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Trivia: Individual units/locos you have a like or dislike of... and why?

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Parallel

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I don’t really have a favourite unit but 150233 seems to stalk me - I seem to see it most days when commuting and recently I crossed the railway bridge to get to the shop and it went past!

I quite like the Arriva 150 (150245?) that has the old style door buttons.
 
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SprinterMan

SprinterMan

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Of what I deal with on a daily basis (GN 313s):

Like:
313055 - Survived the Welwyn derailment and made a comeback worthy of Lazarus, and is the only GN 313 to have been (partially) repainted :P
313058 - Fitted with new lighting diffusers, making the interior ambience superior to other units.

Dislike:
313122 - Hateful original seats
313123 - Hateful original seats
313134 - Hateful original seats

Adam :D
 
Fuzzytop

Fuzzytop

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Like
91110 - always used to stalk me on my ECML journeys. With the BoB vinyls it's my firm favourite.
365537 - even post-refurbishment its unit number is still carried on one end in Rail Alphabet, which just looks 'proper' somehow.
 
TheEdge

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As an enthusiast I never really developed a favourite or disliked unit or loco. As staff though the same few seem to keep popping up.

I dislike 156409 and 82152 (a GA DVT), as a conductor they both always seemed to be involved whenever I had a day go wrong on me.

As to like there is only one, 170204. As a conductor it seemed to be a unit I always got, whenever I had a 3 car 170 to work. It even triggered a year of noting units I got, as I wanted to know if units I worked was relatively equal and spotting the same units was just confirmation bias or if I did genuinely work some units more than others. Turned out some stock, 170204 included, I did work disproportionately more than other units. Then it saved my life. After the tractor vs train crash at Roudham in April 2016 I was amazed at how much damage she took while managing to not derail, deform or burst into flames, all while crashing through a tractor going round a corner at 80mph! Even down to the fact the the lifeguards while bent and buckled were still there and kept things from going under the wheels. I was actually sad that the crash had probably killed it. I genuinely think that 204 had saved my life and that had I been on a 156 or 153 that day I'd have died in a field in rural Norfolk. The icing on the cake though, is they when she did come back I'd become a depot driver, and through either luck or design it was me who prepped and tripped her into Norwich for the first day back in service.
 
Cowley

Cowley

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TheEdge said:
As an enthusiast I never really developed a favourite or disliked unit or loco. As staff though the same few seem to keep popping up.

I dislike 156409 and 82152 (a GA DVT), as a conductor they both always seemed to be involved whenever I had a day go wrong on me.

As to like there is only one, 170204. As a conductor it seemed to be a unit I always got, whenever I had a 3 car 170 to work. It even triggered a year of noting units I got, as I wanted to know if units I worked was relatively equal and spotting the same units was just confirmation bias or if I did genuinely work some units more than others. Turned out some stock, 170204 included, I did work disproportionately more than other units. Then it saved my life. After the tractor vs train crash at Roudham in April 2016 I was amazed at how much damage she took while managing to not derail, deform or burst into flames, all while crashing through a tractor going round a corner at 80mph! Even down to the fact the the lifeguards while bent and buckled were still there and kept things from going under the wheels. I was actually sad that the crash had probably killed it. I genuinely think that 204 had saved my life and that had I been on a 156 or 153 that day I'd have died in a field in rural Norfolk. The icing on the cake though, is they when she did come back I'd become a depot driver, and through either luck or design it was me who prepped and tripped her into Norwich for the first day back in service.
Click to expand...
Really enjoyed your post TheEdge. Poignant.
 
Kneedown

Kneedown

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Likes...
45058 as it was the first ever loco I had a drive of.
50019 and 50050 as they are the only 50's i've ever had a drive of.
43089 as it was the last Valenta power car on EMT.
43061 as it's named after my team.

Dislikes....
158856 as my friend who is now my boss nearly lost his life in it.
Any 156 as I just cannot get comfortable in no matter how I adjust the seat, and they have a nasty habit of turning up instead of 158's on the Liverpools.
 
61653 HTAFC

61653 HTAFC

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Another planet...
TheEdge said:
As an enthusiast I never really developed a favourite or disliked unit or loco. As staff though the same few seem to keep popping up.

I dislike 156409 and 82152 (a GA DVT), as a conductor they both always seemed to be involved whenever I had a day go wrong on me.

As to like there is only one, 170204. As a conductor it seemed to be a unit I always got, whenever I had a 3 car 170 to work. It even triggered a year of noting units I got, as I wanted to know if units I worked was relatively equal and spotting the same units was just confirmation bias or if I did genuinely work some units more than others. Turned out some stock, 170204 included, I did work disproportionately more than other units. Then it saved my life. After the tractor vs train crash at Roudham in April 2016 I was amazed at how much damage she took while managing to not derail, deform or burst into flames, all while crashing through a tractor going round a corner at 80mph! Even down to the fact the the lifeguards while bent and buckled were still there and kept things from going under the wheels. I was actually sad that the crash had probably killed it. I genuinely think that 204 had saved my life and that had I been on a 156 or 153 that day I'd have died in a field in rural Norfolk. The icing on the cake though, is they when she did come back I'd become a depot driver, and through either luck or design it was me who prepped and tripped her into Norwich for the first day back in service.
Click to expand...
A remarkable story and a great, interesting post. Didn't expect this thread to result in that!
 
