Bus Honeygun
This week the score draws are plentiful
Yeah, can recall my first run on one of those Z 6100 unpainted stainless steel units that used to work around Paris. That was a bit of an eye-opener. Amazing that they lasted into the 2000s.
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Yeah, can recall my first run on one of those Z 6100 unpainted stainless steel units that used to work around Paris. That was a bit of an eye-opener. Amazing that they lasted into the 2000s.
On the subject of old units that lasted until relatively recently, the 'Thumper' DMUs:
Stalwarts of the branch line to Uckfield right up to 2004. Much as I like an old train, I don't remember the Thumpers with much affection: they were draughty, noisy, bouncy and - by the time they were withdrawn - chronically unreliable.
They were also non-corridor, and in some parts of them there was no toilet, which posed a problem for me on at least one occasion when one had gone wrong and stranded us at Oxted to wait for the next train. I'd gone for a couple of pints in the pub by Oxted station and then had to dash back to the station without nipping to the loo. The photo still exists of me standing up on the seats pissing out of the window.
Stalwarts of the branch line to Uckfield right up to 2004. Much as I like an old train, I don't remember the Thumpers with much affection: they were draughty, noisy, bouncy and - by the time they were withdrawn - chronically unreliable.
They were also non-corridor, and in some parts of them there was no toilet, which posed a problem for me on at least one occasion when one had gone wrong and stranded us at Oxted to wait for the next train. I'd gone for a couple of pints in the pub by Oxted station and then had to dash back to the station without nipping to the loo. The photo still exists of me standing up on the seats pissing out of the window.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
I know they were always a bit mix'n'match, but that one looks like they've shoehorned a CIG trailer in there, or something!On the subject of old units that lasted until relatively recently, the 'Thumper' DMUs:
Stalwarts of the branch line to Uckfield right up to 2004. Much as I like an old train, I don't remember the Thumpers with much affection: they were draughty, noisy, bouncy and - by the time they were withdrawn - chronically unreliable.
They were also non-corridor, and in some parts of them there was no toilet, which posed a problem for me on at least one occasion when one had gone wrong and stranded us at Oxted to wait for the next train. I'd gone for a couple of pints in the pub by Oxted station and then had to dash back to the station without nipping to the loo. The photo still exists of me standing up on the seats pissing out of the window.
I actually remember this individual unit because of the random carriage in the middle. At the time I just noticed that it seemed a bit more modern and a little more comfortable than all the others, but looking back with more interest in trains than I had at the time, I think it was just an old TSO they'd shoved in the middle to add capacity.
davesgcr
Reading books
Ashford - Hastings major capacity increase - bought at vast expense (a 4CIG trailer) - one of the great things about the Southern is that it was almost 100% interworkable technically. Almost......4SUB's excluded.! .
teuchter
je suis teuchter
I thought they had to have the special narrow body for that line... so how come they could just use a regular trailer?
davesgcr
Reading books
When Eurostar came into Ashford . they thought there would be a new flow from say Brighton to Ashford for abroad - so they recast the "Marshlink" service to partly extend Ashford - Hastings - Eastbourne (reverse) - Brighton and removed some of the calls to speed up timings. Adding in some internal trailer vehicles to give more seats.
(* which has just been a 2 car shuttle Hastings - Ore - Ashford , and which narrowly missed Beeching)
Not a bad idea at all - it did grow the route , - but not for Europe - E/star discovered that Ashford was not say the West MIdlands for volume and "other things" have been done to Marshlink over recent years - but is still a better service than it was in class 205 days .....
The restricted Hastings line - was the one via Bexhill - Bo-Beep Junction - Battle to Tonbridge - Charing Cross / Cannon St, where the special narrow restricted gauge diesels ran till they fell apart , where upon a way was found to interlace tracks through those very tight tunnels and a few coppers were found for cost effective DC electrification , at no rolling stock cost. "Deeply inefficient" BR for you. No money . but squeezed innovation and survival for some lines.
