Bouncy castles return to FGW

[get_that_bus_out]

According to TheRailwayCentre.com it has been confirmed that FGW will acquire 12 class 142s (presumably from Northern?) at the end of the year, with the intention of basing them at Bristol and Exeter and using them on branch services. The full story can be viewed at http://www.therailwaycentre.com/UK%20Ne ... 7_FGW.html.

Seems like a pretty poor swap for the 10 or so 158s going from FGW to Northern soon. Weren't the bouncy castles taken off the Cornish branches about 20 years ago because they were so poorly suited to these steeply graded and tightly curved lines...?

In other news, was I hallucinating or did a 143 painted dark blue with big pink flying 'f's pass my HST outside BTM the other day?

[Rich_Eason]

They were indeed a failure down south.Wheel and flange wear on the tight curves and didnt have enough go to get up some of the climbs. The ones that were trialed were the choclate and cream ones...

Thats progress for you...

[get_that_bus_out]

Done a bit of reading around the subject: apparently they were upgraded to 460hp per unit in the early 90s (when 2-stage Voith hydraulic transmission was also fitted) which should help with the power problems. But their fixed wheelbases haven't got any shorter! The main reason for withdrawal from Cornwall up to the Manchester area was a combination of flange wear plus complaints from passengers and local residents about the excruciating squealing the units made when negotiating curves.

[Rich_Eason]

Good to see that the paying customer still has to put up with poor riding quality however...

[James]

In other news, was I hallucinating or did a 143 painted dark blue with big pink flying 'f's pass my HST outside BTM the other day?

I saw that at Temple Meads yesterday...it's got to be the cheapest, nastiest, livery that First have come up with yet. I presume (hope) that it's only temporary...aren't these units due for "Local Lines" at some point? Maybe it's covering up grafitti, but it looks really badly done.

[tugboatcharly2]

No good on the Looe branch at least from Liskard on the very severe curve of course the problem is that there are no staff with any real experiance of working a railway system and what there is has to do as they are told. So sad!

[Rich_Eason]

Have read that the 12 142s (mostly ex-FNW blue bangers) will be used on WSM/Bristol/Filton and Barnstaple/Exmouth and should in theory NOT be used in Cornwall as it is widely known they are unacceptable.

150s & 153s will maintain the Cornish branches.

Jolly good!

[madhattie]

Great for my camera though

[James]

Great for my camera though

Yeah I knew you'd be happy

[James]

In other news, was I hallucinating or did a 143 painted dark blue with big pink flying 'f's pass my HST outside BTM the other day?

I saw that at Temple Meads yesterday...it's got to be the cheapest, nastiest, livery that First have come up with yet. I presume (hope) that it's only temporary...aren't these units due for "Local Lines" at some point? Maybe it's covering up grafitti, but it looks really badly done.

From Lizardgen on SWRG:

143617 is currently running around in First Great Western Powercar
Blue after a Graffiti attack, where the original black was in too
pooerer condition to restore.

2 Photos eventually captured on this odd ball livery can be found at:
http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p44605765.html &
http://www.great-western.fotopic.net/p44605767.html

[Rich_Eason]

cheers for the pics...

TBH I think it looks alot better than the faded and outdated Conference Bristol liveried ones, if this is a unit that carried it?

[James]

cheers for the pics...

TBH I think it looks alot better than the faded and outdated Conference Bristol liveried ones, if this is a unit that carried it?

Yeah it still has the advertising on the hopper windows if you look closely.

[get_that_bus_out]

You're right, it doesn't look too bad. I wonder if this might end up becoming the standard livery for the FGW pacers? After all, remember that the deep blue on the MTUed power cars was originally just an interim livery whilst they decided what undignified pink vinyls to slap all over them. It was only after widespread approval of the colour scheme that it was adopted as standard. In fact, in the version of the story I heard it was FGW MD and HST fan Alison Forster who decided that the blue looks so smart it doesn't need any extra adornment. That's one thing that FGW have definitely got right recently: not perpetuating that migraine of a livery that the franchise launch train was outshopped in...

[jules]

Saying apparently goes ...

"All over blue ... It's MTU!"

[Rich_Eason]

In terms of maintainance I cant see why slapping huge great big vinyls all over is a good idea? As has been seen with the units around here they get ingrained dirt, fade and date, where as a paint job is "much easier" to restore .
The livery in the pic I think works as it is simple. I think in additon to that we'll see a "First Great Western" somewhere to confirm the identity and hopefully that will be it.

I think First has a big issue with its identity. You see other operators units and trains they spend the money on confirming their identity yet we have Northern Spirt TP units with First Branding, Wessex Alphaline Units with First Branding and even a regional ralways with First branding. They are all stickers and look a mess and tacky. Besides which the HST livery is unique compared with the Andelantes, you then have the random 150's painted up, then there are all the units...if first impressions (pardon the punn) are to go by then the appearance certainly justifies the service...oh yeah thats what we got....

I'd hate to suggest this but it is almost as if they are trying to keep the cost to keep revenue high!