GWR seating HST

[PudseyBearHST]

https://photos.smugmug.com/Coaching...7X2mN/0/S/42516-Interior...29-04-14...2-S.jpg

Random question but I was travelling on a HST today on GWR and you know the pink things (don't know what you call them- please see picture), I was travelling through coach B and they were red in colour instead of pink. Any particular reason? Have never seen this before and it was only in that particular coach.

I know it's an extremely random question but just interested to know and wanted to know if anyone else has seen this.

Coach is 42169

 

[cjmillsnun]

https://photos.smugmug.com/Coaching...7X2mN/0/S/42516-Interior...29-04-14...2-S.jpg

Random question lol but I was travelling on a HST today on GWR and you know the pink things (don't know what you call them- please see picture ), I was travelling through coach B and they were red in colour instead of pink. Any particular reason? Have never seen this before and it was only in that particular coach.

I know it's an extremely question lol but just interested to know and wanted to know if anyone else has seen this.

Is this a converted first class coach. It could just be by the time the coach was refurbished or converted to standard class they decided to use red handles instead of pink.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Is this a converted first class coach. It could just be by the time the coach was refurbished or converted to standard class they decided to use red handles instead of pink.

Thanks for your reply. That's what I was thinking too... while we are at it, are they just simply called handles? And what's the point of them? Is it simply just so you can hold on to them for grip while walking through the train?

Oh and I have no idea whether it's converted a first class coach or not? The coach number was 42169

 

[43096]

Thanks for your reply. That's what I was thinking too... while we are at it, are they just simply called handles? And what's the point of them? Is it simply just so you can hold on to them for grip while walking through the train?

Oh and I have no idea whether it's converted a first class coach or not? The coach number was 42169

42169 is not a conversion, it was built as a TS.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Thanks for your reply. That's what I was thinking too... while we are at it, are they just simply called handles? And what's the point of them? Is it simply just so you can hold on to them for grip while walking through the train

I think they are referred to as grab handles, and they are provided for the purpose that you state

 

[PudseyBearHST]

I think they are referred to as grab handles, and they are provided for the purpose that you state

Thanks for clarifying that

 

[PudseyBearHST]

42169 is not a conversion, it was built as a TS.

Ok- perhaps it was just refurbished then? Or has it always been the case that this coach has had red handles- maybe they ran out out of pink ones or something?

 

[3141]

Thanks for your reply. That's what I was thinking too... while we are at it, are they just simply called handles? And what's the point of them? Is it simply just so you can hold on to them for grip while walking through the train?

I think "handles" is an excellent term for what are, after all, handles, and it's more than probable that their purpose is to be something to hold onto as you walk through the coach, rather than grabbing the neck of the nearest passenger. An alternative name might be "ambulant passenger manual safety enhancement modules", but then it might become necessary for the operator to provide information about how to use them, and the train would have to be taken out of service immediately if one of them happened to be missing.

 

[pdeaves]

Someone left this comment on one of my Flickr photos, where I pointed out the red grab handles:

Some of the very first refurbed fgw mark 3s hence why they are red, not pink

 

[irish_rail]

was this not the first refurbished set done back in 2006ish? FGW opted to change the red to pink following the first trial set?

 

[D1009]

While we're on about odd differences in GWR's HST rolling stock, has anyone noticed that there is one TGS, from memory 44083, which has retained its toilet compartment after (I presume) the rest of the TGS fleet it was converted to a base for the at-seat catering service. Apologies if it's been mentioned before.

 

[fgwrich]

Was this not the first refurbished set done back in 2006ish? FGW opted to change the red to pink following the first trial set?

It was fairly early on in the refurbs when they were changed from the bright Redish Pink metal ones to the Pink rubber ones. Only in the very recent refurbs (mostly the ex FC vehicles) do they appear to have gone back to metal ones, painted in the Rubine Red (Pink) FGW uses.

The 'GWR' set (the single scruffy refurbished one) they've used metal ones again albeit in light green.

 

[superalbs]

in light green

No they aren't? :P

 

[fgwrich]

I'd say that was a light green - maybe an Apple-ish green.

Either way, that picture to me just shows up how scruffy I find that set to be in. Seat covers not fitted properly, the awful and often manky 'leather' headrest, and the rather obvious erm, completely missing headrest to the left!

I also had a refurbished 150 last week and noticed that the pink grab handles on the back of those seats had been repainted - badly - as the GWR green paint was flaking off already revealing the FGW Pink below! :roll:

 

[Mag_seven]

The colour of handles - the things people get worked up about on these forums.

 

[skyhigh]

No they aren't? :P

Forget about the colours for a second - how long ago was this refurbished? It looks pretty scruffy already!

 

[superalbs]

Forget about the colours for a second - how long ago was this refurbished? It looks pretty scruffy already!

It has been re-re-furbished since then, with more...'intelligent' fabric choices.

 

[Great_Western]

I'd say that was a light green - maybe an Apple-ish green.

Either way, that picture to me just shows up how scruffy I find that set to be in. Seat covers not fitted properly, the awful and often manky 'leather' headrest, and the rather obvious erm, completely missing headrest to the left!

I also had a refurbished 150 last week and noticed that the pink grab handles on the back of those seats had been repainted - badly - as the GWR green paint was flaking off already revealing the FGW Pink below! :roll:

In fairness, I think the paint issue is more an issue of the seat handles themselves. It was such a problem on the refreshed ATW 150's they've just given up trying!

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Thanks to all the replies. Just learnt another use for the 'handles': Coat Hangar. I was travelling on a turbo from Reading to Gatwick Airpory today and saw some hang their coat on it.

 

[BestWestern]

While we're on about odd differences in GWR's HST rolling stock, has anyone noticed that there is one TGS, from memory 44083, which has retained its toilet compartment after (I presume) the rest of the TGS fleet it was converted to a base for the at-seat catering service. Apologies if it's been mentioned before.

That one came from elsewhere, possibly EMT I believe, and so never had the FGW catering cupboard mod done.

 

[fgwrich]

That one came from elsewhere, possibly EMT I believe, and so never had the FGW catering cupboard mod done.

Ah, It's just dawned on me where this ones come from. It'll be the former East Coast EC64 set - Which arrived into the FGW Fleet around 2009 bringing 43053 & 43056 with it. This one being refurbished by Wabtec than Bombardier.

 

[BestWestern]

Ah, It's just dawned on me where this ones come from. It'll be the former East Coast EC53? set - Which arrived into the FGW Fleet around 2009 bringing 43053 & 43056 with it. This one being refurbished by Wabtec than Bombardier.

Ah, was it EC! Knew it came from somewhere!