Back to topic - BR would have never have life extended the 4-SUB's , but they honoured their hard work in painting up and saving 4732 for a good few years.
That was the route for which they fitted bars across the droplights to stop passengers doing an impression of Rick in The Young Ones, wasn't it?
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
They did that on the North London Line too.
editor
hiraethified
I've never understood the affection people have for Pacers. They're awful, cheap-looking, uncomfortable shit buses on rails.On the subject of old units that lasted until relatively recently, the 'Thumper' DMUs:
Stalwarts of the branch line to Uckfield right up to 2004. Much as I like an old train, I don't remember the Thumpers with much affection: they were draughty, noisy, bouncy and - by the time they were withdrawn - chronically unreliable.
They were also non-corridor, and in some parts of them there was no toilet, which posed a problem for me on at least one occasion when one had gone wrong and stranded us at Oxted to wait for the next train. I'd gone for a couple of pints in the pub by Oxted station and then had to dash back to the station without nipping to the loo. The photo still exists of me standing up on the seats pissing out of the window.
I don't like them either, but I suppose atm they're kind of where the Southern slam-door stock was two decades ago; old, tatty and no longer fit for purpose, but as extinction looms people have started to get nostalgic about them! I wonder whether there'll be farewell parties for them in the same way as there were when the Thumpers were withdrawn from the Uckfield line...
davesgcr
Reading books
The much missed class 501 sets on the DC and NLL were known as "jail carts" - the bars were to stop people decapitating themselves on / in Hampstead Heath tunnel. Southern built units - absolute quality and very fast. A spirited driver could wedge you back in the comfy seats by engaging notch 3 from start (none of this prissy notching up) , especially when he was off for a tea break at Willesden HL.
Forgotten railway then , which I had the great pleasure of operating for 3 years in the mid 1990's - hard work but an excellent challenge. I did manage an illegal cab ride on one in my early days.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
not to be confused with the earlier 3R / class 206 'tadpole' units which were 2 cars of flat sided Hastings unit and 1 car of standard 2EPB
davesgcr
Reading books
not to be confused with the earlier 3R / class 206 'tadpole' units which were 2 cars of flat sided Hastings unit and 1 car of standard 2EPB
A temporary lash up in cash starved times - must have gone down ever so well in Dorking Deepdene and Guildford. Then the schoolkids tended to bunk their fares .....
"Don' t like your train darling - write to your local (Tory) MP !!"
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davesgcr
Reading books
All sorts of welcome return to action - the Severn Valley and the Ffestiniog / Talyllyn / Fairbourne are looking at starting some services quite soon. Mid-Hants today I believe.
They all need some support , if you are around these areas , if not (as myself) - try and get to them if that is your interest. Shame for them to go under after all these years of work.
They all need some support , if you are around these areas , if not (as myself) - try and get to them if that is your interest. Shame for them to go under after all these years of work.
davesgcr
Reading books
To good effect I gather - anyway , apart from money support on line etc , I need to go and see some of them now that there are easements. A SVR trip is already planned with my brother in laws classic MG - of course , Wales is a key venue to get to.
davesgcr
Reading books
Check before you go , but it is an excellent day out. Especially with some Purple Moose beer as part of the outing ......
It's over 25 years since I rode on the Ffestiniog. I remember catching the train from Bangor to Llandudno Junction, then up to Blaenau Ffestiniog and swapping over to the Ffestiniog line down to Porthmadog, and then the return later in the day. Lovely scenery and fantastic journey.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
We may have different definitions of "proper" train... I rather enjoyed trips along the North Wales coast while it still involved this kind of thing.No even then we had some shitty rolling stock that the as in use on the North Wales coast. Sort of pacer but not quite as bad
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
I have fond recollections of getting on one of those at Colwyn Bay, having just pulled North Wales Police's Oracle chestnuts out of the fire, skinning up on the platform, and enjoying a nice hazy romp along the coast back to (I think) Crewe. Tatty, old school comfort.
