AI-generated (not entirely realistic) railway images

[eldomtom2]

Plenty of clever people are working on all these things, AI is the worst it’s ever going to be.

The problem of AI running out of images or being re-infected by previous AI generated text and images is pretty solvable.

Firstly the models are getting more and better deductive logic put into them both by researchers and by their user base.

Secondly we do most of the cutting edge of science and engineering on computers it’s not a massive step to let AI models train themselves on output from those tools. So if you only have training data from three quarter view images of trains let it play with trains in CGI/CAD software so it can extrapolate from the existing image dataset.

My general impression is that researchers in AI are definitely not ruling out the possibility of "model collapse" from training on AI-generated material.
Also, sure, AI hypothetically can only get better, but in practice no technology ever improves exponentially forever, and often the last 20%, so to speak, is by far the hardest to do - sometimes even impossible.

 

[GusB]

AI is only as good as the question you ask it. If you wanted a 170 in NSE (for example) then you could probably help it by attaching a picture of a 170 and a picture of something in NSE.

I disagree. Consider how many photographs of Class 170s there are on the internet, then have a think about how many pictures of trains bearing Network South East livery there are. People who upload photographs to sites such as Flickr tend to add tags to describe their photos; if a basic search engine can display results based on these tags, it should be possible for AI to cobble together something that's reasonably acceptable.

Using the example of the merry-go-round train in post 49, the instructions were "A Merry Go Round Train passing a coal fired power station"; there must be sufficient collective knowledge about MGR trains on the internet for an AI to decide that a fairground merry-go-round was the wrong option!

I've requested some bus-related images and the only type that seems to be understood is the AEC Routemaster. To be fair, the last result wasn't too bad:

generate a picture of a Routemaster bus in northern scottish yellow and cream livery

 

[D6130]

I bet this driver was miffed, after climbing so deftly up the bodyside, only to realise the door wasn't where he was....

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The previously unknown pair of "not class 47" diesels is seen hauling a charter train.
Window hanging has taken a sadistic turn: one man is visibly mooning his bottom out of the second carriage, whilst a poor young woman is dangled on the side of the leading coach.

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It's amazing how "belching smoke" can get interpreted...

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"Where's the fake diesel locomotive? Will someone please point it out."

Good grief! A class 40 with class 29 cabs arriving at Paddington! I never thought I'd live to see the day!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Good grief! A class 40 with class 29 cabs arriving at Paddington! I never thought I'd live to see the day!

It reminded me of some early Hornby Dublo - ahem - iinterpretation of diesel locomotives!

I've requested some bus-related images and the only type that seems to be understood is the AEC Routemaster. To be fair, the last result wasn't too bad

That's actually a decent interpretation. It's strange that three nearside passengers are rendered with missing / disfigured faces.

 

[tfw756rider]

Odd that, it showed when I inserted it. You can see this through other user's comments on it.

What I can see, on your original post and in the quotes, is a tiny "image" icon and the text "raw", only where the 507 image should be. All other images in this thread (yours and others') do show.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Here we have a suspect looking pair of class 73 EDs (!) and an equally suspect Balcombe viaduct.
The lesser known Railfreight livery makes its appearance on a couple of locos.

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However, we have some better luck with the VSOE through an Alpine valley; and a TGV Atlantique speeding across the French landscape

 

[The exile]

Why are these results so poor? Considering AI can do me a scheme of lessons in literally three seconds, as per my post above #69, you would think it could do an image search for ‘Class 333’ and ‘Dinting Viaduct’ and put the two together. Of course, it can’t be that simple or it would have done it.

I suspect if you asked it to generate every step of the process of those lesson plans (including exactly what to say at every stage) or went the other way (devise a plan for keeping a class of 32 14-year-olds occupied and happy when we’ve covered the syllabus and I’ve got a hangover) it might come up with more unpredictable results.

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I never knew Network Southeast had a "low cost" livery but, yes, apparently Google Gemini AI knows more than I do...

Still, it knows when a pair of Tractors is the required motive power - but that wrong line working had better be known to Control.

What would it have given you if you’d asked for a pair of tractors on the front? (A couple of Massey-Fergussons, I bet).

 

[Topological]

Here we have a suspect looking pair of class 73 EDs (!) and an equally suspect Balcombe viaduct.
The lesser known Railfreight livery makes its appearance on a couple of locos.

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However, we have some better luck with the VSOE through an Alpine valley; and a TGV Atlantique speeding across the French landscape

That does seem like overkill electrification for a single track. Is this why HS2 is so expensive?

 

[Sun Chariot]

That does seem like overkill electrification for a single track. Is this why HS2 is so expensive?

Future proofing the infrastructure, in case of an upturn in traffic.

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AI hypothetically can only get better, but in practice no technology ever improves exponentially forever, and often the last 20%, so to speak, is by far the hardest to do - sometimes even impossible.

For these railway related topics, what really surprises me is the gulf between AI images I consider plausible, versus (the majority) I consider utterly laughable.
AI interpretations of British diesel / electric traction and also rolling stock seems far weaker than I expected, considering the reference material available.

Of the 100+ AI images I've created in this past week, the only viable "first time result" are:

Post #96's interior of a Pullman dining car, has impressively rendered the people, the food, drink, flowers and marquetry. The multiple track through the windows, is the only gaffe.
The exterior shot's pretty convincing, apart from the angle of some people's heads and some faces

Post #68's Black 5 steam loco has realistic proportions and motion, is convincingly lit and even the crew look acceptable. As is often the case, AI hasn't rendered the loco's number or tender crest acceptably.

