Construction progress: TPE 350/4

[fowler9]

Good photos mate. Nay bother about the quality, its good to capture the moment. And its not like I'm Lord Snowdon anyway. Ha ha.

 

[Class377/5]

Brilliant shots. Thanks for sharing.

 

[fowler9]

I love the first one. Gives an impression of speed and the weather.

 

[Manchester77]

Cracking images there EEAndyB1 I've put them on skyscraper city transport thread if its ok

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=109656978&postcount=1739

 

[EE Andy b1]

Hi gents & ladies, thanks for looking.

Will be good to see some electric loco hauled trains across the Moss!
I believe a Class 390 Pendolino will be on test over this line within the next week or so.

Cracking images there EEAndyB1 I've put them on skyscraper city transport thread if its ok

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=109656978&postcount=1739

No problem at all Manchester77.

 

[fowler9]

Hi gents & ladies, thanks for looking.

Will be good to see some electric loco hauled trains across the Moss!
I believe a Class 390 Pendolino will be on test over this line within the next week or so.




No problem at all Manchester77.

There are some dates and times knocking around for the 390's on here I think.

 

[EE Andy b1]

There are some dates and times knocking around for the 390's on here I think.

Found them thanks.

Looks like a Pendo test is back on, 1T07 on the 16/12, 23:21 off Longsight reversing at Newton le Willows.

Being a Pendolino driver and originally coming from the Eccles/Patricroft area it would have been nice to have driven over the Chat Moss line but this line was removed from my route card a few years back.

I had the privilege (if you can call it that) of being the driver of the first 11 car Pendolino (390154) on a service train. I was amazed on arrival at London Euston the number of people who wanted to have a look in the cab, finding out later that the train manager had announced the train as such.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Hi.
Here's some photos of TPE 350401 on the Up Chat Moss line through Patricroft with a VIP special from Preston to Manchester Oxford Road.
A little bit of history in the making.
The worlds oldest passenger railway (part of) has caught up with the 21st Century!

Nice pictures.
What they show is that there is an unfortunate "kink" in the otherwise straight main line through Patricroft.
I guess this was where they offset the original tracks to the south when they 4-tracked it, and didn't bother to restore the straight alignment when it was put back to 2 tracks.
So that bit is still living in the 19th century...

 

[EE Andy b1]

Nice pictures.
What they show is that there is an unfortunate "kink" in the otherwise straight main line through Patricroft.
I guess this was where they offset the original tracks to the south when they 4-tracked it, and didn't bother to restore the straight alignment when it was put back to 2 tracks.
So that bit is still living in the 19th century...

Yes I think originally and many years ago now this was where the slow and fast line would have joined together to form the main line.

I do remember the single line that was once part of the slow lines alignment that came down from Eccles to the long gone Royal Ordnance Factory that was just behind Patricroft station.

 

[L+Y]

Any news on putting these EMUs into TPex livery yet?

 

[Class377/5]

Any news on putting these EMUs into TPex livery yet?

News is the first units will have TPE stickers initially but all ten will be liveried by May.

Also rumour the first working is going to be an 8 car!

 

[Manchester77]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonesy3001/11419867475/

350401 at preston view of interior

 

[Skimble19]

Siemens really are useless at getting seats to line up with windows.. I suppose it's one thing Bombardier are definitely better at.

 

[MK Tom]

Yeah it's really not a hard thing to do. Unless there are passengers who specifically want windowless seats?

Ugh comments disabled. I'll never understand people on Flickr doing that.

 

[Nym]

Siemens really are useless at getting seats to line up with windows.. I suppose it's one thing Bombardier are definitely better at.

Nothing to do with interior seating being specified by the customer at all...

 

[fowler9]

When they refurbed the 507's and 508's who's idea was it for none of the seats to line up with a window and for everyone to have to play footsie with a stranger?

 

[ainsworth74]

Siemens really are useless at getting seats to line up with windows.. I suppose it's one thing Bombardier are definitely better at.

Have you ever actually been on a 185? How about a Voyager? You know a Bombardier product...

 

[Lrd]

I'm glad they are using the same seats as in a 444, they are a lot more comfortable than any other Desiro variant.

 

[fowler9]

Have you ever actually been on a 185? How about a Voyager? You know a Bombardier product...

I've been on a 185, actually I've been on many. Not somewhere I'd rather be stuck for more than an hour.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yeah it's really not a hard thing to do. Unless there are passengers who specifically want windowless seats?

Ugh comments disabled. I'll never understand people on Flickr doing that.

Maybe so they don't get spammed by people moaning about seats not lining up with windows!

Siemens really are useless at getting seats to line up with windows.. I suppose it's one thing Bombardier are definitely better at.

It didn't look too bad to me- even the much-loved Mk3s and Mk4s don't have a perfect seat/window alignment in any of the set-ups that I've ever encountered, and any stock with 1/3-2/3 doors will be very tricky to get a perfect line-up. It would be possible to achieve, but only at much-reduced capacity.

 

[fowler9]

Maybe so they don't get spammed by people moaning about seats not lining up with windows!



It didn't look too bad to me- even the much-loved Mk3s and Mk4s don't have a perfect seat/window alignment in any of the set-ups that I've ever encountered, and any stock with 1/3-2/3 doors will be very tricky to get a perfect line-up. It would be possible to achieve, but only at much-reduced capacity.

