I think the 66's, 67's & 70's are ugly with no character at all. The older diesels ie Deltics, Peak, & EE4's, CoBo's did & though may not have liked them replacing steam, they were more preferable to modern diesels.

I think all manners of steam and diesel have got character in their own separate ways. For example, even a 43 storming through Tilehurst under full braking.. they always smell like a burnt out clutch.. Pendo's, 66's, 165/166, 43's even Deltics have all got a different sound to them.

I like a good mix of the new and the old.. Although I'm not too much of a fan of electrics.. Steam power thumps, Diesel power roars... what does electric do? buzzes or squeaks!

Variety on the network is still there, you just got to find it these days, adaptability I believe it's known as. Without loco hauled stock, I go for infrastructure, disused railways, liveries etc...and you certainly need to travel to 'get' the variety these days!

Immingham,still good place for good diesel movements...

Mmmmmh!.......Well, being an avid "Steam" fan, whenever I feel the need to hear the roar of a diesel engine I go down the Bus Garage! :D
However, if you look in the right places you can find true inspiration in modern diesel or electric traction.
Ladies & Gents, I include 4 photographs which show the evolution of the railway which will end the need for short & medium haul jet flight.

Will this ever happen here in the UK?........

I agree with you. I still love our HST - even though it's old it's still a stylish design. And the ICE train which your photos show is very modern and sexy.

I reckon the main reason the 66 looks so awful is because when General Motors were asked to produce a twin cab design of their standard US loco for the UK the first requirement was...."build it as cheap as possible".

So they bolted a steel shed on top of a shortened chassis and modified the bogies to steer round our tight curves. Cheap and nasty.

I agree with Madcaravanner about a Deltic in full cry, one came from Barrow Hill through Langley Mill a few weeks ago I think she was going to the Severn Valley, the driver must have spotted the enthusiasts on the platform and opened her up, the sound was SUPERB!
It reminded me of my spotting days at Newark when we quite often saw the prototype.

As a non-railway man, I cannot understand why here in the UK we treat locomen so badly. The GWR didn't like to put full cabs on their steam engines in case the engine crew fell asleep! That mentality seems to rule to this day. Why spend £500,000 on a locomotive, then give the driver such poor driving conditions? No-one would buy a car which was draughty, let in water and vibrated as I believe "modern" locos do.
In 1961/2 I used to curse the newly introduced Deltics on the East Coast line, I lived in Tollerton North of York and the full throated howl could be heard at night from Thirsk down to York. The noise was always waking my baby girls.

Gent's all, please forgive me my "poke", at the non steam fraternity amongst our elite midst!........:)

I am most definately a "pro HS2", and in my opinion, a pro 21st century railway railway fan. One that WILL see the the end of the short haul jet!

My gripe, is that the 21st Century Ludites in mid home county leafy England wish to stay in their 17th century idol and to hell to anything north of Watford! The rest of Europe and the world however.... is moving on!

Oil availability and price of, is becoming a greater issue. One that we, the British have NOT yet addressed. Short haul jet flight will become an issue.

Europe however, over several decades now has built
thousands of miles of NEW HST track obviating the need of this short haul jet flight.

Yet we NEVER hear any of this argument when we discuss the "Heathrow" expansion debate. Why not?.....

Surely the HST would obviate the need for ALL shorthaul jets to Heathrow and therefore the "Expansion"?.......

Surely...It's a No brainer!.........

Are all our politicions all pillocks or corrupt?.....

"Flabbergasted" of the NW :)

To be honest right now I am in agreement

In France when they are planning a new TGV people WANT it to stop at their town/city and complain if it DOES NOT because THEY WANT EASY TRAVEL without travelling miles to an airport

WE in the UK are being ruled by the NIMBY generation of short sighted grumblers

and on top of all this we have the politicians who are only out to line their own pockets




going to stop now before I start saying bad words