skiingiggy
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TCR (my groups site)Is looking to start creating some British or UK Commuter Trains. WE need informajion on then rail systems to do it. WE are trying to expand a little. Any Gmax handy people willhelp too. Thank you for your help!
British or UK Commuter Trains?
- Thread starter skiingiggy
- Start date
Wessex_Electric_Nutter
Active member
What types do you have in mind and what does your group look for in terms of GMAX skills?
Also, what is the website address?
EDIT: Also note that Britian and the UK are both the same meanings
Gandalf0444
FVRR member
Here is the addressWhat types do you have in mind and what does your group look for in terms of GMAX skills?
Also, what is the website address?
EDIT: Also note that Britian and the UK are both the same meanings
http://z11.invisionfree.com/Trainz_Commuter_Rail/index.php?act=idx
And skiin,since when did we decide this?
:hehe:skiingiggy
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Weel gandalf, me and e other TCR members had this discussion while u were out. And as far as trains, anything that is general for local service, anywhere. Also, what people are interested in seeing created. Just trying to make TCR interesting for non US People. As far as gmax skills, trains are TCR's main focus, but we are also lacking in a buildings person who can make stations and such for routes.
Wessex_Electric_Nutter
Active member
I am confused at "while u were out." and who it is directed at.
For the UK market, there is such a wide diverse of suburban trains, some have interconnecting gangways for walking within the train (unit) or with external gangways, which allow passengers to walk throughout a train (useful for areas where there are short platforms, such as a lot of places South of London), there are Diesel types, 3rd rail typies and overhead types.
There are types from the 1950s to 2006, all with different styles, different layouts, but considered suburban stock.
Theres also "inner suburban" and also, "outer suburban", just to confuse you a bit more!
Generally, any train with 3+2 seating, is classed as an "outer suburban" train or unit, while those without corridors within the carriage or no gangways between the car is generally consider "inner suburban" stock, although, this is a guide, some are outer suburban, some are express trains. So, really, you need to refine your search a bit more.
Also, be aware on American layouts, British trains have a higher solebar (a bit that provides the support for the underframe and something for the body to attach to) and therefore, a much higher floor height. Typical floor heights are 1.15m on newer trains and 1.25~1.30m on older stock.
Trains are also much smaller, the maximun height is likely to be 3.9m and the width, 2.82m while the length can be 23m max.
skiingiggy
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Oh wow that is a lot. I guess i'll strt with gangway typed trains, and my coment about While you were out referred to gandalf over a conversation earlier, sorry for the confusion lol
Wessex_Electric_Nutter
Active member
All photos used here, are from the European Railway server, which can be found at www.railfaneurope.net
For the gangwayed types, we have:
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/diesel/dmu/150/WMPTE/150001-9.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/diesel/dmu/150/FNW/UK150140.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/diesel/dmu/150/ATW/UK150281.jpg
Class 150 DMU in 3 different styles, 150/0s as 3 car sets 150/1s as non gangwayed 2 car sets, 150/2s as gangwayed 2 car sets, as can be seen from the front cab. 150/0s are the same as 150/1s, but most include a 150/2 car to form 3 car trains in the centre.
As for Trainz models, Obi1knoby has made both types and I had a Class 150/2 in production.
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/diesel/dmu/151/151004.jpg
Class 151 DMU, only 2 built in the mid 80's, now scrapped. None preserved and no model yet available for Trainz.
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/diesel/demu/210/210rus.jpg
Class 210 DEMU, although simliar to the Class 150s, they feature electric rather than hydraulic traction as power output from the engine. The engine is also mounted in the body, rather than the underframe.
Only 2 units were produced, one that wsa formed of 3 cars, the other of 4 cars, sadly, only 2 cars (at the most! There may only be 1 car!) left in existance, now used as a static exhabition.
Interestingly, 3 cars were used as a demostration for the Networker prototype Class 457 unit.
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/317/Cambridge-317417-01.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/317/317-colourful-jp.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/317/LondonLivSt-317714-01.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/318/orange-black/318_318254.jpg
Yes, looking like a Class 150, but these are Class 317 (top 3) and Class 318s (bottom one). The difference is that Class 317 units are 4 car trains (note the motor car, the one with a pantograph on it, only one out of an entire 4 car train!) and mainly confined to the Suburbs of London. The Class 317/1 types, have different windows (as per Class 210) and front end, while the Class 317/2 have features simliar to a Class 150.
The Class 317/7s are refurbishments, featuring air conditioning (although retaining the hopper ventilators), express seating and a new front end. These actually were Class 317/1s (ugly cab), that were refurbished for the Stansted Express.
Finally, the Class 318, only one style, but they are 3 instead of 4 cars.
Trainz models are available from my website.
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/350/350129-LiverpoolLS-01.jpg
Most recent out of the selection, again, there are 2 variants and the variants are far more wide than you think! This is the Class 350 "Desiro", which looks very simliar to the Class 450 "Desiro" (see later), although the Dual Voltage version.
