Very recently we had some American friends visit us for the day. We took them back to Salisbury for a very quiet evening SWR» service back to Southampton. The guard came through the train before it was due to leave and moved my friends up to the First Class compartment on the 158. My friends have always spoken highly of UK▸ trains - they are even more impressed now. Well done that man !! (There was one other passenger on the train - in the other coach, he didn't get an upgrade !)
In the space of not even four whole years from 1989 to 1993, I travelled that section of my Lymington to Umberleigh journey in first Thumpers, then 150s (as were), later 158s and finally a brand new Class 159. You can’t beat the speed and comfort of a 158/159 but I quite enjoyed the Thumpers!