Class 390 Pendolino Collection

[Bohemian]

This might be an idea for a challenge. Collect as many numbers, photographic evidence and ride all 53 trains in an agreed time period?

I did a quick look on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_390, but they seem to have a list of 54. I gave up taking numbers when I reached 32 different Class 390's that I have travelled on. The other Class 390 trains that I didn't manage to get use the Trent Valley Birmingham bypass stretch of the West Coast Main Line. I'm guessing that they do swap routes, so maybe I should start collecting again.

 

[sprinterguy]

390054 is the first of four new eleven carriage Pendolinos, and was delivered to Edge Hill depot for commissioning during December. It won’t be in passenger service until 2012.

There’s now only 52 operational Pendos of the original 53 following the write off of 390033 involved in the Grayrigg accident. Virgin have 47 Pendolinos rostered for service each weekday, and over time all 52 will have appeared on all West Coast routes, as until some of the trains are extended to eleven coaches there is no segregation of specific trains for specific routes.

 

[xtradj]

Im assuming Liverpool would be 11 coaches for every service as its only 1 ph, as would Glasgow/Preston, with Manchester and Wolves having 9 as they are more reg?

 

[Geezertronic]

This might be an idea for a challenge. Collect as many numbers, photographic evidence and ride all 53 trains in an agreed time period?

I did a quick look on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_390, but they seem to have a list of 54. I gave up taking numbers when I reached 32 different Class 390's that I have travelled on. The other Class 390 trains that I didn't manage to get use the Trent Valley Birmingham bypass stretch of the West Coast Main Line. I'm guessing that they do swap routes, so maybe I should start collecting again.

You'll be lucky to ride all 53 considering 390033 was written off in the Grayrigg accident and 390054 is not comissioned yet. There's 52 x 390s in service at the moment

Edit: missed SprinterGuy's reply above

 

[sprinterguy]

Im assuming Liverpool would be 11 coaches for every service as its only 1 ph, as would Glasgow/Preston, with Manchester and Wolves having 9 as they are more reg?

I don’t know for sure which services the 11 carriage trains will be allocated to but what you’ve said sounds right from what I’ve heard. I’m sure somebody on here will have better knowledge: 11 carriage trains for Glasgow and Liverpool services, as well as some of the busier Manchester diagrams. West Mids trains will continue using 9 carriage Pendos.

 

[TomJ93]

I've travelled on all (including the grayrigg) set by now i'm sure!

 

[Bohemian]

I've travelled on all (including the grayrigg) set by now i'm sure!

Nice one! There should be a prize for that achievement.

 

[scotsman]

I've only got haulage on 2 Pendos, one from EDB-HYM and one from CAR-GLC last week. It was fantastic, it was like flying to some extent. You'd feel yourself go into a corner and then it would level out in a second or so. 125mph round curves is highly recommended!

 

[CosherB]

Interesting that the Pendos are known by their numbers, since Virgin seem quite active in regularly changing their names!

 

[Geezertronic]

Interesting that the Pendos are known by their numbers, since Virgin seem quite active in regularly changing their names!

I wouldn't say they change every name regularly, the usual "City of..." suspects don't seem to have changed much from what I have seen, just the ones they are using for publicity ("Alstom Pendolino" for example)

 

[Dreadnought]

I wouldn't say they change every name regularly, the usual "City of..." suspects don't seem to have changed much from what I have seen, just the ones they are using for publicity ("Alstom Pendolino" for example)

I know that 002, 004, 006, 009, 010 (3 names), 022, 045 & 047 (3 names) have definitely carried more than one name.

 

[Nym]

11 coach trains will NOT be working glasgow as the platforms are not long enough on the route between Lancaster and Glasgow Central, this is mentioned in one of the WCML RUS a while back, they will most likely be running Liverpool / Manchester diagrams...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

11 coach trains will NOT be working glasgow as the platforms are not long enough on the route between Lancaster and Glasgow Central, this is mentioned in one of the WCML RUS a while back, they will most likely be running Liverpool / Manchester diagrams...

11-cars will be working BHM-EDB trains though, on the surface, it appears only Lancaster would have problems (gthey could be extended southwards), Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlsile, Lockerbie, Carstairs, Glasgow and Edinburgh should all be OK, Motherwell and Haymarket may need work.

 

[Patrick]

It was fantastic, it was like flying to some extent. You'd feel yourself go into a corner and then it would level out in a second or so. 125mph round curves is highly recommended!

That sums up exactly why I love Pendo's. It's a shame most of the Virgin routes near where I live are operated by the dreadful Voyagers

I've been on 8 Pendo's so far.

