The Railway Review To The Class 455

[@wharris302]

I actually had to look that 1930s traction motor thing up, and oh dear, they really do....10/10 design.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I forgot to show the screencap but yeah, it's true. Some of the motors were even salvaged from the 4-SUB/Class 405s which were 1941 built. The EE507 was the "standard" across the southern region around the mid 30s. www.gracesguide.co.uk/English_Electric_Co:_Railways

[@bb-3653]

I was thinking this, they should have just been 317s . Why they gave them less powerful motors is beyond me. Why they only wanted 75mph trains when a 100mph variant already existed is also beyond me.

[@IC-qf7ev]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel although some at least have new motors and stuff on them. even tho swr are getting rid of them

[@aniluxneo9218]

@@bb-3653 Apparently it's because there wasn't enough time to develop an original traction motor as they had to replace the aging stock quite quickly, some built pre-WW2. So they simply recycled the motors from those said units since they supposedly had plenty of life left.

[@bb-3653]

@@aniluxneo9218 ah that makes sense, shame that they werent able to have time. Perhaps they could have developed some "317s" after the fact that they got 455s. But oh wells. It is what it is at this point, they already have 377s now.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Self reflection: Well, this was actually much harder to do than the turbostar one. I had enough footage (after an extra recording trip) but I *really* struggled with the script with this one. I even redid the intro since I didn't find the original one (which was basically smack talking PM: TOK) very funny. No matter, sometimes you need to let it simmer before going back to make something you can feel proud of :). Don't ask which will be next. I haven't the faintest clue.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

nExT dO tHe ClAsS 82 dVt :))))))

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

_No._

[@robbiemorrison7085]

8:50, you see that smaller window was probably where the toilet was as the 319s had the exact same window where they were.

[@sirjack_86]

For a while this was always my local train to school, usually was always overcrowded. But now, I am sitting on ironing boards.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

We'll call that a simultaneous upgrade and downgrade then ;)

[@andrewreynolds4949]

And the Southern 455s will finally be replaced by?… Service cuts!

[@bussesandtrains1218]

the aventra/319 is no where near as ludicrous life (mostly politics) truly is stranger than fiction

[@robbiemorrison7085]

I remember the first time when I went on a 456 with southern, still had NSE livery, had a toilet and never saw one with a WC again

[@millercool21]

Was it a disabled toilet

[@robbiemorrison7085]

@@millercool21 can’t remember

[@ScoutZz]

inb4 Class 701 is delayed to "early 2021".jpeg

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Aaaaand the last horse crosses the finish line: www.railmagazine.com/news/network/new-swr-fleet-delayed-again

[@FarmYardGaming]

oh how we had to wait

[@HAHE-mn4tu]

That didn’t aged well

[@electrostarjudge]

I'm surprised you have footage of Southern trains running. Must've been the dark ages.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

A stopped clock is right twice a day...

[@Yawwie]

A very funny review, though I have to disagree. As much as they have their issues (which I can't really see most of), I still love them to bits. And regarding the 701 video. That just came to the fact that 4 trains were getting replaced by them despite their recent refurbs and upgrades, and the fact I dislike them, but I do partially agree with you.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

It was a very silly video considering it wasn't even built yet, literally only a few pictures of it. Whilst I'm ambivalent about the 458s, they're unreliable as hell, the 707's formation is poorly designed and the 455s aren't suitable for maintaining the headway on the SWML. It's silly for them to be replaced after a retraction upgrade in a way, but it was clearly a stop gap, they were going to be ditched sooner or later. The same thing is going on with GAs 321s. I don't even like the Aventra units either, but I'll tell you what I do like: Air Conditioning and toilets.

[@seaside-dn8dp]

I personally like the 455s. They've been my local trains for over a decade. I can remember them with the old motors and compressors as well. I will be a bit sad to see them go however as they've been the backbone of the Surburban network in south London and the south east for a long time. Just shows how popular they were when they entered service. Hopefully they could be used as a FLEX train like the 319s.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

But we need to make more sacrifices to the Scrapyard God...

[@bb-3653]

Come for a ride on southern if you wanna hear the old motors haha.

[@lunar_electro]

This individual is a sadomasochist

[@tenny_tenten]

7:22 Well Southern will be retiring their 455/8, because of the May 2022 timetable change, and they will sublet some 377/5 from Southeastern.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Woooo, more hot potato.

[@robbiemorrison7085]

I was so happy when these where withdrawn from the Tattenham Corner line (serving t corner)

[@I-NEED-DONUTS]

When were they withdrawn from that line

[@class317]

lmao they were never

[@PGATProductions]

@@class317 ever since may 2018, 377/6 have been running on the line to tattenham corner

[@robbiemorrison7085]

3:25 if you want to see the old interiors you can also see Northern Ireland rail class 450s there identical

[@bb-3653]

Love the anime style music, (it sound like it anyway),... Edit. Just realised ..its mario as you mentioned

[@bigdealbro3439]

Paper Mario The Origami King

[@atent5124]

Someone got a probable iron and ironed his shirt on the Southern 455 seats. Not even joking, it turned out really well. Coincidenctially, someone else did the same thing on the 700 seats

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Extremely resourceful :)

[@PGATProductions]

the seats on the 455s aren’t that bad. and on the class 700 first class is declassified on one of the ends

[@joshuahill6153]

I go occasionally to a museum that runs vintage trams from the 1920s-to 1940s. And holy fuck they sound the same as the 445s I almost shat myself laughing. Still more reliable lol.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Lots of motors sounded the same then so I can believe that.

