poshbakerloo
Member
I do remember some first gen DMUs pretty well, even tho I was born in 1990! The 101s ran until 2004 I think. I guess the class 156 is a comparable modern version of the 101 and imo the 156s are much better!
I do think some sections of the public seem to like any shiny-shiny new things, regardless of how comfortable they might be
I do think some sections of the public seem to like any shiny-shiny new things, regardless of how comfortable they might be
They may be nice on preserved lines for short journeys but for anything over 1 hour they were not the ideal form of transport. The heyday of the 1st gen units was the 70's , imagine 2hrs in a 116, bum numb, feet frozen, ears hurting from the noise , nose burning from the fumes. They had their own form of airconditioning, never failed but couldnt be switched of, it worked on the principal that draughts entered through every gap and you could feel it. Sometimes at speed the ride was so bumpy that you couldnt even read a newspaper.
1st Gen. I really like what the seat backs do when the engines are idling.
Well, I must admit theres a lot to be said for some modern units. Particularly 158's and I have to admit electrostars - and even the hardy 150's, which provide a very cosy journey to work in the morning. However, I have spent around 28 years of my life travelling regularly on 1st generation units, freguently for journeys of 1 - 2 hours or even more, and I'm afraid I simply don't recognise the picture of horror and discomfort being painted. Admittedly my main experience has been of Southern EMU's and DEMU's together with the 308's, so they may well have been in a better league than some of the 1st gen DMU's around the rest of the country. I remember distictly the pleasure travelling in a compartment with friends, not having difficulty finding a facing seat to avoid cramped legs, ease of luggage storage, comfortable seating (yes - this may have been to accomodate for the ride but I've been on plenty of more modern units with pretty ropey ride but without the mitigating factors). Am I looking through rose tinted spectacles? I've been on a few 13 hr railtours on the things recently to make sure, and no - they really are pretty good to travel on.
I think this is an interesting question. Of course most second generation units are superior to their first generation counterparts, although less quirky or interesting from an enthusiast's POV. This would seem to be an improvement, except that a huge number of second generation units have not replaced first generation ones, but loco-hauled stock. This is clearly not an improvement from a comfort POV from what would have happened had the old hauled stock been replaced by new hauled stock.
Indeed, although a lot of 1st generation units such as the CIG's, CEP's etc were built with a similar provision for space and comfort as loco hauled stock.
I think the CIGs, CEPs etc... were 2nd or 3rd generation units. 1st Gen eration units were LBSCR overhead units? than the SRs SUBs, CIT, NOLs, BEL were 2nd and than the CEPs VEPs etc were 3rd Generation units.?
Interesting point that, second generation DMUs did replace a lot of loco hauled services, and I for one would much rather settle for a 47 and a full mark 2 rake Newcastle to Manchester than the current 185s, but that's besides the point here lest I get sidetracked.
I see the Turbostars and other 21st century DMUs as "generation 2.5". Third generation will be whatever replaces the Sprinter and Pacer generation units outright.
Yes indeed - it's all very confusing as we've had units on the Southern for so long
I was trying to go with the flow of the thread which seems to be to consider the current generation of units as secong generation and BR slam door style units as 1st.
From a strictly Southern point of view though, I've never really counted the LBSCR overheads at all as they were a different traction system. I've always counted it as:
1st gen: pre-Bullied SUBS, NOL's, PAN's, PUL's, BIL's COR's and HAL's,
2nd gen: Bullied SUB's, EPB's, CEP's, HAP's, CIG's, VEP's, REP's, TC's.
3rd gen: 455's, Networkers, Wessex Electrics, Electrostars and all the rest of em.
Blotrail reintroduced , was it 57s, on mark 1s a couple of years ago!
Why did they do this ? 158 problems or refurbishment programme for all the 15xs?
I never knew they were still churning out Mrk1 stock in the 70s! mark one compo's behind a "roarer"...ah dem was the days
I'd prefer to travel one one of the 1st generation units that were designed for longer runs.
Class 123/124 were a cut above the average and had bigger engines too, so were quite sprightly compared to 101s etc.
Electric wise, the Clacton 309s were nice to travel in too, internally they were just like a mk1 open.
Not strictly an EMU as it isn't powered, but a 4TC was a pleasant environment to travel in, especially if it was one that had full tables rather than the little ledges.
Class 205s, 207s and Southern Electric Slammers for the WIN!!!
They're certainly a cut above SR thumpers in terms of style and comfort .
Ever the controversialist