Your top ten diesel & electric classes

What it says on the tin: can you round down the incredibly diverse array of diesel and electric classes into just ten favourites?

Mine:

1. Class 40 -- just pipping the Class 37 to the post, the 40, while long gone by the time my interest began, had an indelible effect on me when I first encountered one at the ELR. Something about the 'whistle' just grabbed me.
2. Class 37 -- I remember the 37s in their twilight years at the forefront of BR's Railfreight Sector. While I prefer the Blue era, I do have a fondness for these beasts in grey, given it's how I encountered them. Oh, and -- giving an indication of how poor we were! -- seeing one in InterCity was a real treat; I felt like I'd encountered some prestigious entity from the Big Railway, that, of course, I'd never be allowed to travel on. My grandad always used to call them 'Danny Diesels'.
   
3. Class 20 -- admittedly, I never used to like 20s. I found them quite ugly and uninteresting. And then I grew up and stopped talking and thinking rubbish. 20s are awesome. They probably sound that bit more interesting than a 40, to be honest; they're 'throatier'.
4. Class 43/HST -- the 'Trams' probably don't interest many in the heritage community -- or didn't until lately -- but, given I was born in 1992, the HST was it for me. I still regard them as Britain's best ever train.
5. Class 24/25 -- hard to separate them, both with such a distinctive sound. Easily my favourite of the 'Rats'. Both classes were characterful little locomotives; D5054 is one of my favourite railway vehicles of all time.
6. Class 08 -- the stalwarts of the shunting scene to this day, nothing beats an 08 for flexibility.
7. Class 68 -- a new addition to the fold, and I've been bitten by the Cats. It's so good to see loco-hauled trains on Trans-Pennine services, and they sound awesome, too.
8. Class 86/87 -- I have a real penchant for the WCML, so...
9. Class 55 -- need I say more?
   
10. Class 91 -- again, like the HST, this was the premiere express train of its day for me.

 

I can't fault that list.

 

What to drop for a 52?

 

1. Peaks, magnificent machines
2. 33's, Gutsy little engines
3. 25's
4. 03's & 08's - part of the scenery
5. 37's
6. HST's - British Engineering at its best

 

In no particular order.....

• 40
• 37
• 55
• 24
• 25
• 45/46
• 47
• 33
• 08

All seen "from new" except the 08's which seemed to have always been there. At the time a big shiny green diesel was so very impressive to young eyes. All the above were common in our area (Yorkshire) except the 33's. I Have included these because the highlight of many a spotting trip to Doncaster was a pair of 33's on the Cliffe-Uddingston cement train.
If the list was longer I would include the early electrics, classes 81-85, again very impressive in their shiny blue. Although not running in our area we saw quite a few being built at Doncaster, mainly through climbing fences/lampposts and peering through the "Plant" windows!

 

Whoops, didnt read the title properly

73';s
Hampshire units

 

My list :

1. Class 45 - having driven one at +100 mph on the main line (under supervision)

2. Class 26 - a much overlooked design that transformed ScR workings

3. Class 55 - unique in every way

4. Class 35 - the ultimate Maybach IMHO

5. Class 33 - the SR's go-anywhere loco

6. Class 73 - same reason as above

7. 10000 - the original main line loco

8. Class 31 - a much maligned loco that gave sterling service

9. Class 87 - the ultimate example of the KISS principle

10. HST trainset - a unique contributor to railway service

 

I'm not a big diesel enthusiast, but here are my 10 favourite diesel loco classes. 1. Class 55, 2. Class 37, 3. Class 40, 4. Class 20, 5. Class 25, 6. Class 24, 7. Class 26, 8. Class 27, 9. Class 35, 10. Class 43.

 

1. Deltic
2. Deltic
3. Deltic
4. Deltic
5. Deltic
6. Deltic
7. Deltic
8. Deltic
9. Deltic
10. Deltic

 

My memories of Steam are very patchy apart from a school trip to Bournemouth, hauled by a standard 5 , and a school trip to Ryde and seeing thanks to an enthusiast teacher Calbourne at Ryde St Johns and Chale most likily days before cutting started, from the platform but by the time I was actively train spotting, I had missed the last year, so much, if not all had gone, so my favourite memories were Warships, on the Exeter trains, 33 on Inter regional trains, or on one Saturday Guildford to Reading turn , which had a 33 and 3 mk 1's, Westerns, Warships, Hymeks on my often ( not allowed by parents) trips to Reading, and sometimes onward to Paddington, living at Woking, we got a hymek on an freight from the west country to Woking yard, one night, often it was a 47 , but occasionally, something interesting came down, 73;s and 33-1 on Tc sets, either to Bournmouth ,or Salisbury ,37's replaced the hymeks or 47's but then came the 50's on the Exeter road,
So my favourite classes must be 33, 73,, warships, Westerns, Hymeks, 74's but most I saw seemed to burst into flames!!

