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CrossCountry (XC) HST modifications including power doors

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InterCity:125

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Saw it operating the 14:30 service at Bristol temple meads.
 

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TT-ONR-NRN

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Looks rather different with the doors kind of inset looking instead of in line with the outer skin. Cool though. Safety first and all that.
It makes it look cheap. The Chiltern Plugs look far more aesthetically pleasing.
 

hexagon789

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It makes it look cheap. The Chiltern Plugs look far more aesthetically pleasing.

But unfortunately the Chiltern plug-doors take so much longer to fit, each door having to be trimmed to fit. I agree though, it ain't exactly pretty ;)
 

43096

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But unfortunately the Chiltern plug-doors take so much longer to fit, each door having to be trimmed to fit. I agree though, it ain't exactly pretty ;)
Not really any different in terms of styling to the doors on the Super Hitachi Intercity Trains, though.
 

hexagon789

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Not really any different in terms of styling to the doors on the Super Hitachi Intercity Trains, though.

Very true, I think it's just that visually the recessed sliding-doors upset the whole streamlined, flush-body appearance.
 

hexagon789

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Makes them look a bit more like the Aussie XPT which has different coaches which also have sliding recessed doors.

I can see the resemblance, though really only the XPT power cars are similar to our HSTs. I believe the Mk3s were deemed unsuitable for the Australian climate.
 

43096

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I can see the resemblance, though really only the XPT power cars are similar to our HSTs. I believe the Mk3s were deemed unsuitable for the Australian climate.
If you go on an XPT, parts of the trailers - such as lighting and saloon ends - are pure Mark 3.
 

hexagon789

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If you go on an XPT, parts of the trailers - such as lighting and saloon ends - are pure Mark 3.

That's interesting, I had thought that XPT trailers were pretty far removed from a Mk3, certainly the bodyshell, bogies and air-conditioning.
 

fgwrich

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I think you'd be surprised how much of a Mk3 is in the Australian XPT - I believe the term in auto manufacturing is called a CKD (Knockdown Kit), i.e where other countries can assemble a product from either a full kit or range of supplied parts. In this case, the power cars were effectively a heavily modified Class 43 (with VP185) with extra modifications to cope with Australia's climate and track quality, while the coaches were a BUDD - MK3 hybrid, consisting of a body from the BUDD company, riding on modified BT10 bogies. You can sea few of the differences in the pictures below.

(Coach Exterior)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/campe...VL-Ks5SA6-vnKnk9-ugH99a-MhtEqQ-251MnEN-t358Em

(Interior.)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/marti...Sk6-x9rEQ1-wPXZTo-uBM6aE-xdq8Qn-uCorEh-LLe9ES
 

43096

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I think you'd be surprised how much of a Mk3 is in the Australian XPT - I believe the term in auto manufacturing is called a CKD (Knockdown Kit), i.e where other countries can assemble a product from either a full kit or range of supplied parts. In this case, the power cars were effectively a heavily modified Class 43 (with VP185) with extra modifications to cope with Australia's climate and track quality, while the coaches were a BUDD - MK3 hybrid, consisting of a body from the BUDD company, riding on modified BT10 bogies. You can sea few of the differences in the pictures below.
Of course the power cars were not built with VP185s, but were re-engined around the turn of the century. As built, they had Paxman Valentas.
 

RichmondCommu

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I'm on the 07.27 from Derby this morning. The coaches still feel like they're 40 year's old with the constant squeaking but the doors greatly improve the overall experience.
 

Class37.4

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I'm on the 07.27 from Derby this morning. The coaches still feel like they're 40 year's old with the constant squeaking but the doors greatly improve the overall experience.
Really in what way apart from the obvious of been able to open the door more easily. I bet they really improve the experience when the air con fails!
 

RichmondCommu

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Really in what way apart from the obvious of been able to open the door more easily. I bet they really improve the experience when the air con fails!
Exactly, being able to open the door more easily. If indeed the aircon does fail on conventional Mk3s an open window in the vestibule is of no use to me if I'm in the middle of the carriage.
 

Class37.4

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Exactly, being able to open the door more easily. If indeed the aircon does fail on conventional Mk3s an open window in the vestibule is of no use to me if I'm in the middle of the carriage.
I wouldn’t agree on that one and th e mods shoud probably include some 158 style window hoppers which in my view shoud be compulsory on all air con trains.
 

Bletchleyite

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Exactly, being able to open the door more easily. If indeed the aircon does fail on conventional Mk3s an open window in the vestibule is of no use to me if I'm in the middle of the carriage.

Actually it makes quite some difference if you lock the vestibule doors open and have all 4 windows open - you get a significant through draught.
 

CC 72100

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Actually it makes quite some difference if you lock the vestibule doors open and have all 4 windows open - you get a significant through draught.

As someone who worked a fair few HSTs with knackered air con over the summer I'm afraid to say I wouldn't call it significant.

The first 6/7 rows at the end of the carriage benefits, but for the 50% of people sat outside of these rows in the middle of the carriage there is very little air flow.
 
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