From the 1920s until the late 1950s, train designs around the world were incredibly impressive. Those imposing locomotives make today’s dull trains pale by comparison.
Then and now.
From the 1920s until the late 1950s, train designs around the world were incredibly impressive. Those imposing locomotives make today’s dull trains pale by comparison.
Then and now.
beetleypete 
They definitely had a wonderful and unique design. Nowadays one of another are only duplicates, like tubes on wheels. xx Michael
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Exactly that, Michael.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The Burlington Zepher trains were quite the thing in their time. I had a model train version of them as a kid. I wish I knew what happened to it.
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My electric train set had a ‘Flying Scotsman’ locomotive, which was famous in the UK. Thanks for letting me know you had a Burlington, Doug.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A3_4472_Flying_Scotsman
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, I saw a toy version on Antiques Roadshow and drooled!
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Wow … who knew? Yes, by comparison, today’s trains are … ho hum … boring!
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They really are, Jill.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I should go out and take photos of train grave yards. Warmest regards, Ed
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That would be good to see, Ed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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These are relics of a bygone era when riding the rails was safe, fashionable, fun. There are no such guarantees today in this age of jam as many passengers into a space as possible at the highest price that be extracted from them and provide as little imitation personal service as can be gotten away with. I always booked a family-sized personal sleeping suite when I traveled by train –back in the 50s through the 60s –before I started private jetting —I loved to go to sleep at night to the click-clack of the train wheels on the rails — although some of the streamliners were so smooth, you could not really hear the old clickety-clack as well ….and the food in the domed dining car, all decked out with table linens, silver ware, crystal glasses from which to drink — being served by uniformed porters …delicious food that would compete with chef-prepared casino far today— I loved the old trains and I miss them a lot.
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A byegone era indeed, John. I have had some experience of sleeper trains in foreign countries, and there was always something exciting about sleeping on a train in the dark.
Best wishes, Pete.
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And also exciting was the gracious way in which the train crews always treated their guests and passengers.
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Well, at least we have bullet trains here and there around the world. Did you know that high speed rail is coming to Las Vegas? The project gets underway this year!
https://www.brightlinewest.com/
I do like the old futuristic designs you’ve shared with us.
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The Brightline train might be great news for Vegas, but it still looks ‘normal’, like the Inter-City trains in the UK. Glad you liked the old trains, I think they look so much better than modern ones.
Best wishes, Pete. .
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Wow! I love, love trains. They don’t make ’em like these beauties anymore.
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I wish they would go back to these designs, it would make me want to ride on trains again.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Me, too!
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Great pics. I can understand why people became train spotters. I remember seeing some engines that used to cross the Rockies, back when. They were huge!
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I wasn’t a train spotter as such, but enjoyed seeing (and travelling in) steam trains as a child. I mostly like these for the design and style.
Best wishes, Pete.
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They’re fun! Mostly USA I think?
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Yes, though some are European, and the dark red one is English.
Best wishes, Pete.
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These are great pictures, Pete. I enjoy old trains and cars.
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Me too, Robbie. I wish they would bring back those old designs again.
Best wishes, Pete.
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🌈
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These are great! I like the first photo in particular.
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Glad you liked them, Liz.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yikes!!
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Some very imposing designs indeed, GP.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wow, I’ve never seen any trains like these!
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I saw some similar big steam trains when I was a small child, but I like the very retro-design ones the best.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’ve only seen one steam train up close, and that’s when we visit Havenstreet Steam Railway on the IOW.
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They are pretty wild! I saw the red streamlined one in the National Railway Museum only a couple of weeks ago! It’s a place I love to visit, although I have to rely on my family for transport now. It’s great, free, and the coffee’s decent! 😀 Cheers, Jon.
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That museum in York looks great. I wanted to go there once, but the girl I was with thought she would be bored. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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You really should try to go, Pete: it’s a great day out — you could even catch the train direct to York, and the museum is virtually next door, easy walking distance. You need to book in advance, but you can do it online, and as I said, it’s free. Kids love it as well! 😀
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Some absolutely fascinating designs….one looks like Lenin’s armored train…..chuq
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Yes, the Soviet ones do look fearsome. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yank tanks on rails, designed to withstand the red indians bow & arrows I reckon.
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Many of these are European, Gavin. And the dark red one is British. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am by no means a ‘train spotter’ and would sometimes struggle to identify which end is which on a train … but there’s something innately sexy about trains, isn’t there? 😉 🙂
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I have no idea what trains they are, I just love those retro designs, CT.
Best wishes, Pete.
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these are really cool and I love traveling by train. in the states, we don’t have a great rail system but it seems to be getting better
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The trains in the UK are really boring, and they all look identical. There is an extensive network here, but tickets can be very expensive. It is sometimes cheaper to fly from one place to another, which seems crazy.
Best wishes, Pete.
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wow, that really does seem off kilter
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Love these futuristic and stylish trains, Pete! My husband is train mad so I’ll be sharing with him and see how many he knows! 😀
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Glad you liked them, Annika. There were many others to choose from. Tell your husband to look on Pinterest, if he hasn’t already done so. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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All very Art-Deco Pete but nowadays ther’s little style at all. I remember in the sixties I used to take a train (steam) from Stockport to Edale and travel in a compartment which opened directly onto the platform. No corridors, so no loo, but comfort all the way with views to die for and the pleasure of listening to the click-clack of the wheels for the whole journey. Hugs
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Yes, they abandoned style completely. Even the Eurostar looks boring. If they still had trains like these, i would travel on them more often.
Best wishes, Pete.
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