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Post by Alanović on Dec 18, 2017 11:41:09 GMT
I was on one of the new ones on Saturday. Felt and looked flimsy and plasticky to me, didn't seem built to last like a 125. Not hugely optimistic about them, and there have been numerous breakdowns and problems already.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2017 13:22:58 GMT
Well, family in the Lake District, so probably be a bit north-ish at some point. That'd suit me and probably Humph nicely - thank you.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2017 14:39:49 GMT
>> didn't seem built to last like a 125.
I'm sure I recall endless reports of problems with 125s when they first came in, no?
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Post by Alanović on Dec 18, 2017 14:41:42 GMT
Crumbs, don't remember that. I was only born in 1970. Jimmy Savile seemed impressed with them though. And they've lasted 40+ years. Not many 1975 Morris Marinas can say that.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2017 14:57:41 GMT
>> Not many 1975 Morris Marinas can say that.
Funny you should say that, I saw one Saturday. Well, it was Marina, no idea what year. Bit tatty but sound looking, being driven in traffic by a couple of workman.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Dec 18, 2017 15:00:07 GMT
125s began in 1977. Didcot was our station in them days, and my dad was midway through a two-year secondment from his proper scientific job to an office in Marsham Street, which he hated.
Anyway, one evening in 1977, he came home purring because he'd had his first trip on a 125. That Saturday, he invented a pretext to take my brother and me to London for the day, just so we could try it too. The speed, smoothness and quiet were revelatory then - and still pretty good today. I have no idea what we did in London that day, but I've loved 125s ever since.
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Post by Alanović on Dec 18, 2017 15:13:16 GMT
Home Office?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2017 15:21:00 GMT
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Post by Hofmeister on Dec 18, 2017 15:21:38 GMT
>> didn't seem built to last like a 125. I'm sure I recall endless reports of problems with 125s when they first came in, no? Not really, perhaps you are getting confused with the APT (the tilting train?) The class 43's (the IC125) have been more or less an instant workhorse success since they appeared. Equipped with two power cars and 2,300hp Paxman Valentas they were capable of 143 mph, which made them ideal for sustained 125 in all weathers and all gradients. Since re engined with 2500HP MTU engines they have thrashed around at high speed for over 40 years clocking up millions of miles. Light footed but with great traction they will be cascaded round the network as they are replaced. It is possibly the finest loco ever produced (even taken globally) and easily one of the least appreciated. It saved long distance British Rail travel.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2017 15:22:47 GMT
>>perhaps you are getting confused with the APT (the tilting train?)
Ah, perhaps you're right about that.
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Post by bromptonaut on Dec 18, 2017 17:14:49 GMT
HST's were not without their problems.
They were an early example of disc brakes, as opposed to blocks operating on the treads, on UK trains. Under even normal braking the air conditioning tended to draw in the smell of hot brakes. Not really a problem except for those who thought there was a fire but not ideal and in spite of messing with different pad formulations was never wholly cured (at least not while I still used them regularly).
The other issue was that they were designed as long distance trains, stopping only once or twice between say Paddington and Bristol or Kings Cross and Leeds. Partly due to their taking over semi-fast services and partly as places like Swindon and Newark/Grantham became 'commutable' they were deployed on services with more frequent stops. The cooling on the original Valenta engines couldn't cope with the more rigorous regime and coolant loss and in service shut downs led to significant re-engineering of the radiators.
Toilets that still dropped straight onto the track were another glitch as they froze solid in cold snaps.
And that Guardian article is wrong about central door locking. Inititially they had (IIRC) same internal door handles as other trains. Later, following accidents where doors opened in service the internal handles were removed requiring passengers to drop the window and reach outside. Not always easy. Central door locking only came in after 2000.
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Post by Humph on Dec 18, 2017 17:25:24 GMT
We have Pendolinos on the west coast line. Bit like Volvos, big, heavy and lean a lot on the bends. Actually very good to travel on in fact, if they can be afforded at any useful sort of time of day.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Dec 18, 2017 23:17:49 GMT
Derived of course from the British Rail designed Advanced Passenger Train (successor of the 125)... except the new owners worked out how to make it work.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2017 6:52:27 GMT
I like the Pendolinos except for the smell from the toilets. Make me feel sick if I am too close.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Dec 19, 2017 7:55:36 GMT
Do they all do that? I remember using them a few times 10+ years ago, when a previous employer used to pay for me to go First Class, and being surprised at the smell. I'd have hoped they'd have fixed it by now.
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