Favourite rolling stock

[185143]

what is your favourite DMU/EMU/DEMU rolling stock?

 

[Alan1310]

Dmu class 158/170
Emu class 365/333
Demu class 222

 

[badassunicorn]

the big shiny ones with the big wheels and the horn ^_^

 

[185143]

Dmu class 158/170
Emu class 365/333
Demu class 222

Thats interesting as in anotheof my threads, most hated rolling stock, the class 158 and the class 222 came up quite often, the 158 complaint being the seats, 222 complaints generally people who just hate EM.

 

[Goatboy]

I think the 158/159 are amongst some of the finest DMU's on the network. The ones that are not are largely the victims of crappy refurbs - you only need to travel on an SWT unit to know how good these trains can be.

 

[185143]

I think the 158/159 are amongst some of the finest DMU's on the network. The ones that are not are largely the victims of crappy refurbs - you only need to travel on an SWT unit to know how good these trains can be.

I like the Arriva 158`s. Ive travelled on northern 158s-nothing special. That said, I wouldn't want to spend 3 hours going to glasgow on one- ive done that on a pendolino and :hudder:: a voyager on the last train home.

 

[Goatboy]

I like the Arriva 158's. Ive travelled on northern 158s-nothing special. That said, I wouldn't want to spend 3 hours going to glasgow on one- ive done that on a pendolino and :hudder:: a voyager on the last train home.

I would happily spend 3+ hours on a properly refurbished 158 (and indeed often use the West of England line with the 159's for such durations).

I often find myself on Voyagers for that period of time and a 158 is a much nicer place to be.

 

[YorkshireBear]

DMU-170s
EMU-350s (2+2) seating i despise any unit with 3+2
DEMU-222 i lovely unit that i regularly use to London with pleasure

 

[Birdbrain]

159's are always preferable to voyagers. In fact, they are preferable to most units! Nice padded seats, suited to the work they are on, great unit!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

In no order (or categories!): 444s, 168s and FGW HSTs.

 

[RichJF]

Voyager
Class 159
Class 377/3 (the 3 car 2+2 units)

 

[Birdbrain]

In no order (or categories!): 444s, 168s and FGW HSTs.

HST? - Can of worms opened again?

 

[D365]

Another thread? Even if we had several 'opinion' discussions pinned I bet we'd still have these popping up :P

365

 

[317666]

DMU: 150
EMU: 317

Mk3-design all the way

 

[bronzeonion]

DMU: Class 170 and the 165 purely because I grew up with them
EMU: Class 375 or 378
DEMU: Class 205

 

[Class83]

The EMT refurbished 158s are one of my favourites, that along with now being mostly 4 car makes them feel like new trains compared with the unrefurbished 2 car formations that were common a few years back.

I also actually quite like the internal design of the pendolino carriages *ducks*as the partitions break up the carriage and give a more 'compartment' type feel which helps minimise disruption when you want to sit there quietly.

 

[317666]

I also actually quite like the internal design of the pendolino carriages *ducks*as the partitions break up the carriage and give a more 'compartment' type feel which helps minimise disruption when you want to sit there quietly.

I'm also a fan of the 390 interior. Maybe the windows are a bit small, but the actual alignment is good because there's no tables with pillars right in the middle of them. The dim/warm lighting is nice too, something increasingly rare on modern trains.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

DMU: 170 (TPE or XC version)
EMU: 323 (sadly no 309s any more, 442s would've been up there in SWT days)
DEMU: Not keen on any of the current fleet, so I'll have to cheat and say 253/254

 

[rebmcr]

DMU: 185 (They're good enough that the ⅓ & ⅔ doors don't matter. Comfortable, look good both in and out, and have the power of three light locos with seats strapped on top.)
DMU runner-up: 158 (Might be a contender with power sockets.)

EMU: 390 (Some say claustrophobic, I say cosy. Interior & exterior are both lovely, and they're bleedin' fast, too.)
EMU runner-up: 350 (Same reasons as with the 185.)

DEMU: 220 (By default, really. Not sampled the 222 yet and, uh, this has cooler bogies than the 221?)
DEMU runner-up: 221 (...)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The dim/warm lighting [of 390s] is nice too, something increasingly rare on modern trains.

Agreed. By some sort of magic, they seem both soft and dim enough that your eyes can relax, and yet at the same time the carriages seem bright, not dingy.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

The 158's earlier BR seats are surprisingly comfy and deserve higher regard than they get. So on this one northern rail actually earn a brownie point!!! Whereas I don't rate the emt refurbs as the seats are too upright, firm and packed in as much a possible.

I'm a bit biased but I'd be happy running around in a mk2 compartment with an English electric type 4 (second generation) at the helm. As for emu I'd go for a 411 with BR bogies and intercity seats.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Class 390. A fantastic train in every way. Not all the seats line up with the windows but as more people get a seat who cares? And how many travellers look out the windows (other than enthusiasts)?

