Rolling Stock past and present that were a step up from their predecessors

[Western Sunset]

The class 310's though on the WCML....were usually up affording a great view.

If I recall, the partition was quite high up, so you kinda had to stand on the seats to get a good view.

 

[Beebman]

If I recall, the partition was quite high up, so you kinda had to stand on the seats to get a good view.

That's right, there was a rearward-facing bench seat up against the partition behind the cab entrance vestibule so the windows were high up and you had to look through two sets of windows, each either side of the vestibule. However it was certainly possible to get a good view, I did it once on a very quiet service by kneeling on the bench seat and looking forwards.

 

[AY1975]

The chamber pot wouldn't have been compatible with the retention tanks on the Mark 3A Sleepers without some complex plumbing though. Loss of a handy storage area seems unfortunate though. However, I recall the Mark 3A cabins also had night lights?

Well I'd say it's not so much a case of not being compatible, but they would either have needed a retention tank for the washbasin in each compartment or they would still have needed troughs beneath the track at stations where sleeping car trains started and terminated (which would have defeated the object of having retention tank toilets, which was to eliminate the need for those troughs).

Yes, the Mark 3 sleepers had a blue night light in every compartment. Passengers could choose whether to have it switched on or off. Not sure if the Mark 1s had that or if the Mark 5s or GWR Mark 3s have it, though.

 

[Lloyds siding]

Mk2e ( the ones with actual aircon & not the mk3 seats ).
1970s sliding door commuter EMUs, did you ever experience what they replaced?
159s I'll give you with the qualifier that it took guard's vans away. They didn't replace DMUs ( and neither did most 158s ) so that's a false comparison, but "better than random clapped out Mk2s" is good enough.

Everything else has far too many "except for". There'll probably be loads of pre BR stuff someone can think up.

I can vouch for the 1940s sliding door EMUs (class 502) being an improvement on the L&Y EMUs that they replaced on the Liverpool-Ormskirk line (round about 1961-62).

 

[E27007]

The Class 210 DMU of the early 1980s , of which only two sets were built ran side by side with Class 117 Pressed Steel DMU sets, in and out of Padington, the 210 was a revelation, fun to ride being fast and smooth riding , the acceleration rate from a station stop was probably better than an Azuma / 800 set, as a passenger you were literally pushed back into the seat.
The close cousin of the 210, the similar Class 150 Sprinter, is a poor relation to the 210 DMU

BR 210 Dmu

 

[Falcon1200]

The Class 210 DMU of the early 1980s , of which only two sets were built ran side by side with Class 117 Pressed Steel DMU sets, in and out of Padington

Despite living in Oxford and working at Reading from 1980 to 1984 I never managed to ride a 210! Depending on shift I sometimes used the 0445 Oxford-Reading Class 117 DMU, and recall them being warm and toasty, even in winter, despite all the doors.....

When I started using my local South Glasgow route, trains were formed by the excellent Class 303 EMUs, these were then replaced by Class 314, the latter being IMHO a step backwards, thanks to 2+3 rather than 2+2 seating, and every door opening at every station. They have in turn been replaced, mostly, by Class 380, which are a step change forward with for example high-backed 2+2 seating and tables at every seat, and are a pleasure to travel on.

 

[Taunton]

The greatest step up is at electrification, not for the power itself, but for trains that commonly are of substantial extra length, there being for some reason a fixation with minimum formations for diesels that is not there with electrics.

An extreme example was the GWML suburban services from Paddington, where regular 2-car (yes) diesel operations got replaced by 8-car electrics, initially on the same timetable.

 

[delt1c]

When I started using my local South Glasgow route, trains were formed by the excellent Class 303 EMUs, these were then replaced by Class 314, the latter being IMHO a step backwards, thanks to 2+3 rather than 2+2 seating, and every door opening at every station. They have in turn been replaced, mostly, by Class 380, which are a step change forward with for example high-backed 2+2 seating and tables at every seat, and are a pleasure to travel on.

Origonaly the 303's and 311's were 3+2 (before refurb)n but the seats were ultra comfortable and well padded. Done many trips on 303's on North Clyde services

 

[D6130]

Origonaly the 303's and 311's were 3+2 (before refurb)n but the seats were ultra comfortable and well padded. Done many trips on 303's on North Clyde services

They had to be well-padded to counteract the effects of those bouncy Gresley bogies!

 

[delt1c]

They had to be well-padded to counteract the effects of those bouncy Gresley bogies!

Agree but whilst the Gresley bogies were not the smoothest the seats were so well padded that compared to other 1st gen EMU's with same bogies you had a comfy ride

 

[RPI]

158's replacing 143's on the Barnstaple line?

 

[Bevan Price]

I can vouch for the 1940s sliding door EMUs (class 502) being an improvement on the L&Y EMUs that they replaced on the Liverpool-Ormskirk line (round about 1961-62).

It was the LMSR corridor emus that were withdrawn about then. The orignal L&YR emus were replaced in the 1930s.
Originally running all as 3 car sets (or 2x3), they later mostly ran as 5 car formations (2 +3), with a few going coaches to Altrincham to replace those damaged in WW2.

 

[Lloyds siding]

It was the LMSR corridor emus that were withdrawn about then. The orignal L&YR emus were replaced in the 1930s.
Originally running all as 3 car sets (or 2x3), they later mostly ran as 5 car formations (2 +3), with a few going coaches to Altrincham to replace those damaged in WW2.

My mistake! You are right: it was the early LMS electric stock that was replaced then (and it was 1964). However, they were compartment stock, not corridor.