'Boxes' on class 165/166 units

[Chris Tolley]

I was down in FGW land the other day, and noticed that the class 165/166
units now have some sort of box affixed to the ends of the vehicles.
I've had a look around various web pictures of these units and don't see
these boxes on any of them, so they must be a recent addition. Some have
been painted yellow to match the cab ends, while others are in a pale
grey colour. The "box", whatever it is, is about 25cm across, and is
located about 30cm below the headlight cluster on the right of the unit
as one looks at it.

Any idea what it is?

[Duncan]

In article <kva1l3ef587q$.1pv3mtpmxl7yr$***@40tude.net>, cjt.7
@supanet.com says...

Post by Chris Tolley
was down in FGW land the other day, and noticed that the class 165/166
units now have some sort of box affixed to the ends of the vehicles.
I've had a look around various web pictures of these units and don't see
these boxes on any of them, so they must be a recent addition. Some have
been painted yellow to match the cab ends, while others are in a pale
grey colour. The "box", whatever it is, is about 25cm across, and is
located about 30cm below the headlight cluster on the right of the unit
as one looks at it.

I believe these house the air-conditioning for the drivers cabs. They
were fitted a few months ago, which fits in with their franchise
commitments. Some of these boxes are also in blue to match the new
livery.

Duncan

[Chris Tolley]

Post by Duncan
@supanet.com says...

Post by Chris Tolley
was down in FGW land the other day, and noticed that the class 165/166
units now have some sort of box affixed to the ends of the vehicles.
I've had a look around various web pictures of these units and don't see
these boxes on any of them, so they must be a recent addition. Some have
been painted yellow to match the cab ends, while others are in a pale
grey colour. The "box", whatever it is, is about 25cm across, and is
located about 30cm below the headlight cluster on the right of the unit
as one looks at it.

I believe these house the air-conditioning for the drivers cabs. They
were fitted a few months ago, which fits in with their franchise
commitments. Some of these boxes are also in blue to match the new
livery.

That would make sense. In some of my pictures there are slots on the
side of the box, which could be some kind of air intake. Thanks.

Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

[Roland Perry]

Post by Chris Tolley
Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

I thought they started retrofitting cab aircon in around 2002 (the
smiling 365's) so I wouldn't describe it as especially quick.

[Duncan]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Chris Tolley
Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

I thought they started retrofitting cab aircon in around 2002 (the
smiling 365's) so I wouldn't describe it as especially quick.

It was only agreed for FGW 165/6s with the franchise renewal and was
completed quite quickly once the work had begun.

Duncan

[Roland Perry]

Post by Duncan

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Chris Tolley
Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

I thought they started retrofitting cab aircon in around 2002 (the
smiling 365's) so I wouldn't describe it as especially quick.

It was only agreed for FGW 165/6s with the franchise renewal and was
completed quite quickly once the work had begun.

As we are now 18 months into that franchise, I still don't regard this
as especially quick. Apart from the glutinous timewarp that seems to
pervade so many railway engineering projects, why would a simple add-on
like this be expected to take very long?

[Chris Tolley]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Duncan

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Chris Tolley
Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

I thought they started retrofitting cab aircon in around 2002 (the
smiling 365's) so I wouldn't describe it as especially quick.

It was only agreed for FGW 165/6s with the franchise renewal and was
completed quite quickly once the work had begun.

As we are now 18 months into that franchise, I still don't regard this
as especially quick.

Well, I was last in FGW-land in August 2006, and none were like it then.
So to see the whole fleet changed and reliveried in that year does give
the impression of speed to someone accustomed to seeing Northern's fleet
betraying a relatively long history of previous franchise holders.

[Paul Scott]

Post by Chris Tolley
That would make sense. In some of my pictures there are slots on the
side of the box, which could be some kind of air intake. Thanks.
Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

I googled for info earlier (noting your advice to another poster elsewhere),
and found a 2001 thread mentioned the new cab aircon boxes on the front of
Class 165...

Paul

[Chris Tolley]

Post by Paul Scott

Post by Chris Tolley
That would make sense. In some of my pictures there are slots on the
side of the box, which could be some kind of air intake. Thanks.
Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

I googled for info earlier (noting your advice to another poster elsewhere),
and found a 2001 thread mentioned the new cab aircon boxes on the front of
Class 165...

As noted in my original posting, so did I. But I did concentrate on
looking at pictures rather than reading text.

[Duncan]

In article <h05u8ppupyyk$***@40tude.net>, cjt.7
@supanet.com says...

Post by Chris Tolley

Post by Paul Scott

Post by Chris Tolley
That would make sense. In some of my pictures there are slots on the
side of the box, which could be some kind of air intake. Thanks.
Remarkable how quickly certain changes can be made, when there is the
will to do so.

I googled for info earlier (noting your advice to another poster elsewhere),
and found a 2001 thread mentioned the new cab aircon boxes on the front of
Class 165...

As noted in my original posting, so did I. But I did concentrate on
looking at pictures rather than reading text.

The boxes on the FGW 165 and 166 have only been fitted since about
April, 12 months after the franchise changed over.

I don't believe the Chiltern units received seperate cab air-
conditioning, as I assume this is feed from the passenger air-con on the
refurbished sets.

Duncan

[RPM]

Post by Duncan
@supanet.com says...
I don't believe the Chiltern units received seperate cab air-
conditioning, as I assume this is feed from the passenger air-con on the
refurbished sets.

Yes, the cab air-con is fed from the nearest of the 4 air cooling
modules in the passenger saloon on the 165/0s.

RPM

[Mark B]

Post by Chris Tolley
I was down in FGW land the other day, and noticed that the class 165/166
units now have some sort of box affixed to the ends of the vehicles.
I've had a look around various web pictures of these units and don't see
these boxes on any of them, so they must be a recent addition. Some have
been painted yellow to match the cab ends, while others are in a pale
grey colour. The "box", whatever it is, is about 25cm across, and is
located about 30cm below the headlight cluster on the right of the unit
as one looks at it.
Any idea what it is?

Cab Air Con :)

[Alan Macro]

Post by Mark B

Post by Chris Tolley
I was down in FGW land the other day, and noticed that the class 165/166
units now have some sort of box affixed to the ends of the vehicles.
I've had a look around various web pictures of these units and don't see
these boxes on any of them, so they must be a recent addition. Some have
been painted yellow to match the cab ends, while others are in a pale
grey colour. The "box", whatever it is, is about 25cm across, and is
located about 30cm below the headlight cluster on the right of the unit
as one looks at it. Any idea what it is?

Cab Air Con :)

Hope it works better than the passenger air-con on the 166s.

Working at all would be start...

Alan Macro

[Bob Harris]

Post by Alan Macro

Post by Mark B

Post by Chris Tolley
I was down in FGW land the other day, and noticed that the class 165/166
units now have some sort of box affixed to the ends of the vehicles.
I've had a look around various web pictures of these units and don't see
these boxes on any of them, so they must be a recent addition. Some have
been painted yellow to match the cab ends, while others are in a pale
grey colour. The "box", whatever it is, is about 25cm across, and is
located about 30cm below the headlight cluster on the right of the unit
as one looks at it. Any idea what it is?

Cab Air Con :)

Hope it works better than the passenger air-con on the 166s.
Working at all would be start...

Hence the sets arrive with all the windows open in hot weather