 

Class 40,47,24/5,37, Hymek, Western, Deltic, Woodhead electric EM1, units, Class 504, Metro cammell 101,Cravens 105

 

1. Class 66 - Nothing before, or since, has come close to the reliability, versatility and value for money that these locos provide.
2. Class 55 - The unique sound of a Deltic on full chat seems to be something of a marmite experience, but I'm in the "love it" camp.
3. Class 86 - I could equally have chosen an 87 here, but the 86s are far better looking IMHO.

From this point on, I struggle to decide on any particular order and several other classes would be in with a shout:
4. Class 33 - Definitely punch above their size / weight.
5. Class 20 - The ultimate MGR loco accompanied by a unique and pleasing sound whether idling or powering.
6. Class 88 - Just for the novelty value of being able to see a loco trundle around the Cumbrian Coast sounding like a washing machine and the next day see the same loco flying up the WCML in electric mode on an intermodal.
7. Class 25 - Great little locos. Just a shame I didn't get to see much of them on the mainline.
8. Class 56 - Poor locos in most ways that count, but when you get one giving it the beans they make a sound that's hard to beat.
9. Class 60 - Still the best diesel heavy haulers and I'm rather partial to their muffled boom.
10. Class 92 - Temperamental beasts, but they can't half shift a heavy load.

Locos that definitely don't make the list:
1. Class 37 - Most overrated diesel class. Yes, they're loud, but they make an awful noise. Much more bass required!
2. Class "Swindon Hydraulic" - dreadful dated looking locos that sound like a bag of spanners.

 

@Spamcan81 dont you mean a 'Top 22'

 

Only if there's a couple of 'Baby Deltics' added....

 

Class 40
Class 20
Deltic
Western
Warship (including DB V200)
Hymek (& DB V160.002)
CP 1400
CD 749/751 (749121 is my favourite loco of any kind, closely followed by 751001)
DB103
SBB Re4/4ii

 

Western,
Hymek,
Deltic.
....that’s about it really, although the prototype HS4000 Kestrel looked quite interesting.

 

In no particular order...
HST - longevity and unbeatable still the comfiest coaches I've ever sat on.
Deltic - just the noise of twin Napiers...
Hoover - Distinctive sound - loved hearing them thrash up the hill to Exeter Central on the Mule.
Crompton - my first diesel model - Lima 33056 Burma Star - spotted the day after I opened it at Waterloo!
Peak - Loved seeing them fly through St. Albans as a kid.
Grid - turbo scream thrashing through Reading on loaded ARC/Foster Yeoman stone trains pre Class 59.
APT - for me was just ahead of its time (and was easy to draw!!!) - the ultimate what might of been.
Chopper - Arguably underpowered as singles but a pair on a loaded MGR - oh yes.
Growler - Double Headed Freightliner through Colchester about 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.
Duff - much maligned but like Black 5's went everywhere did everything.

honorable mentions for the Westerns and Whistlers.

 

Westerns
Warships (42/3)
Hymek
22
50
47
37
08
45/6
60

 

1st 40 Overworked EE engine giving awesome spectacle.
37 Best, consistent EE thrash, still hanging on but ends on 5/2020. Really good anywhere, even preserved
45/46 Lots of Sulzer thrash 46 theFirst class seen the rundown . Nowadays trundle on branchlines, no one manages to afford to run one on the big railway where they belong
55 First train ride was Yk-KX, locely Deltic noise hard to beat, but really needs mainline action
76 Saw the banking spectacle of 4 locos on an MGR, very near the end as a kid. Gresleys last stand?
13 A happy day watching them in action, and appreciating Tinsley Yard, just before their demise.
73 Lots of rides, epic on electric, good for preserved line EE thrash. Second life with Maybach type unit on the bedz
25 Best preserved line mini thrash- most locos are simply too big for little branchlines
86 Superb consistent AC running, still about today just.
10th 33 Some great recent railtours, and been on the DRS nuke trains, nearer to me