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Carriages: Compartment, Corridor, Open

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StephenHunter

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At my heritage railway, we have some Mark 1 corridor stock that I will refer to as the "Harry Potter carriages" and pitch them to any families I see.
 
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WesternLancer

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I prefer airlines too, I understand if you want to work on a laptop. Not a fan of sitting opposite a stranger on longer rides, and don't fancy it in first class.
whereas I never feel keen at looking at the back of a seat for a longer ride! Each to their own - a mix of both is maybe best
 

Journeyman

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whereas I never feel keen at looking at the back of a seat for a longer ride! Each to their own - a mix of both is maybe best
That's the key for modern train design. I much prefer airline seating for privacy if I'm travelling alone. The new TPE stock seems to have far too many tables.
 

route101

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I've used compartments in Europe. They are great if your in a group but if your on your own and its busy and bit cramped. Prefer open coaches, better views to both sides.
 

tbwbear

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Yes, each to his own....

Much prefer Table to Airline, especially if I am on my own. I know that not everyone wants to talk, but I have had some wonderful conversations with strangers over the years. Best one was with a famous film producer on a train from Paddington. I won't name him but it is one of the best memories I have of travelling by train. Sadly, I was attacked in a compartment (travelling alone as a child) and that is definetely the worst memory.
 

Andyh82

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IIRC, 442s were the last compartment stock anywhere on the network. I certainly loved having a compartment to myself travelling back down south on a Sunday night!
On that note, what were the last trains without open saloons, and when were they withdrawn or converted to open

This being full width compartments and corridor compartments, and also just first class or standard class as well?

Sadly I never got a travel on any southern region slammers before they were all withdrawn
 

hexagon789

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On that note, what were the last trains without open saloons, and when were they withdrawn or converted to open

This being full width compartments and corridor compartments, and also just first class or standard class as well?

Sadly I never got a travel on any southern region slammers before they were all withdrawn
The last fully compartment trains you mean?

Probably something loco-hauled formed of only compartment Mk1s.
 

Journeyman

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On that note, what were the last trains without open saloons, and when were they withdrawn or converted to open

This being full width compartments and corridor compartments, and also just first class or standard class as well?

Sadly I never got a travel on any southern region slammers before they were all withdrawn
The last 100% compartment stock is long gone - the Southern had all-compartment SUBs up to the early 70s, along with units like the BILs and HALs. The MSJA 1500v EMUs were all-compartment too.
 

30907

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Yes. Gone in 1971, slightly outlasted by all-compartment SUBs, which lasted up to about 1973/4.
Of which there were only about 20 - and you never knew which sort would turn up.....
"Main line" corridor trains with no saloon coaches (or no saloon firsts) would have survived slghtly longer - ISTR the Oxford-based Mk1 commuter sets were all-compartment past the mid 70s.
 

JonathanH

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Of which there were only about 20 - and you never knew which sort would turn up.....
"Main line" corridor trains with no saloon coaches (or no saloon firsts) would have survived slghtly longer - ISTR the Oxford-based Mk1 commuter sets were all-compartment past the mid 70s.
Yes, I think that all compartment trains (obviously with through corridors) on the Paddington to Oxford / Newbury trains lasted to about 1989 - they (and sets of non-facelifted early Mk2s) were replaced by the open Mk1s off Euston to Northampton services and open Mk2s off Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Kings Lynn services for the final three years of locomotive hauled operation.

The Euston to Northampton stock transferred included some corridor composite coaches with both first and second class compartments.

The last hauled closed corridor coaches ran on the Great Northern prior to 313s being introduced in 1976.
 
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Andyh82

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The last fully compartment trains you mean?

Probably something loco-hauled formed of only compartment Mk1s.
Just to clarify, I didn’t mean fully compartment, just anything with some compartments within the unit

What were the last to have some full width or corridor compartments, and when was it, and if some were just for first class, what were the last with standard class versions of either
 

Journeyman

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Just to clarify, I didn’t mean fully compartment, just anything with some compartments within the unit

What were the last to have some full width or corridor compartments, and when was it, and if some were just for first class, what were the last with standard class versions of either
Last compartments in any multiple units in regular service were the 3-CIGs on the Lymington branch up to 2010. Both first and standard were fitted.

Last units with non-corridor, full width compartments were some Hampshire DEMUs, which had a standard compartment behind the cab in the driving trailer. In some units, though, it was a luggage compartment, and some had three first class compartments instead.
 

Beebman

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Yes, I think that all compartment trains (obviously with through corridors) on the Paddington to Oxford / Newbury trains lasted to about 1989 - they (and sets of non-facelifted early Mk2s) were replaced by the open Mk1s off Euston to Northampton services and open Mk2s off Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Kings Lynn services for the final three years of locomotive hauled operation.
I remember those Mk2s replacing Mk1 compartment stock on Thames Valley services, they'd been refurbished with ex-APT seats in NSE moquette. I think at least one survives today on the Mid-Hants Railway.
 

hexagon789

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Just to clarify, I didn’t mean fully compartment, just anything with some compartments within the unit

What were the last to have some full width or corridor compartments, and when was it, and if some were just for first class, what were the last with standard class versions of either
Aside from the 442s and sleepers then it would be Thumpers and before that Southern Region slam-door EMUs.

