Class 442s

[Juniper Driver]

I drove these units for 15 years and had a lot of trouble when I first drove them in 1992 and at the end of their life on SWT.

I will miss them though |I had a lot of fun with them

http://www.class442.co.uk/index.shtml

Interesting website.Notice the SWT punters prefer the 442s.So do most drivers.

 

[Dennis]

Care to explain what fun you had with them?

 

[Gizmogle]

I thought that the 442s had really uncomfortable cabs? Think I'd prefer to drive a Desiro long term.

At least we know that the 442s will most likely be back anyway.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Care to explain what fun you had with them?

Because I had a lot of things go wrong on them.Also was travelling as passenger on one and it broke down outside Basingstoke in the leaf fall.

I had quite a few breakdowns on them.

Only the 458's can match that at the moment.

Gizmogle I don't think the 442's are coming back to SWT.

 

[Tom]

Nope - some of the 444s can match the pig failures ... axle bearing failure ... hock:

 

[Gizmogle]

Gizmogle I don't think the 442's are coming back to SWT.

Not back to SWT, just back in service. They should (has this been confirmed now?) be off tot Southern.

 

[Techniquest]

I doubt that sincerely...

 

[TheSlash]

Care to explain what fun you had with them?

Going down Portsmouth Harbour at 06:00 on a cold winter's morning, trying to make the b*stard things couple up on platform 5!! Door trouble was another favourite

 

[Coxster]

I doubt that sincerely...

What do you think the 442+73 workings are for then?

 

[Tom]

GBRf just want to play trains - obviously....

 

[me123]

I'm surprised that the 442s went out of service when they were relatively young. Was there a technical problem or something?

 

[Tom]

They were 20 years old - but the traction package was nearing 45 years old ...

 

[me123]

Ah, right. I though trains could go on for at least 30 years but, in this case, obviously not so.

 

[Techniquest]

Doubt what?

That 442s are returning?

Oh they're returning.

Your sig also makes no sense. Your sig implies that you hate Mk3 based traction - while loving HSTs. Makes no sense really!!!

I never said I hate MK3 technology. I hate 442s because they're slow, uncomfortable and boring.

 

[Tom]

So that's why they hold the world speed record for third rail traction? Hmm.... officially 108mph - unofficially somewhere in the 120s ....

 

[Techniquest]

I quite like the Mallard HSTs TBH.... rather plush.

That's up to you, but I dislike them.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So that's why they hold the world speed record for third rail traction? Hmm.... officially 108mph - unofficially somewhere in the 120s ....

Doesn't mean they're good. In normal runs they are slow and boring.

 

[Tom]

By that sense - so are 444s and 450s.

 

[TheSlash]

By whathisnameisthisweek logic, an HST is slow and boring. As Tom said, it's 40 year old technology still in much sort after demand, so some clever people obviously see some good in them...

 

[Juniper Driver]

Dont think there is a train I really hate.They all have their own characteristics.

 

[Techniquest]

By whathisnameisthisweek logic, an HST is slow and boring. As Tom said, it's 40 year old technology still in much sort after demand, so some clever people obviously see some good in them...

And how do you interprete what I've said to come to that conclusion then?

I hate 442s, but that doesn't mean I hate MK3 carriage stock or whatever. I've never had an enjoyable 442 trip, always slow, always late, always uncomfortable and they are incredibly ugly pieces of junk.

If other people see some good in them, then so be it. Doesn't mean everyone has to like the moving junk piles. I certainly never will.

 

[Nathan]

Notice the SWT punters prefer the 442s.So do most drivers.

Not every punter

I hate 442s, but that doesn't mean I hate MK3 carriage stock or whatever. I've never had an enjoyable 442 trip, always slow, always late, always uncomfortable and they are incredibly ugly pieces of junk.

If other people see some good in them, then so be it. Doesn't mean everyone has to like the moving junk piles. I certainly never will.

I hated being on them, but i didnt mind when they were running alongside Desiros, simply gave variety to take photos of. The traction package may be 45 years old but 442s are nothing compared to CIGs, BIGs, TCs, LAV, BILs etc...

 

[Tom]

Yes they are - they can accelerate far faster when the conditions are right .... the traction motors weren't salvaged from an EMU more powerful than a Deltic for nothing!

 

[devon_metro]

442s made a quite simply delightful sound. Seats were nice and there was a nice atmosphere in the coaches. How a modern hard seat 444 can come near to this defeats me.

Ah well

The fact that you have never had a good journey on one does not make it a bad train surely :?

 

[Juniper Driver]

I have been on 444044 since between 6pm and 1am and I had a great day on it.

Me and the guard had a little play about with 444044 at Brockenhurst working out how to lock the doors on it if need be.Also talked about the formation of the coaches.

There was a Desiro on the Lymington branch tonight but didnt think of looking at the number.They have to lock a coach out due to the fact a 4 car doesn't fit on the platform (lymington Town?).Thats what I was told by the Bournemouth crew.If all the doors on one coach are locked then the yellow light on the side stays out we noticed.Me and the guard both ran down there to look at that Desiro.It's not the same on 455s.

When I learn't the 450's I didn't actually get on a 444 as there weren't many around in April 2004.I'm feeling more and more comfortable with the 444's as they are slightly different in handling to a class 450.

 

[Hentis]

Not back to SWT, just back in service. They should (has this been confirmed now?) be off tot Southern.

Hi Gizmogle, Yep its been confirmed around 18 are going to Southern. With Luggage modifications being carried out ar Eastleigh and re viynling also. Lets hope they get rid of the red cab side. It looks like a bloody pimple just all white and a red end.... whoah... dont think I will say anything else!!!

Not aimed at you Giz

As to hating the 442's. Well thats your own feelings but at the end of the day they were one of the if not the best 3rd Rail units around. I was priviliged to have seen the first one on passenger service and the last one on passenger serivce, both at Poole. The ride is fantastic in them, the seats are comfy as hell. Way better than a 450 (although 444 first class is debatable at the moment) The 442's had charecter and you could always hear them coming and going. Yes they broke down alot but so would you if you were used day in day out. only 24 units. Short sighted by BR in the day yes it was but they were the best 24 units going and they made the Ride between Poole & Waterloo comfy for me. Have to say but the HST's have a place in my book as well but not as much as the 442's, Mainly I think really because I have never travelled on them as much as 442's really. Apart from the whining traction motors on a 442 and face full of lovely smelling diesel from a HST, its not much difference to a HST run from Poole to Basingstoke on a 442 or HST .... well apart from the acceleration for the 442, oh and the horns... they are fantastic.

HERE HERE & HERE

The units max permitted speed was 100 mph. During a record run between Waterloo & Weymouth it reached a top speed of 109 mph. It was allowed up to 110mph that was with 2401 on April 4th 1988 between Basingstoke and winchester. Unofficialy on test one 442 (not sure which one) reached 124.5 mph between Basingstoke & Winchester. My source was a former fitter at Bournemouth who was in the cab of the unit whilst undertaking the run.

Just my 5 cents worth really.



Hentis

 

[Juniper Driver]

I know they suffered a few breakdowns but not every train is this same and these things happen.

I did like the units and I learnt a lot about train driving while I was on them.