Different types of MK IV?

[bengley]

I went on a NXEC Mark 4 coach from London to Leeds in February and the seats were very comfortable and soft. I then did the same journey last week and the seats were hard and uncomfortable.

Are there different types/ refurbished models?

 

[asylumxl]

Not that I know. Only one kind of Mallard refurb.

 

[37401]

nope only one kind

 

[GNERman]

all sets were redone between late 2003 and 2006, only 1 mk 3 set is now not refurbished (is that right?)

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

I'm sure the person on another forum won't mind me posting this. Cheer to 43103 for the gen

Codes:
N - National Express East Coast livery
G - Old GNER blue but with white stripe livery
M - Mallard refurbished interior
B - Brown unrefurbished interior

EC51 - N M
EC52 - N M (41039 coach "M" is G M)
EC53 - N M (41190 coach "M" is G M)
EC54 - N M
EC55 - G M
EC56 - N M
EC57 - G B (in Wabtec Doncaster Works for conversion to N M)
EC58 - N M
EC59 - N M
EC60 - G B (some standard seats have been reupholstered in 'new' brown moquette)
EC61 - N M
EC62 - N M
EC63 - N M

Presumably sets EC52 and 53 are misformed. There may be other odd spare vehicles which are G B.

It would seem likely that NX will hand back East Coast before the refurbishment / repaint programme is complete. EC55 has a Doncaster high quality G paint job so perhaps it will keep this? Or could it be that when EC60 is refurbished it will emerge in a new livery???

Just for the record, all PCs are in N livery except for 43206, 43313 and 43318 which are G.
All class 91s and MkIVs are G except for 91111 which is N and 91116 which is G with green undercoat showing through.

 

[bengley]

Well I'm positive that it was less comfy this time.

Here we are:

Seats I sat on in FEB, comfy:

Last week, Horrible:


(second image was taken by myself, while I was on that specific train. I can tell you that it was painted in GNER livery)

 

[Waverley125]

the Mk3 refurbs are noticeably different-the chairs squeal as you sit down, and tend to move about while sat on, unlike the Mk4s.

 

[MCR247]

Bengley: The first train was a HST & MK3 for starters, with the latter a MK 4 :roll:

 

[16CSVT2700]

Bengley: The first train was a HST & MK3 for starters, with the latter a MK 4 :roll:

Why the :roll:?

Not everyone knows the difference between Mk3s and Mk4s like the majority on here do.

 

[poshbakerloo]

I love the MK4s...still very modern looking/feeling, but also a 'proper train'...

 

[bengley]

Bengley: The first train was a HST & MK3 for starters, with the latter a MK 4 :roll:

No it wasn't, they were both 91s and MK4s. I remember it clearly.

Just to back this up: This was the february return train which was also comfortable, and to me this looks like a MK4 DVT.

http://filesmelt.com/downloader/DSC02560.JPG

 

[jamesontheroad]

No it wasn't, they were both 91s and MK4s. I remember it clearly.

Just to back this up: This was the february return train which was also comfortable, and to me this looks like a MK4 DVT.

Indeed. But of the two interior photographs you posted earlier, the first is a refurbished mk. 3 carriage, and the second is a refurbished mk. 4 carriage. You can see the difference around the edges of the windows: the mk. 4 windows have a much thicker black rubber seal around the windows. The mk. 3s also have a distinctive rubber expansion gap that forms a black vertical line between every window frame panel.

mk. 3 interior: http://www.therailwaycentre.com/UK%20News%20Pages%20Feb%2007/140207_GNER.html

mk. 4 interior: http://anoraksia.ukgeeks.co.uk/p12699318.html

 

[90019]

No it wasn't, they were both 91s and MK4s. I remember it clearly.

Just to back this up: This was the february return train which was also comfortable, and to me this looks like a MK4 DVT.

Sure that image is big enough?

 

[johnb]

It would seem likely that NX will hand back East Coast before the refurbishment / repaint programme is complete. EC55 has a Doncaster high quality G paint job so perhaps it will keep this? Or could it be that when EC60 is refurbished it will emerge in a new livery???

