Why are class 153 DMUs called 'Dogboxes'?

[387star]

"Pacer on bogies" is rather harsh IMHO. As a passenger, I prefer them to 150s, ambience wise, especially at table seats. Granted, here at GWR, they are not getting refurbed and are starting to look tired. I will be rather sad to see them being scrapped, as it seems no one seems keen on reforming them as 155s

Tired maybe but surely not comparable to the wessex trains lows?

I remember travelling on the looe branch with torn carpet side trim cushions falling off or missing tables missing and broken armrests and seats

To add to the experience one could barely enjoy the scenic views of the Looe estuary due to the 158 seats

In later years I worked them too aothough not that frequently so the location of the DKS switch always involved a bit of a hunt around.

I wondered why dogbox too.. Makes sense now. Loud machines too! I too think they are preferable to a 150 probably thanks to their end doors and carpets

 

[Condor7]

When I was younger we used to call all multiple units ‘cheeseboxes’ coined by one of our friends.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I always referred to them as skateboards

Same here.

One thing that the ROSCO's should do is flog the class 153's to Iran or Cuba, it'd be luxury compaired to what they're use to.

 

[HLE]

other nicknames

sh$tbox
broken
pile of crap
Delayed
Replacement bus service
shanks pony

I reckon it’s the nature of the route that causes the issues. Stop start every 2/3 minutes on a route which has a linespeed of 60.

Bulletproof reliability up here if they remain in bottom gear

Few knackered gearboxes along the way with Tyseley tape fixing the rest.

 

[D365]

One thing that the ROSCO's should do is flog the class 153's to Iran or Cuba, it'd be luxury compaired to what they're use to.

Iran replaced their 141s didn't they....

 

[HLE]

Couple 2 153’s together, lock the bogs out of use and use them to get rid of 150’s, platform length permitting of course.

Superior ride & better seating layout on a 153.

 

[Domh245]

Couple 2 153’s together, lock the bogs out of use and use them to get rid of 150’s, platform length permitting of course.

Superior ride & better seating layout on a 153.

Given the lack of capacity, using your nu-155s to supplement the 150s would probably be better than getting rid of them!

 

[Flyingsprinter]

Angel trains websites shows what can be done with 153’s.
http://www.angelrailway.com/class-153.html
As it shows, strip the toilets out, put more seats in, then use them to turn 15X units into semi-permentant 3 car units. Surley this is the best use for them.
Prm mods wouldn’t be as difficult as no prm toilet would need to be installed.

 

[AndrewE]

This protrusion was a retrofit - before that the cab was even smaller, I believe!

er, isn't each 153 half of a 155, with an extra cab bolted on, so 1 cab is original on each 153 and the other an extra? No idea which is which (or the smaller) though.
And flyingsprinter's link shows a 150 or something in the first picture, not a 153 with leyland bus panels and windows, as it is a 2-car with no middle cabs. And it's another good example of why you shouldn't be taken in by an artist's impression.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

er, each 153 is are half of a 155, with an extra cab bolted on, so 1 cab is original on each 153 and the other is an extra. No idea which is which (or the smaller) though.

@Bletchleyite is talking specifically about the no.2 cabs which were added when they were converted to single cars. Once you know what to look for it's easy to tell which end is the original and which is the later addition: from the outside, the headlights on the new cab end are higher up, this end also has the 'C3' gauge labelling. The doors are noticeably closer to the vehicle end. Once inside the door, you'll notice that the wall between cab and vestibule bulges out into the vestibule space to give crews more space.

Bletchleyite was saying that this "bulge" was a later addition after crews complained about the new cabs being cramped- that as originally converted the back wall of the new cab was flat or with a less-pronounced bulge. I don't know if this is the case or not.

 

[Domh245]

Angel trains websites shows what can be done with 153’s.
http://www.angelrailway.com/class-153.html
As it shows, strip the toilets out, put more seats in, then use them to turn 15X units into semi-permentant 3 car units. Surley this is the best use for them.
Prm mods wouldn’t be as difficult as no prm toilet would need to be installed.

OT, but that's probably one of the more sane proposals on that website, even though they've magically turned a 153 into a 150/2 in the cover photo! The Pendolino, 156, and 317 proposals are all a bit out there, to say the least!

 

[Cowley]

Scud. As in you fired them off in the morning and you never knew where they were going to land.

