Class 442 Website and Appeal

[thefab444]

Yep, you try sitting on top of the motor bogie on a 442 buffet with the door to the vestibule jammed open.... :P

 

[Nathan]

I'll try... thats if i can find one still in service

 

[Coxster]

Thus deafening the passengers inside.

I don't mind deafening other passengers

 

[16CSVT2700]

Bah, the 442s may have been pukka units, but that's no reason to go around trashing good stock like 444s. 442s may have had a scream (and good it is too! 2408 giving a good show the other day), but 444s are pretty much the better unit in other respects. Some people would say the seats are uncomfortable, but that's opinion.

But yes nothing will ever replace the Pigs scream... unless.

We fit massive speakers to 444s boy-racer style and then when the unit gets above 40mph they start to play a 442 style scream...

I keep hearing the word "scream" yet in my mind I picture a HST not a 442.

Well, if a unit that sounds like a pixie winding an elastic band is your thing

 

[thefab444]

I keep hearing the word "scream" yet in my mind I picture a HST not a 442.

Well, if a unit that sounds like a pixie winding an elastic band is your thing

Yep, both units have a scream...

There's probably a better word for a 442 scream but I've forgotten it if it exists.

 

[16CSVT2700]

Yep, both units have a scream...

There's probably a better word for a 442 scream but I've forgotten it if it exists.

Now now, HSTs aren't units, we've been over this many times before.

442s don't scream though. I've heard one (of course) and it's not a "scream". More of a loud "whirr".

 

[Nathan]

I agree, 442s have more a 'whirr' than a 'scream' and the compresser is just a compresser. Tom likes to listen to it at stations and sometimes times it on the train.

 

[Tom]

Says he who likes "eeeeeeeeeeEEeeEEeEEEEeEEeEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" :razz:

 

[thefab444]

Now now, HSTs aren't units, we've been over this many times before.

442s don't scream though. I've heard one (of course) and it's not a "scream". More of a loud "whirr".

Heh, call it what you like, and HSTs are half way to being a unit... in my opinion anyway.

FGW HSTs should be good once the Mk3s have had a nice refurb. Currently a bit annoyed with the state of some of their Mk3s... which looks to me to be the original BR design e.g. very low seats and busted-spring style at that.

 

[WessexWarrior]

I'm really going to miss the 442's. They have a lot of character, are very comfortable and I have a lot of fond memories associated with them. I will also miss them roaring/humming/whirring past my window.

 

[Nathan]

Says he who likes "eeeeeeeeeeEEeeEEeEEEEeEEeEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" :razz:

At least i dont count the compresser lengths!

 

[devon_metro]

442s should stay and are great units

 

[WessexWarrior]

442s should stay and are great units

I wonder if they will go to Southern/Gatwick Express. I thought those services were well covered...

 

[devon_metro]

Yep, you try sitting on top of the motor bogie on a 442 buffet with the door to the vestibule jammed open.... :P

Did it all day

 

[thefab444]

442s are good if you can find a seat which isn't busted, quite a few have a tendenacy to dig into your backside... unless I've been unlucky in choosing a seat. I prefer the 159 seats than the 442s seats TBH.

It's sad the 442s will be leaving us, but times move on, I'm a bit miffed a special order of 25 new 444s wasn't placed for the Weymouth line and Portsmouth line passengers will have to suffer at our expense. Well, 450s from Brockenhurst - Waterloo isn't too bad as long as the train remains with only half the seats filled, otherwise it starts getting unpleasant.

1 x 450 on a Fratton - Waterloo service really isn't enough though... at least 2 x 450 please...

 

[devon_metro]

442s are good if you can find a seat which isn't busted, quite a few have a tendenacy to dig into your backside... unless I've been unlucky in choosing a seat. I prefer the 159 seats than the 442s seats TBH.

It's sad the 442s will be leaving us, but times move on, I'm a bit miffed a special order of 25 new 444s wasn't placed for the Weymouth line and Portsmouth line passengers will have to suffer at our expense. Well, 450s from Brockenhurst - Waterloo isn't too bad as long as the train remains with only half the seats filled, otherwise it starts getting unpleasant.

1 x 450 on a Fratton - Waterloo service really isn't enough though... at least 2 x 450 please...

Saw 4 450s doing Weymouths today- Even worse!

 

[WessexWarrior]

The funniest thing about this is the fact that there are some trains on other networks that are in a far, far worse condition than the 442's.

The 'one' Class 317's are so knackered that I've quite often had to rebuild my seat before I can sit on it, they're overcrowded, outdated and dangerous; I once got off at Liverpool Street to discover that the motors under the carriage were on fire.

