The Paxman engine of Class 74 was marginally more powerful than Class 73s English Electric engine but it was nowhere near as reliable. The Paxman was also noisy (due to the silencer mounted in the roof very near the cab) and difficult to start on occasion - rather negating the novel change-over whilst in motion and subsequent flexibility off the third rail. The class's generally poor reliability often led to (unscheduled) electric to diesel changeovers when on the move; regular passengers on Class 74-hauled passenger trains became quite used to this. Until four additional 4-REP units were built in 1973/74, class 74 had regular daytime passenger turns including the 15:30 Waterloo-Weymouth (as far as Bournemouth). Subsequently, their only regular non-freight workings were on night mail and newspaper trains to and from Bournemouth, the Weymouth boat trains and Southampton 'Ocean Liner Specials'. These trains ran to/from both Southampton Western and Eastern Docks.