I also like the Class 378's. Look out for more of the same on Crossrail.

 

[Bevan Price]

DMU: Classes 124 and 123. Nothing built since has matched their internal quality.
EMU: Class 309.

 

[Qwerty133]

DMU: LM 170 (all 170s I've travelled on are nice but of the (current) companies that I've travelled on I've found the xc ones a bit dark internally however the LM ones are nice and bright and don't have a waste of space AKA first class)
DEMU:222 (all 3 classes of demu (220?,221,222) are excellent trains but the seats are nicest in in the 222s)
EMU: 390 (used to see them as more luxury than most even before I'd travelled on them and have always impressed)

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

DMU: Class 144 or Class 158. The Class 144 would be nicer with foldout tables, but both are still quality units. The 170s and 185s are also rather nice.
DEMU: Class 221. What a beauty when it smells nice, also can have free wi-fi if Coach D is declassfied which is always nice. I'd say the class 43 and the MKIIIs to go with them but on East Coast let's just say it's hard to get comfy.
EMU: Class 444s are good with their plug sockets (if you reserve the right carriage) and the 450s also earn my respect. I'd like another go on the 319s and SE 375s to make a full judgement. And finally the Class 390s. Suited for their routes, and with random buttons that were turned off (on the radios) that are always fun to push. Seats need work though.

 

[chris89]

DMU: 150s & 172/ 2/3s. First due to grew up with using them to Bristol Temple Meads & To Weymouth, when i lived near Castle Cary. 172s I just think they look cool.

EMUS: 334s, 350s, 390s. All grow on me. Use the 334s a lot when in scotland, Like Desies myself and 390s are growing on me and are comfy trains.

DEMUS: 221s (Prefer VTs for tilt) Unpopular option going by other thread. I like them, never suffered a fault during a journey when to or from Edinburgh (Tilt fault was from previous journey) Comfy enough for me, if right seat is selected.

220s & 221s from XC are also as good, but prefer using the quicker way to Scotland so rarely use XC services.

Chris

 

[GNER 373]

DMU: 158
EMU: Split between 373/390
DEMU: 220/221

 

[swtandgw]

DMU: 159, because the seats are far more comfy than the Desiros that operate on my home line.
EMU: Mk3-based EMUs (specifically the 319, due to childhood nostalgia), Class 390 Pendos and Electrostars
LHCS: Mk3, especially with the original seating, because I'm not keen on the modern high-backs

 

[bronzeonion]

For carriages I would say MK1 or MK2 carriages, both have good and bad points but are equally as good.

 

[Death]

[Cracks open a can o' worms before typing reply... ]

• EMUs:
  • Class 390 Pendolino: IMO the finest electric stock we have running on the rails today - No contest. Superior acceleration, speed, ride quality, decent vestibule space (I always stand) and character always make me feel stupidly empowered whenever I get one on a fast working!
    Note: I havn't had the chance to try out a 395 yet, but it's at the top of my "To bash" list.
  • Class 370 APT-P: See reasons given for Class 390s - Would be the outright winner if still in operation today for it's greater accelleration, speed, and tilt angle for faster running around corners and harder running over pointwork.
  • Class 373: Just for it's 210+mph top-end, plus massive vestibule space...Would be even better with APT-esque tilt capabilities and presence on the WCML! Been far too long since I last had one of those...
  • Class 350: Yes, I do actually have a Desiro in my favourites! Unlike SWT (Who never seem to have enough pennies for the meter, despite the fares they keep bumping up) LM actually seen to know how to operate a Desiro properly, and the fact that they push a couple of theirs to 110mph on occasion is proof of that fact. At times the ride of an "oversped" 350 can be almost as enjoyable as that of a 390! hock:
  • Class 442s: Just for their decent acceleration, great ride quality, their distinctive "Banshee" scream above 95mph, and a hint of rose-tinted specs.
  .
• DMUs:
  • Super Sprinters: A lot of these - Wherever I may be travelling - Always remind me of the Northern realms for some reason, possibly because my first was on a run from Blackpool to York. I've always felt strangely comfortable on these, though the knowledge that Damien (158 820) can pop up practically anywhere west of Brum makes me like the class even more, too!
  • Pacers: Aye, I do genuinely like the class! They may be slow and many have "issues" with their ride quality, but I've never noticed any whenever I've had them. The way they ride over pointwork is another plus...And if ever I had the chance to drive/ride one at 125mph or more (I don't suppose they could be dragged by a Pendo, could they? hock: ) ye can be sure I'd take it!
    (Now ye see why I got that can o' worms out! )

[/froth :razz: ]

 

[Chrisgr31]

Class 171s.

On the ones that aren't packed like sardine cans they onluy have 4 across seating so are comfortable, plenty of tables, luggage areas etc. Not only that they are apparently the most reliable modern diesel fleet. Mind you as a passenger affected by cancellations and short formation due to broken down stock I tend to think that this accolade doesn't say much for the others!