Favorite modern loco...

[RichmondCommu]

But given a chance to choose any loco to pull a train (if UK loading gauge were to continental standards) would have to be the (broken nose) French Class BB22200 - 125mph capability - dual mode electric 25kv and 1.5Kv DC (you could travel behind a single loco from Calais to Nice starting on 25kv AC down to Paris, switching over to 1.5KV DC on the PLM, back to 25KV AC from Marseille along the Cote D'Azur. , the monometer bogies have a distinctive motor whine, and they pull like no other loco i have ever travelled behind. Those locos could whisk a 14 coach train to 100mph very quickly. The French BB26000's come a close second.

Back in the 1980s when I was traveling through Europe the route from the coast to Amiens was not electrified and the BB22200s were certainly not running between Amiens and Paris.

 

[InOban]

The thread is titled favourite modern loco. That rules out the 37 and the Deltic, surely.

 

[Lrd]

The thread is titled favourite modern loco. That rules out the 37 and the Deltic, surely.

More modern than a steam loco

 

[43096]

1/2 a point. Almost the correct answer. The correct answer would have been: Deltic.

(Close thread)

Nul points. Failed to read the exam question. Thread is about MODERN locos, not unreliable talc chucking droning dross from the 60s!

 

[ld0595]

Easily the 68 for me. Looks and sounds great!

 

[DarloRich]

Nul points. Failed to read the exam question. Thread is about MODERN locos, not unreliable talc chucking droning dross from the 60s!

All right then smarty pants: Class 97.

Winner. Close thread.

 

[hooverboy]

68's look, sound and perform great. I loved the sound of old Class 50's and 37's, but a 47 has a distinctive sound too. Never saw Deltics in the flesh. And HST power car in any guise, Valetta, VP185 and MTU all look and sound great. I know some lament passing of turbo whistle on Valentas, but the MTU has a distinctive growl, and is so much cleaner. I do not miss the amount of smoke that Valentas produced starting up or on pull away.
Love the look of Class 90's, but they seem a bit light footed and struggle in the wet, but on a dry rail pull away from any other electric or diesel loco with ease. Class 91's have a very futuristic look and 140mph but somehow seem to lack some soul. For me the 88 is the best electric loco, looks great, and has the last mile bi-mode capability. Class 68 a close second.

But given a chance to choose any loco to pull a train (if UK loading gauge were to continental standards) would have to be the (broken nose) French Class BB22200 - 125mph capability - dual mode electric 25kv and 1.5Kv DC (you could travel behind a single loco from Calais to Nice starting on 25kv AC down to Paris, switching over to 1.5KV DC on the PLM, back to 25KV AC from Marseille along the Cote D'Azur. , the monometer bogies have a distinctive motor whine, and they pull like no other loco i have ever travelled behind. Those locos could whisk a 14 coach train to 100mph very quickly. The French BB26000's come a close second.

got to agree.I will very much miss the old HST with the paxman valenta engine, the deafening scream was really something special as it revved up.the MTU refurb ones have got the performance alright,but they haven't got the "soul"

old skool deltics were a bit special too..in a kind of "just turned up in a V8 mustang" sort o way.

out of the modern batch I've got so say:
diesel:68's- really good multipurpose workhorse..and they have a nice "growl"
electric: 90's- bodywork was groundbreaking for it's age,still looks good, and still a fair bit of grunt under the bonnet.

 

[43096]

All right then smarty pants: Class 97.

Winner. Close thread.

Still failed.

Like a Deltic, really.....

 

[satisnek]

Class 68 for me. The sound of the 0609 and 0705 departures from Kidderminster (although I tend to sleep through the former during the winter months) has become kind of comforting and familiar. I do think that they're ugly beasts, though.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Class 68 for me. The sound of the 0609 and 0705 departures from Kidderminster (although I tend to sleep through the former during the winter months) has become kind of comforting and familiar. I do think that they're ugly beasts, though.

Lucky you, I wish I could manage to fall asleep on transport...

The 68 does make an awesome noise!

 

[E_Reeves]

Class 68 for me... I do think that they're ugly beasts, though.

I think the class 68 is the best looking loco we've had in a long time

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I think the class 68 is the best looking loco we've had in a long time

I agree that it is quite good looking in a modern sort of way. I do love the look of the AGA 90+Mk3 sets though, so smart in white and red.

 

[Cowley]

I’ve gone for the 68. I think they look good, sound good, the DRS ones have decent names too and as said they’ve bought back loco hauled services. That for me is what swings it.
Second place would be the 92 because I just like the look of them really.

 

[E_Reeves]

Out of the 68 liveries, I thought I liked the compass (68 original style) livery, but I think that plain blue livery really suits them the best. TPE livery just looks awful without the yellow front ends. And yes, great names - my favourite is Brutus

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I think the 68s look the best in Chiltern silver, without a doubt.

 

[E_Reeves]

I think the 68s look the best in Chiltern silver, without a doubt.

Love the new addition of the mini Chiltern logo. Hardly noticeable!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Love the new addition of the mini Chiltern logo. Hardly noticeable!

Never seen that! When were logos added? Or are you pointing out that they don’t have logos?

 

[E_Reeves]

Never seen that! When were logos added? Or are you pointing out that they don’t have logos?

I've seen a photo with a mini Chiltern logo on the side recently. I'll try and dig it out

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I've seen a photo with a mini Chiltern logo on the side recently. I'll try and dig it out

Please do!

 

[E_Reeves]

Here it is (not my pic):

 

[Cowley]

Up until now with the new TPE locos coming etc, the class 68 fleet harked back to the days of the Deltics and 50s with it being a smallish fleet with distinctive names etc.
Somehow less anonymous than most modern stuff. You feel like each one has a bit of character of their own which is how it used to be with some classes.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Here it is (not my pic):

Haha looks rather out of place!

 

[Cowley]

Here it is (not my pic):

That’s pretty cool. They do look good in silver. I’m with you on the TPE scheme though.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to a loco without yellow ends...

 

[Cowley]

Here it is (not my pic):

Do you know your picture almost looks like it’s a model of one.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

That’s pretty cool. They do look good in silver. I’m with you on the TPE scheme though.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to a loco without yellow ends...

I don’t think I’ll be able to get used to any train with out yellow ends! Although I can’t imagine a 345 with them...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Do you know your picture almost looks like it’s a model of one.

I was just thinking that! @E_Reeves are you sure it isn’t one?!!

 

[Cowley]

I don’t think I’ll be able to get used to any train with out yellow ends! Although I can’t imagine a 345 with them...

Changing times eh? I must admit it’s been such a feature for such a long time that it’s going to take some getting used too...
My first railway memories from the 1970s were of huge noisy diesels with yellow fronts.

Going back on subject slightly I’d like to see more attempts at styling as was done with the 68 in the future. It’s good to see a bit of confidence and panache instead of staid playsafe dullness.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Changing times eh? I must admit it’s been such feature for such a long time that it’s going to take some getting used too.
My first railway memories from the 1970s were of huge noisy diesels with yellow fronts.

Going back on subject slightly I’d like to see more attempts at styling as was done with the 68 in the future. It’s good to see a bit of confidence and panache instead of staid playsafe dullness.

It would also be nice to see more unique trains, as opposed to just copying designs from abroad. The 68 is indeed a good example here.

 

[E_Reeves]

I was just thinking that! @E_Reeves are you sure it isn’t one?!!

I'm not sure, it was on Google image search. I'll try and check it

 

[E_Reeves]

Do you know your picture almost looks like it’s a model of one.

Nope, it's a video: