A question about 175s

[LNW-GW Joint]

What stations did the Euston - Manchester Airport trains call at? I only remember them non-stopping through Milton Keynes.

I think it was Rugeley and Sandbach (non-Virgin stations anyway).
The Rochdale service called at Hartford (I think) and Newton-le-Willows.

 

[andypops]

The hydrodynamic brake is still out of action though, at least on the ones I've been on recently. It seems a bit odd either to not use it or not fix it given it must surely reduce the wear on friction brakes, particularly from high speed?

I agree...but was it not one of the main reason why there were so many "fires" on them? I know the news reports say it was the "engines", but journalism isn't exactly great when it comes to these matters...

Train evacuated after engine fire

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/8221386.stm

Fire closes Hereford Railway Station

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/local/8823229.Fire_closes_Hereford_Railway_Station/


Although some fires were down to other causes -

Fire drama at Manchester Piccadilly

http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nw1111b.htm

See also:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=55739


And I would also like to agree with other posters! The 175s are fantastic units overall. Only problems are the smells from the toilets, too little luggage space (they could really be improved with a small section at one end where luggage & bicycles could be piled up, freeing up the remainder of the train), poor air con design (the temperature through the carriage is very unequal, with definite gradients), lack of plugs and generally running at >80% capacity (though that's no fault of the train itself!).

The choice of ATW to remove the netting on the backs of seats was IMO a mistake, as this helped to keep all of the litter into one spot, rather than get distributed about under / around the seats. But ah well.

And I happen to like the sideways "wobble" you get! I marks out the regular users, especially when arriving into Hereford from the south!

Overall, by far the best DMU in the country.

 

[Philip]

It would have been good if TPE had continued running the 175s even after they got hold of the 185s - the 3-car units provided more capacity for the NW route than the 185 does.

 

[northwichcat]

http://www.nwrail.org.uk/sum01-175.txt

This is an excellent link to show what the 175s did in early North Western days. Just to point out at the time these diagrams were published FNW were still 7 or 8 units short from the whole fleet being accepted.

This one would be the service(s) I was referring to:
2H85 06:51 Chester-Piccadilly 08:16
1D34 08:18 Piccadilly-Llandudno 10:27

Even into TPE days 175s diagrammed for TPE work didn't stable much in the Manchester area - I heard there was one booked onto Longsight depot each night but apart from that the rest stabled overnight at Barrow and Blackpool.

I recall there were quite often a number of 175s sat idle at Stockport on Saturday afternoons.

I also recall when Piccadilly station was being refurbished FNW weren't able to stable as many units at the station as usual (both during the day or overnight.)

 

[455driver]

And most likely the best maintained

Say that at Salisbury depot and see what they say?

 

[Masbroughlad]

Slightly off topic-does any make an OO gauge model of a 175?

I woild like to see them on the S and C.

 

[sprinterguy]

Slightly off topic-does any make an OO gauge model of a 175?

Unfortunately not.

 

[LowLevel]

I think it was Rugeley and Sandbach (non-Virgin stations anyway).
The Rochdale service called at Hartford (I think) and Newton-le-Willows.

One of them definitely called at Tamworth.

 

[northwichcat]

I think it was Rugeley and Sandbach (non-Virgin stations anyway).
The Rochdale service called at Hartford (I think) and Newton-le-Willows.

Had Virgin ceased to serve Hartford by then? The NWT service was only allowed to call at stations which Virgin didn't serve except where pick up and set down restrictions applied.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Had Virgin ceased to serve Hartford by then? The NWT service was only allowed to call at stations which Virgin didn't serve except where pick up and set down restrictions applied.

Might have been Winsford then.
Also I seem to remember Alderley Edge on the Airport run.

Edit: This site shows the 1999 Rochdale timetable and it only mentions Tamworth.
http://web.archive.org/web/19991129024028/http://firstnorthwestern.co.uk/ttables/routes.htm

 

[Philip]

Here's an odd working for a 175; in Autumn 2006 (and maybe before that, just going off the timetable from the wayback machine) there was a 175 booked to work a 22:54 Leyland to Blackpool North, seemingly Mon-Fri only. Here's the link - http://web.archive.org/web/20060929...fs/Timetables/TT_Sept06_Red_Web_blackpool.pdf

Easy way to tell if a 175 worked it is whether it has a seat reservation symbol for the service, which this does.

 

[Michael.Y]

Despite rebranding into Arriva colours, the 175s still have a FirstGroup lilac dado panel in the saloons.

One or two still have purple toilet doors too. The seat handles however (Mickey Mouse ears) have always, fortuitously, been green.

I had a love hate relationship with them. Comfortable, fast and reliable, but a claustrophobic tight aisle, the perennial confusing disabled toilet door locking system, not enough rubbish bins and silly design features like the sensor for the doors being in the frame at ankle height, meaning people would open the door and it would close on them if their foot wasn't blocking the beam (compared to ceiling motion sensors)

 

[RichmondCommu]

Unfortunately not.

Any kits on the market?

 

[Techniquest]

Seems the humble 175 is quite popular around these parts, which is nice as I also happen to quite like them

And I would also like to agree with other posters! The 175s are fantastic units overall. Only problems are the smells from the toilets, too little luggage space (they could really be improved with a small section at one end where luggage & bicycles could be piled up, freeing up the remainder of the train), poor air con design (the temperature through the carriage is very unequal, with definite gradients), lack of plugs and generally running at >80% capacity (though that's no fault of the train itself!).

It's mostly the smaller facilities that have that smell issue IMX, the accessible one is usually fine and my choice of the on-board facilities normally so as to have plenty of room to move around, especially if I've had to take my bag with me.

Luggage space is definitely an issue, won't be an easy fix and since they operate on lines with heavy leisure traffic you could sometimes have an entire coach for luggage and still not have enough room!

Air-con wise, I'd say it's better than on the 185s.

A lack of power sockets in 2014 is just not good, and when you're on a long journey like Cardiff to Crewe or Manchester, it would be hugely useful. It must be doable since they put them on the 158s after all, however I'd hope they put them at airline seats too!

The choice of ATW to remove the netting on the backs of seats was IMO a mistake, as this helped to keep all of the litter into one spot, rather than get distributed about under / around the seats. But ah well.

Agreed, they were also handy to stow unnecessary books at the time, now I have to pile them up and fill up the table instead or keep getting up and down to my bag on the overhead rack (that wouldn't be very convenient for the guy at the aisle seat!), but hey ho.

And I happen to like the sideways "wobble" you get! I marks out the regular users, especially when arriving into Hereford from the south!

Overall, by far the best DMU in the country.

You mean the approach from the south where you suddenly jerk off the through line into platform 3? Very much noticeable are those who don't use the train that much

170s and 175s for the best third-generation DMUs in the country, yes

 

[transmanche]

Luggage space is definitely an issue, won't be an easy fix and since they operate on lines with heavy leisure traffic you could sometimes have an entire coach for luggage and still not have enough room!

Yes, I think it's the only train where I can't fit my hard shell 'cabin sized' case on the overhead racks.

(Can't recall having travelled with it on a 390, but it fits fine on a 185.)