(28 Aug 2014, 8:17 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I've heard Northern Rail's primary source of criticism comes from the Pacers! 
The seats are disgraceful, granted, but I've got to admit the 141s really do look like Nationals on Rails!
I love the fact the Iranians bought Pacers and scrapped them before we did!
(28 Aug 2014, 8:47 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]I love the fact the Iranians bought Pacers and scrapped them before we did!
I think the overhaul that companies such as Northern have done to the Pacers is quite good, however I am desperate for a train which won't squeak like mad over Gateshead when arriving or departing Central Station from or to Sunderland etc
(28 Aug 2014, 9:47 pm)56everyday wrote [ -> ]I think the overhaul that companies such as Northern have done to the Pacers is quite good, however I am desperate for a train which won't squeak like mad over Gateshead when arriving or departing Central Station from or to Sunderland etc
For want of a better phrase, you can't really polish a turd.
The National was a great bus - it was designed for the roads, not the rails and as a result, there is only so much that can be done to improve the 142.
No idea if the other classes in the series let as much water in as the 142.
(29 Aug 2014, 8:10 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]For want of a better phrase, you can't really polish a turd.
The National was a great bus - it was designed for the roads, not the rails and as a result, there is only so much that can be done to improve the 142.
No idea if the other classes in the series let as much water in as the 142.
Like I say, I've heard that Northern Rail's main complaints come from the fact that the Pacers are abominations and should be stripped off the rails and scrapped like the steam engines, then have a few Deltics and A4s replace them........
These Pacers cant be withdrawn until the Newcastle-Carlisle line is electrified with them operating the services that terminate at Hexham. Same goes for the 156s but they have a good few years left in them.
(29 Aug 2014, 9:10 pm)Robert wrote [ -> ]These Pacers cant be withdrawn until the Newcastle-Carlisle line is electrified with them operating the services that terminate at Hexham. Same goes for the 156s but they have a good few years left in them.
Personally, I know this is irrelevant, but I've always enjoyed riding the 185s by First TransPennine that run through Chester pretty frequently.
Also, those Class 43s East Coast operate are just brilliant, considering they just be coming up 30 or so now!
(29 Aug 2014, 9:23 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]Personally, I know this is irrelevant, but I've always enjoyed riding the 185s by First TransPennine that run through Chester pretty frequently.
Also, those Class 43s East Coast operate are just brilliant, considering they just be coming up 30 or so now!
Try adding another 9/10 years
.
The youngest entered service in 82/83. The originals in the mid 70's.
They are good though, considering their age.
I use Durham station and not many of them call there unfortunately.
(29 Aug 2014, 9:23 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]Personally, I know this is irrelevant, but I've always enjoyed riding the 185s by First TransPennine that run through Chester pretty frequently.
Also, those Class 43s East Coast operate are just brilliant, considering they just be coming up 30 or so now!
The Class 43s are much better than the 221/91 s
(29 Aug 2014, 9:35 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Try adding another 9/10 years .
The youngest entered service in 82/83. The originals in the mid 70's.
They are good though, considering their age.
I use Durham station and not many of them call there unfortunately.
Not really into the modern day stuff, considering all of the best things came from the steam and early diesel era, in my opinion.
Also, speaking of steam engines, on Sat. 27th September, 'The Tynesider' is supposed to be running through Durham, Chester and Newcastle before turning around at Morpeth, I believe. I've heard it's to be hauled by Stanier Jubilee Class 5690 'Leander', which surprises me. You would expect a train that runs deep through ex-LNER territory to be hauled by an A4 or 'Tornado' etc. - I doubt a Jubilee even passed through this section of the ECML, even during BR days.
(29 Aug 2014, 9:35 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Try adding another 9/10 years .
The youngest entered service in 82/83. The originals in the mid 70's.
They are good though, considering their age.
I use Durham station and not many of them call there unfortunately.
I think East Coast mainly operate their 43s on the London-Hull and the London-Leeds services, and I also think they may have been used on those extended Scotland services.
(30 Aug 2014, 10:53 am)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I think East Coast mainly operate their 43s on the London-Hull and the London-Leeds services, and I also think they may have been used on those extended Scotland services.
Aye, the Aberdeen, Inverness services have them on.
If heading over the border early on, often get the Leeds - Aberdeen on a morning knowing it has to be a HST.
CrossStinky often have them on the 19.25ish out of Durham on the Glasgow run too.
Haven't worked out the specific runs, so tend to not take the risk, getting the earlier East Coast.
(30 Aug 2014, 2:42 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Aye, the Aberdeen, Inverness services have them on.
If heading over the border early on, often get the Leeds - Aberdeen on a morning knowing it has to be a HST.
CrossStinky often have them on the 19.25ish out of Durham on the Glasgow run too.
Haven't worked out the specific runs, so tend to not take the risk, getting the earlier East Coast.
I hate CrossCountry. I wish East Coast stopped at Chester - it's mainly just First TransPennine. There's nothing wrong with them, it just ruins the idea of variety. A First TransPennine every 2 hours (?) in each direction, a couple of peak journeys by Northern Rail and the odd stopping train by CrossCountry really does spoil it, especially when so many different operators go through the station.
