The class 89 Built in 1986 Speed limit: 110 service speed, was planned to have 125 speed limit. Would run as a test train on west coast mainline 1980s and a back dated east coast mainline Liverys: GNER, intercity Executive and Swallow intercity What makes this train unique? It’s one of prototype built to replace the classes 81, 82, 83 and 85 but the class 90 come along before that happened. In 1988 the class 89 joined the class 90, 91 and 150 to Hamburg for a International Traffic and Transport Exhibition, later returning in the summer On the 3rd of July 1988 The class 89 hauled the Mallard 50th anniversary special from London King’s Cross It got named Avocet in 1989 in recognition of the RSPB It was saved for preservation at the Midland railway centre by a small group of Brush traction Some of technology from the 89 is still used for the class 92 Service time: 1986 to 2004 (was taken out of service a few times during this period) The class 89 has just finished a full overhaul in 2025 and has done some test runs to Crewe and Stafford In general it would be great to have such a interesting locomotive that marked change from British rail to privatisation and the fact we nearly lost it multiple times over the years.
I'd love this in a GNER timetable for Peterborough Doncaster (assuming it was properly branded of course)
Fantastic loco, one of my favourites. It had just entered service when I started the BR youth training course at Kings Cross so I had an opportunity to have it as traction on a couple of occasions. I'd hope it would come as a bonus release with a Kings Cross to Peterborough route based in the Intercity/NSE era with HSTs, Class 91/Mk4, Class 313 and 317 (italics for the new traction with the base route). Not only a great route that would be okay for a modern timetable (I'll have to pretend the Emirates Stadium and the HS1 flyover are there) with IETs, 700s and 387s but would also mean another home for the Class 55 Deltic when it's inevitably released.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder obviously. It dared to be different while based loosely on the classic design of the venerable HST and was far better than so many totally bland designs of the 80s and 90s like Classes 60, 90, 92, the Pacers, 150, 153/155, 321-322, 323, 1983 tube stock and the dullest train on our network, the Tubro/Electrostar. What's your favourite train from an aesthetic point of view?
Explain how the 800s are nice looking when they are all copy and paste trains?, also they just look like a spear but on rails
The 800s aren't ugly trains, they're streamlined, they look modern but they do give off "Designed by a middle manager" vibes. They are very safe trains, which is a good thing. I could forgive the DfT designed exterior if the interiors were a huge step-up in passenger environment and comfort like the HST sets were when they were introduced. But aside from modernity and safety, the HSTs were far better to travel on even towards their twilight. While I hate to give credit to our rivals on the WCML and while the 390s look very bland they are far better than the IETs when it comes to their main purpose, having a comfortable long-distance, high speed passenger experience.
Well thank you for leaving us in no doubt as to the specifics of your issue with the Class 89 design. It was a thought-provoking response from the user who I won't name but, like me, they have a blue box as a profile picture but theirs has wheels.
Would love the 365 with its original front end, nice. The Networker is one of the few 90s trains that had a unique and memorable design. Only Privatisation stopped these appearing on more lines in the South East. Though the artist's impression is a design that would have dated very quickly. Interesting that Network South East had optimistically envisaged 125mph running on 3rd rail.
To narrow it down specifically the TPE and Hull Trains 802s, mostly for the liveries. They are what any other train once was: modern, sleek, the train of the future. Dislike them all you want, but they are exactly what the likes of the HST or Deltic once were.
Sleek pfff good one, sleek was the mallard/A4s, class 43 and class 91s the 800 family is what is ruining train spotting hence why I hate them so much, that and the fact the seats are terrible and I don’t think you can defend/ deny that
Whilst I don't really disagree from that aspect, if I go trainspotting I'd much rather see HSTs and a much higher amount of 91s, I get why old trains have to replaced
I did say mainly for the liveries. Can't comment on the seats as I haven't really been on them much (apart from a few times around three years ago on an LNER 801 for a few short journeys. Although they were comfy enough (coming from someone who is able to comfortably sleep curled up in a chair). I do agree that it's getting pretty annoying them being pretty much everywhere though. But it really is fact that they are the HSTs of today. Because don't forget, the HSTs were also seen everywhere, and I can guarantee that just like you hate the 800s, there were also those that hated the HSTs.
Oh yes, it's the circle of life. I found it difficult finding details on multiple units when researching BR traction in the 1960s because railfans were understandably busy documenting the demise of steam locos and branch lines that were being closed and found the new fangled trains to be of little interest. By the mid 60s things were improving but there was still a clear antipathy towards the new order. By the mid 70s the same could be said about HSTs v the 1st gen diesels. In the late 80s the notion of farewell tours for Mk3-derived EMUs would have been scoffed at. In 30 years enthusiasts will fill the platforms waving the last IETs off while moaning about how ubiquitous and bland their replacements are.
