...sh-rail-electrification-boost-91466-31398985/

Yep. Great news.

 

[Roadkill]

Thinking about it it was the crash worthiness that killed the slam door stock down here in the south east not the doors themselves. The fact the door could be opened when the train was moving was not often so good though it did keep people back from the edge of the platform.

They were due to be replaced anyway, given that they were the best part of fifty years old, but AFAIK the crashworthiness issue did speed things up a bit. Not that it was anything new: there'd been concerns about MkI rolling stock safety ever since the Clapham Junction accident. AFAIK you need special dispensation to run MkI stock on the main line these days. Not sure how the Bubble Cars - and Chiltern has one as well for the Aylesbury-Princes Risborough service - get around that, or the regs on slam-door stock.