450544 converted back to Normal configuration

[455driver]

Today I noticed 450544 running around without the HC above the number, further scrutiny revealed that the 1st class seating has been reinstated on it and it looks like the extra 3+2 seating is back in standard class.

The question is, if its now back to being a normal unit why has it not been renumbered back to 450044?

 

[nxea321446]

its to do with the 458/5 conversion when they enter service the 450's will be used on reading services

 

[louis97]

The question is, if its now back to being a normal unit why has it not been renumbered back to 450044?

There is still some slight differences as far as I am aware to a 450/0, apparently its down to the cost of doing a full rearrangement of the entire train as there is extra space in places, with bins moved around and odd seats taken out. Where as reinstating First Class is fairly simple with the plug sockets, reading lights and door ways still in position.

 

[swt_passenger]

Today I noticed 450544 running around without the HC above the number, further scrutiny revealed that the 1st class seating has been reinstated on it and it looks like the extra 3+2 seating is back in standard class.

The question is, if its now back to being a normal unit why has it not been renumbered back to 450044?

Someone posted elsewhere that the conversion back does leave them with slightly different seating, although the FC is fully reinstalled not all the 3+2 is going back in, so the '5' will be left to tell the difference.

 

[Monty]

Today I noticed 450544 running around without the HC above the number, further scrutiny revealed that the 1st class seating has been reinstated on it and it looks like the extra 3+2 seating is back in standard class.

The question is, if its now back to being a normal unit why has it not been renumbered back to 450044?

I had a 450/5 that had it's 1st class reinstated just the other day, I wish I had made a note of the unit number now.

The local brief at our depot seems to suggest the units won't be renumbered, I can only assume this has been done to avoid administrative costs of allocating new numbers to the ex High Capacity fleet?

Edit: Never mind swt_passenger seems to have answered the question!

 

[455driver]

Someone posted elsewhere that the conversion back does leave them with slightly different seating, although the FC is fully reinstalled not all the 3+2 is going back in, so the '5' will be left to tell the difference.

Thanks for that, I could only look in the window as the train was out of service so couldnt see exactly what had been done, so basically the ex-high capacity ones will have less seats than the normal ones.

 

[Matt Taylor]

The 450/5s are all having their first class reinstated, all should be complete by the end of August. They are losing the 'HC' lettering but keeping their numbers and will be treated the same as the standard 450s from a diagramming point of view once the program is complete (maybe after the 458/5s arrive though). I sincerely hope the normal 450 bins are being put back in, the bins on the HC units are not big enough.

You have six weeks to go and get your pictures etc!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/9301276084/

 

[CC 72100]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/9301276084/

I take it that's where they've installed 3+2 in the 1st class bit?

Plus with these seats now being redundant, there's going to be a big pile of replacement seats somewhere...

 

[Matt Taylor]

Yes, I believe they are stored at Northam, but given new seat covers the seats should be ok for use in other Desiro stock.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Plus with these seats now being redundant, there's going to be a big pile of replacement seats somewhere...

Maybe we should start a fund to buy them up so they can be used to refit the ex-Miserytravel 142s?

 

[Helvellyn]

Does anyone know if the original First Class seats removed are being reinstated, or if a different seat is being used?

I suspect the Standard Class seats being removed will find some use in the 456s! Not the first time re-used seats will have found there way to SWT - the First Class seats in the Class 159/1 units came from the Anglia Railway 170/2s when their First Class section was reduced.

Also, by next year SWT will have 720 Gammer seats to find a home for -removed from the Class 458/0 units as they are converted to 458/5s.

 

[Matt Taylor]

I hear that the work is being done at Strawberry Hill.

 

[ChampsRacing]

Just saw 546 which has also been reconfigured at Waterloo.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Despite having the first class put back in these units will remain on their current routes until the program is complete.

 

[Monty]

Does anyone know if the 450/5s will have the doors that partition first class reinstalled at some point or not?

 

[455driver]

Despite having the first class put back in these units will remain on their current routes until the program is complete.

I saw 544 on its way to Haslemere (no disruption) so it must have escaped for a day!

 

[TEW]

That on a Saturday? They seem to turn on the Portsmouth Direct Line on Saturdays from time to time anyway, there aren't many 450/5 diagrams to cover on a Saturday really.

 

[455driver]

That on a Saturday?

I cant remember but I think it was a weekday as I had 8 coach trains all day.

 

[Monty]

450550 now has it's first class reinstated, additionally it's also had the partition doors that seperate the first class compartment refitted.

 

[Helvellyn]

Are they fitting the original First Class seats?

 

[swt_passenger]

Are they fitting the original First Class seats?

Yes they are.

450556 seen reverted to 'nearly normal' (as previously described) in use today on the 1159 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo via Eastleigh.

450566 also 'reverted' seen arriving at Basingstoke around 1325 as part of an 8 car set on the Waterloo - Basingstoke stopper...

Doesn't seem to be much evidence so far of them being used on any particular routes, I wonder if that's just wishful thinking?

 

[455driver]

As they are "nearly" normal I would assume they will just join the "proper" normal fleet, I cant see any reason for them to form another small fleet unless they are keeping the 4505xx classification so they can be kept off the really busy routes during the peaks.

 

[swt_passenger]

As they are "nearly" normal I would assume they will just join the "proper" normal fleet, I cant see any reason for them to form another small fleet unless they are keeping the 4505xx classification so they can be kept off the really busy routes during the peaks.

I must agree, I can see no valid operational reason to keep them separate either. Even 'disgusted of Haslemere' ought to be perfectly happy with more '2+2' seating...

 

[Monty]

So far I have observed the following units with their 1st class reinstated:
450559
450568
450544
450543
450550
450558
450546

 

[Goldfish62]

I must agree, I can see no valid operational reason to keep them separate either. Even 'disgusted of Haslemere' ought to be perfectly happy with more '2+2' seating...

450/0s seem to be more and more prevalent on the Windsor lines now so I assume they are being routinely mixed up.

 

[swt_passenger]

I was on 450559 yesterday on a Southampton to Portsmouth & Southsea service. There were a couple of other former HC units in the Fratton area, one of them was in an empty 12 car set berthed in the P&SS DCS. More evidence they're in normal use really...

 

[Matt Taylor]

Ten 450/5s have been converted from HC units to standard units but the program is now suspended until around October when they hope to have the parts to refit the first class internal doors. Fortunately there is a similar delay on the 458/5 project so it won't make much difference overall.

450564 in HC configuration did manage to escape to Portsmouth today but was swapped for 450085 at Waterloo earlier.

 

[bigdelboy]

- Should have left these HC's as they were ... power sockets in 2nd class a bonushttp://www.railforums.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif and less 3 squeezing side by side attempt embarassments! My impression is 1st class on SWT is mostly (not totally) used by their higher top knobs and peoples on too big expenses or perks.

- I think it was 450566 on the Pompey line the other day .... i initially noticed the 4505xx as a trite unusual for pompey line and then in the evening i was in a unit without waste bins .... and yes it was the 4505xx I has seen earlier.

- Do all 4505xx not have waste bins?

 

[swt_passenger]

- Do all 4505xx not have waste bins?

They still have bins (possibly some extra) under some of the back to back seating, it's only the ones by the doors that were removed.

 

[TheJRB]

I travelled on 450567 behind 450079 on yesterday's 11:15 Portsmouth Harbour to Waterloo. My photo of it leaving Fratton is here. I noticed that you can still just about see where the HC lettering used to be when you get close up.