Nicest Looking Modern Traction

[LE Greys]

As a response to the Ugliest Modern Traction thread, what looks the nicest? My overall vote would have to go for the Deltics, because they somehow managed that combination of power and beauty that very few things do (although my somewhat-biased vote for the best ever would be the Gresley A1s in original form). In terms of something currently in service, I've always quite liked the 90s, and the 442s would be the best multiple units.

So, what is the best-looking loco or unit today?

 

[ailsa]

180s and 376s for me.

 

[Lrd]

Class 158, no idea why though!

 

[Condor7]

Class 158, no idea why though!

No neither have I

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have found over the years that what we like and do not like often are dictated by how common or otherwise a certain type of loco is.

Many may remember when HST's dominated the scene.
I can remember comments on letters pages of various railway mags, bemoaning the "boring appearance" of them.

Now in there twilight many have a different view.

On that basis I have to say the Pendelinos are a very good looking train, but may not become fully appreciated until they become more scarce in the future.

 

[jnjkerbin]

I think that either the 376s or 395s look the nicest.

 

[gazthomas]

Waiting for a barrage.....

Class 47's -50 years old, still look pretty modern and were steers ahead of 40's, Peaks, etc in the 60's.

 

[bronzeonion]

DMU: Class 170/168 with the larger cowling under the cab fronts.
EMU: A60/62 stock
Diesel loco: Class 59/0 with those bizzare lights or Class 56.
Electric loco: Class 86

 

[Oswyntail]

EMU: 333
DMU: 101
Electric loco: 92
Diesel loco: 70 (Yes, combination of power and style)
Older diesel loco: 47

 

[junglejames]

Diesel loco- 47
Electric loco- Can I say everything from class 86 upwards? OK, at a push, Im going to have to stick with the 90.
EMU- Nothing really stands out anymore. The old Southern slammers had something about them. As does the 442. The 390 is sleek, but too cheap looking. Im going to say the 365 before the front end was butchered!
DMU- 158. Dont think theres any competition there.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Waiting for a barrage.....

Class 47's -50 years old, still look pretty modern and were steers ahead of 40's, Peaks, etc in the 60's.

Its funny, you get a barrage of abuse for saying it (well actually we havent yet!!), but when the question is asked, the 47 is nearly always one of the top responses.

 

[sprinterguy]

I really, really like the look of class 56s, not because they are "nicest looking", but because they look menacing and powerful. Lots of chunky, knobbly bits on the front end. As for which diesel loco is most aesthetically pleasing, I feel that I would have to support LE Greys in his vote for the Deltics, for the same reasons.

In my opinion the best looking steam loco would be Gresley's V2s: They're perfectly balanced despite being somewhat smaller than the incredibly impressive LNER Pacifics. Despite being a staunch North Eastern man, over four years of living in Birmingham has also caused me to recognise the attractiveness of certain Great Western designs, principally the "Castles" and "Manors".

The best looking multiple units in my opinion would be the 442s, 309s, Class 124 Transpennine DMUs, 108s and 156s.

 

[HSTEd]

442 or 73, they just have a simple businesslike look to them that many more modern units don't have thanks to having silly "flares" of design.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I like the 180, especially in Grand Central livery:

The 332 has a certain charm too. Prefer it to the 333, just because the coupler doesnt leap out at you as much.

Credit to the good people at Wikipedia for both images. The 180 is in the public domain, the 332 is under a creative commons license and free to use for non commercial purposes. I know some people get uppity about these things so I thought I'd nip the complaints in the bud.

 

[Tibbs]

I like the 378s that are on the London Overground. The lights at the front look great and they're really light and roomy inside (mainly because they don't have many seats!)

 

[MK Tom]

I think that either the 376s or 395s look the nicest.

376s? Wow... to me they look so odd without the corridors, but I am used to the look of 375/377/379. It's like a face without a nose... I'd have preferred them with a turbostar style cab.

I think the 180s are very visually striking but in terms of recent designs the Javelin probably does come tops for me. If we're counting all 'modern' as in post-dieselisation traction though then it's the class 50.

 

[Thumper Bill]

376s? Wow... to me they look so odd without the corridors, but I am used to the look of 375/377/379. It's like a face without a nose... I'd have preferred them with a turbostar style cab.

