European Railroad Discussion > Only a mother could love 'em

I have to be honst I really don't care for the class 70s, but beggars can't be choosers and the weather is just too good at the moment to let this opportunity go begging. So here's 70815 on the 6Z51 logs from Baglan Bay to the Kronospan factory at Chirk in North Wales, and a shot of one of the log carriers which have been converted from German built Cargowaggon vans (box cars).

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My favourite UK diesel, Nick! I love 'em! Nice shots in great light; we're getting spoiled at the moment!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/21 13:42 by exhaustED.

Really nice, Nick. . . and I have to agree with you on the aesthetics of the GE's.

Gordon

gbmott Wrote:
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> Really nice, Nick. . . and I have to agree with
> you on the aesthetics of the GE's.
>
> Gordon

AMEN!
ALLEN

They aren't nicknamed 'Ugly Bettys' for nothing... ;)

Posted from Android

Hexagon789 Wrote:
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> They aren't nicknamed 'Ugly Bettys' for nothing...
> ;)
>
> Posted from Android

Fugly is another nickname I've heard 😄

A more flattering paint job might help--a little. Blecchh!
 

I'm afraid you're all wrong, they look (and sound) great. ;-)

Far more interesting than a 'dull as dish water' 66....

I wonder if the Cheeks are there to meet more stringent crash standards?

SOO6617 Wrote:
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> I wonder if the Cheeks are there to meet more
> stringent crash standards?

Yes, that's exactly what they're for.

exhaustED Wrote:
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> SOO6617 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wonder if the Cheeks are there to meet more
> > stringent crash standards?
>
> Yes, that's exactly what they're for.

But it would have been perfectly possible to incorporate them into a much more pleasing overall design, that's the real issue - these things weren't "designed" they were made. Both Siemens and Stadler seem perfectly capable of a modern harmonious loco design which meets all modern crash standards, the Vectron and Stadler's proposed class 93 for example, without the lumps and bumps, and with eye pleasing proportions.

Beauty is in the eye!

86235 Wrote:
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> Hexagon789 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They aren't nicknamed 'Ugly Bettys' for
> nothing...
> > ;)
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Fugly is another nickname I've heard 😄

There's a few - none of them especially complementary!

SOO6617 Wrote:
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> I wonder if the Cheeks are there to meet more
> stringent crash standards?

I think there are 'anti-climbers' behind the casing.

Posted from Android

exhaustED Wrote:
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> Beauty is in the eye!

To a certain extent, but take the GG1 for example, the original was functional but the attention of Raymond Loewy turned it into a timeless classic. I couldn't care less how things sound but I do care how they look.

86235 Wrote:
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> exhaustED Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Beauty is in the eye!
>
> To a certain extent, but take the GG1 for example,
> the original was functional but the attention of
> Raymond Loewy turned it into a timeless classic. I
> couldn't care less how things sound but I do care
> how they look.

Which just goes to show how different we all are - I don't like the look of the GG1s at all, weird design... and the sound of a big lump of diesel muscle in run 8, I adore!

exhaustED Wrote:
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> I'm afraid you're all wrong, they look (and sound)
> great. ;-)
>
> Far more interesting than a 'dull as dish water'
> 66....

Correct! And without that GM ying ying whine that drives me nuts.....

Posted from iPhone

86235 Wrote:
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> But it would have been perfectly possible to
> incorporate them into a much more pleasing overall
> design, that's the real issue - these things
> weren't "designed" they were made. Both Siemens
> and Stadler seem perfectly capable of a modern
> harmonious loco design which meets all modern
> crash standards, the Vectron and Stadler's
> proposed class 93 for example, without the lumps
> and bumps, and with eye pleasing proportions.

The Class 70 is what you get when you design a locomotive to meet a price point, It was the same with the Class 59 and Class 66.