First train you remember going on

[exile]

In this context, I was on a train to Liverpool a couple of years ago to be joined by a lady who was in her fifties and HAD NEVER BEEN ON A TRAIN BEFORE. Not out of any phobia but just because she'd driven or been driven everywhere for the previous 50 years.

 

[EM2]

I remember travelling Staines - Waterloo and back just after Christmas in 1995, but I can't remember for the life of me what train it was - I was only 6.

Most likely would've been a class 421 or 423 slammer as my first mainline trip was on that line in the mid 90s

Not necessarily, the Windsor - Waterloo services were already 455s when I moved to Windsor in 1991.

 

[GearJammer]

First trip i remember was from Fareham to Portsmouth Harbour & Rtn with a big blue Crompton (would have been a Cardiff train) in fact it would have been 2 of them, one out and one back, remember it as i had the 2nd best seat on the train....... the second mans seat on the locos curtesy of my uncle being the driver.

What i would give to know the numbers of them two locos...... and have another trip now im old enough to appreciate the occasion properly.

 

[sprinterguy]

In other posts, people have been saying they are from certain generations. Thing is, I don't know which I'd fit into: born in 1997 so presumably that's Networker generation, but most of my life falls into Turbostar gen (even though I never saw one until 2003). I definitely am not Sprinter generation even though they are the trains I've been around most. So which generation do I fit into??

Sounds like you are an unfortunate subject of the "1,000 day train order drought generation" where there were no new squadron fleets of trains introduced to define the period: Too late for the Sprinter generation, and too early for what I think of as the Turbostar/Electrostar generation.

 

[Class172]

Sounds like you are an unfortunate subject of the "1,000 day train order drought generation" where there were no new squadron fleets of trains introduced to define the period: Too late for the Sprinter generation, and too early for what I think of as the Turbostar/Electrostar generation.

Well I don't like the sound of that 1000 day thing so I'll ignore it - from what I can see, the Networkers is the era I fit into best, though in terms of induvidual units the closest are Class 92s and Class 373s. I agree, the turbo/electrostar generation doesnt start until at least 2000.

 

[Lampshade]

Well I don't like the sound of that 1000 day thing so I'll ignore it

Basically nothing was ordered between the 323s and the 458s/168s (1992-1998) because of the horlicks the governments made of privatisation. BREL was sold to ADtranz (and subsequently Bombardier), Metro Cammell was sold to Alstom and Hunslet TPL went bust

 

[Class172]

Basically nothing was ordered between the 323s and the 458s/168s (1992-1998) because of the horlicks the governments made of privatisation. BREL was sold to ADtranz (and subsequently Bombardier), Metro Cammell was sold to Alstom and Hunslet TPL went bust

Did anything interesting happen on the railways in 1997?

 

[Lampshade]

Did anything interesting happen on the railways in 1997?

Well yes, privatisation was quite an important event that year

 

[yorksrob]

I'm from the slammer generation

 

[graham43404]

BR Class 105 (or something similar) DMU from Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria in the late 1970's.

As a kid I always wanted to get right to the front seat behind the driver and hope he had the blinds up, which most times was the case to my joy.

 

[Class172]

Well yes, privatisation was quite an important event that year

I thought that was '96

 

[Lampshade]

I thought that was '96

Well it was privatised over three years from 1st April 1994, I suppose 1997 was the first year under 'true' privatisation.

 

[Zoe]

I thought that was '96

The structure dictated by the Railways Act 1993 came into effect on 1 April 1994 but it took three years to complete the process of privatization. Railtrack took over the infrastructure immediately on 1 April 1994 but wasn't floated until 1996. Shadown TOCs were also created on 1 April 1994 all owned by the BRB until the franchises were let by OPRAF in 1996 and 1997.

 

[Smudger105e]

My first recollection of train travel is on a steam hauled service from Steyning to Hove, leaning out of the window and using the window lock as a throttle and singing Casey Jones out of the window. lol

 

[LE Greys]

I tend to think of myself as Valenta generation.

 

[hmp455]

South West Trains Class 455, from Wimbledon to Hampton, circa 1999

 

[WestCoast]

In this context, I was on a train to Liverpool a couple of years ago to be joined by a lady who was in her fifties and HAD NEVER BEEN ON A TRAIN BEFORE. Not out of any phobia but just because she'd driven or been driven everywhere for the previous 50 years.

Unbelievable.

Although, I was quite surprised by the number of people on here who had never flown before.

 

[4SRKT]

I can't remember the exact chronology but my first train I can remember was either a 31 plus mk I compos on the Leeds > Heysham boat train from Skipton to Heysham to connect with the Sealink boat to Belfast, or a green liveried class 46 on a southbound NESW service calling at Belper.

