Build Quality

[Yew]

That's a rather "nice" way to say that they have no creativity or innovation and are pretty much just 'coasting' off the work that BR did in the 80s/90s!

Then they have the nerve to complain when they fail to sell their shoddy and out-of-date products.

The worst thing is, in some ways they have gone downhill since the later BR units. Look at a turbostar build qulaity compared to a 158, or a voyager compared to a mk3/4

 

[MCR247]

Matter of opinion. I like voyagers and to be honest I doubt most MOP could care less

 

[Yew]

Matter of opinion. I like voyagers and to be honest I doubt most MOP could care less

I imagine when there is an annoying rattle, they will

 

[bronzeonion]

The build quality of the Bombardier 'Stars does not seem to be top quality but they all do their job fine and their products are generally more aesthetically pleasing with more comfortable seats and are just generally nicer trains to travel in than a Siemens Desiro.

As for copying BR's stuff, I know if I owned a train factory and was landed with a load of old drawings for Networkers and bogies etc, I know I would not let them go to waste!

 

[Blindtraveler]

A 380 rattling? Never heard about that before.

every 380 Iv been on has made some kind of squeek, groan or rattle from somewhere. The doors are o3 a different design and I wonder, though im not sure if the interior relies more on lighter weight Plastic and similar? Anyway not impressed, with deziros as a whole and 185s and 380s in particular.t

 

[Talbot]

every 380 Iv been on has made some kind of squeek, groan or rattle from somewhere. The doors are o3 a different design and I wonder, though im not sure if the interior relies more on lighter weight Plastic and similar? Anyway not impressed, with deziros as a whole and 185s and 380s in particular.t

" Squeek, groan or rattle" ?, maybe you have super sensitive hearing. I work on the 380's every day and find them far more quiet and smooth with no rattles or squeeks than you would find on other units. They are so smooth that some passengers comment about the lack of noise when travelling at speed, build quality is superb.

 

[Blindtraveler]

they do ride smooth I cant fault that. iv maybe just been unlucky. I shal report back as I continue to clear them for haulage

 

[MCR247]

I imagine when there is an annoying rattle, they will

I don't even think they rattle that much! Nothing major anyway.

 

[150001]

" Squeek, groan or rattle" ?, maybe you have super sensitive hearing. I work on the 380's every day and find them far more quiet and smooth with no rattles or squeeks than you would find on other units. They are so smooth that some passengers comment about the lack of noise when travelling at speed, build quality is superb.

I agree with that! I must say that the 170s (especially those with the later two light design http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=170458&m=text) are very comfortable, and really the only vibration is slight at the gear change around 50mph. If we compare trains to most buses, trains barely rattle

 

[Hairy Bear]

I agree with that! I must say that the 170s (especially those with the later two light design http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=170458&m=text) are very comfortable, and really the only vibration is slight at the gear change around 50mph. If we compare trains to most buses, trains barely rattle

Not actually a gear change. Its when the transmission changes from torgue converter to fluid flywheel.
When we had them at Midland Mainline there was alot of comment on the vibration from the engines.They used to complain about the cups and saucers rattling. So what did they do to cure this........balance the flywheel?.....mega dampners on the engine mounts?.......naw, changed to mugs instead !!.

 

[150001]

Thanks; I always thought it was a gear change:roll:

 

[MCR247]

I agree with that! I must say that the 170s (especially those with the later two light design http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=170458&m=text)

Wow. It isn't just me that thinks the newer light design makes 170s and 375/377s look 500% better! We only have 170397 & 398 around here though with the newer design

 

[150001]

The later units with the new style look much better; wouldn't mind 397 and 398 plus some Scotrail ones down with LM. On Railworks they've made all the 170s with that style and I wish they all looked like that!!!

 

[bronzeonion]

Off topic but had to join in, my favourite look for the 170's is the large cowling (when it is intact) with original smaller lights.

I assume the cowling breaks so easily because they conceal the anti climbers which are clearly visible on Desiros. If they are too solid then the anti climbers can not serve their purpose in case of an accident.

 

[LE Greys]

Funny, I was on two GA 170s earlier today. Smooth, fairly quiet, working air-con, everything fine. I remember the rattling doors with some of the MkIII units near the end of BR (especially noticeable on a 317 in the Welwyn tunnels passing an HST) combined with that horrible plastic they seemed to like back then for interiors. Seems as though every class has good 'uns and bad 'uns, and that probably depends on how much they get used.