Best-looking train in the UK?

[js1000]

Class 43 HST. I'm in my early 20s but I still think it looks fantastic after nearly 50 years. For multiple unit choice, Class 332.

 

[507021]

Locomotive: A4 Pacific.
Multiple Unit: Class 397.

 

[backontrack]

That's not half bad tbh

Cheers!

 

[hexagon789]

You mean like this? (not my photo)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lasta...L7L-cw44LW-siTmgz-rtiAzv-o8wqp6-eFXv4v-f8hQFw

Not precisely, I have seen that livery before but unless it's the difference in cab ends between HSTs and 170s playing tricks I don't think ScotRail Barbie would come out exactly like that on an HST somehow.

 

[class387]

1938 tube stock for me:

 

[hexagon789]

Cheers!

You're welcome

Though the coaches seen to suit it better than the power cars. Maybe a Barbie 90+Mk3s if the Golden Triangle had been fully electrified.

90s to me though looked best in Virgin Red/Black; ditto 87s.

 

[D2007wsm]

I thought that was different to the ScotRail version, no?

Wasn't the only difference between FGW and First Scotrail Barbie, FGW having a good stripe rather than white? Was this anything to do with that livery only being carried by HSTs and 180s, where as Scotrail's was on DMU and EMUs?

I don't think this suited the HST power cars that well, especially the first version. These do look incredibly smart in GWR green, also in the plain blue FGW version. I also agree that it is a shame Dynamic Lines wasn't applied to First's bus fleet rather than Urban, other than a few Truronian coaches. Being predominantly vinyls, it was probabably seen as to troublesome to patch up when required.

 

[hexagon789]

Wasn't the only difference between FGW and First Scotrail Barbie, FGW having a good stripe rather than white? Was this anything to do with that livery only being carried by HSTs and 180s, where as Scotrail's was on DMU and EMUs?

I don't think this suited the HST power cars that well, especially the first version. These do look incredibly smart in GWR green, also in the plain blue FGW version. I also agree that it is a shame Dynamic Lines wasn't applied to First's bus fleet rather than Urban, other than a few Truronian coaches. Being predominantly vinyls, it was probabably seen as to troublesome to patch up when required.

Either way it doesn't look bad on the HSTs.

 

[delt1c]

sorry but rail blue emphasised the power and strength of the deltics by showing the curvature of the bodyside which encased the muscle as opposed to slab side of the 47's

 

[Nicks]

No question - the Blue Pullman - never seen in the flesh though.

 

[hexagon789]

No question - the Blue Pullman - never seen in the flesh though.

They rode atrociously though

 

[43096]

Not precisely, I have seen that livery before but unless it's the difference in cab ends between HSTs and 170s playing tricks I don't think ScotRail Barbie would come out exactly like that on an HST somehow.

The only difference between the two versions is one has the gold stripe and one has the white stripe. Must admit I think the white version was better - but Barbie is a pretty naff livery, really.

 

[Wivenswold]

1938 tube stock for me:

Good call. As per my pic, I have a love of London Transport design from the 1930s. Forget modern day attempts at corporate image, LT nailed it even down to light fittings and signposts.

 

[hexagon789]

The only difference between the two versions is one has the gold stripe and one has the white stripe. Must admit I think the white version was better - but Barbie is a pretty naff livery, really.

Personally I still prefer it to the Saltire livery but as HSTs will be replacing 170s I don'the really mind too much.

170s don't look too bad either though it depends on the colour scheme.

 

[Master29]

Class 68 in TPE/Chiltern livery.
HST in GWR green or InterCity swallow livery.
I always thought the Intercity Class 86 looked awesome.

I agree that certain liveries make some trains look better.

 

[43096]

Personally I still prefer it to the Saltire livery but as HSTs will be replacing 170s I don'the really mind too much.

Saltire is a whole lot better than the totally naff First/WorstGroup image.

 

[hexagon789]

Saltire is a whole lot better than the totally naff First/WorstGroup image.

Not in my opinion - bland, bland, bland

But we'd better not start that argument up again!

Back to the topic at hand, the Class 68s have quite a nice shape to them, they look better on Chiltern's Silver sets than the somewhat boxy 67s did.

 

[Fuzzytop]

Another vote for the 68s - gorgeous locomotives.

(HST comes close second, particularly the Virgin EC 'National Railway Museum' liveried 43238.)

 

[TimboM]

 

[gingertom]

nobody's mentioned class 89 Avocet in IC "Swallow" livery yet.

 

[E_Reeves]

Anything in the new Cally sleeper livery looks good, especially the 73s!

 

[cambsy]

The class 76 EM2 Woodhead electrics had a certain look I like, though not good looking they were nice, I like The HST’s, 390’s, 800’s, 180’s, 37’s, 20’s, think the 89 looked interesting, liked the 87’s, 85’s, 37’s, 50’s, Deltics, 31’s, 45’s. 26’s, all nice looking, for Steam it would be Duchess Pacific’s, then 71000 duke of Gloucester, Castles and Kings, just love the duchess class, sheer beauty and power, most beautiful thing ever though not train was Concorde, lucky enough to have done London-New York return on it, absolutely amazing end of.

 

[theageofthetra]

Either of the RHDR ' Canadians'

 

[_toommm_]

nobody's mentioned class 89 Avocet in IC "Swallow" livery yet.

It looks so gloomy though, as if it's not content with what it is
(Obviously personification i don't think trains are amimate)

 

[duesselmartin]

contemporary stock, for me its the class 165/166. Its green GWR livery suits ist especially well.
A close second are the E300 Eurostar sets.
Also Translink 8111 class are high on the agenda.
Historically, it has to be Sir Nigel Gresley.

 

[backontrack]

You're welcome

Though the coaches seen to suit it better than the power cars. Maybe a Barbie 90+Mk3s if the Golden Triangle had been fully electrified.

90s to me though looked best in Virgin Red/Black; ditto 87s.

GNER also had a Class 90 for a while.

They also had one of the best liveries to ever adorn any train.

They also gave the trusty Badger a good home, operating the single Class 89 locomotive for a time.

But even better than this: they once had Eurostars.

By the way: on the subject of Virgin, here's an excellent mockup of a Virgin Class 180 Adelante.

 

[Class465fan]

Going to be class 465 in NSE. Very smart looking trains (except for the interior) as well as the 365s (Pre-smiley faces).

 

[AlterEgo]

The new TPE Mark 5s once in service would be a contender. Apart from that, it has to be either a GWR HST or the 390s in new Virgin white livery.

 

[Mikey C]

More for the livery than the trains, but the London Midland livery looks stunning on 350s

 

[Islineclear3_1]

For me, the HST (esp in original blue/grey livery), the Hymeks and Class 76

Then the unrefurb Class 309s/4 Cep/Bep and the 2Bils (although never got to see the Bils in service)

As for modern(ish) stock, the Class 87's, Class 321s (in their early livery) and even getting a soft spot for the 313's (as they're getting old)

And of course, a livery can make or break looks....