What is your favourite train?

[WideRanger]

Class 20 with a long rake of unheated carriages, heading to the coast or on a football special. I may be projecting, but it felt that the drivers were enjoying the challenge (or the change).

 

[DM352]

Was class 304 on the Trent Valley line.

Current class 323

 

[cjmillsnun]

Class 390 Pendolino

Also, to those who put the HST… you basics

Class 370 APT-P. Had it not been rushed at the end, they would’ve given us the Pendolino experience decades earlier.

It heavily influenced the Mk4 and class 91 sets.

 

[kermit]

Class 304 on the Trent Valley line.

Original or refurbished down to 3 carriages?

 

[greatvoyager]

I quite like the class 57.

 

[ComUtoR]

As a Driver and a Passenger - Class 700

 

[The exile]

DMU: 119s
EMU: CEPs when well looked after / 309s
“Train” : shortish rake of steam heat Mk1s on a foul night with a Type 2 burbling away at the head.

 

[D6130]

“Train” : shortish rake of steam heat Mk1s on a foul night with a Type 2 burbling away at the head.

I'll second that....especially if it's on the West Highland Line - whether it be a 24/25/26/27 or 29.

 

[The exile]

I'll second that....especially if it's on the West Highland Line - whether it be a 24/25/26/27 or 29.

As long as you’re not sitting in a loop waiting for something to come the other way but which has decided to stop burbling!

 

[Paul Jones 88]

465, quite enjoyable at a decent speed with the widows open.

 

[Mat17]

I'm surprised no one's said 104s.

 

[brad465]

465s/466s, for their traction motor sounds. Best livery was their NSE one, although the Connex livery that retained the blue NSE vinyl and had yellow underneath was good too.

 

[ComUtoR]

465, quite enjoyable at a decent speed with the widows open.

465s/466s, for their traction motor sounds. Best livery was their NSE one, although the Connex livery that retained the blue NSE vinyl and had yellow underneath was good too.

Gross, both of you have been docked 10 internet points.

 

[brad465]

Gross, both of you have been docked 10 internet points.

"One man's meat is another man's poison".

More seriously, while you've given plenty of criticism of them before, and nothing is perfect, I seem to recall you saying their stop-start performance/acceleration makes them better than 375/377s, in a discussion about services on the Maidstone East line.

 

[Jturner98]

For me it’s the class 317. They were the first trains I done my apprenticeship on plus whenever I went on one in service it meant I was going to see some of my relatives

 

[TXMISTA]

158s and 159s. Excellent all-rounder for express, regional and (to an extent) stopping/branch line services. Love the long-distance interior with proper vestibules and plenty of table seating. Also, the first class on SWR’s 158/159s is incredible.

In terms of EMUs, it would have to be 444s or 450s. Both fleets are brilliant at what they do and are very reliable. I have to say though, SWR’s refurbishment of them has been a serious downgrade. First class on SWR 450s compared to the old SWT style is not worth the money at all.

 

[ComUtoR]

More seriously, while you've given plenty of criticism of them before, and nothing is perfect, I seem to recall you saying their stop-start performance/acceleration makes them better than 375/377s, in a discussion about services on the Maidstone East line.

They are good at what they do but they have had their day. New trains are better equipped and can take us into the future. As a Passenger they just don't provide anything more than a cattle truck into London and they break down constantly. As a Driver they are a bit like a classic car. A good little driver but you worry it ain't gonna make it on a long trip. Certainly something for the weekend nostalgia trip but I want something better for my daily driver. Anyone getting out of it is gonna be a little disappointed they didn't have all the mod cons of something new and shiny.

I'm happy you like them and yep, each to their own for sure. (you can have 5 points back)

375/7s are horrid to drive but as a passenger they aren't too bad.

 

[Mikey C]

Not sure a DMU will ever be my favourite train, but I have a soft spot for the Chiltern 168s. Big comfy seats and an excellent view out.

In terms of just getting there quickly, the 395s take a lot beating. They've transformed many journeys to Kent, and there's something rather impressive about a train that can do 140mph on HS1 then seamlessly can continue on the 3rd rail classic lines.

 

[75A]

What we called the Belle.

To the public the Brighton Belle.

Old,rattly and oozing class.

 

[Mally66]

For me, growing up in Hastings I was brought up with the "Thumpers" they hold fond memories of day trips to London with the family and the City commuters with their Bowler hats and umbrellas. Modern day it has to be the Class 222
Used to love the Kent Electrics Jaffa Cake livery but currently my favourite livery has to go to TPE.

 

[43096]

For me, growing up in Hastings I was brought up with the "Thumpers" they hold fond memories of day trips to London with the family and the City commuters with their Bowler hats and umbrellas. Modern day it has to be the Class 222
Used to love the Kent Electrics Jaffa Cake livery but currently my favourite livery has to go to TPE.

