What is your favourite British DMU of all time?

Pengi · February 10, 2013, 07:19:51 AM

Again, a difficult choice as there are some excellent trains in this category. For example, the SWT Express Sprinter reliable, good to travel in and a very smart livery and similarly the Turbostars (especially in Southern livery) which are underrated in my view. I never saw a Blue Pullman on the big railway but, if I had, it would have been one of my choices.

But by the width of a headlamp, my choice would be the Cross Country Voyager. A very good looking train and, after the chaos of buses replacing trains on the Weymouth line because of a broken down freight train on the Parkstone bank, there always used to be a Voyager waiting for me at Bournemouth to take me home.

kaiwhara · February 10, 2013, 07:57:47 AM

It's a toss up between the 205 and the 159 there Pengy!

Tank · February 10, 2013, 10:28:56 AM

In n gauge it's definitely the Class 150. Great to change into EMU's!

OwL · February 10, 2013, 10:35:30 AM

I can tell you my least favorite:

A Class 170. As everytime i travel on one they are filthy inside, overcrowded and mostly always late.
Thanks to X-Country Trains for only having 2 car units on the Stanstead Express-Birmingham New Street Route! Idiots!

hairygit · February 10, 2013, 10:36:10 AM

Simple, class 251/261, better known as the Midland and Western Pullmans, in the original nanking blue livery!

Adam1701D · February 10, 2013, 11:02:45 AM

For pure nostalgia value, it has to be the Class 101. When I started spotting in around Stevenage, they were still in Refurbished blue/white and working services from Hitchin to Huntingdon and Hertford, as well as Royston to Cambridge.

The Class 156 is far and away the best "modern" DMU, with a well-designed interior, large windows and a good, no-frills design.

tadpole · February 10, 2013, 11:08:40 AM

Favorite DMU? (Apart from Tadpoles, obviously).

Swindon Intercity 123, closely followed by Transpennines.

(One of Adam's thumpers in the background - also rank very high)

NTrain · February 10, 2013, 11:32:22 AM

Hull Trains take on the Voyager, what were they, Pioneers or something.

Only a few days more to go and I can be back with full internet access and can research my answeres

dodger · February 10, 2013, 01:23:35 PM

Quote from: tadpole on February 10, 2013, 11:08:40 AM

Swindon Intercity 123

Got to agree with you there. One of the most comfortable DMU's, but horrible to maintain and repair.

dodger

Matthew-peter · February 10, 2013, 03:13:43 PM

Ok your all going to hate me for this one, but personally my favourite DMU is the.........

Class 142, Ive always enjoyed the rides on these, a bit dusty at times and a LOT of problems in the past but come on, they have been going for almost 35 years and still a lot in service (especially in Manchester as I saw yesterday) and the amount of liveries they have had has been a treat for the eye, well sometimes.

Cant wait for them to come out in N gauge

Lankyman · February 10, 2013, 03:31:03 PM

My favourite is the original Derby "Lightweight" Yellow Diamond" (forerunner of the Class 108.) Whilst I got to travel on them occasionally in South Manchester in the early years I got to know them better when I moved to Barrow-in-Furness where they operated all the Cumbrian Coast services. Their high back seats were very comfortable for reasonably long distances and the large front windows were excellent for "road learning." Running them close would be the Birmingham RC&W class 110 (720hp) sets and the original "Trans-Pennine" sets both of which were designed sepecifically for Pennine routes for which they were admirably suited. Then there were the Cravens Class 105 (twin power) sets with Rolls-Royce engines based at Accrington depot. (The ones based at Newton Heath had BTU (Leyland) engines which were not maintained properly and the windows used to vibrate dramatically so are excluded although I would happily have a model if one is ever produced.)

Ron

willike1958 · February 10, 2013, 03:34:40 PM

The Swindon Transpennine Class 124 DMU has no equal in terms of front-end design.

Lankyman · February 10, 2013, 04:49:59 PM

I agree on that point (and they had a "Griddle" car) which is why I ranked them highly.

Ron

EtchedPixels · February 10, 2013, 06:02:54 PM

Quote from: willike1958 on February 10, 2013, 03:34:40 PM
The Swindon Transpennine Class 124 DMU has no equal in terms of front-end design.

Wonderful design indeed - until you try and model one. Several head-banging-on-wall attempts later I've given up trying to draw one

4x2 · February 10, 2013, 07:28:30 PM

Quote from: Matthew-peter on February 10, 2013, 03:13:43 PM
Ok your all going to hate me for this one, but personally my favourite DMU is the.........

Class 142, Ive always enjoyed the rides on these, a bit dusty at times and a LOT of problems in the past but come on, they have been going for almost 35 years and still a lot in service (especially in Manchester as I saw yesterday) and the amount of liveries they have had has been a treat for the eye, well sometimes.

Cant wait for them to come out in N gauge

Don't worry, your not on your own... I've got a soft spot for the 142/143 as well. At least that's 2 members of the 142 preservation society !