Best-looking train in the UK?

[WYSH]

Class 180

 

[cjmillsnun]

87 and Mk3s
Class 442
HST
91 and Mk4s

 

[Strat-tastic]

Let's get a shout out for 40s with discs! Woohoo!

 

[gazthomas]

47s - a timeless design, still fresh after 50+ years

 

[Chris217]

Locos I would say class 40s.
Especially split headcode beasts in BR blue.

Units I would have to say
Class 158s in ATW livery.

 

[centraltrains]

Wut? Take a cold shower, you!

 

[sluf]

agree - class 40 for loco - specially with domino headcode
Unit - class 124 trans pennine

 

[Rail Blues]

87 and Mk3s
Class 442
HST
91 and Mk4s

Of the first two, I'd say 87s are non descript looking and when paired with a MK3 DVT looked hopelessly mismatched.

Class 442s i would consider to be pig ugly (pun intended). Stock with corridor connectors rarely look good, but 442s fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. I would pay a small fortune to wield the cutters torch to a 442.

HSTs, a genuine design classic and aesthetically very pleasing, but should be pensioned off now. I think they're probably the most attractive train on uk metals since ww2, but they've had their day for frontline service.

Class 91s lopked amazing when they were introduced but to me seem very much of their era, but not quite old enough oigh to have a retro charm about them.

Goes to show beauty is on the eye of the beholder and all that. I like 47s.

The 37s and Deltics and other eary diesels look to me like scaled down American locos to me and look crude and ugly, but without the size and scale of their American cousins to generate a sense of awe.

In my opinion 47s have a more European/British design to them and made their contemporaries look dated.

I also like Network Raik's Ultra 73, one all the bagpipes were removed, it gave the loco a fresh clean look that I'd been oblivious to all these years, like the dowdy librarian who takes off her glasses and ahakes out the bun in her hair to reveal a ravishing beauty.

 

[Ladder23]

of the top of my head before thinking too much, swt 707.

 

[cactustwirly]

Has to be the 43/4s in their current EMT livery!

IMG_20190301_212708 by litecactus, on Flickr

 

[Alex62319]

For me it would be the HSTs, 60s, 67s or the 319s.

 

[fowler9]

The 68's for me look fine but a little jowly and like something has been sliced off the front. I personally like the 37's, 50's and 87's. To quote the film Crazy People they are boxy but good. They look like they mean business. Most of our modern higher speed trains look a bit lame compared to some faster foreign trains but that is just to me. The Pendolinos still look nice though. The new 8xx units for Great Western and the East Coast are seriously meh for me.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Has to be the 43/4s in their current EMT livery!

IMG_20190301_212708 by litecactus, on Flickr

No buffered HST's allowed! Good livery, wrong HST.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Classes 91 and 390
Any livery, bar that nasty old IC livery currently worn by 91119.

 

[anamyd]

Classes 91 and 390
Any livery, bar that nasty old IC livery currently worn by 91119.

That "nasty old" IC livery is a replica British Rail livery to mark 30 years in service...

 

[Mag_seven]

Has to be the 43/4s in their current EMT livery!

IMG_20190301_212708 by litecactus, on Flickr

Never did like those buffers though.

 

[youngac]

Without a doubt the remaining 314s in Carmine and Cream.

 

[cactustwirly]

Never did like those buffers though.

Actually I think the HST looks better with the buffers!

 

[LOL The Irony]

Actually I think the HST looks better with the buffers!

You need your eyes checked. Whilst liveries can make them look better, they'll never beat the standard one with the original headlight clusters.

 

[cactustwirly]

You need your eyes checked. Whilst liveries can make them look better, they'll never beat the standard one with the original headlight clusters.

No I don't! I actually think it gives the HST a sleeker look than the original look! Especially from the sides!

 

[Prestige15]

Class 180, Even though its nearly 20 years old it still looks fresh next to a 800, A shame the reliability dosent match its looks.

Class 460 follows close behind

 

[anamyd]

Class 180, Even though its nearly 20 years old it still looks fresh next to a 800, A shame the reliability dosent match its looks.

Class 460 follows close behind

the UK Alstom builds, even though Washwood Heath "didn't care", suffered from cost-cutting at the request of their customers.

 

[43096]

the UK Alstom builds, even though Washwood Heath "didn't care", suffered from cost-cutting at the request of their customers.

Cost cutting was at the request of Alstom HQ in Paris, particularly with the Class 180s.

 

[anamyd]

Cost cutting was at the request of Alstom HQ in Paris, particularly with the Class 180s.

interesting, seeing as Andy claimed otherwise.

 

[hexagon789]

I'm gonna be super controversial here and make an addition - the IET. In the right livery it's actually quite a nice design!

(Takes cover like no one has ever taken cover before on this forum! )

You need your eyes checked. Whilst liveries can make them look better, they'll never beat the standard one with the original headlight clusters.

No I don't! I actually think it gives the HST a sleeker look than the original look! Especially from the sides!

I'm with @cactustwirly on that, the buffers enhance the front end, I feel they actually give it an even more impressive edge.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm gonna be super controversial here and make an addition - the IET. In the right livery it's actually quite a nice design!

(Takes cover like no one has ever taken cover before on this forum! )

No, I agree, from the outside it is quite attractive. The only exception is the vinylled GWR livery on top of the white base which looks awful and cheap. The proper ones (actually painted green) look great, and the long vehicles I think enhance the sleek look. And a Pacer would look good in that new TPE scheme!

 

[hexagon789]

No, I agree, from the outside it is quite attractive. The only exception is the vinylled GWR livery on top of the white base which looks awful and cheap. The proper ones (actually painted green) look great, and the long vehicles I think enhance the sleek look. And a Pacer would look good in that new TPE scheme!

Phew, was worried I was in for some heavy flak there!

I agree, the finish has to be done properly, vinyls may be cheap and quick but that cheapness shows a lot of the time.

Funnily enough, the new TPE livery was exactly what I was picturing on an IET, but you're right, I think a lot of things would look good in that scheme.

 

[Charlie Smythe]

I would say that a Class 397 is a nice looking unit. That EMT HST with the buffers looks, in my opinion, better than a HST without buffers. Although i would have to say that the best looking train on the rails at the moment is the TPE MK5 Driving Trailer. That looks good.

 

[Ray303_265]

Always had a soft spot for the 87s in BR Blue...It's a pity 37670 in DB Red has been canned, it was a well-suited colour scheme - in my opinion - failing that, the Kenneth Grange 125 is an absolute classic.

 

[Parallel]

A 180 for me. Looks very modern and sleek. Shame they are very flawed units though.