Class 70s - love 'em or hate 'em?

[blackettstreet]

I've heard an interesting difference of opinions concerning the aesthetics of the Class 70 locomotives since they arrived on these shores. I just couldn't resist asking a simple question: Class 70's - love 'em or hate 'em?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Love them, they just look like they should be a freight loco.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

They always strike me as being horrendously ugly.

 

[Hydro]

They look like an 07 tamper from the front. I don't mind them, they're a railway engine not a supercar.

 

[table38]

None of the above

Hated them at first but getting used to them now.

 

[TheWalrus]

If it does the job it does the job

 

[dk1]

They sound quite meaty when powering up through Chelmsford with a full payload aroung 16.00 (SX). So they get my vote

 

[trentside]

I'm not a huge freight loco enthusiast, but I've been following developments with the 70s and saw one in the metal a few months back. Sounds good... looks hideous!

 

[Temple Meads]

Looks aren't everything, they sound great, and above all, they aren't a Class 66, and as much like the 66's, they can be a bit relentless, so yes I love 'em!

 

[RichmondCommu]

Love them, they just look like they should be a freight loco.

Which begs the question why should a freight loco look different to anything else?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Which begs the question why should a freight loco look different to anything else?

Just that it does. You dont need something that looks like a pendo or a HST carrying freight..... in my eyes it should look like a beast.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Just that it does. You dont need something that looks like a pendo or a HST carrying freight..... in my eyes it should look like a beast.

I concur that there is no need for freight locos to be streamlined however the class 91's are far more powerful, don't really fit the 'beast' image and I think were designed as mixed traffic locos.

 

[BestWestern]

I'm quite a fan of locos which look functional, I like the purposeful appearance of the 90's and 60's for example. But sadly the 70's are just plain awful, they genuinely appear to have been intentionally designed to look ugly, I just don't understand that? Why not just come up with something that looks tidy, like a 66?!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Yes but it was mainly a passenger loco surely?

 

[RichmondCommu]

Yes but it was mainly a passenger loco surely?

Well the blunt end would suggest it was pretty much half and half.

 

[Schnellzug]

it's not that the basic design of them is ugly, it's the over-styled front end; why do the horn grilles need to be so stylised? But more importantly, those traction motors and inverters do make a nice howl, so for that reason, I'm in.
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Well the blunt end would suggest it was pretty much half and half.

I think the original idea was that they could be detached from the coaching stock and used on parcels and Intermodal traffic at night, but Sectorisation put paid for that.

 

[The Crab]

Well the blunt end would suggest it was pretty much half and half.

The blunt end is to give a tubulence-free connection between the 91 and it's train.

 

[DesiroDom]

They are quite powerful and but they are ugly but they get my vote

 

[fgwrich]

it's not that the basic design of them is ugly, it's the over-styled front end; why do the horn grilles need to be so stylised? But more importantly, those traction motors and inverters do make a nice howl, so for that reason, I'm in.

Same from me - The desigin i still think is pretty hideous - again it's that front end which still makes me think the designers were looking at several plug sockets at the time!...

But the sound of those things! Christ, theyre becoming more whiney than most of the ex BR Southern units!
- It's the traction motors, the inverters and the sounds and growl of the engines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqq-Z6iMxM&feature=related

 

[RichmondCommu]

The blunt end is to give a tubulence-free connection between the 91 and it's train.

Thats what I love about this forum. Everytime you log on you learn something new. Cheers for that.

 

[Schnellzug]

This is what i'd like to see a few of: the Blue Tiger. made by Bombardier, but GE engine. I think it looks quite a beast.

 

[BestWestern]

This is what i'd like to see a few of: the Blue Tiger. made by Bombardier, but GE engine. I think it looks quite a beast.

Nice purposeful design, but it looks a bit 'Lego'...?!!

 

[ACE1888]

Culture shock indeed, but locomotive designs reflect technology these days, not aesthetics, if they did they'd all look like Wizzo's
I certainly like them!

 

[Swr28]

Sound great on full power..sound even better as they get more worn out