Ugliest Modern Traction

[bronzeonion]

Well if we are talking International you can count practically all trains over in mainland Europe!

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Like this:

This:

This:

I seemed to have jumped the gun a bit by including international. Here are a few more British trains (Or at least on the British network)

Despite the ugly train, it's not a bad pic actually.

Credit to respective owners

 

[bronzeonion]

The prototype Deltic and the 101 look great!
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Dortmund.jpg/800px-ICE3-Einfahrt-Dortmund.jpg

I mean things like this, It's just huge slug!!!!

 

[90019]

This:

I always liked the DD-AR, and personally think they look quite good (though not as good as the VIRM).

 

[starrymarkb]

The prototype Deltic and the 101 look great!
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Dortmund.jpg/800px-ICE3-Einfahrt-Dortmund.jpg

I mean things like this, It's just huge slug!!!!

I really like the ICE3 - the redesign for the ICE 3NG is hideous though
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Like this:

Thanks for that. I saw it from an ICE at Delitzsch but had no idea what it was. It was apparently a concept train of the future that never went into production and is now stored

 

[lordhinton]

surprised noone has said this yet! xD

 

[Eagle]

Naw, that's cute! Look at its little face...

 

[172212]

surprised noone has said this yet! xD

I did actually mention that. Inside's pretty good, but outside is just the opposite

 

[Oswyntail]

I suppose it counts as modern, so I can say I believe "Tornado" is a specimen of one of the uglier classes of loco - non-tapering boilers just look so clumsy.

 

[sprinterguy]

Well if we are talking International you can count practically all trains over in mainland Europe!

I don't think that that is true at all. I think that the Siemens Velaro EMUs, Siemens Taurus locos (and corresponding Alstom Viaggio Comfort coaching stock rakes used with these locos on OBB Railjet duties) and Bombardier Talent DMUs are all exceptionally good looking trains to name only a few off the top of my head. I think that those three are far more attractive than the designs performing an equivalent job in the UK in the majority of cases.
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I always liked the DD-AR, and personally think they look quite good

Agreed. The cab ends remind me of a class 50 for some reason.
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The prototype Deltic and the 101 look great!
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Dortmund.jpg/800px-ICE3-Einfahrt-Dortmund.jpg

I mean things like this, It's just huge slug!!!!

I agree with the first half of your post regarding the prototype Deltic and the 101 (In fact, I would not consider any of those four British examples that ATWAlex101 has listed as ugly - Although the class 89 is certainly "distinctive"!), but with regards to the second half, I personally think that the ICE3, or Siemens Velaro, is one of the best looking Intercity trains in the world. Very sleek.
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Naw, that's cute! Look at its little face...

Precisely! It's quirky! Although it does remind me somewhat of the Fiat Multipla design of cars from fifteen or so years ago, which I absolutely detested, but it seems to work for the class 139.
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I suppose it counts as modern, so I can say I believe "Tornado" is a specimen of one of the uglier classes of loco - non-tapering boilers just look so clumsy.

I would agree with you in some instances, but I think that the parallel boilers that were fitted to the LNERs' A1 and A2 classes makes them look powerful.

My personal nominations for ugliest modern traction would be for the class 70 in the loco stakes, 175s for DMUs and Alstom Junipers of both classes 334 and 458 for EMUs.

 

[Eagle]

Precisely! It's quirky! Although it does remind me somewhat of the Fiat Multipla design of cars from fifteen or so years ago, which I absolutely detested, but it seems to work for the class 139.

The Multipla to me looks almost exactly like two frogs in amplexus.

Also congrats on your post ×5 combo :P

 

[fgwrich]

I don't think that that is true at all. I think that the Siemens Velaro EMUs, Siemens Taurus locos (and corresponding Alstom Viaggio Comfort coaching stock rakes used with these locos on OBB Railjet duties) and Bombardier Talent DMUs are all exceptionally good looking trains to name only a few off the top of my head. I think that those three are far more attractive than the designs performing an equivalent job in the UK in the majority of cases..

I wish we could have some of those Viaggio coaches with a Taurus set up over here ( - The Viaggio coaches are produced by Siemens by the way http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mob...x#Viaggio Comfort – premium passenger coaches). Have to admit, i also quite like the designs of alot of European rolling stock too. The IE 22000s are fantastic, and designed in Leamington Spa, quite also like the modern design of the Alstom Prima II & Stadler Flirt units for example. Again, like you, i also think that many of those across Europe are far more attractive than the designs performing an equivalent job in the UK in the majority of cases.

But, i will stick up for the Alstom Coradia units - i do like those (although i'll agree with the Hippo nickname dubbed on the 175s, and that the 458s really were bland). However, the equivalent Bombardier products - 170 - Bland boring uninspiring design, Electrostar family - same as the 170. 172s, again, not very inspiring / progressive, looks rather ugly with the scallop shaped light surrounds. Voyagers - Not going to go into detail here about them, but they've never impressed me, if anything i'll agree that the more raked 222 / Meridian front does look slightly better.

 

[370001]

Would also like to add Southern's refurbished 455s (the ones with air conditioning). Hideous!

I agree completely.

