What's your machine?

[Techniquest]

Hi all,

This is something I've been trying to remember to do for a while, so here we go.

Last year I read a copy of the CFPS' magazine, an article in which talked about the author's favourite 40, his 'machine' and a couple of trips with it.

So I was thinking about what my favourite 'machine' and of some trips with it. For me, it's far and away 43002, particularly with its final Valenta. Some of my favourite memories come from my last trips with it, especially the Valenta Farewell of December 2007. Never have I ever wanted to go out of my way to find it and rack up as much mileage as possible than with any other power car (well, 43019 being the exception to that). Indeed, there's not a lot I would do an overnighter in Exeter for otherwise.

So the point of this thread is to ask the forum what their 'machine' is and to talk briefly about some of their favourite memories of it. I will personally talk more about mine in the near future, as I'm out of time in the library right now.

Looking forward to reading other people's posts (note, if you're a photter then please don't moan about bashers talking about their travels in this thread)

Kind regards,

Julian

 

[Ascot]

My machine was thin and fast. Very expensive to maintain though but had some serious output if you hit it right. Top and Tailing just over the bridge where if you take the power off it coasts all the way smoothly.

 

[Aureol]

Steam: 6233 Duchess of Sutherland - cos I work on it
Preserved Diesel: D212 Aureol - self explanatory, she's my pet and I work on it
Mainline Heritage Diesel: 47826 Springburn - such a loud loco for a 47, plus I've cleared it.
Mainline Modern Diesel: 67019 - first 67 I had, plus have had about 600 miles behind it, also had her for haulage when I worked the Royal Train.

 

[BJMorley]

4308X Neville Hill One of the first HSTs I have travelled on, also the first in recent years, the last one I travlled on was a VT HST way back when I was two!!!
73129 Standard Class 5MT - One of my fave Steamies along side 71000 Duke of Gloucester TNT with tose beauties at MR-B way back in 2006!!
Brandon

 

[Techniquest]

I believe you refer to 43049 there. Good machine that one.

 

[me123]

156442: Not by choice though, she's stalking me
43107: Never before have I seen such clag! Filled up Aberdeen station on start-up. 8)
43119: First HST; and not a dissapointment either.

 

[D306]

D306
43064
37423
20307
20310

 

[Gizmogle]

158815, obviously!

Oh, and after my Wales bash I've discovered that 121032 is a clagmonster!

 

[AlexS]

All 1st gen DMUs are clagmonsters! Sideways mounted engines for you!

Our 101 at the GC makes more smoke than most of the kettles.

 

[BJMorley]

142033
My first mainline Pacer!!
I bashed the 141 at MR-B, I do like that one, paint it in RR and it be alright!!

 

[Phoenix]

Well my top five in no particular order and there reasons.

47703 because it was the reason I started taking photos (due to it passing Water Orton nearly ever day so had to phot it)

37410Because it was the first loco of any rateability I had seen on frieght and to this day I havent heard a class 37 that earns the title of thrash god like 410 does.

86501Mainly because 86 are my favourite traction although it is wierd and more unpredictable than it's sisters R.I.P.

89001Because it is pretty much the only prototype electric in existance and it has such a great presence to it and well it does beat the crap out of most leccy's.

Sir nigel gresleyThey first ever loco I had rode behind as I am told by my dad as he had to hold my head out of the window from loughboro to leicester north.

If we want to talk about hate there is a certain EWS class 66 I hate due to the fact it took the life of my EX girlfriends brother but ya know I hate sheds anyway.

 

[P156KWJ]

43007 - hellfire 8) (well - about to be MTU 43207 now)
142086 - comfy for a pacer, and some nice sounds through Totley Tunnel

 

[Phoenix]

43007 - hellfire 8) (well - about to be MTU 43207 now)
142086 - comfy for a pacer, and some nice sounds through Totley Tunnel

What about your former namesake then????

 

[P156KWJ]

yeah 156401 is quite a nice unit

 

[87015]

87015!!!! Nothing massive, just my machine!

