Most emblematic rolling stock for each TOC

[backontrack]

I think most TOCs probably have a main rolling stock to their name, such as TOCs that are the sole operators of that stock and operate it regularly across their network. So Parry People Movers wouldn't count. With Southern and Heathrow Express this is obvious, but with Northern and Greater Anglia less so. How's this:

Abellio Greater Anglia - Class 321

Arriva Trains Wales - Class 175

c2c - Class 357

Chiltern Railways - Class 168

CrossCountry - Class 220

East Coast - Intercity 225

East Midlands Trains - Class 222

Eurostar - Class 373

First Capital Connect - Class 319

First Great Western - HST

First Hull Trains - Class 180

First TransPennine Express - Class 185

Gatwick Express - Class 442

Grand Central - Class 180

Heathrow Connect - Class 360

Heathrow Express - Class 332

London Midland - Class 350

London Overground - Class 378

Merseyrail - Class 507 (more of these than Class 508s)

Northern Rail - Class 142 (there are 79 of them compared to only 46 Class 158s, the second-most plentiful stock on the TOC)

Scotrail - Class 170

Southeastern - Class 375

Southern - Class 377

South West Trains - Class 450

Stanstead Express - Class 379

Virgin Trains - Class 390

What do you think about my decisions?

 

[Manchester77]

Surely with south eastern it'd be the networkers or more to the point 465s?

 

[WestCountry]

Depends on whether you're doing this simply by most-used, considering what they like to advertise, or looking at what gets mentioned on here a lot.

i.e. AGA and Chiltern both stick their LHCS rakes on posters a lot more than the common MUs, and those certainly get more attention from enthusiasts!

 

[Class172]

I would also argue that 172s take a fair share of LM's image, since they are the stock that represents the Snow Hill Lines.

 

[Lou92]

Virgin Trains - Class 390

Yes indeed, Virgin love to shove the 390 in your face at every opportunity - not much love for the poor 221s. I never much cared for 221s until I was on one that was 27 L, the driver was determined to make up time and was giving it some stick - made for a pretty decent bash!

 

[59CosG95]

South West Trains - Class 450

What about the 444? Surely that, as SWT's flagbearer, would be its most iconic stock?

 

[Voyager 2093]

Chiltern - LHCS, All you have to do is look at promotions on their website and posters at stations to see why.

FCC - Class 377s without a doubt. They have more 319s of course but in terms of company image, the 377 is definitely the flag holder.

 

[causton]

Sorry, FCC has to be the 365

 

[43074]

I agree with most of it, apart from...

Abellio Greater Anglia - Class 321

I think Anglia's emblematic rolling stock are the 90 + Mark 3 sets on the London to Norwich run; they appear of much of their general advertising.

Chiltern Railways - Class 168

I think the 67 hauled sets are the CR emblem, being exclusively used on Mainline services.

First TransPennine Express - Class 185

The 350s seem to be used in a fair share of their advertising, ostensibly because they are newer.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
FCC don't have an emblematic train, because it's all cr@p anyway,

 

[Strathclyder]

Scotrail - Class 170

I think the 380s are Scotrail's most emblematic stock, since they're the newest in the fleet.

 

[gnolife]

For SN, I saw far more advertising featuring the self-cooking bacon than the 377s (this may not be a serious post)

Also, for NT, I'd say 158 over 142, because that's what they try to stick on their more 'premier' routes, namely the S&C, Calder Fasts, Nottingham- Leeds, York - Blackpool and Sheffield - Yorkshire Coast services

 

[The Ham]

What about the 444? Surely that, as SWT's flagbearer, would be its most iconic stock?

I was also surprised that the 444's weren't on the list.

 

[jopsuk]

If you're an FCC GN user, and never use TL, you might consider the 365s to be the "emblematic" stock.

 

[59CosG95]

If you're an FCC GN user, and never use TL, you might consider the 365s to be the "emblematic" stock.

Well, whichever service you take, TL or GN, post TLP, the 700s will be the top dogs.

 

[DarloRich]

So what is this? A list of the most commonly operated rolling stock as used by a certain TOC?

Does emblematic mean most common? Does emblematic mean only type of train operated by a TOC? Does emblematic mean newest train operated by a TOC? For instance you have Grand Central as having Class 180 as “emblematic”. Surely their HST is the more emblematic train they use.

 

[DJL]

Surely with south eastern it'd be the networkers or more to the point 465s?

agreed

 

[sprinterguy]

I would also argue that 172s take a fair share of LM's image, since they are the stock that represents the Snow Hill Lines.

Nah, it's the 350s that are used on the vast majority of LMs' promotional material, even on the Snow Hill lines, and the trains themselves cover a far wider geographical area, carry a greater number of passengers on the busiest commuter routes and are numerically the far larger class. 172s are small potatoes as far as the public image of the London Midland franchise at large is concerned.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Also, for NT, I'd say 158 over 142, because that's what they try to stick on their more 'premier' routes, namely the S&C, Calder Fasts, Nottingham- Leeds, York - Blackpool and Sheffield - Yorkshire Coast services

In considering the type of stock most synonymous with each TOC, I would agree with the OP that class 142s are most synonymous with Northern Rail, due to the high level of negative press that they unfortunately attract, and their extensive geographic coverage.

Overall, I would agree with the OP's opinion for the majority of the TOCs, though I would consider that Chiltern's loco-hauled sets are that TOC's "emblematic" rolling stock based on the amount of plugging Chiltern have been doing of their shiny silver trains, and when I think of Grand Central I automatically think of HSTs: They were what launched the company (Arguably, given the amount of loco-hauled substitution that took place in the early days due to faults with the power cars and delays in refurbishing the carriages), after all.

As for Gatwick Express, I still think of 460s, or even class 73s on push-pull rakes. 442s just don't sit naturally on the Brighton Main line in my opinion...

 

[Parallel]

I think it's difficult with some of the larger operating companies. E.g. with FGW, their HSTs are probably overall the most iconic and common, however as they are confined to the busy intercity lines, many stations don't see regular HST services operating, and class 150s are much more common, particularly on other mainlines, regional lines and branch lines. I would say when people think of FGW, they think of "HSTs" though, but they do have many Sprinter services on both short and very long routes too.

The same with Arriva, I'd argue that class 158s were equal to 175s, as they work the Cambrian lines exclusively, as well as to Birmingham but also show up on the Marches line to Holyhead and also are seen on services going to south west Wales, and are pretty commonly seen on the Cheltenham Spa - Maesteg line (though I did see a class 142 operating that the other day hock: ). I'd say that pacers operate a very busy and fast moving timetable (most lines have a half hourly service with trains calling at platform 6 and 7 in Cardiff Central) through the iconic Cardiff and the valley lines, although I wouldn't say these best symbolised Arriva. 175s are exclusive to Arriva, but I'm not sure they are as iconic as 158s with the services they are used for. It's just tricky to reduce down to one single stock for the larger TOCs.

 

[DarloRich]

I would also argue that 172s take a fair share of LM's image, since they are the stock that represents the Snow Hill Lines.

But where i live the local LM image is a 153 or a 150 wit ha 350 on the London line! We never see a 170/172!

 

[Yew]

When I think EMT, I think of the first class carriages on their HST's.

 

[northwichcat]

I think most TOCs probably have a main rolling stock to their name, such as TOCs that are the sole operators of that stock and operate it regularly across their network. So Parry People Movers wouldn't count. With Southern and Heathrow Express this is obvious, but with Northern and Greater Anglia less so. How's this:

Northern Rail - Class 142 (there are 79 of them compared to only 46 Class 158s, the second-most plentiful stock on the TOC)

I'd question whether any of Northern's rolling stock operates across the network. 142s aren't cleared to Buxton, Nottingham or Stoke and they aren't used on some lines such as those in and out of Hull and Settle-Carlisle.

I think perhaps you could argue that in the former FNW area it's a toss up between 142s and 150s. In Yorkshire & Humber it's 158s while in the North East & Cumbria it's 142s.

Also with Northern operating a lot of 142s in pairs these days I wonder how the number of class 142 operated services compares to 150, 156 and 158 operated services.

 

[ainsworth74]

and they aren't used on some lines such as those in and out of Hull and Settle-Carlisle.

I must have been imagining that 142 I used to fairly regularly get from Hull to Cottingham then...

 

[northwichcat]

I must have been imagining that 142 I used to fairly regularly get from Hull to Cottingham then...

I was told by a Northern guard at Hull that they didn't sign 142s as they was no need for them to as most of Northern services there are operated by 158s.

 

[ainsworth74]

I was told by a Northern guard at Hull that they didn't sign 142s as they was no need for them to as most of Northern services there are operated by 158s.

Right so you are saying I was imagining those 142s...

 

[northwichcat]

Right so you are saying I was imagining those 142s...

No I was explaining why I said what I did.

By the same logic I could say that you're saying Pacers are used on all 3 Northern routes out of Hull - Sheffield, Scarborough and York because I said there were lines in and out of Hull that are Pacer free and you've said a service you used to catch (which may have been the same one every day?) was frequently a Pacer.

 

[ainsworth74]

Well certainly I've seen them on York services before now, I'd be very surprised if they haven't also appeared on Sheffield runs so the only one that they won't do is Scarborough

Anyway I think we're wondering off topic at this juncture

 

[Chrisgr31]

For SN, I saw far more advertising featuring the self-cooking bacon than the 377s (this may not be a serious post)

I wondered about the Class 171s, certainly not the most numerous in the fleet, but appear to be more photogenic than the 377's and therefore appear on a disproportiante numner of posters etc, including a LOROL one!

 

[168lover]

I know many people will disagree with me but I think Chiltern's most emblematic rolling stock is 165s. They were the first rolling stock that chiltern had and also when you go on a trip anywhere near the chiltern mainline you will almost certainly see on. Everyday they chug around the chiltern network taking the strain. They have been used on every route and they still going strong after 10,20 years. Before people argue that 168s have been everywhere on route, they haven't been to chinnor.

 

[matchmaker]

I think the 380s are Scotrail's most emblematic stock, since they're the newest in the fleet.

Caledonian Sleeper must be must emblematic, Shirley?

 

[Cletus]

I would say the 'emblematic rolling stock' for Southeastern would the 395.