Which British Railways / British Rail diesel locomotive...........?

Question

.................design is, in your opinion, the best and why?

Answer 1

Class 20's and Class 37's, both English Electric (accept no substitue), and both classes still going strong and doiong work they were designed to do.

I drive 37's nearly every week at work, and they always do it for me!

Also a Class 43 HST Power Car with a Paxman Velenta engine. Fantastic. You can't beat the feeling of the loco rocking to the left through the power of the engine when you open one up. Then, sit back and watch the world fly by.

Answer 2

The old Cromptons and the Deltics in the good old BR livery of the 1970s I have worked with both locos as well as EDs

Answer 3

i reckon the 'westerns' looked the part,followed by the 'hymeks',but remember seeing 'deltic' it self @ newark,along time ago,in blue and white stripes,fantastic.

Answer 4

not a clue? I like steam loco;s my self.

Answer 5

the Battle Class  they seem to have a beauty of their own

Answer 6

For me the class 45 with D100 (Sherwood Forester)being my all time fav

Answer 7

I would say the best design would be the class 47/57 loco's..they still work everyday on the UK network.

Not bad for locos built in 1960's..and such a good design they've outlasted all the other BR designs.  

But my favorite class would be probably a class 24...ah the memories of sitting on platform 12 at (the old) Manchester Victoria listening to the hunts bank banker Idling in the center roads waiting to push the next tank train to  Miles platting!

Answer 8

The class 43 high speed train because it was for a long time the fastest diesel train in the world and they are still going strong. They are magnificent when you watch them, especially with a Paxman Valenta engine as it leaves different stations.

Check out these two videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWnPil_-i...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHBNDxuxS...

Answer 9

The Western Region's Hymec diesel is the best looking, but it did not last as the transmission was hydraulic - non-standard with the rest of the (LMS influenced) British railways locomotives.

Answer 10

The Deltic.  The only diesel really worthy of succeeding the long line of express steam locomotives used on the East Coast Main Line.

Answer 11

In my opinion it has to be the Deltic.

Why ?...Because the Deltic Diesel engine ,which was actually designed for use in boats, is a fantastic piece of engineering, and it also makes the best noise !!

Answer 12

Without doubt the Deltics. That magnificant sound as they approached or whilst stationary in a station was awesome. And their power. Far, far ahead of their time.

Answer 13

First generation DMU's! Very nice. And I love the diesel engines with the big noses - can't remember what class they were though offhand.

Answer 14

You're all MAD!

I drove only electric trains, but did secondman for 3 yrs on diesels. (SR)

Class 33 crompton was my fave, cos you could get comfy on them during a night turn!

Class 47 had no comfort for the 2nd man, class 73 ED was ok, and had a 'quiet end', and could go on 'juice'!

DEMU's were a laugh too!

If you've worked out where I was in 1985-1988 good luck to ya!

CLASS 33 WINS FOR ME!

Answer 15

Has to be the Deltics for looks and sound, the Class 52s were pretty good looking too.