First-gen DMU/EMU railtour?

[JoeGJ1984]

Just thinking: will we ever see a mainline railtour with a class 101 or similar DMU or alternatively an EMU from the same era (lots of people would remember the later in the Southern 3rd rail electrified region)? I'm sure people would go for it (lots of them knocking about on heritage railways), and also people may enjoy looking out of the front. And I think you get 'Thumper' DEMU railtours so I don't see a class 101 railtour being all that difficult to organise, especially when you remember that as late as 2003 they were still being used in service.

What do people think?

 

[yorksrob]

hell yeah, lots of us would love it.

I grew up on the Southern Region so the chance to travel around on a southern slammer would be excellent (fortunately the Hastings DEMU that you mention is a type of EMU so it fulfills a lot of the requirements), although I'd give my right arm to travel around the South Eastern division on a VEP again.

Also, I've lived in Yorkshire for over ten years so although I've had very little experience of first generation DMU's, I'd love to experience them on their old haunts (it would be interesting to get a chance to compare the modern experience).

Alas, various health and safety laws make what was safe for thousands of people everyday a few years ago, more dangerous than jumping out of a plane or riding around a racetrack on a motorbike upside down nowadays

 

[jopsuk]

The Hasting s Diesel thumper has had a lot of work done to allow it to run on the mainline (such as CDL I think?) Also, one of the reasons for withdrawl was crash-worthiness- the engine compartments of the Thumper mean that passengers aren't near the ends of the unit (though whether the engine would simply get shunted into the passenger compartment, I don't know...)

 

[yorksrob]

Absolutely correct, but at the same time we could all be in a car and crushed by a lorry, or indeed be walking along the road and run over.

There are very good reasons for building new stock to the highest standard possible, but absolutely no justification on earth for banning Mk 1 stock from railtours, particularly when bunjii jumping/sky diving etc are allowed.

The CDL is not necessary for railtours but allows it to be rented out to mainline operators AFAIK.

 

[Hydro]

The standards on Mk.1 stock requiring an empty vehicle or Mk.2+ barrier vehicle at the ends of a rake are looking at being relaxed, subject to a speed limit of 75mph.

 

[JoeGJ1984]

The CDL is not necessary for railtours but allows it to be rented out to mainline operators AFAIK.

I thought that anything running on mainline metals with manual slam doors had to have CDL to prevent people opening the doors while moving.

 

[Hydro]

Incorrect, if not fitted with CDL then stewards must be present at every openable door.

 

[60163]

I'd love to go on a class 309/310 again, but none were saved *cries*

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I'd love to go on a class 309/310 again, but none were saved *cries*

Actually two 3-car Class 309 sets survive (309624 and 309616) they were used as part of the WCML proposed in cab signalling upgrade.

As for railtours would love to see a CEP back on the mainline in particular a tour from Charing Cross to Ramsgate. If a barrier coach was required an MLV could be used (Yorksrobs idea from another thread) and there's still a few being used in preservation and available.

A tour I've come up would be called 'The South London Suburban' stock would be the two 2EPBs that are preserved (one from the EKR the other from Coventry electric railway museum) the Tour would be a return trip from Orpington to Charing Cross via Lewisham stopping at all stations for an authentic feel.

 

[Hydro]

As for railtours would love to see a CEP back on the mainline in particular a tour from Charing Cross to Ramsgate.

Yes please. A CEP or a VEP doing the old 4 route. Get some 90mph running in up the mainline, job's a good 'un.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Yes please. A CEP or a VEP doing the old 4 route. Get some 90mph running in up the mainline, job's a good 'un.

I remember doing the trip in a VEP back in the summer of 1998, how I miss those days.

 

[yorksrob]

Actually two 3-car Class 309 sets survive (309624 and 309616) they were used as part of the WCML proposed in cab signalling upgrade.

As for railtours would love to see a CEP back on the mainline in particular a tour from Charing Cross to Ramsgate. If a barrier coach was required an MLV could be used (Yorksrobs idea from another thread) and there's still a few being used in preservation and available.

A tour I've come up would be called 'The South London Suburban' stock would be the two 2EPBs that are preserved (one from the EKR the other from Coventry electric railway museum) the Tour would be a return trip from Orpington to Charing Cross via Lewisham stopping at all stations for an authentic feel.

Yes please - book me in for that one

 

[Chris125]

Incorrect, if not fitted with CDL then stewards must be present at every openable door.

Isnt the requirement secondary door locking? If there's no CDL, simple sliding bolts are used which as you say require stewards to supervise.

Chris

 

[mappman1000]

I heard from someone that Class 313 railtours have run before, is this true?

