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Are 158s hellfire?
- Thread starter EE Type 3
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RailUK Forums
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Tom
Guest
They are...
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Hellfire is all just a matter of opinion.
Although...I seem to have grown a liking for Pendolinos, but I wouldn't call them hellfire.
37s however, are.
158s are quite hellfire too though
Well, I like Pendolinos too. Nothing quite like being on one driven to the max through the North West countryside. I still remember being on the last service of the day a couple of years ago to Carlisle on a 390 and hearing the 390 screaming along. What the noise actually was I don't know but I did enjoy my 390 ride then. I still do enjoy getting on one.
The noise of a 158 thundering out of a station is also enjoyable mind!
Turbostar
Member
Ok, look up Class 159 on Wikipedia - 159/0 400hp, 159/1 350hp. Apologies, there ARE a few 158's - 863-872 - which are 400hp, as it was originally intended that these units work the steeply graded Newport to Shrewsbury Welsh Marches Line. A follow on of 22 units were built, these would have been 873-894, thses units became the 159/0s.
Mart
Respite
Member
Probably something had fell off the cheap tat toy train & was dragging along the undertray/4 foot!
Turbostar
Member
Ok ,I been doing a bit of working out. Due to the shuffling around of the centre cars to other units, 158 863-872 like I said were part of the original order for higher rated units for the Welsh Marches, 873-894 became 159 001-022. The centre cars of 863-872 as you know have been put into other units here there & everywhere, including some of the 159/1s. Am I correct then in thinking then that these units that have these centre cars, basically you have two different engine ratings, as the driving cars will be 350hp, the centre cars will be 400hp, unless of course the centre cars have been down-rated to 350hp. Anyone see where I'm getting at? I've attached a small txt. file for reference.
Mart
Mart
EE Type 3
Established Member
T
Tom
Guest
20s won't be able to provide ETH
welsh375
New Member
I think that the class 158's are not hellfire, but they do produce a nice sound when pulling off (cummins engined versions). They are comfortable, the only problem with them that I find is where I live, I oftern go on the welsh marches line up to shrewsbury and normally catch the 1004 from newport. Sadly, it is normally a 350hp version and they struggle getting up past pontpool & new inn. On a few occiasions they have struggle to go faster that 30mph up the hill. On one occasion, going past church stretton, on of the engines failed on a two car set, it turned out be low coolant. I would rather see a class 37 with 4mk2's anyday or two 37's with 10 mk2's, now that is hellfire!!
Respite
Member
I never had a problem going up past Pontypool before, however the bit from abergaveny over the top is more of a problem area. But then again everything struggles up there. On a side note, since Mach depot got enlarged I have to say that our 158 fleet is getting better & better. I seem to get less problems with engines reverting to idle now.
You could of seen us tackle it 2 weeks ago with 37417/410. With their multi broken a bit the sound of the power being applied off n on again was great! But not as good when 410 had to tackle Miles Platting bank on its own on the tour.
voyagerdude220
Established Member
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- 4,262
Aw, i was hoping for Chester to Chester via Liverpool, and the Liverpool to Southports via Formby to be 442's:razz:
EE Type 3
Established Member
Ohhh no, a selection of 20s will recieve ETH, and be renumbered to 20/4
But, for 2 20s to heat the train, and 2 to power the train, a total of 4 20s will be on each train
Meld
Member
Yes they will they are coming from DRS and utilising a modified Eurostar generator coach they recently acquired
EE Type 3
Established Member
Yes they will they are coming from DRS and utilising a modified Eurostar generator coach they recently acquired
That man is awake!
Kneedown
Established Member
The fact that they couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding and on hot days at least one engine will overheat, the cabs are awful, ie cramped, uncomfortable,cabs are hot in summer but you cant open the window as the vestibule access door may well fly open and take your fingers off, visibility is pathetic as you have no peripheral vision and cab is very dark, the gangway door lets noisy and cold draughts in and flies open at 90mph, the headlights are useless at night, the forward/reverse controller sprains your wrist when you operate it it's that stiff, the wipers pack up when on slow and disintegrate when on fast, and you get backache on a three hour run, they are ugly, cheap and plasticy, unreliable, and personally i'd scrap the lot after i'd done the 153's!
And yes, i DO drive them!
Give me a 170 anyday, no more reliable but a damn site more comfortable and bright!
Turbostar
Member
Can't please everybody, can you! :roll:
And as a passenger, I shall echo your thoughts! (From a FSR perspective anyway)
Dennis
Established Member
So we've all finally agreed 158's are not hellfire then?
Turbostar
Member
The new refurb'd SWT 159's are comfy, & yes, a lot better than the dilapidated 158's FGW operate. Havn't been on one of their refurb'd units yet, but I try to avoid the unrefurb'd units, they're awful.
Jord
Member
158s are NOT Hellfire, simple.
devon_metro
Established Member
The new refurb'd SWT 159's are comfy, & yes, a lot better than the dilapidated 158's FGW operate. Havn't been on one of their refurb'd units yet, but I try to avoid the unrefurb'd units, they're awful.
Contradiciton?
Refurb 159s good (which they are!!)
Refurb units awful
Hmmmmmmmm
The 158 Man
Member
158s are hellfire!
Kneedown
Established Member
The new refurb'd SWT 159's are comfy, & yes, a lot better than the dilapidated 158's FGW operate. Havn't been on one of their refurb'd units yet, but I try to avoid the unrefurb'd units, they're awful.
Had one of our loan units to Brookside and back yesterday, 890.
Got treated to an impromptu cold shower whilst doing 90 through Bamford!
The roof was obviously leaking and collecting water somewhere, before overflowing through the light fitting. "BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!".
I will confess though, that i do like the modified direction controller on this particular unit, much easier to use than the tiny wrist spraining ones on all the others. If anyone out there had anything to do with that, then well done, lets fit that to all of em (If we can't scrap em that is!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think Mart means that he hasn't been on a refurbed FGW 158.
Turbostar
Member
??? You lost me now. I said yes the unrefurb'd FGW are awful, they're dirty, falling apart, etc. etc. I havn't been on one of the new FGW refurb'd 158's as yet, so I can't say what they are like until I have travelled on one. SO where's the contradiction?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Had one of our loan units to Brookside and back yesterday, 890.
Got treated to an impromptu cold shower whilst doing 90 through Bamford!
The roof was obviously leaking and collecting water somewhere, before overflowing through the light fitting. "BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!".
I will confess though, that i do like the modified direction controller on this particular unit, much easier to use than the tiny wrist spraining ones on all the others. If anyone out there had anything to do with that, then well done, lets fit that to all of em (If we can't scrap em that is!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think Mart means that he hasn't been on a refurbed FGW 158.
Thank you Kneedown.
Kneedown
Established Member
No probs Mart.
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