Class 442s - Now at the end of the road and to be withdrawn permanently

[Deepgreen]

If it did the mind boggles at what the ride quality would be like at such a speed, then add in the former southern region track quality

Well, the speed record would (officially) be 110mph, as 109mph was achieved quite comfortably many years ago, and track quality has certainly improved since then, so I don't perceive a problem. Even the steam record was 106mph and that was on proper SR track!
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one suspects a 444 or 450 could easily take the record.

but i think it will be a 395 Jav that would easily take 442 speed record

They do every day!

 

[theblackwatch]

The current fleet in service are:
01,02,04,05,06,08,10,11,13,14,17,19,21,24.

As mentioned this will change next month.

Regards
Ant

Thanks, I had 442404/424 as being stored but clearly that was wrong or they have returned to use.

 

[causton]

They do every day!

Not on DC power though, which is presumably what the record is

 

[superkev]

Perhaps 442 survival may come down to a cost comparison between converting them to hst trailers for scotrail verses fitting power doors to the hst's.
K

 

[neilm]

Perhaps 442 survival may come down to a cost comparison between converting them to hst trailers for scotrail verses fitting power doors to the hst's.
K

This has been covered many times, the 442s will be scrapped. If you got them everyday you would know they are knackered and should of been on the heap when SWT returned them.

 

[MatthewRead]

This has been covered many times, the 442s will be scrapped. If you got them everyday you would know they are knackered and should of been on the heap when SWT returned them.

No SWT should have retained them!

 

[neilm]

No SWT should have retained them!

If you use them everyday you will see why they have not...

 

[jamez]

if they are going to be scrapped then why are they being sent into warm storage?? I'm sure Angel trains are planing on leasing them to another operator.

On a related matter I've discovered these interior concepts designed for when the units were transferred to Gatwick Express

http://www.dg8design.com/portfolio-items/class-442-interior-concepts/

 

[spark001uk]

If you use them everyday you will see why they have not...

I take it you're not on the list for the 442 run to Poole next week then?
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if they are going to be scrapped then why are they being sent into warm storage?? I'm sure Angel trains are planing on leasing them to another operator.

I wondered that too.

On a related matter I've discovered these interior concepts designed for when the units were transferred to Gatwick Express

http://www.dg8design.com/portfolio-items/class-442-interior-concepts/

That looks extremely expensive!

 

[cjmillsnun]

if they are going to be scrapped then why are they being sent into warm storage?? I'm sure Angel trains are planing on leasing them to another operator.

On a related matter I've discovered these interior concepts designed for when the units were transferred to Gatwick Express

http://www.dg8design.com/portfolio-items/class-442-interior-concepts/

Only the units started to be refurbished prior to the sale of Gatwick by BAA. So that branding didn't exist. Seems like it was commissioned by the new owners of Gatwick thinking they would get Govia to pay for it.

 

[swt_passenger]

if they are going to be scrapped then why are they being sent into warm storage?? I'm sure Angel trains are planing on leasing them to another operator.

Excellent question.

But who could 'another operator' be given that its 99% guaranteed SWT don't actually need them, and neither do GTR...

 

[Harbornite]

It's a shame that these units weren't used on the buffer puffer the other day. They could have coupled all of the sets together and sent them down the Lymington pier branch at top speed until they smashed through the buffers. We'd see the end of 442 froth and Lymington would get an artificial reef so we all would have benefited!

 

[CosherB]

Perhaps 442 survival may come down to a cost comparison between converting them to hst trailers for scotrail verses fitting power doors to the hst's.
K

Here we go again .....

They're going to be scrapped if the charter market doesn't have them. Riviera are currently spending money on repainting 12 Mk2s, and are rumoured to be lining up another 12.

I wouldn't hold my breath. Roll on 2018 Mr. Booth.

 

[Harbornite]

Here we go again .....

They're going to be scrapped if the charter market doesn't have them. Riviera are currently spending money on repainting 12 Mk2s, and are rumoured to be lining up another 12.

I wouldn't hold my breath. Roll on 2018 Mr. Booth.

Not to mention the fact that there will be plenty of surplus HST trailers available, what with the withdrawal of many of FGW's and all of VTEC's HSTs.

 

[pompeyfan]

Interesting class 5 ECS path today. A 10WES left Eastleigh, up to Staines Via Basingstoke and Woking, back to Woking, down the PDL and back up the Botley line. Any idea why?

 

[Bigfoot]

Interesting class 5 ECS path today. A 10WES left Eastleigh, up to Staines Via Basingstoke and Woking, back to Woking, down the PDL and back up the Botley line. Any idea why?

Sounds like a test run for the railtour.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

In a related thing for the thread, what are booked turns for the 442s tomorrow?

 

[Carntyne]

Perhaps 442 survival may come down to a cost comparison between converting them to hst trailers for scotrail verses fitting power doors to the hst's.
K

They're going nowhere near ScotRail. GWR HST's are coming up the road once refurbished.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Will there likely be a path for a test run over the next couple of days downto Poole? A fair bit of track through the Poole area has been replaced over the last few years so they might need to check clearances?

 

[Rail Blues]

Could someone explain the appeal of the Class 442?

I don't live in the South East of England and I've seen them several time and they just do nothing for me. never been in one, but I don't get it at all.

The compartments are long gone, they're pig ugly (pun intended) and their traction equipment is shot to pieces. What's the appeal. Is it nostalgia for what they were, not what they are now?

 

[Bletchleyite]

They are basically Mk3 coaches with near enough all the problems fixed.


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[SpacePhoenix]

When they were being designed, did BREL ever consider overhead provision during the early design phase?

 

[childwallblues]

Could someone explain the appeal of the Class 442?

I don't live in the South East of England and I've seen them several time and they just do nothing for me. never been in one, but I don't get it at all.

The compartments are long gone, they're pig ugly (pun intended) and their traction equipment is shot to pieces. What's the appeal. Is it nostalgia for what they were, not what they are now?

To me they are MkIII EMUs, the last of the decent builds.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Passing Ely in the last few minutes, 47815 is stabled along with three units (442207, 442422 and one other) next to the Breckland Line.

Would love to see EMT hook a 68 onto these and use them for push pull between Norwich and Liverpool...

 

[scott118]

not a good pic, admittedly..

 

[Rail Blues]

To me they are MkIII EMUs, the last of the decent builds.

I see it from that point of view. But there's enough mk3 knocking around (and will continue to be for the medium term) to compensate and the Chiltern plug doors are there for anyone who wants the whole mk3 with automatic doors.

 

[Harbornite]

I got this shot at Eastleigh on 11th August, I believe 442423 and 442418 were also there (there were only three units present). This is 442415.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Can anybody confirm if 1F83 1823 London Bridge to Eastbourne is still booked as a 442? Southern claim it is not, but platform staff say it is

 

[theblackwatch]

Yes it is - and will be for the foreseeable future. GTR should know....

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Yes it is - and will be for the foreseeable future. GTR should know....

Well clearly not their customer service!!!