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Trivia: Most changed in a refurbishment/modification

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py_megapixel

py_megapixel

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What refurbs and mods have made the biggest change to a train, either for the better or for the worse?

I think the Scotrail 156 refurb might be in with a shout. Huge downgrade in passenger experience with the ironing boards, and also the replacement of the entire toilet cubicle, interior repaint and PIS.
 
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The various HST refurbishments with new seats a decade or so ago. Opinions differ on whether some or all of these were an improvement.

Also the mk4s. The GNER refurbishment was a considerable improvement.
 
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Bletchleyite

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DavidB said:
The various HST refurbishments with new seats a decade or so ago. Opinions differ on whether some or all of these were an improvement.
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I'd say GWR HST or TfW hauled Mk3 were the biggest changes as far as that sort of kit goes.

Also the mk4s. The GNER refurbishment was a considerable improvement.
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Considerable downgrade until Virgin replaced the seat cushions with ones that faced the right way rather than sloping downwards away from the back. These beat even the awful Fainsa Sophia for backache inducing. I liked the rest of the scheme, though - wood effect always finds favour with me.
 
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adc82140

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Does the conversion of 460s in to 458s count? That was a pretty fundamental change, certainly aesthetically.
 
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SteveM70

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73/9 conversions make them a very different beast to the original
 
43096

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SteveM70 said:
73/9 conversions make them a very different beast to the original
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These and the current Class 56 conversions being done to Class 69 are basically all new between the cabs.
 
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gg1

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Might be pushing the definition of refurbishment to the limits but:

18100 - built as a gas turbine loco in 1951 then converted to a 25kv electric loco 7 years later.
 
61653 HTAFC

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I was going to suggest the Merseyrail 507/508 fleet refurbishment in the early 2000s as one which was quite transformative, with many non-enthusiasts thinking they were new trains. But that's nothing compared to some of the above!

Or there's the MerseyTravel sponsored 142 refurbishment which turned a crappy train into a really crappy train!
 
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ANDREW_D_WEBB

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The class 25 converted to ETHELs.

Mk1 carriages converted to Eurostar barrier vehicles and the batch converted to side loading motorail vans by Great Western
 
306024

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Converting class 306 units from DC to AC was a bit of a rebuild. Moved the guards brake and pantograph to a different coach.

Less said about the class 309 refurb the better. Still nice units but in their original condition there was nothing finer.
 
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trebor79

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Must surely be the Night Riviera Mk3s. Superb. And sitting in the buffet/lounge you'd be hard pushed to know you were in a Mk3, even the windows appear to be a different shape.
 
91103eastcoast

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When the Southern class 455s were refurbished with the gangway doors taken out of use that seemed quite a change. A similar approach was taken with the ScotRail Class 318s.
 
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ATW 158s were refurbished extensively back in the early 2010s. New seats, new luggage racks and overhead storage shelves. PIS. New colour scheme including on the saloon walls, new carpets, new toilets, alterations to the inner automatic door sensors. Very different to how they were before!
 
delt1c

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The 303 refurbs, no forward vision for passengers, Nice spongy seats replaced by hard uncomfortable low backed seats, sliding windows replaced by hoppers.
 
DelW

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matacaster said:
Gresley hush hush with marine boiler to normal boiler.
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In a similar vein, LMS 6202 Turbomotive to BR 46202 Princess Anne. Complete change of drive train from turbine to reciprocating, including:
  • new frames
  • new cylinders
  • new motion
  • new crank axle
  • new smokebox
  • modified boiler
  • modified cab
Sadly wrecked at Harrow after only eight weeks in service.
 
Mikey C

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The 1980s refurbishment of the Class 411s was pretty comprehensive

The separate Southern and SWT refurbishments of the 455s really transformed them, ditto the Coastway 313s, when you compare them to the grim original BR interior with their horrible low back seats with the detachable seat cushions!
 
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skyhigh

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The 144 to 144 evo refurbishment was pretty major (although it was a one-off).
 
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DB

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skyhigh said:
The 144 to 144 evo refurbishment was pretty major (although it was a one-off).
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And it made a nasty train even nastier! Rock hard ironing board seats, and searingly bright LED lighting.
 
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