Least favorite class of loco?

[EM2]

If they could lose those 'growths' on the cab fronts, it wouldn't look too bad.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

The class 70 is a horrendous looking thing! But no doubt it will further cement the regeneration of freight on the railways.

Surely the worst locos are the ones that really served/serve no purpose. The class 89, though admittedly a prototype, was really a waste of time putting into revenue earning traffic due to an ongoing lack of maintenance etc. Surely would have been more efficient to keep it as a test bed/museum piece and order another class 90. The class 67 springs to mind as they seem to have been a rather short sighted invention. No-one really knows what to do with them now - though some have found a home on railways in Britain and abroad. The class 58. I very much liked the 58 from an enthusiastic point of view, but it couldn't do the job it was made to do and, as a result, did not survive very long in traffic - in fact being outstayed in some places by 37's, 47's and 56 - all locos that it should have, at the very least, lasted as long as. The list could become very long if one looked at the short sightedness of the Westerns, Hymeks etc.

As far as my least favourite locos go, peaks rank around the bottom. I don't know why. I just think they were too much. I will probably get crucified for saying it, mind.....

 

[Norwich]

31119 turned up in Norwich today, on a Serco route learning trip from Derby - not sure if it was just the fact that it was a welcome distraction from the usual procession of units and 90s, but I found myself appreciating the class all over again!

So much so, that I chased it to Sheringham - fantastic evening and very friendly crew who were happy to divulge all the gen. All followed by fish and chips and a couple of pints!

Apparently, it's doing Norwich-Ipswich-Lowestoft-Derby tomorrow.

 

[Old Timer]

Its an absolutely appalling looking thing, the sort of design that would emanate from a six year old child on a bad day.

A slimmed down Dash9 cab would have been a possibility but I have to say, in my opinion, that GE have production probably one of the ugliest locomotives to ever ride the British railway system.

 

[Swift-Deere]

I think the 70 looks better than the 59, 66 and 67
at least it doesnt have the corrigated steel side but as old timer say i dash 9 style cab would be a lot nicer

 

[Old Timer]

Anyone up for a tour of South America to go see some decent GE power, such as the U-Boats !"

 

[Yank 119]

Anyone up for a tour of South America to go see some decent GE power, such as the U-Boats !"

Count me in!

I'm fortunate to live near one of the last railroads in the US to use a U-Boat fleet of any size - the Georgia Central. Every time I get to see and hear one or more of their U23Bs is a treat!

 

[Old Timer]

I must come and visit !

Any U30cs ?

 

[Muttley]

Class 40`s for me.
133tons and only 2000hp.

No use to the Eastern Region.(I`d have loved to have been at the Top Shed when they were mooted as an A4 replacement.) Had to have brake tenders to run unfitted freights, despite weighing more than the Forth bridge.

 

[37401]

31119 turned up in Norwich today, on a Serco route learning trip from Derby - not sure if it was just the fact that it was a welcome distraction from the usual procession of units and 90s, but I found myself appreciating the class all over again!

So much so, that I chased it to Sheringham - fantastic evening and very friendly crew who were happy to divulge all the gen. All followed by fish and chips and a couple of pints!

Apparently, it's doing Norwich-Ipswich-Lowestoft-Derby tomorrow.

I know what you man pal, Join yahoo groups Class 31 GEN and NR gen, also pathfinder are running a 31 tour in dec

 

[Royston Vasey]

31106 is on a NR train stabled at Didcot this morning. Reminded me why I always disliked them. Square, boxy, skinny, ugly windscreen arrangement and underpowered!

 

[Daimler]

I don't hate any locos. I think 70s look awful, and 66s are dull, but to hate them? Not really. Still, if I had to choose, it would be the 70s. As various others have said above, the design appears to be wilfully unappealing.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Class 73, ugly ugly things.

Got to disagree with you there I think the 73s are brilliant not as strong as the others but still brilliant little things.

The Multiple Units/Locos I hate are,

1) Class 376s I hate the things and never took to them and look like class 375s with there gangways taken off.

2)Class 56s just a ugly version of a 47.

3)And all american Locos there ugly ugly things.

I cant see how people can judge the new class 70s yet when they have not even been put in service I can only agree on the point that there ugly looking at the moment may change when there painted into there new "Freightliner" livery.

 

[MCR247]

They have been painted into FL livery, and there are plenty of pictures around!

 

[33056]

Hate is a strong word - I couldn't really say that about any particular locomotives. Personal dislikes for me are "Deltics" and class 50s and I can happily live without class 31s and 47s.

 

[37401]

2)Class 56s just a ugly version of a 47.

get out...

 

[45039]

my least favorite class is 31's all noise and no power i wonder why they call them peds? remember them on the trans-pennine through sheff even on load 4 they struggled

 

[Juniper Driver]

Can't say,I like all trains.

