Favourite train class

[kidman123]

What would everyone's favourite class of train be past present and near future

Mines would be
Past class 101 always remember going on them when I was a young boy going to Edinburgh from Kirkcaldy.

Present class 390 even think there the sexiest train ever built for British railways.

Near future class 385 been on one and think there pretty good and quick

 

[Matt_pool]

Past: either a 37 hauling 4 x Mk1 carriages on a Liverpool to Cardiff service, or a 47 hauling 7 x Mk1 carriages on the Transpennine services (I'm sure it used to be 7 carriages).

Present: East midlands 158. They just seem to have loads of leg room and the seats are more comfortable than on other trains.

Future: Looking forward to the TPE class 68's hauling the new Mk 5 carriages, which should be some time this year.

 

[Ken H]

Past. Deltic + 8 on ECML. Or 37 + 4 on Cardiff - manc train (I joined at Crewe)

Present. Cl 350. Nice comfy train.

Future - look forward to the day when we get trains big enough so we are not crammed in like sardines. Not holding breath.

Worst. Cl 304. Used to catch the early morning Rugby - Manchester stopper which ran Trent Valley, Stafford then via Stoke. Well lively ride at speed. Must have been about 1986 before the trent valley went DMU with the reopening of Cov -Nuneaton

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Past: either a 37 hauling 4 x Mk1 carriages on a Liverpool to Cardiff service, or a 47 hauling 7 x Mk1 carriages on the Transpennine services (I'm sure it used to be 7 carriages).

Present: East midlands 158. They just seem to have loads of leg room and the seats are more comfortable than on other trains.

Future: Looking forward to the TPE class 68's hauling the new Mk 5 carriages, which should be some time this year.

Loco hauled Trans-Pennine services were +7, though usually this included a full brake on one end so only 6 for passengers.

For me it's 45s on TPE in the past, currently anything with declassified First (if the seats are actually different), and for the future I'm also on Team 68+mkVa.

 

[Steamie Boxes]

Past: 37s on the Cumbrian Coast
Present: Caledonian Sleeper
Future: TPE 68s and 397s

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Present class 390 even think there the sexiest train ever built for British railways.

They are the most incredible trains out there.

Past (almost) would be the 91. The Intercity 225 is amazing. Most locomotives are revolting in my opinion, the HST especially, but the IC225 is lit!

Present will always be a 390!!!!!

Future. I look forward to the the 397s!

 

[anamyd]

158s for nostalgia (been on two today, yay)

But I like 170s and 350s for their... character...?

 

[387star]

Past: either a 37 hauling 4 x Mk1 carriages on a Liverpool to Cardiff service, or a 47 hauling 7 x Mk1 carriages on the Transpennine services (I'm sure it used to be 7 carriages).

Present: East midlands 158. They just seem to have loads of leg room and the seats are more comfortable than on other trains.

Future: Looking forward to the TPE class 68's hauling the new Mk 5 carriages, which should be some time this year.

When did grammars stop being used? About ten years ago? Would they still be compliant?

 

[MargaretNoodle]

The class 222 for me!

I know probably not many people are a fan of the 22x design, but I think their exterior looks great and the interior for me has always had a nice ambience. Their performance is also impressive.

In terms of future stock the class 397 and the TPE Mk 5s look promising.

 

[Robert Mann]

For me the Class 390 is my favourite train on the UK rail network at the moment. I find them sleek and stylish looking, comfortable on the inside and I love the feel of the trains tilting at speed, it really adds an extra element to my enjoyment of travelling.

Class 221s, while not as good as the Pendolinos, are also up there too.

 

[Doomotron]

Class 395, 171 or Connex Electrostars.

 

[Master29]

HST`s as express trains but I always loved the Liverpool Street to Chingford 305`s as I grew up with them. I`ve loved watching them again on youtube lately.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Current: 185.

Future: Mark 5A & 68

 

[JohnMcL7]

Past - Class 37
Present - Class 68
Future - Not sure, curious to see how some of the new locomotives turn out

 

[Silverlink]

Class 319/321 could listen to the traction motors all day!!

 

[delt1c]

Past would have to split
27 + 6 on WHML with steam heat and Restaurant Car
Deltic (55.013) on Southbound Flying Scotsman

Present
317 on WA, they are pure work horses

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

For me, it's the HST and Class 80x.

HST because of the nose-cone effect of the Class 43 power cars - Birmingham New Street is my favourite station to experience this!

The HST and Birmingham New Street are the train and first big station of my childhood - this was from Oxford on route to Blackpool North.

A tiny bit off topic but the 80x I think is the best HST replacement - way better than the Voyagers were!

I'm not entirely sure what my favourite DMU is - I'll say that in February last year, I was disappointed that the 14:49 from Birmingham New Street to Worcester Foregate Street on Monday 26th was a Class 170 instead of a Class 150. Personally, the 150 has a more epic performance than the 170, plus the 150's up to 75mph are fast that's for sure!

