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.
Disclaimers
Names / logos can be trademarks of their respective owners. Please review their website for details. I am independent from the organisations mentioned and am in no way writing for or endorsed by them. The information presented in this article is written according to my own understanding, there could be inaccuracies, so please do undertake your own research. The images and video (including featured) are my copyright, please don’t use without my permission.
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?
- Dynamic lines – 16th November 2025
- Qwerty – 16th October 2025
- Reactive? – 16th September 2025