I don't think anyone expects a perfect line up, something which isn't the complete opposite would be nice though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I don't think anyone expects a perfect line up, something which isn't the complete opposite would be nice though.

From many of the posts on here you'd think the only solution would be glass carriages! I hate Vomiters as much as the next bloke but for some, 2" of pillar seems to be too much. :roll:

To wade briefly into the Siemens v. Bombardier contest, whenever I'm heading to Leeds or Manchester I try to aim for the Hull services in the hope of getting a 170 rather than a 185- More comfortable, warmer, and surprisingly quieter too in addition to less chance of a pillar (at least if you're at a table).

 

[fowler9]

From many of the posts on here you'd think the only solution would be glass carriages! I hate Vomiters as much as the next bloke but for some, 2" of pillar seems to be too much. :roll:

To wade briefly into the Siemens v. Bombardier contest, whenever I'm heading to Leeds or Manchester I try to aim for the Hull services in the hope of getting a 170 rather than a 185- More comfortable, warmer, and surprisingly quieter too in addition to less chance of a pillar (at least if you're at a table).

I take on board what you are saying but I would be astounded to find out that the areas around the doors and window columns on 507's, 508's and 150/1's are only 2 inches wide each.

 

[Eagle]

From many of the posts on here you'd think the only solution would be glass carriages!

Bring back the Southern Railway's observation cars! :P

I've been on one at Swanage, it's fair to say your view is rather unobstructed.

 

[Goatboy]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonesy3001/11419867475/

350401 at preston view of interior

Very barren in there for whats supposed to be a long distance unit. Perhaps carpetting on the walls might have made it feel a bit less like a suburban commuter train? The ambience inside doesn't look great.

Do they not do that sort of thing anymore? Always makes something like a 158 feel nice inside.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I take on board what you are saying but I would be astounded to find out that the areas around the doors and window columns on 507's, 508's and 150/1's are only 2 inches wide each.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to say the pillars between windows were only 2" wide- more that even a partial pillar is too much for some! As for all the suburban mk3/PEP-based stock, the door pockets place something of a restriction on where windows can be placed. There's not much that can be done about this sadly (experimental plug-doors on a 455 were a failure resulting in the structural integrity of the vehicle being compromised!).

 

[fowler9]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to say the pillars between windows were only 2" wide- more that even a partial pillar is too much for some! As for all the suburban mk3/PEP-based stock, the door pockets place something of a restriction on where windows can be placed. There's not much that can be done about this sadly (experimental plug-doors on a 455 were a failure resulting in the structural integrity of the vehicle being compromised!).

Of course mate, there is only so much that can be done about the windows. To be fair the 507's and 508's do a really good job!

 

[ianhr]

These are basically suburban trains, like the 185s, and not really fit for journeys of more than an hour. It was a disgrace that TPE was ever given the Manchester-Scotland route. Having said that I would rather travel in a 350, or their 3rd rail equivalents on SWT, than on ANY DMU or for that matter a Voyager or a Pendo. The last 25 years has seen a continuous and unremitting decline in the standard of passenger comfort on trains throughout the UK, whether its type of seat, leg room, space for luggage, access to/from doors seats (in the case of classes 156, 158), size of windows (pendos) and alignment of seats with windows.

 

[davetheguard]

These are basically suburban trains, like the 185s, and not really fit for journeys of more than an hour. It was a disgrace that TPE was ever given the Manchester-Scotland route. Having said that I would rather travel in a 350, or their 3rd rail equivalents on SWT, than on ANY DMU or for that matter a Voyager or a Pendo. The last 25 years has seen a continuous and unremitting decline in the standard of passenger comfort on trains throughout the UK, whether its type of seat, leg room, space for luggage, access to/from doors seats (in the case of classes 156, 158), size of windows (pendos) and alignment of seats with windows.

Not sure what to make of this. You say that "it was a disgrace that TPE was ever given the Manchester - Scotland route", but go on to say you prefer 350s to Voyagers & Pendolinos. Well, I think I agree with you on that; certainly as far as Voyagers are concerned anyway.

However, if TPE hadn't been given the route, then surely you'd have ended up with the very Voyagers or Pendolinos which you say you don't like.....

 

[SGS]

The last 25 years has seen a continuous and unremitting decline in the standard of passenger comfort on trains throughout the UK, whether its type of seat, leg room, space for luggage, access to/from doors seats (in the case of classes 156, 158), size of windows (pendos) and alignment of seats with windows.

I agree completely. I also agree with your timescale: this isn't just something that's come along with privatisation, it started with BR, which thought 150s, and later 156s and 158s, were adequate replacements for stock with seats around tables on trans-pennine routes. Also that 321s were adequate replacements for hauled stock on Cambridges, and for 309s on Clactons.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Very barren in there for whats supposed to be a long distance unit. Perhaps carpetting on the walls might have made it feel a bit less like a suburban commuter train? The ambience inside doesn't look great.

Do they not do that sort of thing anymore? Always makes something like a 158 feel nice inside.

I wonder if this is a German thing? I've driven VWs and BMWs and the interiors of those were high quality, but stark and a bit cold. Fake walnut out of favour in Germany, it seems!