Cleanliness of FGW stock

[whole diary]

[moonrakerz]

It may be partly explained by the intensive use that FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s stock gets, compared to the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit). SWT has plenty of spare units so they spend a lot more time hanging around Salisbury depot being cossetted than your average FGW 158!

Ah ! another FGW apologist (employee ?)   

I think this is an entirely valid point. The average FGW DMU set is pretty grubby externally whereas the SWT unit are alway very good. I see many going through Warminster and the difference is striking.
Set against this, I must say that FGW do make more of an effort to keep the interior of their trains tidier with regular walk-through rubbish collections.

[Trowres]

As usual, this group has generated an interesting range of comments. I think iron oxide brake dust is one of the principal components of the grime on the windows (brilliantly captured by Grahame's photo) - this might explain why HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s are externally cleaner (no iron brake blocks) rather than special cleaning attention.

I had a recent journey on a grimy 142 from Exeter - not using the washer in freezing weather sounds like the explanation - but then how did SWT^▸ (South West Trains) manage to clean its trains on the same day?

[Branch Line Connor]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have more time to clean there trains  I mean pacers can really only get cleaned at the end of service, which can be at around about 11pm at night  And I doubt there are any cleaners about then.

[noddingdonkey]

11pm?! They run (bounce) later than that!

[smithy]

As usual, this group has generated an interesting range of comments. I think iron oxide brake dust is one of the principal components of the grime on the windows (brilliantly captured by Grahame's photo) - this might explain why HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s are externally cleaner (no iron brake blocks) rather than special cleaning attention.

I had a recent journey on a grimy 142 from Exeter - not using the washer in freezing weather sounds like the explanation - but then how did SWT^▸ (South West Trains) manage to clean its trains on the same day?

iron oxide might explain 150,153 and pacers but what about the 158's that have pads like hst? i would say problem more likely hst have priority over dmu's.

[smithy]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have more time to clean there trains  I mean pacers can really only get cleaned at the end of service, which can be at around about 11pm at night  And I doubt there are any cleaners about then.

cleaners work 24 nour rosters like a lot of other railway staff,i mean how do you think they are clean internally at start of service also the wash plants do not stop at night either.

[paul7575]

Perhaps they should buy one of these new Argentinian train washers...

http://www.youtube.com/v/3B14iekBmtU

Acknowledgements to Railway Eye

Paul