 

[The exile]

Post #96's interior of a Pullman dining car, has impressively rendered the people, the food, drink, flowers and marquetry. The multiple track through the windows, is the only gaffe.

Aren’t the dessert spoons the wrong way round (or it’s a booking for a group of left-handers!)

 

[Sun Chariot]

Aren’t the dessert spoons the wrong way round (or it’s a booking for a group of left-handers!)

As a left hander myself, it is the only way round!

 

[Topological]

Aren’t the dessert spoons the wrong way round (or it’s a booking for a group of left-handers!)

It is a good point, they are all eating right-handed (or wrong)

 

[NorthKent1989]

I asked ChatGPT for a networker with a nice prompt "Create an image of a Networker train. Class 165, 166, 365, 465 and 466 are all Networker trains." It did an almost perfect job in my opinion.

The livery looks like a parallel universe had Network Southeast still been a thing in the 2000s

 

[Sun Chariot]

Did you know that, during British Rail's Speedlink wagonload freight era, they trialled an unusual motive power consist? I hadn't, either, but here are two examples of "double-and-a-bit headed" mixed freights...

 

[Topological]

Did you know that, during British Rail's Speedlink wagonload freight era, they trialled an unusual motive power consist? I hadn't, either, but here are two examples of "double-and-a-bit headed" mixed freights...

Those "and-a-bit" are obviously for the last mile movements when the consist reaches a yard.

Might be worth checking if some are still around so that more current freights can be electrically hauled over the majority of their journeys.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Post #96's interior of a Pullman dining car, has impressively rendered the people, the food, drink, flowers and marquetry. The multiple track through the windows, is the only gaffe.

Also take a close look at the coffee pots. They won’t pour very well.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Also take a close look at the coffee pots. They won’t pour very well.

Looks like AI Silverware Ltd used a "form over function" design principle...

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Those "and-a-bit" are obviously for the last mile movements when the consist reaches a yard.

Might be worth checking if some are still around so that more current freights can be electrically hauled over the majority of their journeys.

I think I found a survivor...
Attached Flickr image shows cab of 37411 in the car park of the Alexandra Hotel, Derby. Unable to paste Flickr link to this post.

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I decided to have another try at a British Rail merry go round train. I tried a pair of class 20s to haul it. It didn't go to plan....

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Some scrapyard scenes today. The overall ambience seems to be well captured by AI algorithms; but, yet again, it's the details on the locos (class 37s and class 08 specified) that aren't accurate. Oh and a flame cutting employee in midair...

 

[zwk500]

Looks like AI Silverware Ltd used a "form over function" design principle...

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I think I found a survivor...
Attached Flickr image shows cab of 37411 in the car park of the Alexandra Hotel, Derby. Unable to paste Flickr link to this post.

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I decided to have another try at a British Rail merry go round train. I tried a pair of class 20s to haul it. It didn't go to plan....

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Some scrapyard scenes today. The overall ambience seems to be well captured by AI algorithms; but, yet again, it's the details on the locos (class 37s and class 08 specified)

The trackwork in the 1st Merry-go-round train is, ahem, interesting.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Frosty morning, a DMU passing an HST on a stone viaduct. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

 

[tfw756rider]

Frosty morning, a DMU passing an HST on a stone viaduct. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

I like the end-gangway-doored locomotive hauling 2 carriages

 

[Sun Chariot]

I like the end-gangway-doored locomotive hauling 2 carriages

Feels a bit like a child of the class 210

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A more viable interpretation of a TGV Atlantique speeding past. Must be a new version lacking articulated coaches...

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Frosty morning, a DMU passing an HST on a stone viaduct. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

That first HST appears to be in LNER/Virgin Flowing Silk livery, and be a DMU rather than a locomotive.
For the 2nd, I hope that one in the middle has life jackets avaliable.

 

[Steddenm]

So for this one I asked Gemini to show me a high speed train in Virgin Trains livery


This is what I got when I asked for a Class 222 in Irish Rail livery


And this is meant to be a Class 222 in Enterprise livery


This is meant to be a Class 555 in Network SouthEast livery


And finally a NI Class 3000 in Regional Railways livery

 

[pokemonsuper9]

So for this one I asked Gemini to show me a high speed train in Virgin Trains livery

A very high speed train (for someone who has only ever seen horse drawn trains before).

 

[Transilien]

And this is meant to be a Class 222 in Enterprise livery

This one is really funny. I didn't know Enterprise offered spot hires of trains!

 

[Sun Chariot]

The Virgin Trains LU stock is a parallel universe! Brilliant!

A USA flavour now - one image gives a whole new meaning to Distributed Power ...

 

[Topological]

A very high speed train (for someone who has only ever seen horse drawn trains before).

To be fair the design has been innovated to create a larger gap between the train and the platform. Maybe this is a high speed version?

 

[Sun Chariot]

A Danish flavour. A pair of MX class diesels at Nyborg depot. A few howlers; but not as hideous as the British Rail images!

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Locomotive engine room fire drama! Luckily the farmer is capturing it all for his TikTok channel.

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Bloopers at Blea Moor.
Some fantastical ficticious traction on the Settle & Carlisle...

 

[The exile]

I wonder what it would produce for "A rear view of a heavy holiday express being assisted up the Lickey Incline by a couple of well turned-out bankers"?

 

[Sun Chariot]

I wonder what it would produce for "A rear view of a heavy holiday express being assisted up the Lickey Incline by a couple of well turned-out bankers"?

Et voila! Gemini AI interpretation of holiday, is Christmas and its interpretation of bankers, is the financial services sort!

@The exile I elaborated on the description input to Gemini AI. These 2 images are its output. Goodness knows why it thinks the second loco doesn't need a tender!