(I believe a 3CIG was retained to work the Lymington branch until about 2010, but I don't know if that retained compartments)
 

Journeyman

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Aside from the 442s and sleepers then it would be Thumpers and before that Southern Region slam-door EMUs.

(I believe a 3CIG was retained to work the Lymington branch until about 2010, but I don't know if that retained compartments)
The pair of CIGs for Lymington did indeed retain compartments, and outlasted 442s with compartments, which had gone by 2007.
 

JonathanH

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I remember those Mk2s replacing Mk1 compartment stock on Thames Valley services, they'd been refurbished with ex-APT seats in NSE moquette. I think at least one survives today on the Mid-Hants Railway.
Slightly off-topic but those on the Mid-Hants went elsewhere. A search for TSO and BSO built 1966/1967 on the Vintage Carriage Trust register and matching to the 1992 coaching stock book suggests that:
WCRC have four (5171, 5200, 5216, 5222) for the coaching set used on 'Steam Dreams' tours.
Epping & Ongar Railway has two (5136, 5181)
Plym Valley Railway has two (5141, 5199)
Dean Forest has one (5175)
Telford has one (5220)
Mid Norfolk has three (5211, 5219, 9409)
Strathspey has one (5204).
Lincolnshire Wolds has one (9384)

It is an interesting question as to whether the Inter City 80 seats were new or recovered from the scrapped APTs.
 

Journeyman

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Slightly off-topic but those on the Mid-Hants went elsewhere. A search for TSO and BSO built 1966/1967 on the Vintage Carriage Trust register and matching to the 1992 coaching stock book suggests that:
WCRC have four (5171, 5200, 5216, 5222) for the coaching set used on 'Steam Dreams' tours.
Epping & Ongar Railway has two (5136, 5181)
Plym Valley Railway has two (5141, 5199)
Dean Forest has one (5175)
Telford has one (5220)
Mid Norfolk has three (5211, 5219, 9409)
Strathspey has one (5204).
Lincolnshire Wolds has one (9384)

It is an interesting question as to whether the Inter City 80 seats were new or recovered from the scrapped APTs.
Yeah, the Mid-Hants for a while built up a fleet of main line registered vehicles that were used on railtours, and this included a number of Mark 2s. They subsequently decided to pull out of that market, and sold off a number of the vehicles, deciding to concentrate mostly on Mark 1s for their own services.
 

hexagon789

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The pair of CIGs for Lymington did indeed retain compartments, and outlasted 442s with compartments, which had gone by 2007.
Thanks. I remembered something of the slammer variety was cut to 3-cars and converted to open seating and utilised on the Coastway lines but I couldn't remember if those were 3CIGs or something else.
 

yorksrob

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Thanks. I remembered something of the slammer variety was cut to 3-cars and converted to open seating and utilised on the Coastway lines but I couldn't remember if those were 3CIGs or something else.

CIG's and VEP's (became COP's and VOP's).
 

hexagon789

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CIG's and VEP's (became COP's and VOP's).
Cheers, so I did get one of the current classes but not a subclass used to Lymington. I am slightly surprised they kept a compartmented rather than open seating unit for the branch.
 

yorksrob

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Cheers, so I did get one of the current classes but not a subclass used to Lymington. I am slightly surprised they kept a compartmented rather than open seating unit for the branch.

I think it's due to Lymington being very much an extension of the main line, rather than a suburban type service.

I did splurge out on a 1st class return between Lymington and Brockenhurst to enjoy the unique ambience of a first class compartment.
 

hexagon789

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I think it's due to Lymington being very much an extension of the main line, rather than a suburban type service.

I did splurge out on a 1st class return between Lymington and Brockenhurst to enjoy the unique ambience of a first class compartment.
I think it just seems a bit of an anachronism within an anachronism but I take your point. After the line has seen 158s which are again more 'mainline' stock than suburban
 

yorksrob

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Cheers, so I did get one of the current classes but not a subclass used to Lymington. I am slightly surprised they kept a compartmented rather than open seating unit for the branch.

I'd say not having 1st class on the branch would have been more of an anachronism - given the connecting services had it.

I seem to recall that SWT 158's have 1st class as well anyway.
 

hexagon789

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I'd say not having 1st class on the branch would have been more of an anachronism - given the connecting services had it.

I seem to recall that SWT 158's have 1st class as well anyway.
Yes, they do. Though given the relatively short nature of the journey is it very well patronised?
 

Czesziafan

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This was not always straightforward vandalism. There are other things that young people of opposite sexes might want to do in the dark...
Yes I remember the privacy of a Mk 1 compartment and the more interesting uses to which it could be put by male and female travelling companions very well. Happy days of a long departed youth!
 
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