Electro stars are a bit of a simple design IMO (essentially it’sa coach with a little control area and flat front, screams cheap not style) but the 387 in red Gatwick livery is nice, I think it’s the red what helps a lot.
It has that kind of design principle, which I do like (especially on mk1 stock) but my problem with the Electrostars is they appear to be reaching beyond their bounds. The rectangle side windows are atrocious, the face is flat but not flat enough, too rounded edges losing form and there's something dull about that blocky chin faring. As a good example, on ECW, you got the 313 vs the 377, the 'PEP' ain't pretending to be all fancy with the job it's for unlike the flashy curvy Electrostar. Clunky, stable & rugged looking. Hell even the prototype rode that line of over doing it in the wrong way but they reigned it in & added that brow peak thankfully. I reckon over flamboyant style should be reserved for highspeed intercity, where you do get those luxury accommodations, not so much for commuter runs (with exceptions ofc). For that reason I'm 'meh' on Networkers, though I got that soft spot for the 325.
I'm honestly surprised only one person talked about the Class 70, based on how hated they seem to be and the fact one of the nicknames given to them is literally "Ugly Betty" I personally really like the Class 70, but even though I like them, I can somewhat see why people consider them ugly... One main reason I like them is because they remind me of some sort of modernised Class 58 (and I love the 58!) with the similar cabs and general shape. Another thing is how claggy and thrashy they are
Yea...I kinda have to agree..shame, it's my local freight train. But yea, they have a soft spot in my heart but they are still ugly.
Same here, it's a big headed weirdo but I got a soft spot for it, seemingly over the 66 at this point since there's so many about (I blame TSW for that as well), the 70s like a rare treat. Also it looks good in Freightliner motif.
My exact view on them, they look odd but I've come to really like that about them! Never seen any Freighliner 70s but the livery definitely suits them well. Yeah, I love the 66 but (not to offend anyone) I do think they're kind of overrated.. still wouldn't turn down seeing a 66 if one was up my way! Also, that's a really good picture, did you take it yourself?
They're one of my local freight trains too, up in North Wales we get a Colas 70 usually twice a week and (although it's stopped at the moment) a GBRf 66 every Monday. I think I like the 70s more for how unique they are, they look nothing like any other freight train you usually see, and it's nice to have something really different!
Don't recall I've ever seen one tbh, though they do operate up the North West, it's not my pic no. I mean there's over 400 66s vs 37 70s, so I would deffo call that overrated lol.
Please notice Shinkansen trains are high speed trains, so aerodynamic is very important for them. So I believe that is the result of the aerodynamic research they did. Then you see really strange shapes. I have the chance to visit Japan several years ago, and made 3 runs on the mainline there, between Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. That was on the 700 series. My favorite design of all of them - from the visual point of view- , is the JR 500! .
It's one of the prettier shinkansens. Most of the modern ones are ugly, like fore example; The 800 series. N700s-8000 series. E3 series. E5 & H5 series E8 series. And also this experimental ALFA-X. Aerodynamics aside, this is about aesthetics so hands down the 100 series is the best overall imho.
The 800 series is meant to be very nice inside. It's still hecking ugly - I don't think it was a success as only 11 were built before JR Kyushu switched to the N700 (and 1 has been written off in an Earthquake) The weird aerodynamics on Shinkansen are for noise reduction - they have to meet strict noise limits as the lines regularly run through urban areas at full speed. Eastern sets also need to incorporate a coupler as they regularly work in Multiple which is why the noses are a little awkward - Western sets are fixed formation and only ever run solo. E3s are not going to be around much longer - as the E8s start to come on line
I was just curious about your opinions about the appreance of shinkansen trains. They look weird indeed but personally I have never thought that they are ugly. E3 doesn’t look very special to me, actually it looks like an older generation pendolino train. JR East shinkansen trains have also beautiful color schemes. I like especially the color schemes of E3 and E8 sets. The coupler hatches combined to headlights make them look like some kind of ”alien snakes” for me, but I find it rather funny than ugly. Overall I would call these trains wow architecture of rails.
Hmm true, it's not so much ugly, more designed with a purpose, I'd apply that to the E5/H5 & N700, it's a different high performance animal, they can look really good at certain angles. The 800 is in the maybe pile, that first photo I found does it no favours. But that ain't bad at all. Same for the E3 actually, the 'Toreiyu' version looks pretty good. The E3-2000 with those skew headlamps? Blech! Cor I'm reneging all sorts here, going back to the angles thing; An ALFA-X next gen prototype looks sharp here. Though the other prototype looks a bit jarg with the rigid bumps, lamp placement & short head car. I will not yield on the E8 though, they are not attractive to me at all. lol
There's only one Alfa-X - the end cars are comparing two different designs - Given most photos are of the top nose end, the lower one isn't wining the beauty stakes And the E/H5 looks amazing in side profile - super sleek with the cab bubble. Kyushu don't do themselves favours by covering the train with more stickers than a typical Itasha
I've just been reminded of the Toei Subway 6500 series, curves are a thing that happens to other trains