 

[yorksrob]

Isnt the requirement secondary door locking? If there's no CDL, simple sliding bolts are used which as you say require stewards to supervise.

Chris

That would be a lot of stewards on a VEP/EPB combination !

As a workaround I wonder whether all paying passengers could be declared "stewards"

 

[NSEFAN]

How many doors can a steward look after at once?

I wonder how people in the past managed to operate doors without stewards...

 

[K9-70]

one of the reasons for withdrawl was crash-worthiness- the engine compartments of the Thumper mean that passengers aren't near the ends of the unit (though whether the engine would simply get shunted into the passenger compartment, I don't know...)

I doubt it.
http://www.railphotoarchive.org/search_engine_2.php?_format=4&img=0681070439000&_PAGE=7

NIR Demu 88, the first 80 Class Demu to be withdrawn.
Photo'd between Hilden and Lambeg the next day after the next day after the fatal accident in which a driver friend lost his life.

 

[scotsman]

Stewards operate one door at a time. They must only unlock the secondary locking when the train has come to a stand, and should not lock it again until the train has started moving (in case some punter comes and yanks on the door, breaking the lock and putting the door out of use). It's good practice to close the door as soon as all passengers have boarded/alighted at intermediate stops, so as to avoid delaying the departure.

Stewards are often given Customer Service-type duties onboard the train as well, so are often assigned to particular coach and sometimes have other Stewards assigned to assist with doors.

I have seen Stewards work 2 doors when we went along the Cumbrian Coast, Network Rail's LNW division required that we place Stewards at all droplights and lock all other windows (which we managed with small plastic seals) to prevent anyone killing themselves with the limited clearance on the line. Some how everyone survived the trip to Oban, where the clearance was even less and there were no seals or Stewards to prevent the anyone being decapitated...

 

[route:oxford]

Find a 101 unit, or similar heritage unit with central door locking (or business case)...

Then run it every weekend between Princes Risborough and Bicester Village via Aylesbury Vale Parkway with a reversal at Claydon.

Heritage Traction - Tick
Mainline Working - Tick
Rare Track - Tick
Heritage Stop - Tick (Quainton)
Genuine, Useful Service Provision - Tick
Popular Tourist Destination - Tick

 

[Techniquest]

Weren't ATW going to, way back in 2006, get a 3-car 101 for use on the Central Wales line? I remember a lot of interest in it, sadly it's not ever going to happen by the looks of it.

I'd certainly be interested in a CIG/VEP tour, if it ever happens I'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

It really is a shame no Class 310/311/312s were never preserved. I'm usually am an EMU person all round and would love to see any rail tour involving heritage EMUs.

I was wondering because a Class 312 was of Mk2 body design would it meet current safety issues without the need for a barrier veichle? Although there's no way any tour would be happening anyway!

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Now if you were talking cars you could drive a 1954 Austin A30 without seatbelts, without indicators (just the trafficators), without rear view mirrors, with all drum brakes take it up the M1 (with your foot down all the time) and pay no road tax, minimal insurance (was £48 fully comp about 5 years back), you can even fill it up with leaded petrol and poison the air more as you go - as always one rule for the road and 10'000 more for the rails.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

A couple of 101 units back on the mainline would be nice. A 2-car set and a 3-car set!

 

[43021HST]

A class 124 would be ideal for mainline tour running, buffet car, plently of coaches, espicially if two are coupled together, top speed of 70mph. Shame that non were saved though.

 

[route:oxford]

A class 124 would be ideal for mainline tour running, buffet car, plently of coaches, espicially if two are coupled together, top speed of 70mph. Shame that non were saved though.

Just been reading up on the Class 124. Shame about the asbestos causing their scrapping.

A 70s version of those units with air-con would probably still be running today on XC services.

 

[scotsman]

Class 127 anyone? One three-car set currently restored at Bo'ness, with the fourth (buffet) coach in restoration. I would love to see it back on the mainline...

 

[dk1]

What i would pay for a main line dmu spin on a 100/104/105 or 127...

...dream on dk1

 

[Bittern]

Bo'ness has a 126, not a 127.

Also, consider my vote down for a 101 railtour. Never have I travelled on the things, but used to watch them leave Glasgow Central in the 90s. So many preserved, but none in Scotland.

 

[Lampshade]

Isn't there asbestos in the first gen units?

 

[yorksrob]

Talking of 127's, I was on the Midland Railway Centres one at Butterley recently and it seemed to be a very pleasent travelling environment. I'd love to travel on one on their old stomping ground on the Midland Mainline (presuming they could solve the problem mentioned by Old Timer a few threads back whereby they had to top them up with water every few stops !).