If you grew up in Hastings then you should be calling them Hastings units! "Thumpers" were the 2 and 3-car 205/207s, were they not?

 

[75A]

For me, growing up in Hastings I was brought up with the "Thumpers" they hold fond memories of day trips to London with the family and the City commuters with their Bowler hats and umbrellas. Modern day it has to be the Class 222
Used to love the Kent Electrics Jaffa Cake livery but currently my favourite livery has to go to TPE.

I used to like the Thumpers when they came to Brighton to run the Saturday only's to the West Country. Always made me laugh when the western sent them back with a Tail Lamp on the back as they didn't recognise the red blinds that we used.

 

[150249]

This may surprise you but I like 150249
Also.... 444044
Why wouldn't anyone like 444044
I must say, the 755's are amazing too.

 

[BigLocoBigMone]

I really like the Azuma trains! I've heard alot of people complain about the comfort of the seats, but I haven't really had any problems with them.
I guess I also like the class 314 for sheer nostalgia, I remember riding them alot on the argyle line whenever I was going into Glasgow for the day, the SPT livery looked so good..

 

[Mally66]

If you grew up in Hastings then you should be calling them Hastings units! "Thumpers" were the 2 and 3-car 205/207s, were they not?

To my knowledge they were all called thumpers due to the distinctive sound of their 4 cylinder engines, the Slim line hastings units were 202s

 

[SuperLuke2334]

I like the Class 175 units, they've run on my local line all of my life and they are all round a really nice train to ride. Its going to be sad seeing them go off-lease in the next couple of years.

 

[43096]

To my knowledge they were all called thumpers due to the distinctive sound of their 4 cylinder engines, the Slim line hastings units were 202s

Hastings units were Classes 201-203. 201s (6S; units 1001-7 were on short underframes), 202s (6L; units 1011-9 on long underframes) and 203s were buffet units (6B; sets 1031-7 also on long underframes).

 

[brad465]

They are good at what they do but they have had their day. New trains are better equipped and can take us into the future. As a Passenger they just don't provide anything more than a cattle truck into London and they break down constantly. As a Driver they are a bit like a classic car. A good little driver but you worry it ain't gonna make it on a long trip. Certainly something for the weekend nostalgia trip but I want something better for my daily driver. Anyone getting out of it is gonna be a little disappointed they didn't have all the mod cons of something new and shiny.

I'm happy you like them and yep, each to their own for sure. (you can have 5 points back)

375/7s are horrid to drive but as a passenger they aren't too bad.

Fair enough on the first bit, on the Electrostars point would I be right in thinking they're horrid to drive in part due to the can being a claustrophobe's nightmare?

375s are good from a passenger experience, but I'd argue 377s are poor because they've not had a refurb since coming to SE (probably due to being sub-leased): the seat covers are poor quality and the general ambience isn't very good either. 377s also have 2+3 ironing boards in the middle 2 carriages, with proper comfy seating in the outer 2 (by the same logic 375s are better seating for all denominations except the 375/9s for being 2+3 ironing boards in all but 1st class).

 

[Strathclyder]

Locos

Diesel

Classes D16/1-2: aka the LMS Twins & the Bulleid Trio.
Class 29 (@D6130 beat me to this one!)
Class 37
Class 55
Class 56

Also have something of a soft spot for the Class 57; my favourite EMD-powered product (in the UK at least; overseas is a different matter entirely).

Electric

Classes 81-87
Class 89
Class 91

Units

DMUs

Class 156
Class 158
Class 170
Class 185

EMUs

Class 303 (the similar 311s also get a nod here by default, despite them having long since left frontline service by the time I started taking an active interest in the railways)
Class 314
Classes 318 & 320
Class 334 (check my profile pic lol)
Class 370 APT
Class 373 Eurostar

Favourite 'Train' (to travel on etc)

GNER InterCity 225
First ScotRail Class 156
ScotRail/SPT Classes 318, 320 & 334

I strongly suspect that I've sent a few members into a tizzy by having Class 334s down as one of my favorite EMUs, but meh. Different horses, different courses and all that lol

 

[ComUtoR]

Fair enough on the first bit, on the Electrostars point would I be right in thinking they're horrid to drive in part due to the can being a claustrophobe's nightmare?

Yep, you always feel closed in and constantly trying to look around the corner

375s are good from a passenger experience, but..

Interesting to hear your criteria. Mine is a little more simplistic.

Primary
Is my seat relatively comfortable
Does it have a toilet

Secondary
Has it got a table
Passenger plug socket
Air con / decent heating

As I'm Metro based. 99% of my journeys are in and out of London. So all I generally care about is getting from A - B.