First Class 70s arrive Thurs 5th Nov

[90019]

Says he with THAT as his avatar

Says he with THAT as his username

 

[4SRKT]

The hideousness of this awful locomotive is beyond belief. What had to happen before it rolled off the production line? Firstly, someone had to design it. Improbable though this may seem, it happened. Things now get worse. Someone else had to think that this was a design worth selling, and proceded to show it to people interested in buying locos. We're really stretching the bounds of credibility here, but someone wanting a new loco had to agree that it was an OK design, then convince his board of directors the same. On top of this, everybody involved in its production, and those who will be involved in its operation, had to keep it to themselves that they thought it actually looks like what would happen if a Class 58 were to turn up on the CBeebies programme Underground Ernie. That all these highly improbable events actually did take place one after another is a testament to human stupidity.

 

[GB]

As has been said many times before, it is how they perform on revenue generating services that matters, not what they look like to the rail enthusiasts community.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The things are starting to grow on me though

http://www.jackboskett.fotopic.net/c1778331.html

 

[Proud Salopian]

The bright yellow livery doesn't help matters aesthetically.

 

[4SRKT]

As has been said many times before, it is how they perform on revenue generating services that matters, not what they look like to the rail enthusiasts community.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The things are starting to grow on me though

http://www.jackboskett.fotopic.net/c1778331.html

Bad design is bad design. You don't have to be a railway enthusiast to see that in this case this is a hideous contraption. There's no reason why a locomotive can't perform well and be aesthetically pleasing. Indeed, it's very important for rail's image that it does.

 

[Pumbaa]

Clever idea sticking a whopping great pillar in front of the side window. Also, the driver openable window is the wrong way round.

 

[GB]

Bad design is bad design. You don't have to be a railway enthusiast to see that in this case this is a hideous contraption.

Hideous to you (and others) maybe, but obviously the people that designed it and the people that commissioned it dont think so, other wise you wouldnt be looking at what you are right now.

There's no reason why a locomotive can't perform well and be aesthetically pleasing.

I never said they couldn't.

Indeed, it's very important for rail's image that it does.

Maybe if the thing was going to haul passengers image might play a more significant part, but as this loco will haul freight then image will be lower down on the list then say reliability, running costs and overall performance.

Any FOC that values aesthetics over the above mentioned has no buisness running trains imo.

I wasnt around here when the class 66 was introduced but I imagine that many people had the same or similar opinions on how boring and crap they looked or sounded. Now just look at how successful they have become and how they have transformed the freight industry. Lets wait and see what this new loco is capable of before condeming it based on what it looks like in a picture.

I apprieciate you are just giving your opinion, Im only doing the same

 

[4SRKT]

Hideous to you (and others) maybe, but obviously the people that designed it and the people that commissioned it dont think so, other wise you wouldnt be looking at what you are right now.

But there are loads of examples of bad design all over the place in every walk of life, which all got produced by the same improbable sequence of events I described above. Take the bulk of architecture from the 1950s and 60s for example. The fact that someone has got something to production clearly doesn't mean that the design itself has any merit. The guy that designed this clearly should have gone to Specsavers!

Any FOC that values aesthetics over the above mentioned has no buisness running trains imo.

Obviously a TOC that valued aesthetics above anything else would be ridiculous, but I simply don't see why things have to look dreadful in the first place, so the choice should never arise.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Lets wait and see what this new loco is capable of before condeming it based on what it looks like in a picture.

I wouldn't dream of commenting on its performance until we've seen what it can do. I am commenting purely on its loathsome appearance.

 

[37401]

moving away from avatars, does anyone know what these will be working and where abouts, dont want to travel much to get a shot of them

 

[2030720310]

Plug 1 and Plug 2 are in the UK now - they're the Jedward of locomotives.

Has anyone got any times for their transfer to Birmingham, i.e what time are they coming through Worcester Shrub Hill? (If they haven't already!! )

 

[4SRKT]

Has anyone got any times for their transfer to Birmingham, i.e what time are they coming through Worcester Shrub Hill? (If they haven't already!! )

You'll be able to tell if they've been through Worcester Shrub Hill because when they have, the good people of that city will be seen fleeing away from the railway line, terrified by the ghastly apparition they have just witnessed.

 

[2030720310]

You'll be able to tell if they've been through Worcester Shrub Hill because when they have, the good people of that city will be seen fleeing away from the railway line, terrified by the ghastly apparition they have just witnessed.

haha maybe.... I don't know in some ways they'll be good for power etc but I still think they're hideously ugly.....

Does anyone have any times?

 

[Old Timer]

Has anyone got any times for their transfer to Birmingham, i.e what time are they coming through Worcester Shrub Hill? (If they haven't already!! )

You owe me a beer.

