Fleet names that weren't widely adopted

Jayden99 · 24 Feb 2024

Hi all,
Apologies if this has been discussed somewhere else in the past but I was watching a documentary about the build and design of the Class 91s/IC225s that referred to them as 'Electra'. I knew this was the catch all fleet name but even using the ECML regularly I've never heard it used, unlike say 'Azuma' or 'Pendolino'. Are there other examples of I suppose failed branding where a fleet name hasn't caught on in the public mind?

RailUK Forums

KT550 · 24 Feb 2024

Arterio and City Beam spring to mind.

If that's the best they can think of, why bother.

Sun Chariot · 24 Feb 2024

The Western Region's "Skipper" branding for their Pacer fleet. Which rapidly became derided as "Slip-per" due to not coping on the Devon branch lines; and then being exiled north - with cl. 101 and 108 resuming the very duties they were going to be retired from.

swt_passenger · 24 Feb 2024

I wonder if when “Electra” was a new thing, it wasn’t as easy to ram it home by wasting space on passenger information screens, or embedded into station and train automatic PA systems, like it can be today?

I think personally I’d much rather have had useful info on the next train come up on a platform 3 line display, rather than “Virgin Pendolino”…

Sun Chariot · 24 Feb 2024

When 165/0s were first introduced, I heard a lot of "Welcome on board the Chiltern Turbo". The use of a brand "Turbo", didn't seem to catch on or last long.

LNW-GW Joint · 24 Feb 2024

Azuma and IET were originally Super Express Trains.
Eurostar class 373 was originally the Transmanche Super Train (TMST).

Wasn't the ECML Electra just the class 91 locos?
The Electra name was originally given to E27000 (EM2 or class 77) of the DC Woodhead electrification.

sprinterguy · 24 Feb 2024

LNW-GW Joint said:
Wasn't the ECML Electra just the class 91 locos?

Yeah, the 'Electra' name was purely for the class 91s.

The exile · 24 Feb 2024

Sun Chariot said:
When 165/0s were first introduced, I heard a lot of "Welcome on board the Chiltern Turbo". The use of a brand "Turbo", didn't seem to catch on or last long.

No need for it on Chiltern where for ages there was basically nothing else…

Ash Bridge · 24 Feb 2024

I seem to remember the class 87s being referred to as the Electric Scots around the time of the commissioning of Weaver Junction - Glasgow electrification, I’m sure I still have a coaster and some other related material from around 1974 somewhere. Intercity 175 never seemed to catch on for the WCML mk3 DVT rakes when passed for 110mph operation either.

Sun Chariot · 24 Feb 2024

The exile said:
No need for it on Chiltern where for ages there was basically nothing else…

1991's cessation of Chiltern's peak hours services using a 47 with 4-5 Mk1s.
As long as the Duff gave heat (sometimes it was a /0 or /3), it was better than taking the DMU old or new.

Doomotron · 24 Feb 2024

Hull Trains called their Class 222s Pioneers which didn't stick, while Meridian did. It was very similar to Zephyr for the Grand Central Class 180s, and in this case I actually prefer the name somewhat to Adelante, as in GC livery they do look a bit like an old American streamliner train.

As for the various names for the Class 80x trains, IET and Azuma seem to be used interchangeably (at least for the LNER ones).

JonathanH · 24 Feb 2024

Sun Chariot said:
When 165/0s were first introduced, I heard a lot of "Welcome on board the Chiltern Turbo". The use of a brand "Turbo", didn't seem to catch on or last long.

The class 165s and 166s continue to regularly be referred to as 'Turbos'. The 159s don't.

The exile said:
No need for it on Chiltern where for ages there was basically nothing else…

Until Clubmans (168s) turned up, which I think is branding that has also fallen away.

wickham · 24 Feb 2024

The Reading based 165s and 166s were known as Thames Turbos.

CarrotPie · 24 Feb 2024

JonathanH said:
The class 165s and 166s continue to regularly be referred to as 'Turbos'. The 159s don't.

That's because the 159s never have been known as "Turbos".

Starmill · 24 Feb 2024

CarrotPie said:
That's because the 159s never have been known as "Turbos".

They are (rarely) referred to still as Express Sprinter trains though.

JonathanH · 24 Feb 2024

CarrotPie said:
That's because the 159s never have been known as "Turbos".

NSE did try to market them as South Western Turbo in their very early days.

Indeed, SWR seemingly still do.

https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/our-trains/class-159-south-western-turbo

Class 159 "South Western Turbo"

Three-carriage trains on our West of England routes

The Class 159 South Western Turbo is a three-carriage diesel train that is used on long-distance routes and on rural routes in the Salisbury area. We have 32 of these trains. You'll see Class 159 South Western Turbo trains operating between:

London Waterloo and Exeter
London Waterloo and Salisbury

The Class 159 South Western Turbo came into service between 1989 and 1992, and was built by British Rail Engineering Limited. These trains have three carriages, and replaced many of the British Railway locomotive-hauled trains used before. They can operate "in multiple", which means that up to three trains can run together as a nine-carriage train. They will sometimes work with our Class 158 Express Sprinter trains.

I agree that the name "Turbo" is much more associated with the 165s and 166s.

