(04 Mar 2016, 9:52 pm)northern156 wrote My ears are burning.
142025 is my all-time favourite 142.
The ex-First Great Western batch (of which 142067 is a member) aren't too bad mechanically but the 3+2 bench seating is horrible; the same could be said for the ex Merseyrail units too (although some are furnished with half-working PIS which displays the destination of the train only [sometimes]). That batch are horrible both inside and out in my opinion!
Once suffered 142053 working with one engine from Sheffield to Manchester via the Hope Valley. The route isn't the most exciting but having various drunks on the train (midday on a Thursday) and crawling pretty much everywhere (never got above 50mph) didn't add to that at all...!
i'm not a big fan of the bus benched seating either but I must admit, I do like the vinyl flooring on 142068, not sure if 142067 has the same type of flooring though? Got to say 142029 is the worse pacer interior I have seen with the very original flooring still in tack, not even the bright pink poles of its FGW days brighten that shabby interior up.
The Ex ATN 142's internally are much better, I think what helps is the seating and the fact that the lighting has guarding which makes it looks a bit more "modern" if thats the right word to use.
Too use another example... I find the ex ATN 156's looking a hell of a lot better than the EX FNW 156's with better seats and again guarding on the lights... just having plain tubes exposed and showing just makes it look so old and even though the ex FNW 156's have been refreshed, they look rather worn out inside. Can't wait for Northern units to be properly refurbished because they so need it, hopefully it will be a quality refurbishment at that although I am skeptical on that one.