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I meant to say the MTU diesel engines on the IET's are just brilliant - quietest diesel engines too in my opinion!

 

[PeterC]

My present day journeys are too random to make a choice between classes.

Past:
HST
Blue Pullmans
Class 309

I am sure that there was a thread on this topic in the not too distant past

 

[scosutsut]

320 for me. Happy childhood memories of the Strathclyde Electrics. They will always feel modern to me.

I have an hatred of 170s with their collapsed seating and constant engine drone. That has been compounded by a long history of suffering them being rostered on completely inappropriate services.

 

[Ken H]

Class 319/321 could listen to the traction motors all day!!

I like the tunes the traction kit make on the 323's!

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

I like the class 444s and 450s for nostalgia, and I love the sound of then they accelerate and decelerate!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Past: 2Hap, sprung EPB seats, unrefurb 4Cep, Mk1 loco hauled behind a 33 or 47, valenta HST

Present: no favourites...

 

[sprinterguy]

Past: Class 37s, as they announce their presence with a noise that is wholly disproportionate to their comparatively small engine output.

Class 56s and 87s hold joint second place just behind them; Despite being based on the class 47 body shell something about the plethora of marker and headlights gives class 56s a brutally aggressive appearance from the front, with a sound to match, while the class 87s are pleasingly well proportioned machines that carried a set of historic and stirring names.

Present: HSTs, and I have a nostalgic affection for class 156s. A couple of months ago I could have cheated a bit and claimed the Cumbrian Coast class 37s (The comparable ongoing operations in Norfolk are too remote from me to be relevant). Chiltern's loco hauled mark 3 sets are a close second/third.

Future: I can't wait to have a go on Transpennine's new class 68 hauled mark 5 rakes.

 

[Higginsafcb]

Past: 33/1 with 4tc or a 4Rep 2*4tc combo
Current: Highland sleeper with 92 or 73.
Future: Quite fancying the D-stock up the Conwy Valley

 

[gimmea50anyday]

<---------- Errrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmm.........


XD

 

[iain789]

Has to be the original (unrefurbished) 303 and 311s. A revelation back in the 60s, after they got their electrics sorted out, brilliant front end design, comfortable sprung 3+2 bench seats, and a panoramic view forward. What's not to like? The refurbishment ruined them.

 

[swt class 450]

My favourites types of trains are probably the Desiro 185/350/360/380/450 trains (although i am not a fan of the 444 as much) and Desiro City 700/707/717 trains closely followed by the Turbostar 168/170/171/172 trains closely followed by the Electrostar 357/375/376/377/378/379/387 trains. These are all examples of good comfortable pleasent trains to travel on. I do also really like the 323/365/465/466 trains as well. They all have a good motor sound as well.

My number one favourite train would be the 700 stock. It seems to get lots of criticism which is down to the ironing board seats. But other than that it is an amazing train. It is so spacious and pleasant to travel on. Very wide aisles and doors as well. If they installed better seating then this could be a much more popular train. I would happily travel long distances all over the UK on. The spacious interior makes it very pleasant.

I do quite like the Pacer 142/143/144 as well. They get a lot of criticism but i have never minded travelling on them. There are a lot worse trains out there.

My least favourite type is the 390 closely followed by the 221 closely followed by the 220 closely followed by the 222 trains. All of these are horrible trains to travel on. I find them to be poorly designed and uncomfortable.

I also don't like the 385/800/801/802 either. Very poorly built trains. I don't know what fool decided to order trains from the company and factory that was previously the disastrous Ansaldo Breda (the company that has completely messed up every single train they have built).

I am not a fan of the 153/155/156/158/159 either. They are all rather cramped and are not a very suitable design for the work that they do. The 150 are a lot better though. I quite like travelling on the 150 trains. And finally i am not really a fan of HSTs or MK3s or MK4s or any locomotive hauled stock either.

My ideal train is any train that has wide double doors at 1/3 and 2/3 positions and has a nice spacious interior. So the 700 or any of the Desiro or Desiro City or Turbostar or Electrostar stock is perfect.

So those are my favourite (and least favourite) types of trains.

 

[AJM580]

Past - Class 55 Deltic
Present - Class 68

Both the above sound fantastic on a full load, and have that certain presence.

Future - looking forward to the new Stadler bi-modes for Greater Anglia

 

[djpontrack]

Past: class 27's leaving Glasgow Queen st, especially top and tail 27's on Edinburgh services.
Valenta HST's, I dispatched them for a few years.
Present: class 68's on Chiltern services.
I quite like 319's too, I had one from Manchester to Preston via Bolton yesterday for the first time.
Future. class 68's on TPE services.
class 230 and class 769.