Here are the paths :

MTO
Newport dep 2345
Stoke Gifford arr 0140

WThO
Stoke Gifford dep 0025
Worcester SH pass 0207
Lawley St arr 0337

Via Stourbridge Jct/ Galton Jct/New St

 

[4SRKT]

Those paths at least ensure that the class 70s will be seen at their best, i.e. in the middle of the night!

 

[37401]

Those paths at least ensure that the class 70s will be seen at their best, i.e. in the middle of the night!

imagine someone living opposite the freightliner terminal, opens their curtains in the morning "ahh what a lovely day...AGGHH WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!"

 

[Old Timer]

As a GE fan I an desperately, desperately disappointed with these hideous productions which demonstrate that there is no lack of taste in this world.

One can only assume how on earth such an appalling design made it through the various checks and counter-checks that exist.

I truly weep.

Why couldn't we have something like this !

 

[BlythPower]

imagine someone living opposite the freightliner terminal, opens their curtains in the morning "ahh what a lovely day...AGGHH WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!"

If you lived in that bit of Birmingham, you wouldn't be frightened by a couple of Plugs...

Mind, I'm not sure there's any housing that would overlook Lawley Street to any great extent. Maybe that's why Freightliner chose it...

 

[Old Timer]

Pity the poor Saltey Drivers who may glimpse these horrendous things.

Anyway around Saltley they wear their vests in two sizes, bullet proof and suicide

Can we not have one of these magnificent beasts?

 

[Nonsense]

I like it.

And I bet I'm not the only one waiting for the Hornby version.

 

[GB]

Thats too US for my liking.

 

[4SRKT]

Pity the poor Saltey Drivers who may glimpse these horrendous things.

At least if you're the driver you're in the one place where you can't actually see the ugly monster, that is, in the cab.

 

[73110]

Says he with THAT as his username

Hehe, banter taken well I might add.

Reason for my name is it is the only one that came to mind when I signed up here. I failed in it when I drove the LWT from Lewes to Brighton, top and tailed by an ED. 73110 was at the front, 73114 was at the rear. I knew we would have problems with the steep gradient from Lewes up to the tunnel at Falmer, managed to get average of 12 mph all the way, some places down as low as 5mph, it was a nightmare.

The driver who I relieved was from Hither Green I think and whilst we were at 5mph he actually got out the cab whilst we were moving and then got in the rear loco to tell the crew in that to open up their engine to get us up the hill. It did make a difference but not much to be honest. (Reason for the other crew passing in the rear loco was to get into Brighton and knock the rear one off. They would then go off back the way we came to the edge of the possession then rejoin us after the LWT done its bit.)

Got to the tunnel, shut off and coasted down the hill. Engine shut itself down at Moulsecombe and I stopped at London Road, not a drop of water left, the heat from the engine had boiled all the water. Job canceled!!!

Anyhow, these 70's look ok. I wouldn't mind a go in one of them for an hour or so to see what they are like to drive.

 

[4SRKT]

Anyhow, these 70's look ok.

Are blind drivers really such a good idea?

 

[37401]

At least if you're the driver you're in the one place where you can't actually see the ugly monster, that is, in the cab.

and thats just as bad

 

[jopsuk]

Can we not have one of these magnificent beasts?

Wouldn't it rather get stuck?

Also, wonder what such a loco would look like as a double-cab version, seeing as that is preferred over here

 

[Old Timer]

No there is a smaller guage version, the U20C.

 

[fgwrich]

Pity the poor Saltey Drivers who may glimpse these horrendous things.

Anyway around Saltley they wear their vests in two sizes, bullet proof and suicide

Can we not have one of these magnificent beasts?

Not bad...would rather have them than the plugs...or fuglys etc...only doubt about those GE locos though is the fronts...but if they made them look more like these GMs...then id be happier...

http://irishrailwaylocomotivesandrollingstock.fotopic.net/p35827272.html

http://irishrailwaylocomotivesandrollingstock.fotopic.net/p35827278.html

Yes...I Know they are GMs but id still prefer something by GE like them than the 70s...

 

[Old Timer]

What a terrible thing to befall 074, a splendid locomotive.

This whole DMU thing just does for me !

The only place to get proper trains these days is abroad, something I never thought I would end up saying




Anyway back to those awful things

If anyone can bear it, here is the video of the unveiling of the hideously ugly things.

They remind me of those two pigs that used to be on a childrens programme. Cannot remember which one but not "Pinky and Perky"...something more modern. Maybe someone can

http://www.youtube.com/freightlinergroup#p/a/ u/0/7UMBvo7prIk

 

[Metroland]

There was a rumour they lifted the covers and when the cameras were turned off, put them straight back on again!

 

[djw1981]

Bad design is bad design. You don't have to be a railway enthusiast to see that in this case this is a hideous contraption. There's no reason why a locomotive can't perform well and be aesthetically pleasing. Indeed, it's very important for rail's image that it does.

Rubbish

These look industrial and workhorse like, they are unusual compared to our loco design (but the 66 looks worse, as does 92) but they look very similar to international rail locos.