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Post by YY13VKP on Jun 1, 2017 22:24:29 GMT
Having previously sampled all Thameslink stock (319, 377, 387, 700) between St Albans and Gatwick, the 319s were decent but overworked units, and rather comfortable IMO. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the incoming 700s due to discomfort by the 'ironing board' seats, and the lack of power points. They're alright I guess, had one on Wednesday from Wimbledon to Cricklewood. They're not THAT hard to be honest. Was having a conversation about the 700's and the similar 707's with a very nice guard from SWT last Friday while at Chessington South, after he told me the diagram he was on, which was meant to be a 456+456+455 had to be changed to 2 455's, and that left me rather annoyed as I was looking forward to a 456. Anyway, back to the 319's. I will really miss them. I miss the days when Southern had them, and some even turned up on the Caterham line, and they have been at Thameslink since the very beginning. It will feel very strange without them on Thameslink. The thing I will miss most about the 319''s is their motor noise and them being thrashed at high speed on the Brighton Mainline. I still remember the days when they had the old all over dark blue Thameslink livery. Cannot believe that was 11 years ago. Recently I have been taking a lot of rides of them round the Sutton loop after college just to try and get one last ride from them. But the 700's are nowhere near as good as what the 319's were. I will miss them loads.
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Post by joefrombow on Jun 2, 2017 0:28:47 GMT
Are they going to the scrapheap or being saved for a electrification somewhere ? Shame to see the "New" BR Stock starting to go .
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Post by redexpress on Jun 2, 2017 0:54:36 GMT
Having previously sampled all Thameslink stock (319, 377, 387, 700) between St Albans and Gatwick, the 319s were decent but overworked units, and rather comfortable IMO. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the incoming 700s due to discomfort by the 'ironing board' seats, and the lack of power points. They're alright I guess, had one on Wednesday from Wimbledon to Cricklewood. They're not THAT hard to be honest. Was having a conversation about the 700's and the similar 707's with a very nice guard from SWT last Friday while at Chessington South, after he told me the diagram he was on, which was meant to be a 456+456+455 had to be changed to 2 455's, and that left me rather annoyed as I was looking forward to a 456. On the 700 I found the legroom more of an issue than the seats themselves. Maybe I was unlucky with the seats that I tried out, but I just couldn't get comfortable at all. The Gatwick Express stock has the same seats but they don't feel as bad as those on the 700s. Anyway I've found that I can avoid the ironing-board seats on trips to Brighton by using a Southern Daysave ticket and travelling to/via Hove. In case anyone's unaware, Daysave costs £19 and gives you unlimited travel on Southern trains after the am peak (you can't travel on pm peak trains out of London / East Croydon but there are no other pm restrictions). The only small downside is that you have to book 3 days in advance but it's good value compared with £26 for a day return to Brighton.
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Post by sid on Jun 2, 2017 5:26:10 GMT
Are they going to the scrapheap or being saved for a electrification somewhere ? Shame to see the "New" BR Stock starting to go . Some have already gone to Northern and the rest are going into storage.
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Post by snowman on Jun 2, 2017 6:12:02 GMT
Are they going to the scrapheap or being saved for a electrification somewhere ? Shame to see the "New" BR Stock starting to go . Some have already gone to Northern and the rest are going into storage. Their are plans for some to gain Diesel engines and generators, for working part electrified routes, but with much lower power when on diesel. There were rumours that the proposed South Wales electrification schemes would get them as an interim fleet, but the electrification of those lines is on hold due to Network Rails inability to deliver electrification on time and budget. Of course, we do not have a joined up railway so there will still be trains cancelled due to lack of rolling stock as the regulator is weak and doesn't force the Operators to lease sufficient units to always have enough, instead allowing usable trains to be stored.
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Post by 725DYE on Jun 2, 2017 8:48:08 GMT
I wonder if this whole debacle of the last day being this Sunday is that instead its the last 319 to Brighton service. After all, I guess it'd make the most sense to remove them from the Brighton mainline first and boost capacity there as soon as possible.
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Post by sid on Jun 2, 2017 15:15:02 GMT
I wonder if this whole debacle of the last day being this Sunday is that instead its the last 319 to Brighton service. After all, I guess it'd make the most sense to remove them from the Brighton mainline first and boost capacity there as soon as possible. Quite possibly, do they still normally operate on the Brighton line? I use the line regularly and I've not seen one for ages.
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Post by 725DYE on Jun 2, 2017 17:03:42 GMT
I wonder if this whole debacle of the last day being this Sunday is that instead its the last 319 to Brighton service. After all, I guess it'd make the most sense to remove them from the Brighton mainline first and boost capacity there as soon as possible. Quite possibly, do they still normally operate on the Brighton line? I use the line regularly and I've not seen one for ages. No they don't tbh. As I said above it makes more sense to boost capacity on their busiest service first. When I went down to Brighton on the train in April, I didn't see a single 319 (or 377 for that matter) and both trains I rode were 700s
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Post by TNL33036 on Jun 2, 2017 17:14:45 GMT
One of the few iconic things I really adored about the 319s is that unique "buzz" noise it made when setting off, as well as the scream from the motors when at speed, but then again I could always get scream and thrash with the 317s and 321s at GA in which I assume they may be staying on for a bit longer, but yes, they'll be sorely missed by me and others
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Post by vjaska on Jun 2, 2017 18:20:47 GMT
One of the few iconic things I really adored about the 319s is that unique "buzz" noise it made when setting off, as well as the scream from the motors when at speed, but then again I could always get scream and thrash with the 317s and 321s at GA in which I assume they may be staying on for a bit longer, but yes, they'll be sorely missed by me and others Is that the same buzz noise that is on older Greater Anglia stock?
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Post by TNL33036 on Jun 2, 2017 19:16:09 GMT
One of the few iconic things I really adored about the 319s is that unique "buzz" noise it made when setting off, as well as the scream from the motors when at speed, but then again I could always get scream and thrash with the 317s and 321s at GA in which I assume they may be staying on for a bit longer, but yes, they'll be sorely missed by me and others Is that the same buzz noise that is on older Greater Anglia stock? Not really, it sounds more like this: youtu.be/5bZ1WkonErQ(Credit to LFaure Videos)
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Post by vjaska on Jun 2, 2017 19:18:27 GMT
Is that the same buzz noise that is on older Greater Anglia stock? Not really, it sounds more like this: youtu.be/5bZ1WkonErQ(Credit to LFaure Videos) That is the one I was on about - yeah I like that too, remember having a Stanstead Express train back in 2006/07 with a really loud buzzing sound exactly the same as that - even some of the TfL Rail stock have it as well
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Post by eggmiester on Jun 3, 2017 11:17:33 GMT
That noise is the resistor bank and Motor alternator pack in the motor coach you get when under power. You find this on most if not all BR design AC or dual voltage EMU's. It's quite a unique sound mind....
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Post by thesquirrels on Jun 3, 2017 16:43:56 GMT
That noise is the resistor bank and Motor alternator pack in the motor coach you get when under power. You find this on most if not all BR design AC or dual voltage EMU's. It's quite a unique sound mind.... Having used both 317s and 319s for years, I do think the 319s under AC had the edge in terms of the sound you got out of them. Though especially in recent years the 319s have been more intensively worked, hammering up and down the MML/BML at design speed to pretty tight timetables, while the 317s have mostly been relegated to 'light' local duties in north London, Herts and West Essex. So perhaps my perspective is slightly skewed. I have used the Northern Electrics refurb units a few times and found the sound to a be little muted compared to their days under Thameslink. There do appear to be exceptions, though. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbOh4-p-8P0 (not mine). I will miss them - they have been my favourite class of train in London & the south east since the slammers went. But I am up in that there North from time to time..
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Post by YY13VKP on Jun 3, 2017 22:48:25 GMT
Tomorrow's farewell tour is to be worked by 319425. This farewell tour is to coincide with the closure of Cauldwell Depot as well as the impeding departure of the 319's from the fleet.
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