I think the 180s are very visually striking but in terms of recent designs the Javelin probably does come tops for me. If we're counting all 'modern' as in post-dieselisation traction though then it's the class 50.

I like the look of 379s it is a shame there are not more of them. On you tube there is a really funny clip of a 379 being chatted up by a complete dunderhead on the west anglia line.

 

[Trainfan344]

Class 390, 395 and a 158

 

[Tracked]

DMU: 180
EMU: 309
Diesel: 37, 52
Electric: 87

 

[JamesHorrell]

For Me
EMU: 333
DMU: 108
Electric loco: 90
Diesel loco: 6
Old diesel loco: has to be a 25 & 37

 

[ATW Alex 101]

This looks really neat:

ONLY in London Midland livery

As for others,
Class 180-Looks big and grand, the daddy of the lot
Class 170-Has a nice front and a good but simple design
HST-Designed really well and looks sleek

 

[gazthomas]

Its funny, you get a barrage of abuse for saying it (well actually we havent yet!!), but when the question is asked, the 47 is nearly always one of the top responses.

Phew, I thought I'd be a lone voice!

 

[172212]

Either the class 150/2 or 158, they're beautiful trains. Especially the arriva examples

 

[LE Greys]

I have found over the years that what we like and do not like often are dictated by how common or otherwise a certain type of loco is.

Many may remember when HST's dominated the scene.
I can remember comments on letters pages of various railway mags, bemoaning the "boring appearance" of them.

Now in there twilight many have a different view.

On that basis I have to say the Pendelinos are a very good looking train, but may not become fully appreciated until they become more scarce in the future.

The thing about HSTs, in original form at least, is that the front end is dominated by two big horizontal features, the windscreen and the headlights/horn grille combination. BR liveries played up to this, especially Executive and Swallow, which continued the red stripe right round the front. Most early privatisation liveries totally blew it by trying to sweep the warning panel up past the windscreen, leaving the result looking like apron straps and totally messing it up. GNER didn't, and the result was very stylish. Only by replacing the headlights did they get away with it.

The Railway Magazine ran an article this month on John Beresford-Evans. He was the chief draughtsman for BR's Design Research Unit, and as it turned out, he styled the Westerns and AL1s (leading to all the other early a.c. electrics) so we have a lot to thank him for. 47s, Hymeks and Falcon came from Ted Wilkes and Peter Ashmore. It seems BR liked to use car stylists back then.

 

[bronzeonion]

To add to my DMU list, the London Midland 172's have to come in to this thread!

 

[Robinson]

If we're talking just about looking at them from the outside, my votes would be:

DMU: 175/180.
EMU: 333.
Loco: 91.

However, if you asked me which are the nicest to travel on, my answers would be somewhat different...

 

[D2022]

Diesel...class 60 or a 50
Electric...class 92
DMU...150 without the front corridor connection
EMU...Pendendildo
Steam...Always love a good Jinty but has to be 6201 Princess Lizzy

 

[60163]

Diesel Loco: Western, Deltic, 50

Electric Loco: 92

DMU: 180, 175

EMU: 390 (Just wish they sounded more interesting and not hollow when rolling into a station)

 

[Bevan Price]

How do you define modern ?
Post steam era, traction still in regular use, or traction built in the past 10 years ?

For "post steam era", Classes 55 and 90.
For "still in regular use", Classes 60 and 91.
For "built in past 10 years", for external appearance only, Classes 180 and 390. Class 70 somehow impressive, but hardly visually "beautiful".

 

[D6975]

For DMUs, the Trans-Pennine class 124 was the best of the first generation.
For locos, I always like the look of the Westerns and the Deltics - very different but both very imposing.

Second gen+ DMUS, I like the look of 180s too, very sleek, look fast even when stationary.

 

[D365]

I like the look of 379s it is a shame there are not more of them. On you tube there is a really funny clip of a 379 being chatted up by a complete dunderhead on the west anglia line.

365Lance we love you!

 

[TrainBoy98]

For Loco, I would have to say the 'Hymeks' (35s) for DMU its got to be the 180 or the 175 and for EMU 222, Oh and I did like the the APT-E.

(But again, this may not be what you class as 'Modern Traction')