These are the West Coast ones, a pool of 30, split between Central trains and Silverlink, although now, there is an order for more. They also feature 2+2 seating, so not necessarily classified as a suburban train, but there are more on order, that possilby do. The other variants are Class 360s, which have no front end gangways and are used on the Great Eastern Main Line or the Great Western Main Line, on the Heathrow Connect.
No known model for Trainz exists, although, see the Class 450s
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/375/NewCross-375913-02.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/377/377-southern-jp.jpg
Class 375 (top) and Class 377 (bottom), I dislike these units a lot, as although British made, they are nothing more than aluminium and plastic crap! Oh and I have to use them almost on a daily basis. They fail quite regulary and they replaced slammer units (see later) with far less confort. The Class 375/377s are otherwise known as "Electrostars" and both types have a wide range of interiors, so some are more for suburban duties, others are more suited for express, although they are created equally! The Class 377s are available as a payware item, which can be reskined to resemble a Class 375.
Now the 3rd rail DC variants!
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-dc/423/Class423SWTWaterloo.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-dc/423/423_SET_6.jpg
Class 423 '4-VEP' which are very simliar to the '4-CIGs', but with multiple doors, per coach, these are now just memories, to which, before 2005, they roamed every piece of line out of every south London Station, serving on surburban and express duties, like their simliar sisters, the CEPs and CIGs. The multiple doors actually made it quicker for passengers to embark and disembark and thus prefered by guard, although the HSE has considered them a hazard, as the doors can be opend while the train is moving. There is only one known complete unit effectively "preserved", owned by their operator, South West Trains, which was celeberty unit, 3417. SWT are keen for a preserveration group to take on the care of "Gordon", but have not had any known offers yet.
Now replaced by the Electrostars and Desiros. There is one in production for Trainz, but I cannot remember the author off the top of my head
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-dc/450/1gal-colour-450-jp.jpg
Class 450 Desiro this time, another slammer killer, aka the "Doodlebug", since they originated from Germany and were killing slammers in their masses. These trains can be found operating out of London Waterloo and found on slow and fast services, although, they aren't actually liked by the passengers, as their high capacity seating with no tables are unsuited for long distance journeys. They should be called "riot starters", as it was said that when a 12 car train (usually a 10 car 444, which are the longer and express variant), arrived at Haslemere, the commuters found their umbrellas and launched them (along with a lot of other objects) at the front of the train. The guard also got a load of abuse from the commuters!
They are hated that much, a website has been started up, calling for a ban on all uses on express services out of Portsmouth, which can be found at www.no450.co.uk
Colourful units with a colourful service! Trainz models? Look for a user called "Squeak", it was believed he had one in production.
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http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-dc/455/SWT/455733_Weybridge_5jun03.jpg
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-dc/455/Connex/UK455811.jpg
Class 455s are probably the only ones in this selection, with no toilet facilities, but does have end gangways. They came in 3 variants, Class 455/7, which had a trailer from another type of unit (clearly evident in the top pic), Class 455/8 which had all the cars the same type and a different cab style, as well as the Class 455/9, which is behind the /7 in the top pic. (I believe!), both of which have identical cab fronts, but the /9s have the cars the same type. (confused?).
All types have gone for a refurbishment which is at the time of writing, all units, except 4 from South West Trains, are refurbished. While SWT went for a radical interior Refurb, Southern on the other hand, went for a radical exterior refurb, which meant removing their front end gangways, with air conditioning units taking their place, along with the light clusters, makes them look rather ugly.
The Class 455s, due to their simliar bodyshells with the Class 150/317/god-knows-what-else is available from my site.
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Thats about it. hopefully this helps.
A british class 312 would do me please there mate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_312
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_312
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This thread seems to be treating the terms "commuter train" and "multiple unit" as if they are the same thing. A commuter train, surely by definition, carries commuters. Therefore a HST, a Class 91 set, a Class 390 Pendolino and a Eurostar are all commuter trains, more so when travelling before 9am on a weekday.
A Class 150 however, is not what I'd call a commuter train, particularly when trundling around Cornwall or the Welsh Valley Lines on a weekend. As I said earlier, the term "commuter train" can cover pretty much every type of train that isn't hauling freight. It's usually easier to know which model you want to make before requesting help from others, but if you can't be specific then you'll at least need to decide on which type of train you're interested in making or which routes or regions you want to cover.
JB
A Class 150 however, is not what I'd call a commuter train, particularly when trundling around Cornwall or the Welsh Valley Lines on a weekend. As I said earlier, the term "commuter train" can cover pretty much every type of train that isn't hauling freight. It's usually easier to know which model you want to make before requesting help from others, but if you can't be specific then you'll at least need to decide on which type of train you're interested in making or which routes or regions you want to cover.
JB
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skiingiggy
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Thank you for the information Wessex. I find this stuff extremely useful. A few of them may become my next projects. THANK YOU! (PS i'll post screens of the stuff when i get started. May take a slight bit of time to show stuff PRESENTABLE (will start tonight) But it is marching band season here, so it will take a bit to be presentable. thanks.