RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted November 24, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 24, 2017 In another thread somebody mentioned the difficulty of buying r-t-r models of the trains he has travelled or, particularly, commuted on over the years so I thought it might be a bit of fun to see how well we might score. Ideally, and to keep it a bit easier it's probably best to concentrate on commuting (and therefore 'regular use') rather than occasional trips on holiday. But others might decide to widen the net of course. So here is a list of what I have commuted on over the years plus regular travel for other aspects of work and meetings as part of my working life, your age and domicile will clearly play a part in what might go on your list. Daily commuting - Mk1 coaches hauled, variously over the years, by D70XX Hymeks. Brush Type 4 (Class 47), and EE Class 50 Type 4 - all available r-t-r Pressed Steel 'bubble car' and 3 car DMU sets - both 'promised' r-t-r Derby suburban dmu (Class 116) - maybe r-t-r some day? Swindon Inter City sets (the final design). - no hope r-t-r it seems HST - which would total by far the greatest mileage as I commuted on them for 14 years - available r-t-r. Regular work/residential travel (other than daily commuting) and travel to regular meetings - Mk1 & Mk2 coaches hauled by D10XX and Class 47 - basically all available although some of the MK2 possibly aren't My 4 coaches hauled/propelled by Class 91 - available r-t-r (currently?) Class 373 Eurostar - available r-t-r So maybe I have just been lucky although actually only a few of the above interest me from a model railway angle and one of those (a certain DMU) isn't currently avaiilable. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
108 Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Starting from the oldest: Push/pull ex railcars with C class (not available) CIE Laminates with C/141 class (not available) 5 car suburban sets with 4 or 6 wheel heating vans. Cravens and GSV. Mk 2D loco hauled (occasionally) Mk 3 push/pull. Initially with 121 Class, later 201 Class. 2601 railcars 2701 railcars 2801 railcars 2901 railcars 29001 railcars 22001 railcars. (The last few years haven't inspired me to model them) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted November 24, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 24, 2017 Can I diversify a touch and do trains I’ve driven/drive in particular liveries, no, tough I’m going to anyway! 08 - RTR 08417 which is the one I passed out on 20/3 - Bachmann planned release in DRS livery 37 - various RTR in Drs/Colas/large logo/green etc 43 - NMT available 47 - various Drs/Colas available 56 - fastline and Colas available RTR 60 - Colas available RTR 66 - ews/Drs/gbrf/fastline/colas/freightliner all available RTR 67 - wsmr/ews/Keith heller/Royal all available (Noncolas....yet!) 70 - Colas livery imminent 73/9 - not available yet RTR 101 - reggie rail due soon? 142 - Mersey/reggie rail/fnw available RTR 150 - fnw/atw available 153 - fnw/atw available 156 - first group Barbie available (needs rebranding to fnw) 158 - FNW/ATW available 165 - available but not chiltern colours 168 - chiltern livery 175 - not available So of that list pretty much everything I’ve driven in my career is available in most liveries apart from the chiltern 165 and 175 unit Coaching stock wise as I only haul yellow coaches around none of those are available rtr apart from a model rail genny van ltd ed and basic NMT coaches 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBRJ Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 I seem to have spent a large chunk of my earlier life confined in a class 153, with the occasional bout of Pacing about, and the odd high day and holy day in something with more axles than carriages so to speak For reasons that may involve masochistic tendencies I have several model sprinters and would rather like a 156 someday - I liked those I may even build a layout to house them in the right setting, but for now my modelling interests are more blue and yellow at the moment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted November 25, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2017 My daily ride to/from work is a London Midland Class 350 Desiro most days (unless my timing is out and I get one of the Class 319 units or use Virgin to MK Central). So I have that in OO from Bachmann. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil gollin Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 . I THINK I may be the guilty party for the inspiration of this thread. I worked out just how much I have travelled by train commuting. Well over 20,000 trips commuting. First to school 2-EPB Mitcham to Wimbledon and then 2-EPB/4-EPB Reedham to Norwood Junction. Then to college 2-EPB/4-EPB and 4-SUB to Balham/Vauxhall (and then tube). Then after a gap (including 6 months commuting from Reading to Paddington by HST) my main slog of commuting Hampton Court to Vauxhall/Waterloo by Class 455 - for decades (!) ALL with tube train journeys. Probably well over 15,000 tube journeys, mainly on the Northern and Victoria lines. Only one type of 2-EPB is available as a quality RTR model (I consider the HST commuting to have been an aberration ;-) ------------------------- Now, my experience is not exceptional, I did three months commuting by EMU from Fenchurch Street to Stamford-le-Hope in the late 70's - I have no idea what EMU that was, but I'm sure there isn't a RTR model of it. Likewise, when working near Euston, and St Pancras the commuters coming out gave evidence that there were more "unknown" EMUs/DMUs doing their daily slog. ------------------- . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) The entire fleet list of London Underground for the past 40+ years. 3D/3H/3R/6S/6L/6B SUB/VEP/CEP/BEP/PEP/EPB/CIG/BIG/REP/TC 310/321/350 Pendolino 33+Mk1 86+Mk1 90+Mk3+DVT And that’s just for commuting and regular trips while at work. Occasional work trips would add a lot more, with Eurostar the tops. Counting only commutes, I’m at about 18000 trips, about 75% of which included more than one train. If I counted trips while at work it might add a further c10000. Too much time spent on trains, and really no desire to own models of any of these ‘trains quotidienne’. (I keep remembering additional regular ones!) Edited November 25, 2017 by Nearholmer 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium HillsideDepot Posted November 25, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2017 I'd not consider myself as someone who has commuted by train, but certainly teenage "bashing" trips helped me select numbers for my original Hillside Depot fleet. As close as I have come to commuting by train has been: Tyne & Wear Metro: Felling - Haymarket as a student, and a RTR Metro car would probably be too hard to resist (it'd probably prompt a layout, actually) Inter-City 125: Chippenham - Swindon as a student on sandwich placement, and I have a HST set, albeit in the later GWT "Road Runner" livery Suburban DMU: the return trip of the above, a model of which is long overdue and would certainly feature in my fleet, but because almost any representation of the WR is lacking without them rather than because I commuted on them. Class 108: Plymouth - Truro (sometimes St Austell or Penzance), Bachmann versions sitting on the shelf patiently awaiting their layout. During my months doing that the DMUs were replaced by Class 150/2: as above, in reality and model terms Inter-City 125: return of above, and model as above Then for a dozen years I commuted by bus to work, and example EFE models sit on display here (and more ought to be added to by repainting other castings). However one type I travelled on was the Dennis Dart: 1:76 scale one on the shelf, 1:1 scale one in store in a nice dry barn, awaiting restoration (probably starting next year the Engineering Dept of the project tells me)!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) Another question to ask - did any of you enjoy commuting enough to have a model of your daily transport? I've only ever commuted by train for a period of about 6 months - on Reading 117 DMUs mostly (and sometimes 119s). Otherwise it's been (in order of jobs/locations) bicycle, car, bicycle/walk, walk, car, 13 stairs to back bedroom. Edited November 25, 2017 by eastwestdivide Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) It did slightly enjoy commuting sometimes, because it gave chance for a gossip with pals on the way in, and a 'bubble' of peace between work and a sometimes busy household on the way home. It took a bit of practice, to know which trains might have decent seats free, though, because peace is not what you get in an overly busy coach even if sitting. My view was this it was worth sacrificing a few minutes of time in exchange for peace, so I would sometimes deliberately catch a quieter, slower, train. But, no models! Currently, I'm fulfilling a lifelong ambition: cycling to work, and working three days a week. Edited November 25, 2017 by Nearholmer 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) 7 years of going to school - 317 and 319 - nope Year and a bit of going into London - 319 and what ever they had on the District/Circle line at the turn of the century - Ditto Last 15 years Chesterfield-Sheffield - 142 yes; 150 yes; 153 yes; 156 yes; 158 yes (excepting the 3 car units); 170 yes; 220 yes; 221 yes; 222 no; HST yes; Supertram no DMUs are much better served than EMUs I don’t own a model of any of them... Edited November 25, 2017 by Talltim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold D9020 Nimbus Posted November 25, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 25, 2017 Journeys to the coast in the 1960s: Newcastle—Tynemouth/Whitley Bay/Monkseaton : Gresley 1938 electric stock (no RTR) Gateshead — South Shields : Metro-Cammel class 101s 1971 Overnight train Newcastle — Kings Cross hauled by 9020 Nimbus — the only time I've knowingly been pulled by a "Deltic" (a slow journey, stopping at Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, Thirsk, York, Selby, Doncaster, Retford, Newark, Grantham, Peterborough, Sandy... The return journey might have been pulled by a "Deltic" too—they were often used on such trains at this time, running on on engine, but by then I was too tired to bother looking... There have been lots of Deltic models but I don't think Nimbus was among them. 1977 Reading—London Paddington — class 47 Kings Cross—Newcastle — class 40 More recently: HSTs, class 91s, Voyagers, 142s, 158s, the occasional 150 and 153. Also 170s, 185s and the Tyne and Wear Metro. Of them all, everything bar the Gresley 1938 stock, the Metrocars and (so far) the 185s have been available RTR, if not always the specific locos or units. