Favorite modern loco...

[wipers]

I don't know if this has been asked before but I wondered what people thought was the best modern loco?... for me, it's the 59. It's a small enough fleet to be interesting vs. say the similar 66's, whilst the 59/0 and 59/1 liveries are some of my favorites out there. The 68's probably second.

 

[sprinterguy]

The small fleet(s) of class 59s have worn quite the cornucopia of liveries, haven't they? Some of the earlier schemes being particular eye catching compared to BRs' contemporary trainload freight identity, and particular fetching when combined with a block train in the same livery.

Personally, I'm a 60 fan though. Big, rumbling, purposeful looking locos with fairly no-nonsense styling. Though the 68s run them a very close second within the category in my view.

 

[fowler9]

I voted 59 just because they were so different when introduced. Shipped across the sea, mad liveries.

 

[wipers]

Yeah, it's a shame that the 59/2's lost their original liveries, as they were great.

 

[palmersears]

The sound of a 68 pulling away

 

[darylyates17]

Class 68 for me in terms of Diesel locos they look and sound immense but I also like the class 60s as they are a nice looking and good sounding loco however I dont like 66s as they sound too muted due to the exhaust silencers they have.
In terms of Electric locos its the class 92s as they are basically an electric version of the class 60s and I haven't really thought about the class 88s yet.

 

[physics34]

class 59. I always sit up and pay attention when a 59/0 with its mid level headlights come towards me.

 

[D5645]

Class 68 for me.

Excellent performance and an attractive design.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Class 68 for me too. Very modern and innovative.

 

[Kite159]

The sound of a 92 at full speed

 

[mushroomchow]

A couple of years ago I'd have said the 67s, but they're showing their age a bit now and have always been a bit of a "Cinderella" class, given they were built for parcels traffic that then disappeared, but they lose points for the various teething and route availability issues they've had and still do have to some extent. For a while they were the only "express" modern diesel out there, which I guess endeared them to me as a kid, but they lose points for their boring GM drone too.

68s are a bit special. Sleek, speedy, seemingly reliable and most importantly they sound amazing. Have their been any classes of new loco introduced in the post-modernisation era which were so widely liked amongst enthusiasts, I wonder?

88s don't count. They're 68s with a TV aerial attached.

 

[43096]

I’m not sure how a design that is 30 years old itself and its core design is from the 1960s counts as “modern”.

Anyway, I can’t see the option for Taurus....

 

[wipers]

I think the 67’s that have recently been repainted look terrific, even in DB red.

 

[E_Reeves]

Can't beat the sound of a 66, but also can't beat the modern look of the 88s. For some reason, I also like the headlights on 68s and 88s too.

 

[Great_Western]

68's for me by a country mile. Fast, sleek, versatile and they sound amazing. I don't think anything new has been accepted as well by the enthusiast community as they have in a long long time.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I don’t really count 90s as modern; but I like the 68 and 90 the best out of the options. I also love the 91 though. My all time loco favourite is the Taurus.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I'm with sprinterguy here with the 60 getting my vote, those Eurolights do sound damned impressive though.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Shouldn't we class the 57s within this too.... ?
Yes I knoiw they're a miss-match but they aren't BR !
You can hear one way before you can see one upon arrival at Penzance, and that's on the flat! I do it most Saturdays (work) and I can tell the difference between a 57/3 and a 57/6 !!
60 quiet
59 & 66 purposeful.
67 impressive
68 best for modern diesel
70 too quiet
Still nothing compared to an EE or Sulzer though....

(Even better Sulzer double-headed) !

 

[_toommm_]

It's got to be the 66's at the moment for me - I still can't get over the sound of them idling it's so so good. I would love to try Chiltern's class 68's though and I intend to do so soon so my opinion could change

 

[E_Reeves]

It's got to be the 66's at the moment for me - I still can't get over the sound of them idling it's so so good. I would love to try Chiltern's class 68's though and I intend to do so soon so my opinion could change

Ying, ying, ying...

Totally agree, but behind a 68 going through the tunnels before Marylebone, Whoa!

 

[Photohunter71]

I liked the 60's, powerful looking and fantastic sound for a heavyweight hauler. Never seen a 70 so will reserve judgement (even with their "Toaster" reputation) The 68 sounds like a proper locomotive! If we were to get new loco's, I hope they sound as good as the 68's or EE/ Sulzer type engine sounds and look different to others.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Why is the 90 there but not the 91?

Not a fan of the post privatisation locos, so for me it’s the 90, 91, 92 and 60

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Gone for the 68 due to the way they've revived loco-hauled to an extent... would've done 88 due to the revolutionary bi-mode thing but I've yet to see one in the flesh.

 

[Railperf]

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.

 

[broadgage]

No option to vote for Tornado ? it is newer than most of the other options !

 

[wipers]

Never knew the 68's had so many fans (but not surprised)! I was really disappointed when the 37's started to be withdrawn from the Sellafield trains earlier this year but then the 68's turned up on the front, which offers some great photo ops. A pity that you don't see more of them in London beyond the Chiltern loco-hauled trains, which I don't think is their best livery...

 

[Lrd]

Class 37

 

[randyrippley]

if you're including class 90, why not 89?
The Flying Badger was far more impressive than any other electric loco

 

[DarloRich]

Class 37

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

(Close thread)

 

[RichmondCommu]

class 59. I always sit up and pay attention when a 59/0 with its mid level headlights come towards me.

Why are you sat on the tracks in the first place?