[@jonstewart3336]

What voiceover is this? It sounds like an iBus voice on Stagecoach.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

It's the same voice used by Stagecoach, but it's one freely available.

[@Les_MeilleursMCFC]

@@MaverickHunterDanielisn’t it actually called daniel? Like the person the voiceover is based over

[@Fasty8Gaming]

i shit myself when i saw the thumbnail. I thought it said 'weymouth via manchester' i was like holy fucking hell

[@TheTrainiac377]

God these were my normal commuting trains when they ran on Southern, I like them, but they were also a pain, but I have nostalgia still anyway

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I can see what you mean at least.

[@TheTrainiac377]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel yea

[@WindowsFanatic]

Well, if the Class 455 were to operate in Hungary, it would perfectly suit the routes.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Apart from the platform height difference and electrification, sure.

[@WindowsFanatic]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel Then they would modify the units to be suitable.

[@matthighley1461]

Wouldn't mind seeing them on the South Coast.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Neither would I. As artificial reefs of course ;)

[@BrynEdwards-z1y]

Still here in 2024...

[@theunknown2470]

They need to preserve at least 2 of the 3 variant

[@FarmYardGaming]

I've only used the 455s for a few months and can't wait for them to sod off (if the 701s actually get delivered). They're so loud on the rails that it hurts, the Aventra 701 was graceful. A bunch of 455s recently couldn't make my route due to frost on the rail. Fun. The door problem doesn't seem to apply to us lot, but in all my reading I had no idea they used stuff from the 1930s. Good LORD. I like the sound of the current motors, from the outside. But otherwise, eesh.

[@FarmYardGaming]

One other thing to a mountain of hate for this train, the way it looks. Why the hell are there pipes wrapped around the lights. And even then it's asymmetrical. Not a looker.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Well the reason the pipes aren't symetrical from what I can see is because those are the leads for the air braking system when two units are coupled together. It's kinda hard to explain but it makes sense when you see them coupled.

[@FarmYardGaming]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel Fair enough, I'll keep an eye out for that when I visit them again. Thanks!

[@xander1052]

If you are reviewing the 45Xs, you gotta do the 450.

[@LordEverythingtrains]

THIS JUST IN. He clearly just changed the thumbnail.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Yes, I asked RG to draw it.

[@AntonFanify]

Southern needs to send this old 455/8's to the retirement shed. It is a very old train.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

If the 455 is old, what would that make the 313s?

[@AntonFanify]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel. It would make the 313 wanting the knacker's yard. Tired old 313

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

@@AntonFanify Fair enough

[@FarmYardGaming]

lmfao I love this video. Watching the others after this.

[@DwellerUK]

Couldn't agree more with this review. The 455 is one of my local trains, and compared to the others (the 377 and the 700), all I can say is "SOUTHERN WHY DONT YOU REPLACE THESE PIECES OF CRAP" lol

[@dmozi]

It's because they are cheap to maintain

[@DwellerUK]

@@dmozi unfortunately, yes

[@dmozi]

@@DwellerUK I used to live I that area and as I was very young I don't remember much. All Is just a lot of 377s and 456s

[@TEBEnthusiast]

@@lamborghinihexagons5502 I been on the SWR 455s, and are very soft and comfy

[@AlexEwan1]

SWR 455s are actually pleasant to travel on but the Southern 455s are depressing. Southern made naff all effort to refurb these trains in the 00s.

[@nowapproachingyt]

Also, just curious if the upgraded motors of the 455 actually improved the acceleration or did it just make it smoother?

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I think it just made it smoother from what I've seen. Though in a way, it being smoother, it makes it a little bit faster, but yeah.

[@bussesandtrains1218]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel depends how its driven then

[@Hm_m41115]

Well they're hellfire and you can't deny that

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Challenge accepted. They are not hellfire. :)

[@bussesandtrains1218]

hello, 455 veg here they are only hellfire on a technicality that in practice only hinders their preference by the way is a 37 in your pfp? pworr hellfire mega gen am i right m'lordz?

[@Nacer.s317]

So in a nutshell, the 455 is just like the 317 but intentionally worse

[@bb-3653]

Looool, " intentionally" is probably likely ,considering the motors are influenced by 1930s tech. Its probably very true, how tf does a 317 have good acceleration for an 80s train but the 455s dont lmao. I still love them though

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Pretty much.