Soft spots for, among others:
25313 - Always liked Llangollen and its always a highlight in workstained proper colours
33103 - Absolute beast at Mid Hants and Gospel Oak - shame about latter FM years
56016 - 'a real monster', didn't have many on service trains
56303 - hear it thrashing past on a nightly basis, superb for these days!!
86245 - didn't like the thing, but it was so common you just had to laugh when it turned up for the umpteenth time
87002 - those dark nights on G21/B05 will not be forgotten quickly
87013 - another favourite 'seven' which I seemed to drop onto often

 

[rmt]

My 'machines'..
D8001..
43112 (as was)..

 

[Techniquest]

You had good taste with 43112. Bloody fantastic machine. But then I can't think of any bad East Coast ones.

*Wipes tear from eye as I realise the end of Valentas on the ECML is fast approaching*:cry:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

87015!!!! Nothing massive, just my machine!

Soft spots for, among others:
25313 - Always liked Llangollen and its always a highlight in workstained proper colours
33103 - Absolute beast at Mid Hants and Gospel Oak - shame about latter FM years
56016 - 'a real monster', didn't have many on service trains
56303 - hear it thrashing past on a nightly basis, superb for these days!!
86245 - didn't like the thing, but it was so common you just had to laugh when it turned up for the umpteenth time
87002 - those dark nights on G21/B05 will not be forgotten quickly
87013 - another favourite 'seven' which I seemed to drop onto often

I recognise some good machines in there, agreed with 33103 when with FM Rail, it just went crap. Not had 25313 myself yet, hoping to on the upcoming Llangollen gala.

 

[Jordy]

43178 and 166 stick in mind HST wise, 108 is a current fave being one of the few valentas left, 111 once was too.

47826 also has to be a favourite, it had a habit of following me in VXC days

56s, but no particular one - never really took notice of their numbers (I was rather young when I remember them at Barnetby)

37405 - my first mainline tractor

40145, just generally hellfire.

As the amount of rateable traction reduces (or becomes practically nothing!) I imagine a few numbers will pop up several times here, which is a shame, i'd love to say some long lost 40 is a favourite but we just don't have the chance nowadays!

Units? No. I've probably forgotten some good locos too but they'll come back to me!

 

[Jord]

43184 - The clag! and the noise she produced while doing Edinburgh Waverley - Leeds not so long back after a few words with the driver

56303 - First mainline Gird and loved every minute!

60054 - At Water Orton, plenty of clag from her!

May think of more.

 

[CraigS]

33065 - it's a beast.

37065 - my first mainline tractor, AFAIK it has since been scrapped.

66536 - not a big fan of 66s, mainly interested in this one only because I had a cab ride into Thamesport Freight Terminal, Grain, sometime during April 2004 on it.

Hastings Unit 1001 - my favourite unit, had many trips out on it (and hope to have many more) and it's just down the road from me.

 

[Ilove165's]

Mine are:

47702-First spoon bash Sheffield-Gloucester back in the day when VXC had 'em
47375-Clagmonster!
37219-*see above*

Oh, and any Valenta's......Screamin' Demons!


Sam

 

[Mintona]

323230. What a monster.

 

[laseandre]

320314 and 320321 - They're stalking me.
170396 - Beast. And it's got the Hull Trains interior.

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

43034
50049
50031
43095
43184
37425

 

[Techniquest]

Good taste there Jord and 43034 The Black Horse!

Jord: Oh how I remember 43184's fantastic performance from Birmingham New Street to Sheffield back in July via Barrow Hill (43007 led onwards). Oh my, that was a brilliant performance. 007 was so quiet in comparison. Which was evidenced when I was right at the front. You'd hear 007 but you'd hear 184 on the back sooooooooo much more!

43034 The Black Horse: Oh how I remember 43034. It was stalking me for a time last year, although I couldn't complain at all as this was back when the FGW Valentas were almost over. It was a fantastic machine though, thoroughly enjoyable! Same applies to 43095, I still have fond memories of having her for the first time from Durham to Edinburgh via the Tyne Valley last October. She was perfectly in sync with 43039 and the pair produced an amazing performance. So it was a delight to have the same pair back to Durham later on!

