Class 172 Production Progress

[WillPS]

I have no idea but if they can it should definitely happen.
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That, and the fact that Turbostars were pathetically underpowered for the route.

Even the later ones, like those at TPE?

 

[Kneedown]

Even the later ones, like those at TPE?

I take it you mean the 170's operated by TPE?
The only TPE 170 i've ever driven was 309 when it was 399 during Central days, and it was no better power-wise than any other 170. In fact, along with the other 2 cars, was worse than the 3 car fleet. Unless the rest of the TPE 170 fleet has had a major power upgrade i'd have to say yes, they are underpowered.
The 158's we have now are quicker off the mark than 170's (or they used to be anyway!) and they are underpowered for the route, but i've gone into this in other threads.

 

[WillPS]

True, true. I guess we'll see what the reports are on the 172s when they come in (seeing as they have new engines, bogies and whatnot).

 

[Pumbaa]

Second week of Feb is now pencilled in as first unit to arrive at LM.

 

[TomJ93]

Any thing happening with the 153 unit that works Nuneaton to Coventry?

 

[hello]

yesterday 172008 was at bromsgrove

 

[TurboStar_2533]

yesterday 172008 was at bromsgrove

172008 was being used for transmission tests up Licky Bank incline and promptly got stranded with frozen fuel lines!!!?. Should have gone back to Litchurch Lane last Sunday for instrumentation to be removed prior to returning back to Willesden.

 

[sprinterguy]

Even the later ones, like those at TPE?

All the 170s have the same 422hp engine, barring one Scotrail unit.

I've always been surprised that the 170s are considered to be underpowered compared to the various Sprinter classes considering how much more power they're packing. I suppose their higher gearing counts against them in terms of acceleration.

Hopefully the 172s will be an improvement, as they have higher powered 483hp engines, trialled on one of the later Scotrail units, compared to the standard 422hp fitted to all the 170s. Plus the LM units are geared for a 75mph maximum as opposed to 100mph.

 

[Bastiaan]

Does anyone know if the Class 172s will have toilets and, if they will have them, in which cars they will be situated?

 

[YorkshireBear]

only LO and chiltern limited to 75 LM units are all limited 100

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Does anyone know if the Class 172s will have toilets and, if they will have them, in which cars they will be situated?

172/1, 172/2 and 172/3 will, I believe, have one toilet per unit.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

172008 was being used for transmission tests up Licky Bank incline and promptly got stranded with frozen fuel lines!!!?. Should have gone back to Litchurch Lane last Sunday for instrumentation to be removed prior to returning back to Willesden.

Sounds like lessons about winter protection of fuel systems will never be learnt!

 

[Jordy]

One of the LM 172s has emerged

http://cw-railpic.fpic.co.uk/p68624467.html

 

[jopsuk]

In a deeply unsurprising result, it looks rather like a Southern 377.

 

[Pumbaa]

Unsurprising, and 3 weeks ahead of the revised revised revised revised revised schedule to begin testing in last week of January.

 

[the sniper]

Well, at least the lights are different to a 377...

It looks kind of weird to me, I think because of the black buffers (though they're not really buffers anymore...). Looking forward to them being introduced in service now!

Thanks for the link Jordy.

 

[MCR247]

Well, at least the lights are different to a 377...

I prefer these lights

I detest these ones.

Although they look better on 375/377s than 357s and 170s

 

[swt_passenger]

The light fittings are the same as the 378, as far as I can make out.

Odd that the 379s aren't using them as well, they seem to have gone back to the type used on the fairly recent 377/5s.

 

[trains2064]

http://cw-railpic.fotopic.net/c1929988.html

These pictures are fantastic.

Can't wait to see them.

 

[Electrostar]

Definitely a 378-inspired light casing (certainly not my favourite Electrostar look) and I'd have preferred the green at stretch lower but realise that wouldn't match other LM stock. It'll be good to see it complete with green stripe and branding. The black window surrounds at the side stretch further towards the cab than the 350s.

 

[the sniper]

I prefer these lights.

Me too, but I'm kind of happy that the 172 doesn't have those lights as it acts as a pretty clear visual differentiator between the two types. Not that it really matters though.

I'd have preferred the green at stretch lower but realise that wouldn't match other LM stock.

It wouldn't be in line with the 170s or 350s (the 350s have rubber like buffers, which aren't painted probably due to their material), but their 323s and 321s (and 153s, kind of) have lower green cab ends.

I'd prefer the 172s to have green lower fronts too, but black is fine.

 

[IanPooleTrains]

Is this being tested on the same route tomorrow or was it just today?

 

[Fincra5]

Couldn't agree more, the green definately has to go lower, like Southerns 377s, it just looks odd otherwise.

 

[TheWalrus]

I like that!

 

[Simon Poole]

So we now know what an Class 172/3 looks like, any chance it's running tomorrow?

 

[fgwrich]

http://cw-railpic.fotopic.net/c1929988.html

These pictures are fantastic.

Can't wait to see them.

Mmmmmmm

Not the prettiest looking units at all! Looks - Cheap, Bog Standard Bombardier apperance, and with those lights, corridor connection & nasty Eco Flexx Bogies, dam right bizarre!!! Almost as if it's missing something...oh yeah, a proper underframe & front end/skirt!

Seeing as Bombardier still appears to be having reliability problems with these units, i wonder how these will fair! Especially up both the Licky and Old Hill Bank!...Still wonder why on earth did Bombardier ever conceived the idea of bringing back Mechanical Transmission though???

As for the 'Any chance it's running tomorrow' questions, Possibly! That’s if your near Old Dalby though! Hence the obvious photo caption of 5Z72 Derby Litchurch Lane - Old Dalby

 

[tbtc]

I like that!

Same here, though we seem to be in a minority.

It looks much nicer than the LO version - like a proper train

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

I actually love it, sure it could do with an improvement here and there, but it does look pretty nice!

 

[Crossforth]

I like it too a lot better than the front of a class 70

 

[IanPooleTrains]

I like it too a lot better than the front of a class 70

I like the 172/3as well but I'm sorry, better than the front of a class 70? I know the 70 isn't the prettiest machine in the world but I can think of well uglier than the front of a froth!