Why are Class 365s so popular?

Mitchell Hurd · 23 Aug 2019

These trains remind me of the episode on tweenies, when I was a kid in the 1990's, where Max catches 1
of 2 trains (each or 1 being in the Network South East livery)

.

If I'm honest, I know they were a huge savour for Scotrail - probably as much as the Pacer's and HST's were for British Rail by the sounds of it!

RailUK Forums

TrainTube · 23 Aug 2019

brad465 said:
I agree, and by definition you'd also think the same about their MetCam 465 cousins, which sound almost identical.

It does intrigue me sometimes that that despite being "cousins" there are many performance and opinion differences between 365s and 465/466s. Ignoring different power source the former is reliable but the latter appears not so, and on this forum the 465 interior layout has been criticised even though it is very similar to 365s (although I believe the latter has had more refurbishments in its life).

The 365s also have regenerative braking, whereas most of the 465/466s if not all don't. This makes a difference as the 465s are virtually silent when they brake, whereas the 365s still do vf pulsing, making them in my opinion sound better. They're really nice units, comfortable aswell. Shame there only ac, would love them over here instead of 455s, they'd be perfect for the Woking and Guildford semi fasts.

evergreenadam · 25 Aug 2019

I think HRH Her Majesty The Queen quite liked them on her journeys to King’s Lynn. Commented on how hard the seats are on the new trains.

brad465 · 26 Aug 2019

Denyboy said:
The 365s also have regenerative braking, whereas most of the 465/466s if not all don't. This makes a difference as the 465s are virtually silent when they brake, whereas the 365s still do vf pulsing, making them in my opinion sound better. They're really nice units, comfortable aswell. Shame there only ac, would love them over here instead of 455s, they'd be perfect for the Woking and Guildford semi fasts.

I've encountered the odd 465/9 with regen braking, and almost all the Hitachi traction fitted ones have it too. It would be great to get 365s back into Kent, but the barriers that come with no shoes or depot space make me doubt them doing so.

mavsk · 26 Aug 2019

Denyboy said:
The 365s also have regenerative braking, whereas most of the 465/466s if not all don't.

No regen braking on the 365s - were designed to be capable of it but it's never been used. Believe they will have a rheostatic brake though. Retractioned LSER Class 465s did get regen fitted.

bramling · 27 Aug 2019

mavsk said:
No regen braking on the 365s - were designed to be capable of it but it's never been used. Believe they will have a rheostatic brake though. Retractioned LSER Class 465s did get regen fitted.

365s definitely have rheostatic braking, although its use has been a bit hit and miss. In all the time I’ve known these units (since new) I’d say braking has been rheo no more than about 50% of the time. It’s quite effective when it is used though.

365 Networker · 27 Aug 2019

bramling said:
365s definitely have rheostatic braking, although its use has been a bit hit and miss. In all the time I’ve known these units (since new) I’d say braking has been rheo no more than about 50% of the time. It’s quite effective when it is used though.

It seems that the dynamic brake is being used much less than before - often only one driving car out of four (in an eight car set) will have it turned on, quite often its turned off completely. I believe some drivers turn it of as they prefer air braking, but I'm surprised that Great Northern does not mandate the use of the dynamic (rheostatic) brakes as it would save brake pad wear.

Journeyman · 27 Aug 2019

I rather enjoyed them on their short stay on the E&G. They were preferable to anything else operating in that period. Although the interior is a bit spartan, they were generally quite comfortable, there was plenty of room, the heating was positively nuclear when it was cold and the opening windows created a nice breeze when it was hot, they accelerate pretty quickly, and they make a fantastic range of odd noises!

I appreciate the history of them too. BR's last ever train order, and the final trains to come out of York Works. Makes them a little bit special, I reckon.

Why are Class 365s so popular?

Mitchell Hurd

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TrainTube

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