I assume by Southern 455s you mean the 455/8s with the gangway doors plated off. The SWT 455/8s dont have the gangway connections covered, but are still ugly! The 455/7 and 455/9 have different cab designs - they are more rounded and pleasing to the eye.

Also agree the 458s have been beaten with the ugly stick, but i actually like the 460s (i'm running for cover!!)

 

[ATW Alex 101]

I agree with the first half of your post regarding the prototype Deltic and the 101 (In fact, I would not consider any of those four British examples that ATWAlex101 has listed as ugly - Although the class 89 is certainly "distinctive"!)

No doubt they are good trains, they're ugly!

 

[aspierail]

Class 458 is the ugliest by a country mile.

 

[D365]

The Multipla to me looks almost exactly like two frogs in amplexus.

Haha, one of my friends has the brutal 1st generation in silver! The PPM60 isn't too bad though

 

[junglejames]

This thread ought to have a poll. My vote has to go for the Class 70, which is the third-ugliest class ever to run in Britain (first and second were the Q1s and Franco-Crosti 9Fs). Near that comes the 456s, with the same slab-front look as the 321s and loads of obscure pipework with the 458s close to them. I'm no big fan of 66s or 92s either. Some other classes have this odd, quirky appeal, in particular the 60s and 317-type, which are so ugly they're beautiful.

66s aren't easy to improve, although Owen Hodgson gave it a good try. http://www.fictitiousliveries.co.uk/photo.php?66001_EWS.jpg

A 92 ugly? Noooo. They have an SFE. Not possible to be ugly! As for a 60 being ugly? Disgraceful attitude to have lol.

Regarding the fictitious 66. I never thought it would be possible to make the 66 look good. However one look at that fictitious 66, and ive just turned into a fan of the 66.

 

[Philip]

On a side note, whilst 175s aren't the best looking units, the term 'hippos' doesn't refer to the shape - it's an acronym made up in their North Western days brought on by their poor reliability and teething troubles suffered in the early days.

'Hopelessly impossible plastic pieces of scrap' or along those lines.

Class 142 for ugliest.

 

[ex-railwayman]

What is the ugliest modern traction in your opinion?

ALL OF 'EM. :roll:


Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

 

[sprinterguy]

ALL OF 'EM. :roll:

Do you feel that it has been all down hill since before BRs' design panel even stepped in to try and "tart up" BRs' pioneering new "boxes on wheels" that the modernisation plan brought in?

 

[43067]

surprised no one has put this abomination up.

http://www.traintesting.com/class_442.htm

used to travel to and from pompey to waterloo, comfy as hell but my god they're ugly.

 

[sprinterguy]

surprised no one has put this abomination up.

http://www.traintesting.com/class_442.htm

used to travel to and from pompey to waterloo, comfy as hell but my god they're ugly.

I think that they look fantastic! It'd be boring if we all held the same opinions...

 

[BestWestern]

surprised no one has put this abomination up.

http://www.traintesting.com/class_442.htm

used to travel to and from pompey to waterloo, comfy as hell but my god they're ugly.

Methinks you require some railway glasses, 442s are among the best looking units around! Though their current livery is clearly awful.
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Regarding the fictitious 66. I never thought it would be possible to make the 66 look good. However one look at that fictitious 66, and I've just turned into a fan of the 66.

I have to say I still think it looks ugly. The Americanism is the ridiculous oversized bogies and exposed fuel tanks, so you'd need to extend the bodysides downwards in order to make it look more 'British'; our trains have class and don't flash their bits everywhere!

 

[ex-railwayman]

Do you feel that it has been all down hill since before BRs' design panel even stepped in to try and "tart up" BRs' pioneering new "boxes on wheels" that the modernisation plan brought in?

I think it all started with the Class 58's, involving American designers into the mix on the BR Design Panel when they've been running boxes on wheels in the US for over a quarter of a century intimated what was about to appear over here........and they did.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman

 

[BestWestern]

I think it all started with the Class 58's, involving American designers into the mix on the BR Design Panel when they've been running boxes on wheels in the US for over a quarter of a century intimated what was about to appear over here........and they did.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman

Wasn't the 58 specifically intended to capture export orders, and hence had the 'bone' design as BR thought overseas buyers wanted side walkways?

 

[Temple Meads]

Wasn't the 58 specifically intended to capture export orders, and hence had the 'bone' design as BR thought overseas buyers wanted side walkways?

Yes, that was indeed their thinking, unfortunately it didn't work with regard to export orders

 

[BestWestern]

Yes, that was indeed their thinking, unfortunately it didn't work with regard to export orders

Never does! :cry:

Though they ended up being really rather popular on the continent! (Can't remember whether they were in France or Spain or both!)

 

[sprinterguy]

Never does! :cry:

Though they ended up being really rather popular on the continent! (Can't remember whether they were in France or Spain or both!)

Both France and Spain, and there are also still a number operating in Holland.

 

[8J]

I think that the 507's/508's pre refurb were very ugly, especially with their white doors.

However, I really like the current design and they are one of my favorite modern emu designs

 

[OuterDistant]

I thought the "bone" shape was a side effect of the 58's modular design?