That’s the one I remember. Scuds and Skateboards.
I’m no Sprinter expert, but if a 150/153 combination turned up I’d make for the doors of the 153.
They just feel slightly more ‘Intercity’ to me.

 

[Cowley]

Iran replaced their 141s didn't they....

And even if not, haven’t we annoyed them enough?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

That’s the one I remember. Scuds and Skateboards.
I’m no Sprinter expert, but if a 150/153 combination turned up I’d make for the doors of the 153.
They just feel slightly more ‘Intercity’ to me.

If 153s (or indeed 155s) feel 'Intercity' it shows how low expectations have become!

And even if not, haven’t we annoyed them enough?

As far as I know, the Iranian 141s were last seen abandoned in sidings in what appeared to be the middle of a desert. I heard that one of the preserved units back home(-ish) required parts that weren't easily available: any brave retired fitters fancy a trip to Iran?

 

[Cowley]

If 153s (or indeed 155s) feel 'Intercity' it shows how low expectations have become!


As far as I know, the Iranian 141s were last seen abandoned in sidings in what appeared to be the middle of a desert. I heard that one of the preserved units back home(-ish) required parts that weren't easily available: any brave retired fitters fancy a trip to Iran?

No thanks.
You’re right, I think that my expectations may have dropped below the bar.

 

[DarloRich]

I reckon it’s the nature of the route that causes the issues. Stop start every 2/3 minutes on a route which has a linespeed of 60.

Bulletproof reliability up here if they remain in bottom gear

Few knackered gearboxes along the way with Tyseley tape fixing the rest.

I don't think being out based helps. They are a long way from home.

 

[mushroomchow]

I like 153s, if only because having one conk out when they work in multiple gives you the pseudo-feeling of travelling in peace on hauled stock.

Also rivets. They're ribbed for your pleasure.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If 153s (or indeed 155s) feel 'Intercity' it shows how low expectations have become!

Apart from the legroom the ex-LM interior is very nice. Brand new wood effect tables, the lot.

 

[dk1]

The passengers have nothing to complain about on Scuds. It's the poor driver when in the small cab end that suffers.

 

[HLE]

The passengers have nothing to complain about on Scuds. It's the poor driver when in the small cab end that suffers.

Bit like working in a loft.

Poor driver who also can’t dodge the leaks!

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Iran replaced their 141s didn't they....

I believe that they did and there's about two 141's in two bits in the middle of a desert still.

Cuba on the otherhand still use steam traction, so it'd make sense to flog them our knackered stock so that they can replace their knackered stock with something, that to them, would be seen as an improvement.

 

[noddingdonkey]

"Pacer on bogies" is rather harsh IMHO.

But accurate. Built by Leyland by rivetting components together, including some National bus components. Just on bogies.

 

[LiftFan]

I've mainly heard them being called rusty sardine cans for their unwanted appearances pretending to be a 3 coach service in the peak and leaving most of the passengers behind!

 

[LowLevel]

The passengers have nothing to complain about on Scuds. It's the poor driver when in the small cab end that suffers.

Our drivers like the small cabs - more legroom. It's the guards and revenue staff who suffer with no space for equipment, no real desk to use for writing/revenue purposes etc - pain in the backside!

 

[DarloRich]

I like 153s, if only because having one conk out when they work in multiple gives you the pseudo-feeling of travelling in peace on hauled stock.

Also rivets. They're ribbed for your pleasure.

i really love that when they operate as single carriage trains...........................

 

[mushroomchow]

i really love that when they operate as single carriage trains...........................

Touché.

 

[dk1]

Our drivers like the small cabs - more legroom. It's the guards and revenue staff who suffer with no space for equipment, no real desk to use for writing/revenue purposes etc - pain in the backside!

More drivers legroom? That's certainly not what my knees say about the small end cab.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

More drivers legroom? That's certainly not what my knees say about the small end cab.

I've heard staff complain about both cabs, so perhaps the issues are as much with the secondman's side as the driver's!

 

[dk1]

I've heard staff complain about both cabs, so perhaps the issues are as much with the secondman's side as the driver's!

No legroom secondmans side unless you sit side saddle thanks to the cupboard. If I've a trainee in the chair forcing me this side I tend to sit on the desk.

 

[Chris172]

I loved the 153s on the Stourbridge branch line and during the summer they were like a sauna