Great Western Coffee Shop

Could anyone tell me how the carriage heating system on a 143 differs (if indeed it does) from a 142?

Is it better or worse?

Thanks in advance.

TJ

When its working properly its normally pretty good on a 143, though most of the 142's heating systems are also up to scratch now.

The heating system on the 142 is contained in the pod on the roof about halfway down each car. It is supplied with hot water by two pipes concealed in the handrails in the saloon divider towards the cab end. It is given to air locking and only works properly if the coolant in the engine water system is kept topped up. The four grills in the saloon ceiling under the pod are the recirculating air intakes for the system, not the outlets for heated air as some people seem to think. The fresh air inlets on the pod exterior have nearly all been panelled over due to the ingestion of exhaust fumes when the car is trailing. The hot air is blown out of ducts each side of the centre panel in the roof on which the strip lights are mounted, the cavity between the roof sheet and the ceiling forming the duct. The roof sheet is insulated for this purpose as also was the case on the Leyland National Bus from which it was derived. Basically it works but it is given to various problems.

The 143 uses conventional box type radiators and fans under the passenger seats. These seem to keep the saloons warm enough as long as the radiators don't air lock. There is (as long as its not being removed on refurbishment) a controlleable thermostat to cut out the fan motors in order to maintain the saloon at a suitable temperature. In my experience this is a better system than the 142 pod type heating system.

Certain 142's (but not the ones operated by FGW) were converted to underseat heating and the pod fans restricted to recircuating the air round the saloons, the radiators in the pod having been removed.

Thank you SprinterMeister, an excellent reply for which I am most grateful.

TJ