 

[WestCoast]

11 coach trains will NOT be working glasgow as the platforms are not long enough on the route between Lancaster and Glasgow Central, this is mentioned in one of the WCML RUS a while back, they will most likely be running Liverpool / Manchester diagrams...

Not very clever that at all, considering the 1tph Glasgow would really benefit from the extra capacity. I thought they were destined for that route, will they not use Selective Door Opening? I certainly thought that was the plan and with testing of this feature to be carried out...

That sums up exactly why I love Pendo's. It's a shame most of the Virgin routes near where I live are operated by the dreadful Voyagers

Nice to here something positive about 390s and not constant moans and groans about windows.

 

[Helvellyn]

11 coach trains will NOT be working glasgow as the platforms are not long enough on the route between Lancaster and Glasgow Central

Strange that InterCity used to manage to operate 13 coach (Mark 1/2) trains plus an AC electric on CrossCountry services in the late 1980s that served this route, with nothing off the platform. Which stations don't have platforms that are long enough?

 

[scotsman]

That sums up exactly why I love Pendo's. It's a shame most of the Virgin routes near where I live are operated by the dreadful Voyagers

I've been on 8 Pendo's so far.

I love them too! My local VT route gets Voyagers 99% of the time, although Coach D is a redeeming feature. Also, my Pendo journey was dark so there was no way of getting my bearings

 

[Patrick]

Nice to here something positive about 390s and not constant moans and groans about windows.

I don't see a problem with the windows, most trains in the UK have seats with a pillar view and the window size isn't an issue for me even though I'm 6ft4.

 

[Bohemian]

I can't reply to that as there is a pillar in the way.

 

[Mr Spock]

I travelled on all 52 of the current ones last year - mind you Rugby is my local station and I regularly go to London or Birmingham.

Never kept a record before last year so not sure if I ever had 33 but be surprised if not.

 

[Pumbaa]

11 coach trains will NOT be working glasgow as the platforms are not long enough on the route between Lancaster and Glasgow Central, this is mentioned in one of the WCML RUS a while back, they will most likely be running Liverpool / Manchester diagrams...

But when the 11-cars come into service they'll only be calling at Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow it shouldn't be an issue. They also have SDO, platform works are pencilled in for Oxenholme Down/Up and Penrith Up.

11 cars will be allocated to Liverpool, Glasgow, key Manchester and Brum diagrams to cover the busiest duties on the latter two routes.

 

[Crossover]

This might be an idea for a challenge. Collect as many numbers, photographic evidence and ride all 53 trains in an agreed time period?

This is something one of my friends challenged me to do - get a picture of each nameplate - alas, I have a few but only about half a dozen or so.

I also started making a note on my phone of which ones I'd seen (by number for ease, though I usually look for the name plates too ) and a separate list of ones I had been on (I travelled from MK to Manchester (and beyond) a fair amount last year so went on a few) - that fell by the wayside when I kept forgetting to note them down!

Can remember a few of the ones I have been on though (mainly the more memorable names) such as Dinas Bangor, Pioneer, Mission Accomplished, Express (ironically, it was a service calling everywhere!) and Penny
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, and Decade of Progress (which needed a reboot at Coventry!!!)

 

[sprinterguy]

I'm not bothered about how many I've travelled on, to me one particuar class member is the same as the other trains in the same class and the Pendos are about as "samey" and lacking in individual charm as you can get (although I do have a soft spot for the first one I ever saw, 390021), but I have been working on getting a photo of each Pendolino and it's nameplate since they were introduced. Although in recent years the opportunities to spend time anywhere where Pendos regularly stop have been lacking, so despite having seen all 53 of the units, and undoubtedy travelled on quite a few, I've only got portrait and nameplate photos of about 30-35 of them.

I just wish I'd thought about doing the same thing with the Voyagers in virgin Crosscountry days before all the nameplates were removed. I like trains with names, it seems much more emotive than just a number.

 

[33056]

Have no idea how many Pendos I have travelled on and don't care

Much more interested in trying to get may last of 145 (well, 146 really) DB class 101s - taken me nearly 14 years so far and still counting........however, I do have to confess that they are not my bashing conveyance of choice, only got interested when down to the last 10.

 

[TomJ93]

I love them too! My local VT route gets Voyagers 99% of the time, although Coach D is a redeeming feature. Also, my Pendo journey was dark so there was no way of getting my bearings

before the free wi-fi I had a genius idea that coach D would still get free wi-fi, it did!


I do like Pendolinos, had a laugh on one the other day when a lady tried to open the capacitive door buttons whilst wearing gloves.