 

[Drsatan]

My memory is slightly hazy but the first train I remember getting on is a slammer from Portchester to Portsmouth Harbour circa 1993-4. I also remember seeing two 37s hauling a rake of petrol tankers in the opposite direction soon after departure: I'm assuming that train had originated from the (now-closed) oil terminal near Chichester.

 

[HST Power]

I remember being absolutely terrified of the HST and jumping half a mile into the air whenever they came past! My first train was probably on the London Underground.

 

[tenementfunste]

One of these Toshiba trains:

And still riding them!

 

[Eagle]

Would have been Tisbury to Waterloo, operated by the then shadow franchise of SWT (mid-'95, post-fragmentation of NSE but pre-privatisation). The picture in my head is very blurry as I was only five at the time, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a 158/159, so it must have been one of the last loco-hauled services over that line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Although, I was quite surprised by the number of people on here who had never flown before.

It's not that surprising. The number of people who have never been out of the country must be pretty high.

I'm in my twenties but I've spent all but 36 hours of my life in Great Britain (and that was Dublin, on a ferry).

 

[Metrailway]

Mine probably was the short lived 1983 Stock on the Jubilee Line.

If we are talking about 'mainline' stock it was probably the Class 313 on the North London Line.

 

[Minilad]

First I actually remember was a HST from Taunton to Highbridge whilst on holiday in Burnham on Sea. Would have been around 78/79
But I do have, well I did have, a photograph of me as a baby my dad holding me in his arms posing for a picture next to a train we had just travelled on from Truro to Penzance.
He is standing at the front of a Western but all I can see of the number is D102 grrrrrrrrr !! So at least I know I have had a Western on the main line just don't know which one of the 10 possibles it is

 

[daz37406]

1st memory is goin to southport on a day trip .

 

[Madge Wildfire]

My first train journey was overnight from Derby to St. Ives in 1941.

I have this picture of the wartime train, packed tight with soldiers, sailors and airmen. I remember sitting on the floor of the toilet, the only spare space on the train, with Mum opposite me. My Dad who, with his artificial leg, couldn't stand for long periods, sat on the seat. I have the feeling someone took pity on us, for I can vaguely remember the three of us moving into a first class compartment, and of my looking in awe at all the officers in their uniforms.

My aunt met us at St. Ives station in her car. I remember because it had what was called a dickey seat which pulled out at the back for Mum and I to sit in.

Marvellous.

I can't go that far back but my first memory was Peterborough to Bournemouth in 1956.

I was told to look out the window and watch the lightning (usual August weather) but all I could see was grey skies and grey rain. I dont remember anything of the Southern journey, or indeed our return one, but would love to have a list of the locos I saw. I can make an educated guess, but it is not the same.

 

[RPM]

Gloucester Eastgate to Swindon and back in a DMU, 1975. I was only 4 at the time but I can still remember bits of it, including being delayed on the way back at Standish Junction because the points had overheated.

 

[b0b]

For sure a class 303, I remember looking being able to watch the driver and looking out the front, too much fun, before the trains got refurbished and they blocked the front view.

 

[NXEA!]

The first train I can remember riding on was a SWT Cep in 1998 from Clapham Junction to Waterloo, with my Grandad, which has resulted in a huge love of SR Slammers. I just remember being bemused at how people opened the doors when the train was still moving, and the thump of the compressor, ah, happy days. First journey I ever did on my own was Southend Victoria-Barnstaple in 2007 when I was 12 to go visit my Mum, and I was lucky as I got to sit in the TGS from Paddington-Exeter next to a Valenta fitted 43079 when they were dying a death, as 43079 was one of the 10 last Western powercars with a Valenta, hell of a scream those things had. As for the generation thing, I'm not sure what I am. The only things built in 1995 when I was born AFAIK were the 365's. The first freight engine I remember ever seeing was 66005 'yinging' its way through Gospel Oak in the summer of 1998, so maybe I am one of the Shed generation.

 

[Rugd1022]

First I actually remember was a HST from Taunton to Highbridge whilst on holiday in Burnham on Sea. Would have been around 78/79
But I do have, well I did have, a photograph of me as a baby my dad holding me in his arms posing for a picture next to a train we had just travelled on from Truro to Penzance.
He is standing at the front of a Western but all I can see of the number is D102 grrrrrrrrr !! So at least I know I have had a Western on the main line just don't know which one of the 10 possibles it is

If there's a chance you can remember the month and year of your Western trip from Truro to PZ, I might be able to narrow it down for you.... so long as it was 1973 onwards, since that was when the first few Whizzos were withdrawn.