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 I think most of my regular trains are well covered for most of my life. Which has mostly been spent in the North West. WCML electrics Pendelinos and Voyagers BR Mark 1/2/3s Local DMUs. 101/108, Pacers, Sprinters Modern EMUs. 350s It's mainly the older EMUs that are missing. 502/503/507/508 DC EMUs 303/304/305/etc. AC EMUs Jason 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted November 25, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2017 Another question to ask - did any of you enjoy commuting enough to have a model of your daily transport? I've only ever commuted by train for a period of about 6 months - on Reading 117 DMUs mostly (and sometimes 119s). Otherwise it's been (in order of jobs/locations) bicycle, car, bicycle/walk, walk, car, 13 stairs to back bedroom. A good question. When things go well I find the train ride is a good way to unwind after work and it can be good productive time. I did much of an MSc whilst commuting with London Midland, and I enjoy reading a book in the morning or evening without the kiddies causing mayhem around me. On the other hand when things go wrong (and the WCML has gone through a pretty bad couple of months) it is awful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted November 25, 2017 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 25, 2017 . I THINK I may be the guilty party for the inspiration of this thread. . You were indeed the inspiration Phil so I hope you didn't mind me pinching your lead and starting a thread. My HST commuting was all relatively short distance, 9 years of Reading - Swindon followed by 5 years of Reading - Paddington so the total mileage adds up to about 42,000 at a reasonably conservative estimate. In both cases it was fairly enjoyable as the Reading - Swindon journey was contra-peak and a regular group of 4 of us travelled together for a fair chunk of those years until mortality and redundancy reduced our number to just me. Travelling to Paddington in the peak also worked out fairly well as at Reading I usually joined a group of three who regularly commuted to Paddington from Cheltenham and they made sure the fourth seat at their table was always taken by someone getting off at Reading. Fortunately recovering from a bout of serious illness in 1999 put me on a somewhat more leisurely approach to commuting which meant no longer rushing to catch that train so I wasn't in my usual place in the leading coach on the morning it collided at Ladbroke Grove with a Class 165 coming in the opposite direction (and equally fortunately none of my three regular travelling companions were on the train that morning either). I excluded the London UndergrounD and a fair part of 4 years spent on the Bakerloo Line in the peaks ) although the stock might actually be available in some form and my other 'regular travel for work but not commuting' at one time included Boeing 737s, occasionally B757s, and MD80s. I never counted the Class 373 mileage and I gave up counting the number of times I passed through the Channel Tunnel after my 200th trip (i.e. 100 each way). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Northmoor Posted November 25, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2017 Another question to ask - did any of you enjoy commuting enough to have a model of your daily transport? I've been commuting on SWT/SWR for 3.5 years now and contrary to what the moaners say - some of them claim to be late far more often that me despite being on the same trains - I actually enjoy it. I get a seat in the morning probably 90% of the time, in the evening about 99% of the time and have been catching up on more reading than I've done for years. It's also within 5mins of right time on about 95% of journeys. A model of my commuter train would require one of the new models of a 450 in SWT livery. One day I'll splash out on one "just because" but unfortunately all my intended layouts are to be of other parts of the country and none representing less than 30 years ago. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 In student days travelled for awhile on the original 4-BIGs; those with the individual wooden chairs in the buffet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike 84C Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Reading this thread I am far to old! No commuting by steam! 