[@bussesandtrains1218]

@@bb-3653 standardisation... rather stupid as the trains it shared parts with were going to be withdrawn as soon as possible and after the 2000s they were just obsolete

[@bb-3653]

@Busses and trains 121 honestly the standardisation at the time really messed with the fleets performance. Because wtf 🤣🤣 it would also make sense that 317 motors were standard for the time, they were also low powered and delivering good acceleration for the 80s. What's also worse...is the 456s had the same motors as 455s, but were way newer than 455s...make it make sense🤣 455s and 456s would have just been better as 318s or 320s. Or '420s and 418s' since third rail units were usually only given names beginning with a "400" . To also put things into perspective, alot of trains nowadays are different and vary in equipment despite opting for 'standardisation" . Personally I'm glad things aren't as copy and paste as seems to be the aim. It's not as good as the 90s and 80s variety but, whatever.

[@Un-Grand-Central]

southern will probably replace em with 377s

[@rabd9881]

Yes a new railway review awesome

[@williamwebb6178]

Reckon the Class 455 and Class 456 are likely to permanently withdrawn and possibly scrapped when South Western Railway replaces them with the Class 701 Aventras

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Good.

[@LordEverythingtrains]

Too old to have any other usage. The only reason that southern have not ordered replacements is that they are so cheap to maintain.

[@Drone3774]

6:38 do you watch mlp sir? xD

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Not anymore, no sir.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

At least the Aventras will be fast with toilets

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Only if they are delivered on time ;)

[@GabrielViana-mg3vh]

But isn’t it dangerous to have toilets with a 3rd rail? (The old trains which drop the waste)

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

On the basis that the Class 401 had toilets and that train was introduced in 1935 (along with plenty of other older slam doors through the years) no. Even then, railway lines with a track circuit have the track charged with voltage too.

[@robotx9285]

The R32 & R46 Subways cars would probably make better commuter trains. Just add some restrooms and medium/long distance seating.

[@grahambarr7015]

Doesn’t the 456 look like the 321 to you?

[@robbiemorrison7085]

Yeh, I think it was built to a similar design, some of the older class 317s look like 455/8s

[@bussesandtrains1218]

@@robbiemorrison7085 same body shell again they suffer from southern region syndrom underneath lol

[@railquest]

Great video as always. Any plans for your channels 10th anniversary? Two days away

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Oh crap, you're right! I must think of something...

[@lukastrains793]

yay my local train

[@zebedep]

Very entertaining! 😂🤣

[@TheHSTBoy]

455s on SWR are Weak Once I'll Waiting at a station a 455 zoomed through and threw sparks on the platform and it was dry I think

[@JamesMezzatrainboy]

what voice speaker app did you use?

[@Cloudrak]

The voice is called daniel

[@JamesMezzatrainboy]

@@Cloudrak ok, thanks

[@FanxiansLeafy]

In my opinion I think the 456 looks like a Class 321 but with worse bumper designs

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I can see what you mean by that.

[@bb-3653]

I love these damn trains lmao. But they could have given them toilets and more horsepower like the 317s which is questionable as to why they wouldn't , even retraction them properly at least . But I still love em , they are my childhood and reminiscent of the old brel mk3 and nse rain across the uk back In the day. I really hope southern dont order those damned adventuras, their cabs hurt to look at, their body shells are nice though

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

Outside of money, another reasons why it was most likely the case is because of electricity. For example, the 444/450 weren't allowed to use full power in places or run in multiple beyond Poole for a short period of time until more power could be maintained on the 3rd rail and the areas were upgraded.

[@bb-3653]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel oh wow that's something I never knew, I always assumed that third rail worked with the same capacity ever since it began. Even so I guess the 455 re-tractioning could have been better since it was done near 2017ish. But I guess that's also down to cost too..maybe. But I mean 321s renatus have even better acceleration, but I guess their not southwestern lol so its not GAs problem. On southern though, 455s need re-tractioning and a super refurb for sure , as the drivers are always reluctant to go beyond 45mph unless their running late or something

[@pigeonette]

this is 455 slander 😤

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

You're correct actually. I was way too mean on these trains.

[@pigeonette]

@@MaverickHunterDaniel is k, they’re kinda rubbish - I have a weird love-hate relationship with 455/6s

[@NSE465]

455s are nice but turbostar better because *big dirty stinkin bass*

[@LennixAlexander]

Rubbish preforming trains in reality but they seem to get attention from enfuasists a lot nowadays, usually happens with trains when they are at the end of their lives lol, like the the sudden influx of HST fanfare over the past 3 years. Never really cared about the 455s much mainly because it's not my region of choice lol.

[@MaverickHunterDaniel]

I agree except with the likes of the HSTs. I've always felt that they were always popular with enthusiasts, especially with the likes of the Valentas and VP185s.

[@LondonTransport466]

I’d put the 313s in the same category. Once their final few months of service rolled around, enthusiasts acted like they were the second coming. 🤣

[@LennixAlexander]

@@LondonTransport466 Literary hardly anyone would speak about the PEPs until ScotRail a few years ago said that they were retiring their 314s from service.

[@wisehat_yt]

lmfao

[@burncheese2155]

I love trains