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70014IronDuke

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I know they all disappeared 50 years ago, but please, Sir, can I have a steamer or five?

45573 Newfoundland - because it was the only loco I ever drove.
Well, ok - slight exaggeration.
I opened the regulator.
At the invitation of the driver, of course.
He had to jump and close it again rather rapidly as I gave it a bit too much of a yank and we went into wheelspin. Light engine :)

46245 City of London - my first ever Coronation. A red-maroon gleaming beauty monster rolling past my diminutive frame at Nuneaton. It was like being next to a spaceship.

34102 Lapford - my first ever unrebuilt Bulleid. It too felt like it was from another planet. Spam Cans were definitely special.

And if I can have a couple of foreigners - 141R 682 which always seemed to have a clag motor in the smomebox on the Bologne s Mer - Amiens run. And any SAR 25NC - one of the most beautiful locomotive designs on the planet.
 
Cowley

Cowley

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70014IronDuke said:
I know they all disappeared 50 years ago, but please, Sir, can I have a steamer or five?

45573 Newfoundland - because it was the only loco I ever drove.
Well, ok - slight exaggeration.
I opened the regulator.
At the invitation of the driver, of course.
He had to jump and close it again rather rapidly as I gave it a bit too much of a yank and we went into wheelspin. Light engine :)

46245 City of London - my first ever Coronation. A red-maroon gleaming beauty monster rolling past my diminutive frame at Nuneaton. It was like being next to a spaceship.

34102 Lapford - my first ever unrebuilt Bulleid. It too felt like it was from another planet. Spam Cans were definitely special.

And if I can have a couple of foreigners - 141R 682 which always seemed to have a clag motor in the smomebox on the Bologne s Mer - Amiens run. And any SAR 25NC - one of the most beautiful locomotive designs on the planet.
Click to expand...
Those Coronation’s must have been truly something to behold.
They were my favourite engine to draw pictures of when I was little and it took me a long time to actually see a real one.
I wasn’t disappointed when I did.
 
Cowley

Cowley

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On the steam subject my favourite steam locos are the Mid Hants own ‘Pocket Rocket’ - Standard 4 mogul 76017, a local engine in BR days which just seemed perfect for the railway and sounded (like all Standards) really good.
I had a couple of memorable footplate rides on it and also helped do maintenance on it a couple of times.
Great memories.
I also love a GWR King, especially 6024 and I can’t wait to see it on the Torbay Express again someday. It’s so perfect on a rake of chocolate and cream mk1s heading along the sea wall and past us storming up the Exe Valley.
There’s lots of other steam locomotives I have a soft spot for, but these two are particularly special to me.
 
Desiro360

Desiro360

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Likes...
390 126 (Virgin Enterprise) as I was shown around it during a guided tour of London Euston Station back in 2008 when it was a 9 coach unit.
170 208 mainly because I was lucky enough to see it on the Felixstowe branch at Felixstowe Station during the summer of 2016.
37 425 (Concrete Bob) as I enjoyed seeing it at Norwich Station on two occasions last year.
90 034 thanks to its dark blue livery.
 
SteveyBee131

SteveyBee131

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Hmm, favourites? 142025, for several reasons: 1st it's the first train I remember going on, many years ago to Bridlington for holiday; 2nd it was one of the 142s to carry my favourite livery (Northern Spirit turquoise and green); and 3rd I remember always sounded different to other 142s I travelled on as it had a distinctive throaty exhaust (perhaps I'm getting sad now so I'll move on!:D)

142014 as it has a cool carriage number, 55555

156487 as I often used to find myself on it back when it was East of the Pennines

These days any pacer or sprinter is good as I find myself in 185s regularly, and nice as they are, I didnt grow up with them.

If I'm allowed a favourite steam locomotive, 44767 as it's the first one I saw in steam and was pulled by, and that's something that sticks with you I think.

I also have a soft spot for 47s, I have no idea why though, perhaps its the look, the sound, the versatility? I like them anyway :lol:

And HSTs, of course I like them too!

Trains I like less: Voyagers, because the CrossCountry fleet was more interesting before them!
 
superalbs

superalbs

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700123 because I always see it and it's like a little friend to me. :)

374009 and 374010 because I had a cabride in the pair. :)

(Those are both ones I have a like of, in case it was not obvious.)
 
martinsh

martinsh

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Considering a move to Memphis
I often travel Crewe - Derby and have developed a hearty dislike for 153311 and 153326 which are the only EMT class 153s without either seat-back tables or armrests.
 
AJM580

AJM580

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Loco wise - always had time for D9000 after its cracking runs on Anglia trains 1999 - 2002 and of course good old 47580.
Unit wise - can't beat the 156s. 156402 was the first one I saw in Norwich and 30 years later it's still going strong
 
mushroomchow

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Back in Central Trains days, there was one unrefurbished Sprinter on the Ivanhoe Line which was lovingly termed the "dog s**t express".

It hadn't had its carpet changed since the Regional Railways era and there was a quite prominent stain in the approach to the vestibule where a faithful companion had done its business. The stench pervaded the entire two-car set, to the point that passengers had all the windows wide open even in the depths of winter. It soldiered on in this fashion right through until East Midlands Trains finally refurbished it upon taking over the franchise.

I never got the number, but you certainly knew which unit you were on the moment you got on-board. If anybody else knows which unit it was, do tell. :lol:
 
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