I'm new here, so there will no doubt be many, many more 'one' related rants to come

 

[Dennis]

.

I'm new here, so there will no doubt be many, many more 'one' related rants to come

No - we like One now; FGW is the current target of our vitriol 8)

 

[1D53]

Its so hard to keep up with whos cool to hate and who's not

 

[class 313]

The 'one' Class 317's are so knackered that I've quite often had to rebuild my seat before I can sit on it, they're overcrowded, outdated and dangerous; I once got off at Liverpool Street to discover that the motors under the carriage were on fire.

I'm new here, so there will no doubt be many, many more 'one' related rants to come

They where good on the BedPan line and now look what you guys have done to them!

Well the last 'ONE' 317 I was on was pretty good, they are not outdated and it isnt th 317s fault they get overcrowded...

 

[Daniel]

317's are my local trains.

317/5's suck. 317/7's are average. and they're the best we have lol.

And Tom, the one you was on was a 317/8.. thats the newest one.

 

[class 313]

No it wasnt, the last 317 I went on was a rainbow one, and you leave the 317/5s alone, they are the best 317s as they came from the MML so that means they are best 317... still 317s are pretty ****e as 319s where and still are better than them...

 

[16CSVT2700]

Heh, call it what you like, and HSTs are half way to being a unit... in my opinion anyway.

Well the original plan was to treat them as permanantly coupled rakes but maintenance wise it was a nightmare so they changed their minds and allocated them as Locos and Coaches. So you're right to an extent that they're halfway to being units
But yup, it's all down to personal opinion, me I'm not a dedicated HST fan so I won't defend them to the ends of the earth ^__^

FGW HSTs should be good once the Mk3s have had a nice refurb. Currently a bit annoyed with the state of some of their Mk3s... which looks to me to be the original BR design e.g. very low seats and busted-spring style at that.

Know what you mean about FGW seats, I can't stand the original design to be honest, crap condition lowish back seats aren't good for me who likes to doss when returning home from a trip. The refurbishment should be interesting.

 

[WessexWarrior]

317's are my local trains. Bugger off :P.

317/5's suck. 317/7's are average. and they're the best we have lol.

And Tom, the one you was on was a 317/8.. thats the newest one, so...

They're mine too, but I still detest them

I just can't understand how SWT can get a £70m, 17 new train deal from the Government to 'ease overcrowding' when 'one' has the dubious honour of having 3 scheduled trains on the list of most overcrowded in the country!

 

[Daniel]

No it wasnt, the last 317 I went on was a rainbow one, and you leave the 317/5s alone, they are the best 317s as they came from the MML so that means they are best 317... still 317s are pretty ****e as 319s where and still are better than them...

You were probably on a Rainbow /6 then if it was nice.

Just because the 317/5's came from the MML doesn't make then great. They can still and are still the worst units we have on the line.

 

[16CSVT2700]

You were probably on a Rainbow /6 then if it was nice.

Was it the Unit of the Beast?

 

[Daniel]

 

[16CSVT2700]

317666

 

[lev441]

it would be a great shame to see these units go.. they are units i feel with alot of character.

Have heard various rumors where these units could go.. Gatwick express and/or southern..

How would they work on the gatwick express... their doors are so thin?! surely it isnt practical..?
I feel southern is the best choice for these units.. seeing as this will help free up the desparately need 319's to thameslink.. my local line which is full to the brim! I doubt i or anyone else could really wait until 2009...

 

[Nathan]

For those who havn't seen it yet - 442s off lease is 'prefered option' says SWT

South West Trains has confirmed returning all 24 of its five-car class 442 units to Angel Trains in January is a 'prefered option'. SWT says it will replace class 442s on Bournemouth/Weymouth services with five-car class 444s () and use four-car 450s - some running as eight- and 12-car sets - on the Portsmouth line to give more capacity. The company is returning class 458s to traffic and these will work on the Waterloo-Reading line to release 450s for the Portsmouth line. A batch of 24 class 450s will also be reconfigured internally to have a metro styled seating arrangement for use on inner-suburban trains alongside its current Class 455s - currently undergoing refurbishment. These will lose a toilet and retain just one - wheelchair-freindly lavatory. However SWT says nothing has yet been signed, but expects the deal to be sorted imminently. Angel is currently having Class 442s overhauled to C6 standard, and will no doubt be looking for new opportunities for the popular Class 442s which are 20 years old, albeit with a much older traction package. Loss of the 442s from the SWT depot places a question over the future of their home depot, Bournemouth, as all its new 444s () and 450s () are maintained by their builder - Siemens - at Northam depot, Southampton.

Source: Railways Illustrated, January 2007 [Page 16]