Dynamic lines
On the 3rd of April 2006 I was on holiday in Dawlish, Devon, England. I’m a bit of a rail-fan and caught sight of a Class 43 heading towards me. Putting my camera between the railings, between the two bars, I took a short video of it:
The camera, a Canon IXUS 500 was good for the time, but could only record in ten frames per second for thirty seconds.
The train was unexpectedly short and I was surprised by the livery. This turned out to be ‘Dynamic Lines’ and it grabbed my attention.
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Later, like much later
On the 26th October 2025, I came across more images of that very train on a HST enthusiast Facebook group and found out more about that event. It was the 1Z30 09:12 Paddington-Penzance with the power cars of 43004 and 43009, with the carriages 44049, 40752 and 41003. A memory was sparked and a thought occurred in my mind, one of recognition from the crowd. Since that sighting I’d taken other images of that livery but never saw those power cars again, which transpired that there was only another power car with the lines on it. The ‘lines’ in terms of HST sets being only on the carriages.
Eye catching
To me the livery is eye catching. It evokes an emotion, a sense of travel from the source to the destination. The beginning from any starting point to an end to any conclusion with a defined traversal in the middle, a trip. The pure essence and purpose of a train journey. Yet the straight lines are long compared to the oscillating ends, representing to me your stability as you perhaps gaze out of the window at the hustle and bustle beyond.
Symbolic branding
The livery image evokes recognition in your mind, it is a thought all of its own rather than words to be translated. This to me is what brands are about, they draw you to the product or service being portrayed. They help you to organise your view of the world though distinct separation. You get attached to the collection you curate that then becomes your choices in life for what you require to complete your tasks.
Pragmatically I’ve not travelled on trains over this time period as much as I would have liked, but that’s down to so many different reasons. Yet this brand is in my mind as a positive thing and I wonder if it will sub-consciously affect my decision making processes in the future.
Thoughts
What are the brands in your life? Have they made a positive impact? Do they help you to solve problems and make decisions far faster than if they weren’t there? Without them would there be more chaos?
- Gource – 16th December 2025
- Dynamic lines – 16th November 2025
- Qwerty – 16th October 2025
Great photos !
Last train journey for me was Adelaide to Melbourne – 12 hour epic but spotted lots of Kangaroo’s 🙂
Although I enjoy driving, I also really like trains, because you can enjoy the view, walk around, and have conversations with complete strangers.
These days, I feels like Apple are the brand that has the biggest effect on my life. I’;m always conflicted about this – so much I love about Apple, but also so much that really annoys me.
Thanks Stuart.
I like driving too, but these days it can be quite stressful and need to have a working memory map of where all of the pot holes are! There is something just so civilised about rail travel, possibly because it is more established than motorised road travel. There is also more freedom to socialise with more people. And with any luck there is a ‘buffet car’ to make the train an almost home from home, to satisfy another of the basic human needs in life.
The Adelaide to Melbourne sounds awesome! Australia has so much scope for amazing long distant journeys, for which one day perhaps I’d like to travel on the Ghan from south to north or vice versa.
With Apple and other brands, it feels like there is an emotional attachment that is bound to the memory of what it was when you first encountered their products. It’s like with people and first impressions that last. That later on when things change that there is almost disbelief and internal unwillingness to accept what has changed. But with all things and feedback, change can happen again for the better.