3141 · 24 Feb 2024

wickham said:
The Reading based 165s and 166s were known as Thames Turbos.

Around 1991 the word "turbo" was quite widely used to denote something fast, up-to-date, efficient, or generally to try to convey the impression that it represented a Great Step Forward.

Sun Chariot · 24 Feb 2024

JonathanH said:
The class 165s and 166s continue to regularly be referred to as 'Turbos'

Is that by industry employees and railfan community? Or the general public?

I heard station / on-train announcements quoting "Turbo" but only for their first two years in serivce; and - to the OP's query on this thread - I did not hear other passengers call their train service a "Turbo".

CarrotPie · 24 Feb 2024

Starmill said:
They are (rarely) referred to still as Express Sprinter trains though.

They are indeed, because that's what they were "officially" designated (i.e. by the orderer and manufacturer).

JonathanH said:
NSE did try to market them as South Western Turbo in their very early days.

Indeed, SWR seemingly still do.

The 158s and 159s are almost homogenous, so why SWR would some with two different names for them baffles me!

3141 said:
Around 1991 the word "turbo" was quite widely used to denote something fast, up-to-date, efficient, or generally to try to convey the impression that it represented a Great Step Forward.

Not to be confused with a Great Leap Forward!

Sun Chariot said:
Is that by industry employees and railfan community? Or the general public?

I heard station / on-train announcements quoting "Turbo" but only for their first 2 years in serivce; and - to the OP's purpose of this thread - I certainly didn't hear other passengers refer to their service as a "Turbo".

They are known as "Networker Turbos" by those "in the know", but, as usual, no-one else cares.

Energy · 24 Feb 2024

755s had the nickname 'Basil' when they were first introduced, the name was lost once the units settled down and the failures got much lower.

Sun Chariot · 24 Feb 2024

3141 said:
Around 1991 the word "turbo" was quite widely used to denote something fast, up-to-date, efficient, or generally to try to convey the impression that it represented a Great Step Forward.

And - hilariously - ten years before that, the word "Turbo" was slapped onto a vacuum cleaner, a pair of sunglasses and an aftershave.

QSK19 · 24 Feb 2024

EMR initially calling the 360 service EMR Electrics. It got dropped in favour of EMR Connect before it launched (Connect always makes me think of catching the First Capital Connect 319s down to Brighton!).

Nick82 · 24 Feb 2024

I remember a few years ago NORTHERN launched a competition to name their new fleet of Trains. In the end for some reason that never came to fruition.

Slightly different but any reasons why the fleet was un named in the end?

Am I also correct in saying TPEs fleet of NOVAs ain't exactly stuck either??

Doomotron said:
It was very similar to Zephyr for the Grand Central Class 180s, and in this case I actually prefer the name somewhat to Adelante, as in GC livery they do look a bit like an old American streamliner train.

Why the change??

fgwrich · 24 Feb 2024

Sun Chariot said:
And - hilariously - ten years before that, the word "Turbo" was slapped onto a vacuum cleaner, a pair of sunglasses and an aftershave.

Ah yes, the infamous Turbo sunglasses. Not sure what Turbo effect they gave mind! :lol:

Sticking Turbo on everything seemed to be a late 80s fad though - but I still feel that one of the greatest things to ever have that phrase adorned to it was the SAAB 900 Turbo!

Sun Chariot · 24 Feb 2024

fgwrich said:
I still feel that one of the greatest things to ever have that phrase adorned to it was the SAAB 900 Turbo!

I concur

snowball · 24 Feb 2024

Ash Bridge said:
I seem to remember the class 87s being referred to as the Electric Scots around the time of the commissioning of Weaver Junction - Glasgow electrification, I’m sure I still have a coaster and some other related material from around 1974 somewhere. Intercity 175 never seemed to catch on for the WCML mk3 DVT rakes when passed for 110mph operation either.

I thought Electric Scots was a name for electric cross-border trains in general from 1974, not all of which were hauled by 87s.

MikePJ · 24 Feb 2024

Energy said:
755s had the nickname 'Basil' when they were first introduced, the name was lost once the units settled down and the failures got much lower.

One railfan christened the 755 “Iron Man”, based on the red and yellow livery, which I rather liked. Shame it didn’t catch on.

CarrotPie · 24 Feb 2024

MikePJ said:
One railfan christened the 755 “Iron Man”, based on the red and yellow livery, which I rather liked. Shame it didn’t catch on.

Yes, lots of yellow on 755s...

Perhaps that nickname is better suited to the 325s!

Rail Quest · 24 Feb 2024

Some certainly tried to brand the Class 70s as fuglies but I don't see that term used enough to say with confidence it's a well used name, thankfully... :lol:

Come to think of it, aside from that and perhaps bone (due to resemblance with 58s), the 70s really don't have a proper nickname (certainly not one I'd accept haha)

swt_passenger · 24 Feb 2024

QSK19 said:
EMR initially calling the 360 service EMR Electrics. It got dropped in favour of EMR Connect before it launched (Connect always makes me think of catching the First Capital Connect 319s down to Brighton!).

Surely that’s a name for the service, not the fleet?

Fleet names that weren't widely adopted

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