Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
Aesthetics are very much a matter of personal views and liking - difficult to discuss, as what might be appealing to you , may not be appealing to me. Discussing design principles puts the discussion on a more objective level. When we take a look at steam locomotive designs of the heydays of steam, we see quite a big difference between various countries and cultures. Looking at Britain, locomotives always had a very "clean " look to them - hardly any external piping, pumps or anything a steamer needs. They usually also sported an elaborate paint job, topped with multi-color lining and brass accessories, like exhaust stack rims, brass dome covers etc. Operating a steam loco is no clean business and it must have been a heck of an effort to keep them in this clean-shaven look. <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/GWR_'Hall'_5972_'Olton_Hall'_at_Doncaster_Works.JPG/800px-GWR_'Hall'_5972_'Olton_Hall'_at_Doncaster_Works.JPG" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" /> Even narrow gauge locos sported that look: <img src="http://www.trainnet.org/Libraries/Lib014/FRME01.GIF" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" /> French steam locomotives had a more utilitarian look to them, but still had a certain "elegance" in their design: <img src="http://rfe.railclub.ru/pix/fr/steam/231_K/231_K_22/SNCF_231_K_22__CALAIS__LA_FRANCE_auf_Drehscheibe_im_SEH_Heilbronn_19_6_10_07.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" /> Though being more "Germanic" by culture, the Swiss followed French design principles - basically utilitarian, but with a touch of elegance: <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/SBB_Historic_A_3-5_705.jpg/800px-SBB_Historic_A_3-5_705.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" /> The US, in my humble view, as well as Germany, followed a strict utilitarian approach to steam locomotive design, exceptions limited to those top name trains and their motive power: <img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hm5M5cVjCXg/T2jtpwgft9I/AAAAAAAALGc/kKXKBpFdJM0/s1600/PRR+Class+K4+4-6-2+5406,+5367+NY&LB+S.+Amboy+NJ+1956.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" /> <img src="http://www.marklinfan.net/Loco5/38-1182-tuebingen-01111998--349683.jpg" style="max-width: 550px;" border="0" />
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag