Trivia: Most changed in a refurbishment/modification

[danielnez1]

Class 305/307/308 refurbishments may count (removal of compartments and fitting of gangways) : http://citytransport.info/Compartment.htm

 

[Bevan Price]

LMSR "Fury" high-pressure 4-6-0 steam loco with parallel boiler converted into the first "Rebuilt Scot" with taper boiler, LMS 6170/BR 46170, "British Legion"

 

[JohnElliott]

Great Bear to a Castle.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Converting class 306 units from DC to AC was a bit of a rebuild. Moved the guards brake and pantograph to a different coach.

Less said about the class 309 refurb the better. Still nice units but in their original condition there was nothing finer.

Same with the Southern 4 Ceps/Beps. Virtual complete rebuild; moved the guard's brake to the middle of each unit, sliding ventilator windows replaced with hopper style and the seats.... the less said about them, the better...

Again, a matter of opinion, the Renaltus 321's had some good and bad points although I think I still preferred them in original condition. Just prior to rebuild, the interiors were very tired and tatty...

 

[306024]

Apart from a fully accessible toilet that retains its business, the only other redeeming feature of a refurbished 321 is a table in first class to work on if you need it. Otherwise it seems a more lumpy ride, made worse if it coupled to an unrefurbished unit.

 

[bramling]

What refurbs and mods have made the biggest change to a train, either for the better or for the worse?

I think the Scotrail 156 refurb might be in with a shout. Huge downgrade in passenger experience with the ironing boards, and also the replacement of the entire toilet cubicle, interior repaint and PIS.

Won’t take the title for most changes, however WAGN’s class 317/2 refurbishment was fairly extensive. New interior and seats, first class moved. Not a bad refurbishment, a shame only 24 were done.

The 317s refurbished for Stansted Express went a bit further.

 

[Hadders]

Won’t take the title for most changes, however WAGN’s class 317/2 refurbishment was fairly extensive. New interior and seats, first class moved. Not a bad refurbishment, a shame only 24 were done.

The 317s refurbished for Stansted Express went a bit further.

Yes, I remember those. Didn't they end up with an interior that was almost identical to a 365.

 

[bramling]

Yes, I remember those. Didn't they end up with an interior that was almost identical to a 365.

Not quite identical, but clearly they attempted to get as close to the 365 as they could. The overall effect worked pretty well.

By contrast the Stansted refurbishments didn’t work so well, for a number of reasons.

 

[Helvellyn]

Class 71 to Class 74 rebuild was pretty dramatic - Electric to Electro-Diesel.

47046 - rebuilt as the Class 56 prototype (as 47601) and then the Class 58 prototype (as 47901).

The Mark 2D/2E/2F coaches exported to New Zealand and pretty much completely rebuilt in a variety of forms.

 

[norbitonflyer]

LMSR "Fury" high-pressure 4-6-0 steam loco with parallel boiler converted into the first "Rebuilt Scot" with taper boiler, LMS 6170/BR 46170, "British Legion"

In a similar vein, the "Turbomotive" 46202 converted to a piston-engined "Princess" in 1952 (and written off in the Harrow disaster a few months later)

 

[DustyBin]

Class 414 2-HAP (motor coaches) to GLV’s was another extensive rebuild. Then there was the class 424 Adtranz ‘Classic‘ which was a completely rebodied 4-CIG driving trailer.... Sacrilege really!

 

[GlitterUnicorn]

What refurbs and mods have made the biggest change to a train, either for the better or for the worse?

I think the Scotrail 156 refurb might be in with a shout. Huge downgrade in passenger experience with the ironing boards, and also the replacement of the entire toilet cubicle, interior repaint and PIS.

Have you been on a 156 since the upgrades? They're quite a lot better now.

 

[Mag_seven]

The class 87s that were exported to Bulgaria now look completely different.

 

[Richard Scott]

The class 87s that were exported to Bulgaria now look completely different.

Plus the 86s. Weren't there some 03s exported that ended up with hydraulic transmission and a Deutz engine? Definitely been some drastic rebuilds abroad where just frame and bogies used, rest is new.
Also isn't 08649 undergoing a bit of a change into a hybrid loco? Another I can think of are the few 114/127 units converted to parcel units, think a few 302s were also done?
As an aside could have a thread on most original train, build to withdrawal with fewest modifications?

 

[GLC]

If this isn’t cheating, the Class 769 is quite different!

 

[Scotrail314209]

Surely the 2005-2007 318 refurbishment should be a contender?

- Completely new interior
- Completely new front end
- Addition of PIS screens

 

[py_megapixel]

Have you been on a 156 since the upgrades? They're quite a lot better now.

Been on a Northern one since the upgrade, which was the same as ScotRail but retaining the original seats because Northern are cheapskates. It's definitely a downgrade.

 

[aliceh]

In terms of look, the 365 refurbishment into happy trains was quite a visual change.

And maybe the conversion of 153s into bike trailers for Scotrail?

 

[43096]

The class 87s that were exported to Bulgaria now look completely different.

Nowhere near being the most changed, though, and I’d say they don’t look completely different: they’re still easily recognisable as an 87.

 

[bramling]

What refurbs and mods have made the biggest change to a train, either for the better or for the worse?

I think the Scotrail 156 refurb might be in with a shout. Huge downgrade in passenger experience with the ironing boards, and also the replacement of the entire toilet cubicle, interior repaint and PIS.

Some of the LU stocks have had quite extensive refurbishments. 73 stock in particular had a completely new interior, plus some significant technical work as well including rewiring.

 

[pdeaves]

I also offer the 'cut down' 08s.

In a sense, the 33/2s (narrow body type) were an extensive modification, albeit at design stage.

 

[swt_passenger]

Also D78 to 484

However, over in the 484 thread the view (based on information from SWR PR so far) seems to be that the interiors will hardly be changed at all?

 

[xotGD]

Apparently the power cars from Class 253 and 254 multiple units were converted into Class 43 locomotives.

I'm not so sure.


How about Class 40 bogies converted into snowploughs? And steam loco tenders also given the same treatment.

 

[DelW]

In a similar vein, the "Turbomotive" 46202 converted to a piston-engined "Princess" in 1952 (and written off in the Harrow disaster a few months later)

Err, as detailed in my post #23

Actually eight weeks in service.

 

[Prestige15]

Loco Class: 57/3/6 and MTU powered HST

Coaches: Propably GNER/XC Mk3's

DMU: EMT/ATW Class 158 (Interior wise)

EMU (Favorite): Stansted Express class 317/7

 

[43096]

Loco Class: 57/3/6 and MTU powered HST

The HST MTU re-power was really only engine and cooler group and was less extensive than Class 57, 56 to 69 and 73/9 rebuilds. The HST MTU programme was no more extensive than the VP185 programme though cooler groups could be done separately for that.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Class 305/307/308 refurbishments may count (removal of compartments and fitting of gangways) : http://citytransport.info/Compartment.htm

The class 307 driving trailers converted into PCVs (Propelling Control Vehicles) for mail trains was quite a change.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Class 50s had a lot of their guts ripped out during refurbishment which had a mixed benefit for the locos. Slow speed control being removed made them unsuitable for freight however hence why 50149 was handed back to NSE, and although refurbishment made the locos more reliable, the one item that should have been replaced -the ropey generator- wasn’t, which probably accelerated the class demise and why they ended up with NSE and not ICXC