 

[jonhewes]

The class 67 springs to mind as they seem to have been a rather short sighted invention. No-one really knows what to do with them now - though some have found a home on railways in Britain and abroad.

I think you're geting a bit muddled about the 67s. There were 30 locos built for use in this country. They are based on the Astom Prima design, of which other locomotives have been built for use in a variety of other countries too.

The 67s did go through a brief period of under utilisation following the cessation of the Royal Mail contract with EWS, however they are now highly sought after for passenger services, both scheduled and charter operations

They are currently in service with ; First Great Western, Wrexham & Shropshire, First Scotrail (both on sleeper and Day train duties). Further deployments are proposed for services operated by Chiltern, and an addition FGW diagram out of Paignton.

On top of the passenger work, a number are also required as NXEC Thunderbirds on the ECML, so they really are in short supply!

They are the only modern, diesel, ETH capable locomotive in operation in this country, so as the use of loco hauled stock increases, I imagine the demand will outstrip supply.

 

[25322]

Class 17 Claytons - not only incredibly unreliable but (IMO) also very ugly.

says he who has an Class 76 as is avatar!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

my least favorite class is 31's all noise and no power i wonder why they call them peds? remember them on the trans-pennine through sheff even on load 4 they struggled

But wasn't it fun looking for sparks on the approach to/and in Cowburn Tunnel

 

[EM2]

says he who has an Class 76 as is avatar!

Firstly, that's a 77
Secondly, they were *incredibly* reliable with a working career of over thirty years.
Thirdly, out of a class of seven, three are preserved which is a damn high survival rate.
And, it's a very handsome beast and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise (not really)!

 

[Phoenix]

Firstly, that's a 77
Secondly, they were *incredibly* reliable with a working career of over thirty years.
Thirdly, out of a class of seven, three are preserved which is a damn high survival rate.
And, it's a very handsome beast and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise (not really)!

I have to agree very much so on this one very reliable very good looking and complete devoid of the typical British traction farse we normally have to put up with!

 

[87031]

I don't think any of them are particularly bad, at some point or another they've mostly done a good job.

These days, I'm getting a bit fed up of 37s, especially the obsession with them on railtours. I don't particularly mind them as such, it's just the way some people go on and on about them whenever they do anything at all.

i agree it has become an obsession on railtours especialy spitfire, although they did the 87002 tour they should be more choice of traction on tours, how about more electric/diesel mixed tours like the ACDC flambouyant tour in July. Was gutted i missed it came a bit too soon after the electric scot.

 

[45039]

But wasn't it fun looking for sparks on the approach to/and in Cowburn Tunnel[/QUOTE]

even better fun watching and listening them damn peds trying to get up the bank out of sheff they were/was over weight ugly piles of rubbish even a 25 could out pace them!!!

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I think you're geting a bit muddled about the 67s. There were 30 locos built for use in this country. They are based on the Astom Prima design, of which other locomotives have been built for use in a variety of other countries too.

The 67s did go through a brief period of under utilisation following the cessation of the Royal Mail contract with EWS, however they are now highly sought after for passenger services, both scheduled and charter operations

They are currently in service with ; First Great Western, Wrexham & Shropshire, First Scotrail (both on sleeper and Day train duties). Further deployments are proposed for services operated by Chiltern, and an addition FGW diagram out of Paignton.

On top of the passenger work, a number are also required as NXEC Thunderbirds on the ECML, so they really are in short supply!

They are the only modern, diesel, ETH capable locomotive in operation in this country, so as the use of loco hauled stock increases, I imagine the demand will outstrip supply.

Yeh sorry! I was actually getting ahead of myself. I was talking about 58's finding work in other countries but didn't check where i had put it!

I think my point about the 67 remains valid. They may very well have found work in other areas, but that is kind of the point i was making. They have found work - they didn't have work to do. The fact that they now have work to do isn't a reflection on the reason as to why they were built and it is luck rather than judgement that they are now of reasonable use.

 

[cawky22]

Here is a cracking video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfPoG8I5HBw

My Grandad is on it at 5 minutes and 6 seconds . The loco I most dislike is a ....sorry cant think of one lol.

 

[25322]

Firstly, that's a 77
Secondly, they were *incredibly* reliable with a working career of over thirty years.
Thirdly, out of a class of seven, three are preserved which is a damn high survival rate.
And, it's a very handsome beast and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise (not really)!

My mistake. Tis a 77 which only survived by sending them to Holland during the 1960's. The 77 was very much in the same class as the 17.

What shall we do with the rubbish we built. Sell it or Scrap it?? Luckily the 77s escaped the cutters torch as there was an acute shortage of motive power in Holland, who had the foresight to electrify most of their network post WW2.

Given the climate of the 1960's/70's in this country it was no surprise that the 17's became razor blades so soon. Given time in which the 77's were given to show performance the 17's started to show reliability to match that of the class 20's. sadly too late.