61xx and 4 car Hawksworths from Oxford to Banbury. Halls or whatever from Wolverhampton/ Snow Hill to Banbury. Even the bus from Woodford to Banbury. Horrible single unit bubble car from Leamington to Honeybourne. OOC. carriage sidings behind Hymeks, feel that gear change! all to get home. Dmu's Wolverhampton to Salop. And the emu's on the NewSt Walsall shuttles. Were they Am 9 and 10's? I expect I have missed a few. Does Oxley Sdgs to Banbury Hump in a WR toad on the end of 40 wagons count? it was a long cold, dark, uncomfortable commute home! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted December 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 7, 2017 I have not commuted by train for much of my work career. What little there was, mainly back in the 1970s/80s. 2EPB, 4EPB, 319. For a brief period in Paris, very quirky units on Line 10 and the superb MF77 units on Line 13. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted December 7, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 7, 2017 I've got no chance I think of my main commute being captured in model form. For years 1979-1985 Class 303 The original Glasgow Bluetrain Class 311 Later version for south side lines Class 126 Swindon Unit - The Ayrshire Lines Class 116 So disappointed when Kernow dropped it and Bachmann took it over to announce concentrating on 117 Class 101 Got a Hornby 3 car one Class 107 Got a Bachmann/ Model Rail one masquerading as a 107 but actually a 108 I used HSTs, Class 86s and 47s for a while to get Glasgow- Sheffield. Got all of them and latterly Class 91s for weekends in London . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 (edited) I spent nearly 4 years commuting between Oxford and Reading (1980-84), and pretty much everything I used is available in OO RTR; Classes 47 and 50, and sometimes 31 and occasionally 33; Mark 1 and 2 coaches; Class 117 DMU, available in the past and will be again in the future (one of these worked the 0445 from Oxford, my train for the early shift !). In 1984 I moved to Scotland and in common with Legend and in contrast to the WR, nothing is available now, and probably never will be; Classes 303/311, 314, 318 and 334. Edited December 7, 2017 by caradoc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold colin penfold Posted December 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 7, 2017 4 subs and 4 epbs shepperton branch to school. Monotony was relieved by occasional HAPs which had nicer compartments and comfier seats. Also when (frequently) Fulwell tunnel flooded and they turned off the juice we would get a crompton and a 4tc set. Later the 508s came in. Other than that my only rail commuting was Hungerford to Paddington for a couple of years enjoying regular hoover action in a mk1 or mk2. Occasionally a duff would turn up instead. I'd be tempted to a br blue layout some time and already own a 50, but that's because it's my favourite class, not because of the commuting. Would never consider an EMU layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal.n Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 For passenger services, I think I'm fairly well covered (with one notable exception in the shape of a class 185). The majority of Northern Rail's current DMU fleet are all well covered by Hornby (153), Bachmann (150, 158) and Realtrack (156, 142, 144). In the next few years (hopefully) the 142 will be out, the 156 will be in Northern colours and if we're very lucky, we may even have a 158 EP to gaze at?? On intercity services, Hornby make an adequate Pendolino, Bachmann do a Voyager and 350. I'm also lucky enough to have needed to commute behind a DRS 37/4 on the Cumbrian Coast which is well catered for in model form. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted December 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 7, 2017 My only regular commute was around 1957/8 when I travelled on the Great Central into Nottingham Victoria from East Leake on the way to and from school. Usually the loco was a B1, the stock was a mix of Gresley and Mark 1s, all corridor. The Gresleys were more comfortable. Once or twice the loco was a V2, I think I was once hauled by an ex LMS Class 5. From time to time in the morning the train would approach the platform very quickly and stop beyond the station, followed by a quick reverse into the platform. We were usually back on time by Nottingham. David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Reorte Posted December 18, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 18, 2017 I've only commuted to work in the last couple of years (and then occasionally), which means 150s, or a 156 if I'm lucky. An earlier patch of regular train travel involved Voyagers. Oddly enough I don't remember much train travel from when I was a child which wasn't on an HST, but there must've been some others. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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