[Trivia] slowest passenger train class on the mainline.

[renegademaster]

Currently would it be the Class 399 limited at 62? If you include the 1972 stock since it goes over the Watford DC which brings you down to 42mph

 

[DanNCL]

Classes 555 and 599 have a top speed of 50mph. Class 139 is lower too but I can't remember exactly how low.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Don't know the class numbers, but NYMR stock is limited to 25mph, I believe.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Class 399 limited at 62

That's what it says in Wikipedia (=100km/h), but I've an idea they have 50mph painted inside the cabs, and in fact stick to 40mph on the Network Rail section.
(...goes to search for photo of inside of cab)

 

[Gwr12345]

What are we classing as the Mainline? Surely the 139s/parry people movers are the slowest? 20 mph according to Wikipedia

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What are we classing as the Mainline? Surely the 139s/parry people movers are the slowest? 20 mph according to Wikipedia

It might be 20 mph on the branch, but the 139s have a maximum speed of 45 mph ( which probably still makes them the slowest? ).

 

[HOOVER29]

It might be 20 mph on the branch, but the 139s have a maximum speed of 45 mph ( which probably still makes them the slowest? ).

Wouldn’t like to do 45 mph in a 139
20 mph is bad enough

 

[Sun Chariot]

Class 08? They were geared for 15mph max, in my day. The class 09 (26mph) was a veritable cheetah by comparison...

And yes I have been on a passenger train between Plymouth North Road and Laira, hauled by an 08.

 

[tramdan]

That's what it says in Wikipedia (=100km/h), but I've an idea they have 50mph painted inside the cabs, and in fact stick to 40mph on the Network Rail section.
(...goes to search for photo of inside of cab)

They have 55mph in the cabs, which is their maximum speed on NR infrastructure. There is a stretch of 55 between Rotherham Central and Parkgate.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Aha. Will have to check if they ever get to that speed in reality!

 

[duffield]

Wouldn’t like to do 45 mph in a 139
20 mph is bad enough

Isn't that due to the state of the track rather than the rolling stock though? It would be interesting to see what they were like on a stretch of track maintained for higher speeds.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Isn't that due to the state of the track rather than the rolling stock though? It would be interesting to see what they were like on a stretch of track maintained for higher speeds.

I'd wager the experience at 45nph would be akin to riding in a LWB freight wagon.

 

[davyp]

On reading the title of this thread, I assumed 'mainline' equalled West Coast, GWR, East Coast and similar - so Class 150/1 between Edgeley Junction No. 1 and Piccadilly!

 

[Topological]

On reading the title of this thread, I assumed 'mainline' equalled West Coast, GWR, East Coast and similar - so Class 150/1 between Edgeley Junction No. 1 and Piccadilly!

Under that qualification, would TfWs 150s (thankfully not seen between Edgeley Junction No. 1. and Piccadilly any more) or 153s (also not regularly seen between Edgeley No. 1. and Piccadilly any more) count? They do get let out on the South Wales Main Line still.

 

[Snex]

If we're counting only mainlines then the Class 156's on the ECML must be up there, believe they're the same top speed as the Class 150 but with a slower acceleration.

If we're counting any railway then the Class 555/599 which are both restricted to 50 mph.

 

[AlexNL]

Would the 1972 Tube Stock running on the Watford DC line count? Those have a max speed of 45mph according to Wikipedia.

 

[Class15]

1972 stock on WCML surely?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Class 08? They were geared for 15mph max, in my day. The class 09 (26mph) was a veritable cheetah by comparison...

And yes I have been on a passenger train between Plymouth North Road and Laira, hauled by an 08.

Could that have been sometime during the year 1991 may I ask?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Could that have been sometime during the year 1991 may I ask?

Certainly was. Up as far as the old Friary line

 

[pompeyfan]

the 484s have a design speed of 60 but are limited to 45, (the sticker in the cab says so).

If the IL was to receive any sort of upgrade work to increase the line speed, I’m confident that would be increased.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Certainly was. Up as far as the old Friary line

I’m guessing you may have been onboard the HRT “Plym Rose” railtour? I was on the Pathfinder “Tamar Tart” from Manchester on the same day, my apologies for taking the thread off topic!

 

[SuspectUsual]

I'd wager the experience at 45nph would be akin to riding in a LWB freight wagon.

Or Pacer as they're more commonly known

 

[Sun Chariot]

Or Pacer as they're more commonly known

My experience of 142s on the Exmouth branch, yep I actually wanted them to go slow!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Mar 2025 ==

I’m guessing you may have been onboard the HRT “Plym Rose” railtour? I was on the Pathfinder “Tamar Tart” from Manchester on the same day,

Absolutely right! Happy days.

 

[Doomotron]

Class 08? They were geared for 15mph max, in my day. The class 09 (26mph) was a veritable cheetah by comparison...

And yes I have been on a passenger train between Plymouth North Road and Laira, hauled by an 08.

Weren't 08s (or 09s) used on the old Kensington Olympia shuttles?

 

[HOOVER29]

Isn't that due to the state of the track rather than the rolling stock though? It would be interesting to see what they were like on a stretch of track maintained for higher speeds.

Probably better on cwr to be fair
Will have to pop over to Stourbridge for another blast

 

[notadriver]

153s are absolutely the worst accelerating units on the network.

 

[Bill57p9]

Class 08s also used to be regular performers on the Night Riveria Plymouth portion.

Class 156s also regularly blast along the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Gretna Junction.

 

[SolomonSouth]

I think the Class 139 is the slowest.