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In-cab bugbears
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Ashley Hill
Established Member
The great lump of metalwork above the guards/secondmans seat on a 158. You can no longer stand up straight whilst leaning against the upturned seat.
martin2345uk
Established Member
The way the already pathetic aircon vents on a 66 is on the secondman's side and blocked from the driver by the control pedestal
Not a driver but do Piltoman duties quite often.
Agreed with this one. I prefer to stand up in a 158 because the secondman's seat is too low. I also don't like the side window catches, they're always a pain to open.
The offset secondman's seat in Voyagers doesn't give a good view ahead and I find 66 cabs hard to climb up from ballast level because of the split handrails (I'm too short for them)
Agreed with this one. I prefer to stand up in a 158 because the secondman's seat is too low. I also don't like the side window catches, they're always a pain to open.
The offset secondman's seat in Voyagers doesn't give a good view ahead and I find 66 cabs hard to climb up from ballast level because of the split handrails (I'm too short for them)
RPM
Established Member
Position of the notice board on Turbostars. Far too high up and not in the driver's direct line of sight.
Also on Turbostars, the constant irritating fan noise and the vent above the driver's seat which blows a draught down your neck.
Also on Turbostars, the constant irritating fan noise and the vent above the driver's seat which blows a draught down your neck.
Aint u got a window??
martin2345uk
Established Member
Might has well have a fan heater in hot weather James as you well know!
May as well put on a big coat in the summer
BeepBopSkdoo
Member
Not a driver, but having been in an 802 cab, the offset secondman’s seat has a fairly rubbish view out the front, driver training must be hard! Same on the 395s as wellA bit of fun! Name something on any stock you drive that irks you, through poor design or otherwise.
I'll start - the location of the GSMR on a 377 means I accidentally call the signaller at least once a fortnight whilst keying off
berwicksfinest
Member
- Joined
- 16 Feb 2014
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- 273
You HAVE Air con on your 66s ?????????
notadriver
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Oct 2010
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- 3,653
Lack of power in DC mode on 395s. The current limit could have been tweaked to give better acceleration above 50 mph. Lack of speed set facility on 395s.
Our 170s have recently had a mod fitted with a cover to make the blast come out of the side of it rather than blowing straight down, although you can open the vent to make it blow straight down if you wish.
Only fitted on the driver's side though. The secondman's side one still blows my empty cash bags off the desk when I'm trying to cash up!
Only being able to turn on the secondman's side light on using a switch 3 inches off the floor is also annoying.
They fitted one end of one unit like that as a 'trial' and it's so much better. That was the best part of 3 years ago though so doubt it's going any further
First time I worked a 170 as a guard I wondered if I was missing a more obvious switch. I wasn't!! An odd design choice
Indeed! Either the 2nd bell lasts a nanosecond, or sometimes getting a double sound, awful things.
Also, just the sheer cab noise and rattling in middle cabs.
No to mention the sloshing on 2nd man side, the fact the driver's seat is always in the way when exiting and now the additional blanked off screens limiting your space.
Juniper Driver
Established Member
People too lazy to take their rubbish out of the cabs and also leave old unused Costa Coffee cups in the cupholder.Meaning most of the time I have to faff about during my cab preparation because people are too lazy.There is generally a rubbish bin nearby.
All traction.
All traction.
I just came on here to write the same thing.
It’s a real problem and there are even people who leave used tissues, masks (less of these now thankfully) etc. lying about. It’s disgusting, discourteous and completely unprofessional in a shared work environment.
I end up removing other peoples’ rubbish because I’d be so mortified if anyone thought it was mine!
I don't know which TOC you work for, but the drivers side vents are directable as standard (for 2nd gen 170s atleast, ie: the ones with LED marker/tail). I just usually point it far left, towards the side wall and can't notice it, bar the humming.
Far more annoying on the 170s is the shocking power output, the mediocrity of step 1/2 brake (but then the amazing performance of step 3, that kind of leaves you with the choice of slowing 3 miles from a station or sliding right through it if you brake even slightly late due to step 3 basically immediately inducing a slide) and, finally, the awful armrests that don't even seem adjust anywhere sensible.
But far worse than the 170s is the shocking ergonomic design of the 158s. We start with the world most uncomfortable seat design - the options are sitting uncomfortably close to the desk, with your knees jammed against a poorly located panel under the desk or miles away, with an awkward lip on the desk ready to smash your kneecaps if you move too quickly.
Next add a poorly placed heater, the draws air into the cab from next to the bin, giving a unique "eau de 158".
Add a vestibule door with poor water seals, guaranteeing you bag a nice wash should it start to rain.
To top it off, we have zero lumbar support, to make sure your couple of hours on the unit are truly one you won't forget.
Juniper Driver
Established Member
Glad someone agrees with me.
Cheers.
RPM
Established Member
Ditto.
Slightly off topic, but what I detest even more than litter left in the cab is seeing colleagues throw litter out of the cab window.
Kneedown
Established Member
+1.
Add to that, fingermarks and footprints etc on the windscreen, right in your line of sight.
Melancholia
Member
GWR 165/166s having these two stupid monitors (or just the frames for them) on the desk above the GSM-R. They reduce the view out of the secondman's side window
Footprints on the windscreen?
Kneedown
Established Member
Yes, believe it or not. Not so much an issue on 180s or 222s, but very much so on 15xs and 170s. Guard feels like putting his feet up for a while....
Ah. Never considered guards also use the cabs. D'oh!
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