Great Western Coffee Shop

(http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1621/seatsgl6.jpg)

142064

They havn't done a bad job really, but none of the 142s i've been on were in a too bad state.

Thanks for the pic Liam. I saw some pics of the basic 'refresh' of the 142s in a recent edition of Railway Heraldand all in all they don't look too bad. As its been said a few times, better than no train at all and as its only a temporary arrangement before the cascade of 150/1s from West Midlands with orders for their new fleet of 172s placed BTW.

I went on a 142 the other day and to be honest it wasn't that bad, a bit rough between Polsloe bridge and Digby but nothing to get to upset about? quite tidy inside, seats aren't that comfortable, with a proper refurb they'd be quite acceptable!

How long are the journey's these are to do?

If its more than 15 minutes its too long.  I'd drive before sitting on one of those for more than 15-20 mins.

Those don't look half bad tbh, if they're anything like the old seats the atw 142's had before they got ripped out, (and replaced with proper seats) they were actually rather comfy

These work the Exmouth, Barnstaple, Paignton triangle, so your journey could be approx. one and a half hours, i.e. Exmouth-Paignton, or Exmouth- Barnstaple takes at least one hour twenty minutes, more if connecting with other services at Exeter St Davids or stopping at request stops between Exeter and Barnstaple!

Take a ride on the Barny Branch Vacman, then you'll feel rough! I feel sorry for the Barnstaple passengers who had to stand for over an hour on one of these, in the xmas rush for shopping in Exeter. For a lot of these passengers it was their first experience of 'transforming travel', and probably their last!

It was a bit annoying when i had to stand in the footwell of one of these delightful trains for 25 minutes when full and standing, yet the 3+2  capability of the train was not utilised!

The guard, understandably hiding in the rear cab, although he could have made an announcement to help reduce the mega cram as a result of the shorter viehcle length.

I'm off up on the Barny branch tomorrow, will give a report in comparison to Paignton which is fairly loud and squeely near Torquay.

I know they're no comparison to a 15x unit but they weren't as bad as I had expected, the train I went on was quite well loaded on  the way to Exmouth, to be honest they would probably be better suited to the Cornish branches, well Looe, Falmouth ans St Ives, Loo is only 25 mins, Falmouth is only 22 mins (and mostly welded rail) and St Ives 11 mins! They'd need a 6 car on the St Ives in summer as a 4 car 150 is often leaving people behind on August afternoons!

142's wouldn't work on summer workings on the St.Ives branch as six cars would be too long for platforms and it would proably need at least two cars because its like three trains.

A class 142 on the Cornish Branches, somebody of the Rails with that Idea. I had the pain of a class 142 to Calstock from Plymouth back when they were called Skippers. Alighting at Calstock with me Ears still ringing from the Squealing that was constant from Bere Alston to Calstock Viaduct. the train was audible all the way to Gunnislake and back to Bere Alston, and Squealing wheels indicate both Rail and Wheel damage. KEEP EM OUT OF GOD'S COUNTRY

I found it better than a 143 on there!

It wasn't too rough although there simply isn't enough capacity and it was uncomfortable to travel.

Well, looks like left overs from the HST refurb really. Can't be wasting any money in their cost-cutting excercises.
I've seen a 142 "refurb" at exeter today, still not had the pleasure of riding any 142.

First trip: sat on a 142 non "refurb" at exeter st davids for half an hour on christmas eve with about 20 people standing. Announcement finally that no train crew were available and they would coach us to Barnstaple.
Second trip: 150 pulls into Barnstaple for the first service of the day *phewww* apparently some driver training going on, thank god for that.
Third trip: 153 comes around the corner from exeter central, big sigh of relief again. Tatty as hell but it looks like a real train at least.

I've seen a couple of funny occurances at st davids:
Two 142s pulled in early one morning with the 142 carrages rammed with commuters yet towing two empty 158s that were dark. After un-coupling the 158s were readied for a service. Beggars belief I say.

Two 142s trying to depart for exmouth whilst a group of hi-vis jackets crowd one of the cheepo bus doors that won't close. It took them 20 minutes before they physically pulled the doors closed and departed for exmouth. Danger to passengers? Hang on, the entire unit is dangerious to passengers.

So, screw Andrew Haines and his appologies really, I'd love to see him ride Barnstaple to Exmouth one day on a 142 without his entourage, red carpet welcome, staged trolly service and no use of the first class lounge. Of course, part of the journey must be made by coach to simulate actual conditions.

http://martin247.fotopic.net/p47608702.html Looks like 064 took a jolly to SPM the other day!

Hmmmm. Well they seem to have settled in nicely on the Devon Metro so maybe FGW are planning to run a few Bristol area diagrams perhaps? Don't see why not.

I once spent 14 hours on a 142, they were 'orrible then and the photos remind me they are still 'orrible.

Big fuss about nothing, perfectly adequate if they put propper seats in em, bet noone would have batted an eyelid if 143's had been put on the "Devon metro", I bet anything that joe public just thinks 142's are rubbish because of the bus seats.

That is the general idea, yes.

I'm curious as to wether Exeter has a carriage washer? Any ideas?

I'm fairly sure it has

It has a sort of mobile carriage washer, well it did anyway?