What is the best EMU in Britain?

[starrymarkb]

I agree with you there, but wasn't the styling done by the same people who did the Fiat Pinto? This particular fad went through the first decade of this century, and its still going on (look at BMW headlights and silly forced acronyms like 'FLIRT' for an EMU). Surely, the functional front ends of BR looked much better, any nod to fashion dates badly.

The Punto and Europendo are both Guigario Design IIRC

 

[RAGNARØKR]

That's odd, the 442 is a handsome beast even if the cable covers are missing. Mind you, think of Stanier's streamlined Coronation when they decided to paint her 'utility' black, or Collett's bulbous additions to King Henry V and you can see how one designer's attempt to style something functional can cause problems. It's amazing how the A4s got away with it, although they do aid forward visibility. Gresley is supposed to have got the idea from Bugatti, and the shape lives on with the 180s (is that a co-incidence?).

Another Jones Garrard design, and with a hint of the 1930s design of the Blackpool tram about it.

The A4 front end was partly to solve the long-standing problem of drifting smoke obscuring the driver's vision, which was a constant problem with the A3 Pacifics, and also with the LMS Royal Scots. There were many experiments conducted in the 1930s which attempted to deal with it. Smoke deflectors were the usual solution, the wedge-shaped front was another and a masterpiece of PR to boot.

 

[plastictaffy]

The 350/1 and 350/2's on my route London Midland are very good units. Comfortable, smart off the mark and lovely and quiet!!

 

[RAGNARØKR]

The 350/1 and 350/2's on my route London Midland are very good units. Comfortable, smart off the mark and lovely and quiet!!

Travelled in a 350 from Euston to Nuneaton and back recently. 2+2 seating, smooth and comfortable, cheaper than Virgin and more comfortable than a Pendolino. What train would that have been?

 

[tbtc]

Travelled in a 350 from Euston to Nuneaton and back recently. 2+2 seating, smooth and comfortable, cheaper than Virgin and more comfortable than a Pendolino. What train would that have been?

2+2 = 350/1

350/2s are 3+2 seats

 

[sprinterguy]

The A4 front end was partly to solve the long-standing problem of drifting smoke obscuring the driver's vision, which was a constant problem with the A3 Pacifics, and also with the LMS Royal Scots. There were many experiments conducted in the 1930s which attempted to deal with it. Smoke deflectors were the usual solution, the wedge-shaped front was another and a masterpiece of PR to boot.

The sloped rear profile of the funnel on the A4s was particularly conducive to raising smoke clear of the cab in combination with the wedge-shaped streamlining. Reportedly without this additional feature the wedge-shape alone would not have been effective at alleviating the problem of drifting smoke.

 

[RAGNARØKR]

The sloped rear profile of the funnel on the A4s was particularly conducive to raising smoke clear of the cab in combination with the wedge-shaped streamlining. Reportedly without this additional feature the wedge-shape alone would not have been effective at alleviating the problem of drifting smoke.

Isn't there also a little depression behind the chimney? And wasn't this design refined through wind tunnel testing as well?

 

[sprinterguy]

Isn't there also a little depression behind the chimney? And wasn't this design refined through wind tunnel testing as well?

Yes I believe that is correct.

 

[LE Greys]

Isn't there also a little depression behind the chimney? And wasn't this design refined through wind tunnel testing as well?

The story is that this was added by the thumb of a lab assistant called Eric when he was holding a wind tunnel model too tightly. But it's probably a myth.

 

[wolfman]

The story is that this was added by the thumb of a lab assistant called Eric when he was holding a wind tunnel model too tightly. But it's probably a myth.

good one though.

 

[317666]

From an enthusiast's point of view, my favourite EMUs are the Classes 317, 315 and 313. I have many memories of all three of them in all the varieties of NSE, WAGN, LTS and Plain White, they make a great noise and in general they're much more interesting (and comfortable for that matter!) than the alternatives such as 365s, 378s and 379s.

From a passenger's point of view, my favourite EMUs are the Class 390 Pendolinos and Class 333s. The 390s are reasonably comfortable, have nice interior lighting which isn't stupidly bright or harsh, and they're very fast. The 333s have great air conditioning, are comfortable and generally do their job really well.