And moving on to your challenge position where do you want this fisty cuffs action to take place? How;s the shandy down sarf??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

But wasn't it fun looking for sparks on the approach to/and in Cowburn Tunnel

even better fun watching and listening them damn peds trying to get up the bank out of sheff they were/was over weight ugly piles of rubbish even a 25 could out pace them!!![/QUOTE]

Now that I take exception too. Ugly no. rubbish maybe. or is it the other way round

 

[Old Timer]

The Class 31s were awfully bad. I remembere them working ECS to Thornton Fields, as well as the two-hourly Liverpool St to Cambridges.

I always used to wonder at how they just managed to climb Bethnal Green bank, coughing and spluttering like a deathbed smoker.

They were generally OK in East Anglia where there are practically no banks, and of course on the Paddington to Oxfords where again they had little to worry about gradient-wise.

I recall one night when I worked at Saltley, having a Class 31 on a ballast drop job to Bromsgrove. The plan had been to take out a brace of 25s but a failure elsewhere had taken them away and we were left with the nightmare of a Class 31 on the job.

Now the Driver on this occasion was Maurice Newman, a fabulous chap and very well-respected guy at Saltley, and indeed over a lot of the network.

So anyway, we went LE to Washwood Heath Yard and picked up the ballast train of 5 Whales.

"Dropping on the Camp and at Longbridge" said the P. Way Supervisor.

"Righto" said Maurice the man, and off went went.

We trickled along to Kings Norton and then out behind the last Longbridge and dropped what was left to Longbridge station. Now of course we were empty and had to run round, so the plan was to run to Bromsgrove and do this.

Going down the Lickey was no problem and soon we were at Bromsgrove where we ran around.

Now of course this 31 was typical of the Class, all hot air and lots of noise and smoke but bugger all in the way of action.

Off we set, with this thing coughing away and the Western men at Bromsgrove extracting the michael about us needing a banker. Remember that we had only 5 empty Whales on at about 25t each.

We struggled away and as soon as we hit the bank the blasted thing just ran out of puff.

The P. way Supervisor even climbed down from the rear cab, and walked forward to tell us that the lads were decamping and they had asked for thie van to be sent from Birmingham to Bromsgrove because it would be quicker than the ride in the back cab !

So there we were, this 31 making an incredible din, all mouth and no trousers, and making all of about 3 mph at the bottom of the Bank with the power controller fully open !

Suddenly Maurice jumps out of the seat and gets down on his knees doing a make believe prayer.

"What you doing? " says Old Timer

"Praying this bloody thing makes it up the Bank, I'm buggered if I am going to give those Western men the satisfaction of me failing and a Saltley man needing assisting ! "


Well we kept going, the night wrent with smoke and sparks and flames now and again. This bloody 31 rattling and vibrating like there was an earthquake, but slowly, oh so slowly (I hopped off halfway up to confirm to Gloucester that we had not failed via an SPT [no NRN in those days] we crawled up the bank and spluttered over the top.

We were overtaken by a succession of trains as we crawled along the Up Goods and Slow in true ignomy, first to Halesowen Jct, and then to Kings Norton Station Jct, to wait a suitably long margin before Saltley PSB would allow us anywhere near the Camp Hill line.



Personally I would have every single one of those things cut up.

Give me a brace of 25s any day. Absolutely marvellous machines which would take on any job like a Border Collie puppy.....all boisterous and willing.

Had the 25s been 90 mph locos (officially that is !) then there would have been hope.

Ignoring spotters who have no experience in these matters, I have never met anyone who has ever had a bad word to say about a class 25. They were a nice loco to drive and to run with.



Just look at this clip I found on Youtube.

The Class 31 would have still been struggling to start of with that load on !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agcTJ_aUnkE

 

[Saltleyman]

I remember one Saturday travelling to Gloucestre to relieve a "footex"" from Cardiff to Nottingham and when the train ran in it had a class 25 on with eight coaches about 250 tonnes.After relieving the Canton men I 'phoned the WR Control at Swindon and asked them what the unassisted load up Bromsgrove bank was with a class 25,after a few minutes the controller came back to me and said" we have no recorded load for a class 25 and there are no bankers at Bromsgrove " I replied tell Gloucester Panel to make sure that I've got a clear road from Oddingly to the top of the bank and I'll have a go at it .Anyway away I went and passed Stoke Works at about 62mph,thankfully under clear signals,she held 60mph at Bromsgrove and I started the climb,the speed fell off alarmingly and just passed "the pool" I was down to 20mph,its a good job that it was a dry rail as I was down to less than 10mph at Blackwell but at least the old girl made it.I certainly don't think a 31 or even a pair of 31's would have made it !

 

[Old Timer]

Proof, if ever it was needed, that a Class 25 could take anything on !

Brian, wouldn't have been fun if it had been a brace of 25s !