The Rail Enthusiast thread

[Mad Doug Biker]

I have to admit to rather liking the 143 and 155s, especially as I travelled hundreds of Kilometres behind 143's. I loved the way that they were basically flying bricks, as if streamlining was an example of bourgeois decadence. "It will be square comrade! down with the curves of capitalist oppression! The very atmosphere will submit to glorious soviet engineering!"

Mind you, at least they worked, which was more than could be said for a lot of their stable mates.

Yes I like the '155s' as they always look a bit odd with that horn on the front and as you say, they are bricks on wheels!

How very Soviet!

 

[Mike_P]

I have to admit to rather liking the 143 and 155s,

Certainly not a phrase ever used regarding UK stock

 

[Andy in Germany]

Certainly not a phrase ever used regarding UK stock

I do rather like the Class 142 Pacers. That said, as I've lived here 20 years I don't have to ride on them.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Certainly not a phrase ever used regarding UK stock

I was looking at one of the class 153s' that Scotrail now use on the West Highland Line* with the '156s' the other day there and thinking that I quite like them in their new, colourful livery. I was also thinking how insane it was that they rebuilt an entire class of '153s' out of the class 155s', but then left something like 7 of them in original condition.
Why have such a small amount? 🤷

P.S. I saw them all years ago. ☺️😆


* - The Class 153 has never been a Scottish unit until recently, when Scotrail got a few to use as extra capacity for bikes and luggage on the WHL, I kid you not.

Message Edited.

 

[Mike_P]

I was looking at one of the class 153s' that Scotrail now use on the West Highland Line and thinking that I quite like them and was also thinking how insane it was that they rebuilt an entire class out of class 155s', but then left something like 5 of them in original condition.
Why have such a small amount? 🤷

The remaining 155s (seven) are owned by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, formerly Passenger Transport Executive.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The remaining 155s (seven) are owned by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, formerly Passenger Transport Executive.

Yeah, I guess they were required and yet 7? Why not just use '156s' or similar?

ANNNYway, what do I know?

 

[Jenkins]

I was looking at one of the class 153s' that Scotrail now use on the West Highland Line* with the '156s' the other day there and thinking that I quite like them in their new, colourful livery. I was also thinking how insane it was that they rebuilt an entire class of '153s' out of the class 155s', but then left something like 7 of them in original condition.
Why have such a small amount? 🤷

P.S. I saw them all years ago. ☺️😆


* - The Class 153 has never been a Scottish unit until recently, when Scotrail got a few to use as extra capacity for bikes and luggage on the WHL, I kid you not.

I think some of the 153s that went to Scotrail used to be Greater Anglia units. Having used them a fair few times, you're most welcome to them.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I think some of the 153s that went to Scotrail used to be Greater Anglia units. Having used them a fair few times, you're most welcome to them.

I meant that I like the livery they have:

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Much like the Scotrail 'Intercity 7' HST livery, it's quite pleasing on the eye.

 

[Mike_P]

I do rather like the Class 142 Pacers. That said, as I've lived here 20 years I don't have to ride on them.

The 144s were IMO the least worse Pacer especially the centre car of three car ones.

Yeah, I guess they were required and yet 7? Why not just use '156s' or similar?

ANNNYway, what do I know?

The 35 155s than were rebuilt as 153s were completed Jun 87 - Jul 88. The West Yorkshire ones followed in Jul 88-Sep 88.

The 114 156s were completed Nov 87 - Sep 89 so presumably available production slot would have been one factor. The number was related to units required for services between Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Todmorden which did involve running through to Manchester.

 

[Spartak]

Much like the Scotrail 'Intercity 7' HST livery, it's quite pleasing on the eye.

View attachment 697709

HST... 😍

 

[rogerzilla]

I'm in Austria next week so I'll try and get some photos of big red ÖBB locos. They still have mixed goods trains there, often double-headed. The flange squeal as they go around the Zeller See is very loud.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I'm in Austria next week so I'll try and get some photos of big red ÖBB locos. They still have mixed goods trains there, often double-headed. The flange squeal as they go around the Zeller See is very loud.

I just love the 'Taurus' loks (1016/1116/1216), although they are as common as anything.

 

[rogerzilla]

I like the older 1044s (some other classes look similar) with the distinctly Continental styling.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I just love the 'Taurus' loks (1016/1116/1216), although they are as common as anything.

They are a common sight in Stuttgart and I've seen them occasionally in Karlsruhe. National railways are becoming increasingly blurry with Karlsruhe hosting locos and high speed trains from France, Switzerland, Austria and even Italy.