(30 Aug 2014, 2:42 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Aye, the Aberdeen, Inverness services have them on.
If heading over the border early on, often get the Leeds - Aberdeen on a morning knowing it has to be a HST.
CrossStinky often have them on the 19.25ish out of Durham on the Glasgow run too.
Haven't worked out the specific runs, so tend to not take the risk, getting the earlier East Coast.
Cross Country have a HST on the 09:42 out of Newcastle towards Plymouth.
(30 Aug 2014, 2:52 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I hate CrossCountry. I wish East Coast stopped at Chester - it's mainly just First TransPennine. There's nothing wrong with them, it just ruins the idea of variety. A First TransPennine every 2 hours (?) in each direction, a couple of peak journeys by Northern Rail and the odd stopping train by CrossCountry really does spoil it, especially when so many different operators go through the station.
There will be a number of factors, but one will be timings that mean not much stops there.
If a CrossStinky is running a few mins in front of an East Coast, it holds up the EC behind.
Cross Stinkys often get held up, so what could be a 10min timetabled lead at York, could (and often is) much less than that.
Coming south, the EC often runs ahead of the CrossStinky (with nowt usually behind it), so there is the possibility that way...
(30 Aug 2014, 3:06 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]There will be a number of factors, but one will be timings that mean not much stops there.
If a CrossStinky is running a few mins in front of an East Coast, it holds up the EC behind.
Cross Stinkys often get held up, so what could be a 10min timetabled lead at York, could (and often is) much less than that.
Coming south, the EC often runs ahead of the CrossStinky (with nowt usually behind it), so there is the possibility that way...
Yeah I suppose East Coast do capitalise on limited stops and a fast service, and what can be more luxurious than a Class 43 HST!! :
(30 Aug 2014, 2:52 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I hate CrossCountry. I wish East Coast stopped at Chester - it's mainly just First TransPennine. There's nothing wrong with them, it just ruins the idea of variety. A First TransPennine every 2 hours (?) in each direction, a couple of peak journeys by Northern Rail and the odd stopping train by CrossCountry really does spoil it, especially when so many different operators go through the station.
Get onto Network Rail and ask them to extend the platforms at Chester then
(30 Aug 2014, 3:40 pm)Robert wrote [ -> ]Get onto Network Rail and ask them to extend the platforms at Chester then
Haha - I suppose there's enough room to be honest. The old goods shed is currently owned by a business (Wensley Roofing I believe), and because of the car park you can't extend North. I think it would have to be South.
(30 Aug 2014, 3:40 pm)Robert wrote [ -> ]Get onto Network Rail and ask them to extend the platforms at Chester then
There are a couple on the way to Dundee that are too short for the HST if I remember correctly. Possibly Inverkeithing - could be wrong though.
(30 Aug 2014, 7:00 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]There are a couple on the way to Dundee that are too short for the HST if I remember correctly. Possibly Inverkeithing - could be wrong though.
Yes Inverkeithing is one heading to Aberdeen
Not sure if many are aware or have seen it, but the new train, training facility alongside the Felling Bypass on the old Van Hee site, is coming along.
Passed it the other night, to see they have a small track which runs alongside the building.
Quite impressive and quite a change from its previous life as a warehouse and then storage facility.
Just to keep the 'bus theme', there were several preserved buses stored there for a short while, a few years back.
(25 Aug 2014, 4:13 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]Yeah, I'm just a much a railway enthusiast as I am a bus enthusiast, although I don't use forums and stuff for trains like I do with buses. It would be best to ask a die hard train guy on this one, but I was standing train-spotting at Chester one Saturday afternoon and two old guys with cameras when an East Coast Class 43 came into view and raced past, the two men didn't get their cameras out and stood back. Once they could hear each other again, they said they hated Class 43s because of Jimmy Savile and the 'this is the age of the train' ads back in the late 20th century. That put a smile on my face.
If in doubt, blame J-Sav, like Margaret Thatcher, that gets blamed for everything
(27 Oct 2014, 10:28 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]http://metro.co.uk/2014/10/27/the-14-tho...n-4919599/
How many of you have these thoughts?
Quiet coach/rear carriage everytime (unless 1st class is cheap!).
My typical thoughts when boarding a train are.....
1) I hope the train doesn't fail in any way
2) I hope there are no terrorists get on (I'm deadly serious, don't you worry about it when you get on a plane?)
3) I hope there are some free seats in the quiet coach
4) I hope there are no O-APs to discriminate me, a child, travelling alone on a train!
5) I hope it's East Coast!
Although not worried about terrorists, I have wondered why trains (and ferries) have never been targeted.
Can't begin to imagine the sort of security measures that would need to be put into place (like airports) at a railway station.
(11 Nov 2014, 8:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Although not worried about terrorists, I have wondered why trains (and ferries) have never been targeted.
Can't begin to imagine the sort of security measures that would need to be put into place (like airports) at a railway station.
Maybe start with bag checks?