Most beautiful train in the UK?

[61653 HTAFC]

Ew! No! That's the worst livery they've carried in my opinion. Best ones are the GNER livery and the VTEC/ LNER one. And intercity swallow obviously.

Fixed that for you...

 

[coradiafan2000]

Fixed that for you...

I thought everyone liked that livery? Either way I like it.

 

[hexagon789]

I thought everyone liked that livery? Either way I like it.

No, I can think of some who don't. Personally it's my third favourite livery the IC225s have carried after IC Sector "Swallow" and GNER colours.

 

[greatvoyager]

I thought everyone liked that livery? Either way I like it.

I liked that livery.

 

[NoMorePacers]

Personally I find the GNER livery rather overrated. A bit like Class 37s.

 

[Rob F]

Steam: Non streamlined Duchess
Diesel: Class 45
Electric: Class 87
DMU: Class 120
EMU: Class 390

 

[DMU180]

For me it's got to be:

Steam: A4 Mallard
Diesel Loco: 68 TPE
Electric Loco: 90 either classic Virgin or EWS.
DMU: 180 Dynamic Lines
EMU: 390 Virgin Silk

 

[TRAX]

A coronation class in streamlining is what a 390 wants to be when it grows up.

Can the Coronation tilt and run at 125 mph ?
A 390 becoming a Coronation would be quite the downgrade !

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Personally I find the GNER livery rather overrated. A bit like Class 37s.

The GNER livery is a bit like the legacy Virgin Trains one... very "of it's time".

It did sort of hint at the retro-fetishism we see now, with the coat of arms with a "Route of the Flying Scotsman" banner on every carriage!

 

[coradiafan2000]

Can the Coronation tilt and run at 125 mph ?
A 390 becoming a Coronation would be quite the downgrade !

Downhill with the wind behind it it might be able to. Mallard did after all. And one almost did tilt on the approach to Crewe in 1937 after reaching 114mph.

Besides, I was talking in terms of looks.

 

[greatvoyager]

Downhill with the wind behind it it might be able to. Mallard did after all. And one almost did tilt on the approach to Crewe in 1937 after reaching 114mph.

Besides, I was talking in terms of looks.

Sometimes people forget how steam trains were not only beautiful, but super fast. The fact that, as you say, Mallard reached 126mph proves that.

 

[coradiafan2000]

Sometimes people forget how steam trains were not only beautiful, but super fast. The fact that, as you say, Mallard reached 126mph proves that.

And it's very possible an A4 could have gone quicker. I believe Gresley himself thought that 130mph may have been possible. In 1959 Sir Nigel Gresley (the locomotive) achieved 112mph down Stoke Bank (where Mallard achieved it's record), and the driver wanted to attempt to beat the current record, but was told to ease off.

 

[anamyd]

For me it's got to be:

Steam: A4 Mallard
Diesel Loco: 68 TPE
Electric Loco: 90 either classic Virgin or EWS.
DMU: 180 Dynamic Lines
EMU: 390 Virgin Silk

I agree with the first three, but DMU - 170 and EMU - 350

 

[ashkeba]

I agree with the first three, but DMU - 170 and EMU - 350

I agree with only the first two because 89 beats 90 for E loco, then DMU Flirt and EMU Javelin.

 

[midland1]

DMU I only ever did see them in WR blue and gray, but what about the Blue Pullman in its first colours.

 

[Terry Tait]

Diesel Loco Class 31
Electric Loco Class 86
DMU Class 105
EMU Class 302

 

[DelticBoy]

Steam: too many to choose from, but... probably the A4

Diesel: take a wild guess!

DMU/EMU: not really my thing, but I have fond memories of 101s as a boy

 

[coradiafan2000]

Steam: too many to choose from, but... probably the A4

Diesel: take a wild guess!

DMU/EMU: not really my thing, but I have fond memories of 101s as a boy

Unpopular opinion that's sure to get me shot, but I actually think Deltics are kind of ugly, and people are just looking at them through nostalgia glasses.

I think 37s and 40s are much better looking.

 

[TRAX]

Unpopular opinion that's sure to get me shot, but I actually think Deltics are kind of ugly, and people are just looking at them through nostalgia glasses.

I think 37s and 40s are much better looking.

I agree, and I find the 37s and 40s are also ugly.

 

[cheese]

A surprising number of people are mentioning the 332/333! I think they look like an overinflated egg.

I like the understated minimalism of the 313 and family.

 

[greatvoyager]

I like the look of the Class 170 in the old Hull Trains livery before introduction of the Pioneers.

 

[Darandio]

Unpopular opinion that's sure to get me shot, but I actually think Deltics are kind of ugly, and people are just looking at them through nostalgia glasses.

I agree, but only if talking about the production locomotives. The prototype was and still is a stunning thing.

 

[greatvoyager]

I agree, but only if talking about the production locomotives. The prototype was and still is a stunning thing.

The prototype Deltic was definitely a beautiful machine.

 

[ashkeba]

I like the understated minimalism of the 313 and family.

You mean you like trains that look like someone forgot to put a loco on them?

 

[tonysk14]

Steam -Duchess
Diesel Loco - Class 40
Electric Loco - Class 86
EMU - 390 Pendolino

 

[HOOVER29]

Steam- has to be Duke of Gloucester
Diesel- I have to say a 50 (everything else is pig ugly imho)
DMU-either 172 (flat front) or 158/9
EMU - Javelin

And the worst
Steam - any tank engine
Diesel - 37 ( it doesn’t look right compared to a 40 or peak)
DMU 170 or 220
EMU - 345 (was tempted to say class 8xx series)

 

[HOOVER29]

Steam- has to be Duke of Gloucester
Diesel- I have to say a 50 (everything else is pig ugly imho)
DMU-either 172 (flat front) or 158/9
EMU - Javelin

And the worst
Steam - any tank engine
Diesel - 37 ( it doesn’t look right compared to a 40 or peak)
DMU 170 or 220
EMU - 345 (was tempted to say class 8xx series)

Another good looking unit is as someone else mentioned the class 442. Built 31 or so years ago they still look good. They remind me of another old favourite of mine, the class 309 Clacton unit & then there’s the class 123 DMU.
Gorgeous!!

 

[USRailFan]

UK and beautiful trains? Does that combo truly exist? :P

 

[ashkeba]

UK and beautiful trains? Does that combo truly exist? :P

Yes, now that UK rail operators have started buying trains from European makers again! The US-made class 66 sheds and class 70 Bettys were a very low point for beauty. The class 68 cats are much better, with the class 67 skips still showing their US heritage a bit much for me. A class 68 in Nova livery is very nice:

 

[bramling]

If we're allowed LU I'd suggest the 1938 stock. Beautiful piece of design.

Personally I’ve always had a soft spot for the 1962 stock. The combination of silver exterior and similarly painted interiors combined with the red/grey/black moquette and wooden window frames really worked for me. Add this against the backdrop of typically run-down 1980s tunnel stations or rural Essex in autumn or winter and IMO these were every bit as classic as a 38 stock.

The 73 stock was also a nice piece of design, on the outside at least. Nothing built since is particularly special in terms of appearance, although the 95/96 stock isn’t bad.