Oh, the memories...:neutral:

 

[37412]

37412 - Utter Beast on the Coast, always prayed for that one to turn up when waiting at New Street, had many a top run on it.
37427 - Following the store of 412 it took over as my 'pet' machine, had some brilliant runs with it on the Fort Bill's, just a shame it seemed to become a 'froth' machine.
37426 - Monster, second favourite from the days of the coast.
37410 - Wouldn't have put it here if you had asked me last year but December 1st last year with it on miles platting was something else, Beast.
37402 - Favourite one I had regularly on the Rhymney branch when i started going quite often around 04.

 

[Mintona]

323239 is pretty hellfire too.

 

[16CSVT2700]

50049
Highest mileage 50, was released as 50149 near enough bang on the day I was born and rode with it several times during its final NSE years.

 

[Broken Viking]

Hail All!
I don't really have one specific machine in mind as - Aside from 370005/006 - I've never really found myself becoming "drawn" to any particular loco or unit, but I do have a few happy memories from various trips here and there... 8)

• 370005/006 - APT-P, formerly City of Derby:
  Though sadly I never got the chance to experience what she had to offer in service at the Eurostar-thrashing speeds she could manage so easily, 370005/006 holds a special place in my heart simply because she is the last surviving unit of a class of train that - To this day - Is without a shadow of a doubt the finest and yet most brutal piece of engineering that British Rail ever came up with, in my opinion.
  
  A particularly special moment for me last year was visiting the Railway Age in Crewe and being able to actually have a look at her in very close detail for the first time - Including a detailed peek at the master auxillary genset behind the cab - And being able to "take the controls" for a while (See my avatar) and imagining just what it would feel like to actually drive her up the WCML at her optimum speed of 280mph... 8)
  
  Aye...She is indeed one of the greatest examples of 20th centuary railway engineering in my opinion, and I just cannot help but feel a sheer wave of rage at her having been uncerimoniously "dumped" in Crewe and left to rot for twenty years...Although that action did at least save her from the same fate that was - Unforgivably - Suffered by 370001-370004. I do however live in hope that some day in the (Preferably near) future, she shall be restored to her full railworthy, former glory...And upon that day a certain Mr. Branson will no doubt be shown just how much more train he could've got for a whole lot less money!
  .
• 390011 - Pendolino, City of Lichfield:
  Some might find it odd that I - Being such an overt fan of the APT - Would have a Pendo in my list...But on a journey between Euston and Stoke last October, 390011 somehow managed some truly back-breaking accelleration out of Euston, and kept the speed up to levels I've never before experienced on a Pendo! hock:
  
  Especially memorable was our flight through the Trent Valley...Though I had no way of gauging speed accurately from where I was standing during the journey, I wouldn't be surprised if we were hitting as much as 145mph at times. In any case, the timetable allowed us 90 minutes to reach Stoke from Euston...And we arrived well ahead of the scheduled time that day! 8)
  .
• 377xxx - Southern Electrostar (Unit no. not noted...Alas):
  Earlier this year, I travelled down to Lewes to visit a good friend and fellow Pagan for a couple of days. Now the journey itself was a fairly simple one, and given that I was travelling on TRE'd lines throughout the whole of my journey, I wasn't expecting to hit much more than 80mph...Going on my vast experience from using South West Trains regularly since Privatisation was bought in. :roll:
  
  However, I was pleasantly surprised and indeed enthralled by this leg of my voyage...For once we had left the boundaries of south London, we picked up speed at a quite alarming pace, and - Though I note that Wikipedia lists a 377's top-end as 90mph - I would swear blind that we were not far off of 120mph...If not well over that margin! hock:
  
  I havn't the foggiest idea how on Midgard the driver and/or the train could have achieved such a speed, but whatever it was we were doing that night, it was certainly in excess of 100mph without a doubt! 8)

Now all I'd like to know is: If Southern can get their trains doing 120+mph on TRE lines, why the f0rk are SWT not upping the speed on their 444s to a more reasonable 130-175mph? I mean, Basingstoke to London in an hour direct is alright by 1950CE standards...But operating at such a pathetic 95mph nowadays does nothing but take the cake IMO! :roll:ad:)

Farewell...
>> Death <<

 

[Pumbaa]

377s as are 375s etc are 100mph max. Linespeed down there varies tween 80 - 100 (I think - long time since I've seen a map)