thomson787
Member
That is 100% the original front with Stickers or paint placed on it, the final finished item will look a lot better im sure of that.
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Creation of class 230 DEMUs from ex-LU D78s by Vivarail
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swt_passenger
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Not yet known.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
The Class 142 Pacer has a far uglier front end than those of the Class 143 and 144 versions.
northwichcat
Veteran Member
Maybe the D-Train is comparable to the BR prototype rail bus:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Lev1nnr.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Lev1nnr.jpg
ExRes
Established Member
I think the aesthetic side of this train is being rather overplayed, personally if I was standing in the pouring rain, freezing cold and desperate to get home for my dinner I wouldn't give a fig if a train looking like it was made from a Cherie Blair face cast turned up, all I ask is for the TOCs to supply trains that get from A to B without breaking down, if someone else wants to wait for a pretty one to turn up .........
Come now, you have been on here long enough to know that looks and livery is far more important than the job a train is meant to do
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
I bet the TOC are itching to obtain your services to run a marketing campaign as being "one of their typical happy customers". I do so admire your adroit use of reverse hyperbole.
One may wonder if you have been influenced by the famous "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch...
Leaving aside the aesthetic aspect for a moment, the point to me is it looks a bit amateurish and un professional, lets hope the rest of the project isn't the same.
ExRes
Established Member
Ah, now that reminds me of my pet amateurish and unprofessional piece of project, the class 67
:eek:
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One may wonder if you have been influenced by the famous "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch...
Funnily enough I missed that particular sketch, when I were a lad we had to walk 7 miles to my rich Uncle and Aunt to watch the TV, it was my turn to rinse the leftover tripe that evening so I was late setting off, yes I know leftover tripe was a luxury, but it was my birthday ..........
For an early prototype, who cares what it looks like?
But at the same time, couldn't the company have predicted these types of comments that diverts attention away from what else it has achieved?
Why not just go with the sort of front end design that car makers would use to disguise a car during testing, thus making it perfectly clear that it wasn't the finished article?
But at the same time, couldn't the company have predicted these types of comments that diverts attention away from what else it has achieved?
Why not just go with the sort of front end design that car makers would use to disguise a car during testing, thus making it perfectly clear that it wasn't the finished article?
thomson787
Member
Here Here well said
asylumxl
Established Member
Perhaps they assumed their audience were literate and understood the meaning of prototype.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
I think it looks so poor that just leaving it totally unchanged would have been better. I do agree that what it looks like should be unimportant BUT first impressions count for a lot.
I think the yellow panel could have been a simpler and better shape. Perhaps even having wires hanging out the side/front or even a banner saying prototype would help. This just looks like a waste of effort cosmetically.
I know what accountants are like though. They could well have made a decision on cost reduction without ever looking at a picture of the plan/result.
I think the yellow panel could have been a simpler and better shape. Perhaps even having wires hanging out the side/front or even a banner saying prototype would help. This just looks like a waste of effort cosmetically.
I know what accountants are like though. They could well have made a decision on cost reduction without ever looking at a picture of the plan/result.
SpacePhoenix
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Why couldn't they have just temporarily stuck a fibreglass moulding to the cab to show what the final finished cab end will look like?
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Perhaps they prefer a perspective of days of yore rather that ensuring what is used as the prototype acknowledges that this is now the 21st century..:roll:
northwichcat
Veteran Member
Really looks like the old Top Gear team have had a go at it to me
Wait until it gets dark and Clarkson writes some graffiti on it using pink paint and rewires it to make the saloon lights cut out when the engine starts.
No it doesn't, but there is the old first impressions argument, and if it looks a bit noddy that not a good impression for those who's opinions do matter.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
I am thinking about the press etc. They will make mincemeat out of it I fear. It looks cheap - I know it should be a cheap train BUT it has to look OK at least. Public opinion will count for something at least and what do they (or the general press) know/care about the engineering side of the train.
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Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Steady on there, when it comes to "Shooter's Incubus", I strenuously object to being referred to as an "enthusiast" and still remain a sceptic as to this project and will remain so until he manages to divest Vivarail of all these items.
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Looking at the prototype, it may have been better to have had the Poundland livery and logo emblazoned on it.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
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Once they put photos on their website, they must have realised they'd be shared and posted on to get seen by people who might think that was/is the final thing? (Not realising that the lights are fake, especially in the smaller thumbnail images)
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
One of the staff at Bletchley TMD, I think now retired, had a VW bus painted in Silverlink colours.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Yes, on second thoughts, you make a valid point here. I suppose that Poundland would also not wish to be connected with such an item that would be seen to lowering the profile of their company.
I really do like the portrayed image in your submitted link. Do I take it that Mr A Shooter has now branched into the automobile industry with a promise that he can now also produce cars at a third of the cost of new ones...
Just wait till he enters the field of mobile phones. I suppose these will be the size of bricks with an ariel protruding, just like the early ones. Still, they will be claimed be produced at a third of the cost of new ones...:roll:
The objections to this are daft. The colour scheme is obviously just to tie in visually with the claims about the train's green credentials, hence the blog post about it being the "UK's greenest train" http://www.vivarail.co.uk/the-uks-greenest-train/
Livery will be down to whatever operator as per usual. I would suggest that many on here will look at a train visually and see all kinds of things "wrong" that the paying public and those that need to be convinced of their efficacy just don't. Sure adding the deflector adds a little something to it, but 99% of people would never know if it was missing.
It's a D Stock train, still, there is only so bad it can look. I'm interested in seeing this in practice and finding out what it's like to ride. I noted they made a point about how someone commented how quiet it was, and if it's basically almost just like being on the District I know that a lot of people currently riding pacers will be very happy with it indeed (delays and cancellations excluded).
Livery will be down to whatever operator as per usual. I would suggest that many on here will look at a train visually and see all kinds of things "wrong" that the paying public and those that need to be convinced of their efficacy just don't. Sure adding the deflector adds a little something to it, but 99% of people would never know if it was missing.
It's a D Stock train, still, there is only so bad it can look. I'm interested in seeing this in practice and finding out what it's like to ride. I noted they made a point about how someone commented how quiet it was, and if it's basically almost just like being on the District I know that a lot of people currently riding pacers will be very happy with it indeed (delays and cancellations excluded).
TheNewNo2
Member
I always quite liked the look of 143s.
Chris125
Established Member
According to their twitter they'll be available 'from early 2016' - I believe FGW are expected to conduct a trial.
The most recent visuals do not suggest any major styling changes - however it's appearance will be greatly improved by [genuine] modern headlights, couplings and an obstacle deflector. I like the look of that, no doubt helped by a superior livery, and it certainly looks much more modern than the BR designs it is likely to displace.
A link to a video that one of the Vivarail team members put up, unfortunately they seem to have filmed at a point on the track where there is a 5mph speed limit! Also Vivarail appear to be quite flexible over how their headlights will appear on the final product, on their twitter feed they produced some alternative visuals.
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