Class 165/1 Interior Smell

lxfe_mxtterz · 22 Nov 2018

Hi all.

I have travelled on a fair amount of GWR Class 165/1s over my time and I have always wondered what the distinctive perfume-like smell is onboard.

This smell is not an unpleasant smell and it has been present on just about every Class 165/1 I've ever been on, but surprisingly I have never smelt it onboard a Class 166.

A similar smell can also be experienced onboard SWR Class 158s and 159s.

My question is: What is this smell?

Apologies if this seems like a stupid question, but I'm intrigued to know. Is it the smell from some sort of chemical used to clean the trains, or is it something else entirely?

Thanks very much in advance to anybody who can answer my question!

RailUK Forums

thelongestroad · 22 Nov 2018

Well if it's the smell I'm thinking of, you can often get it on 166s (and First buses). I've always assumed it was bulk purchased First shake and vac.

lxfe_mxtterz · 22 Nov 2018

thelongestroad said:
Well if it's the smell I'm thinking of, you can often get it on 166s (and First buses). I've always assumed it was bulk purchased First shake and vac.

Well, that's slightly strange as I've never managed to experience the smell on Class 166s. Although, I'm not exactly a 'frequent traveller' on GWR Turbos, so I'll take your word for it.

Rail.Fan · 22 Nov 2018

SouthEastern Networkers use to have a very strong distinctive smell as well, Some still have it.

FGW_DID · 22 Nov 2018

More than likely just the smell of the disinfectant used to mop the saloons.
165s have lino floors whereas 166s have carpeted floors in the saloon area so more likely a stronger concentration used in the 165s.

Parallel · 22 Nov 2018

I’ve noticed that some GWR, ATW and Northern 158s also have a distinctive smell, especially on seats that are closer to the windows. I can’t work out what it is but I quite like it.

I find 143s also have a distinctive smell too.

Ethano92 · 22 Nov 2018

I find it really funny that I genuinely feel like I know what smell you're talking about. I feel like many people who have traveled on a 165 will know what you're on about and I find a strange humour in that. As for what the smell is, I can't help

physics34 · 22 Nov 2018

Older 377s have a sort of 'B.O' smell. I believe its some kind of glue used??

MCR247 · 22 Nov 2018

Is this a bit like how the S Stocks smell like someones growing weed on them?

TRAX · 22 Nov 2018

Well lucky you, the only time I took a GWR 165 it smelt of toilet.

KevinTurvey · 22 Nov 2018

I've always thought the 175's have an odd smell, very faint, kind of a mix of curry and fairy liquid!

The worst smell I think used to be on Mk3's (when new) after a heavy brake application, now that was a real pong.

route101 · 22 Nov 2018

Most times i go on Northern trainss stock there is a distinctive smell . Smells like the cleaner they use.

Bletchleyite · 22 Nov 2018

KevinTurvey said:
I've always thought the 175's have an odd smell, very faint, kind of a mix of curry and fairy liquid!

153s have a similar niff, and I think it's something to do with insulation on the exhaust which runs through the saloon.

TT-ONR-NRN · 22 Nov 2018

I find the Mark 4 vestibules have a very sickly sweet perfume smell. Very strong, surely others must have noticed it?

tsr · 22 Nov 2018

On the subject of the 166s, I’ve not found a perfume smell of any description. The words which do come to mind would be the smell of dust coming from a convector heater which has just come out of storage - which is presumably a smell related to the heating or electrics.

Perhaps it’s just that I normally only use them in the middle of the day for leisure journeys, by which point any smells from cleaning substances will have long since finished.

physics34 said:
Older 377s have a sort of 'B.O' smell. I believe its some kind of glue used??

I must admit I’ve never noticed other than the odd musty smell on the /3 subclass, which is somewhere between mothballs, fish and cheesy feet. The newer 377s and the 387s have quite a nice neutral smell, but it’s very faint.

MCR247 said:
Is this a bit like how the S Stocks smell like someones growing weed on them?

I believe that’s the glue in some component or other.

route101 said:
Most times i go on Northern trainss stock there is a distinctive smell . Smells like the cleaner they use.

I don’t mind it - the incessant variations in temperatures (on what appears to be any Northern train I board) are more of a nuisance by far!

HOOVER29 · 22 Nov 2018

I smelt “the smell” the other week travelling from Banbury to Didcot pw. Didn’t smell it on the class 387’s.
Like someone mentioned it’s got to be some kind of detergent

Class 165/1 Interior Smell

lxfe_mxtterz

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thelongestroad

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lxfe_mxtterz

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Rail.Fan

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FGW_DID

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Parallel

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Ethano92

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physics34

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MCR247

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TRAX

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route101

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