I'd expect EC60 and EC57 both to emerge with Mallard interiors.

On the paint side, I'd expect anything which needs repainting to be repainted in NXEC livery (possibly without vinyls) and anything which doesn't need repainting to stay in GNER+white stripe livery. It would go against the grain for the new government-owned operator to be seen as spending taxpayer money on branding...

 

[bengley]

Indeed. But of the two interior photographs you posted earlier, the first is a refurbished mk. 3 carriage, and the second is a refurbished mk. 4 carriage. You can see the difference around the edges of the windows: the mk. 4 windows have a much thicker black rubber seal around the windows. The mk. 3s also have a distinctive rubber expansion gap that forms a black vertical line between every window frame panel.

mk. 3 interior: http://www.therailwaycentre.com/UK%20News%20Pages%20Feb%2007/140207_GNER.html

mk. 4 interior: http://anoraksia.ukgeeks.co.uk/p12699318.html

Thanks for clarifying that. The seats in the MK4 picture you posted are the comfortable ones - they don't have the horizontal stripes on them.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Sure that image is big enough?

Sorry, I was in a hurry to leave the house so I didn't have time to open photoshop and resize it.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Thanks for clarifying that. The seats in the MK4 picture you posted are the comfortable ones - they don't have the horizontal stripes on them.

Err.. they're the same seats in Mk III and Mk IV Mallards... just the pic jamesontheroad linked to is a first class carriage, so obviously those seats are different.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Err.. they're the same seats in Mk III and Mk IV Mallards... just the pic jamesontheroad linked to is a first class carriage, so obviously those seats are different.

Scroll down, standard class is also shown. Same seats in Mk. 3 and Mk. 4. Also in the refurb'd XC sets as well, I believe...

 

[Royston Vasey]

Scroll down, standard class is also shown. Same seats in Mk. 3 and Mk. 4. Also in the refurb'd XC sets as well, I believe...

Ah got that now! The fabric looks different on the Mk 4 in jamesontheorad's link only because of the lighting and brightness of the shots.

Bengley, believe me, I've travelled at least a hundred journies on Mallard sets, both Mk III and Mk IV, the seats are identical! Though its possible one may have been more worn or the structure broken or partly collapsed, making it softer? It's strange how the memory can change perception over time. Is there any chance you're thinking of a first class seat, which are softer and recline, which could alter perception.

 

[Thewanderer]

There is two types of MKIV's

An UK one and a Irish one

I'll get my coat....

 

[bengley]

Ah got that now! The fabric looks different on the Mk 4 in jamesontheorad's link only because of the lighting and brightness of the shots.

Bengley, believe me, I've travelled at least a hundred journies on Mallard sets, both Mk III and Mk IV, the seats are identical! Though its possible one may have been more worn or the structure broken or partly collapsed, making it softer? It's strange how the memory can change perception over time. Is there any chance you're thinking of a first class seat, which are softer and recline, which could alter perception.

1. I don't know why everyone has started talking about MK3s. I never mentioned them, and I have never travelled on one.

2. The seats WERE more comfortable last time, no doubt about it.

3. Standard class is the only one I've ever travelled in, so unless coach F is first class and we were accidentally given a first class ticket, I've never travelled in first.

 

[MCR247]

1. I don't know why everyone has started talking about MK3s. I never mentioned them, and I have never travelled on one.

2. The seats WERE more comfortable last time, no doubt about it.

3. Standard class is the only one I've ever travelled in, so unless coach F is first class and we were accidentally given a first class ticket, I've never travelled in first.

1. The first picture you posted was a mark 3

 

[Royston Vasey]

1. I don't know why everyone has started talking about MK3s. I never mentioned them, and I have never travelled on one.

2. The seats WERE more comfortable last time, no doubt about it.

3. Standard class is the only one I've ever travelled in, so unless coach F is first class and we were accidentally given a first class ticket, I've never travelled in first.

Only mention Mk IIIs because all Mallard standard class seats are identical, whether in a Mk III or a Mk IV.

I suspect we'll never know the reason why they were more comfortable, you've got us all puzzled!