StephenHunter
Established Member
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.
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 bestI 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.
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.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
Or the same sex.
On that note, what were the last trains without open saloons, and when were they withdrawn or converted to openIIRC, 442s were the last compartment stock anywhere on the network.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!
The last fully compartment trains you mean?On that note, what were the last trains without open saloons, and when were they withdrawn or converted to open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Sadly I never got a travel on any southern region slammers before they were all withdrawn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1500v EMUs were all-compartment too.On that note, what were the last trains without open saloons, and when were they withdrawn or converted to open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Sadly I never got a travel on any southern region slammers before they were all withdrawn
Yes. Gone in 1971, slightly outlasted by all-compartment SUBs, which lasted up to about 1973/4.The 4DDs were also all compartment.
Of which there were only about 20 - and you never knew which sort would turn up.....Yes. Gone in 1971, slightly outlasted by all-compartment SUBs, which lasted up to about 1973/4.
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.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.
Just to clarify, I didn’t mean fully compartment, just anything with some compartments within the unitThe last fully compartment trains you mean?
Probably something loco-hauled formed of only compartment Mk1s.
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.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
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.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.
Aside from the 442s and sleepers then it would be Thumpers and before that Southern Region slam-door EMUs.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
The pair of CIGs for Lymington did indeed retain compartments, and outlasted 442s with compartments, which had gone by 2007.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)
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: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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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 suburbanI 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.
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.
Yes, they do. Though given the relatively short nature of the journey is it very well patronised?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?
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!This was not always straightforward vandalism. There are other things that young people of opposite sexes might want to do in the dark...