I think a classic is a matter or personal taste to be honest. Like the example of the HST's still in service on the network. Many people I know think these are classics as they are the last proper train still in service rather than these awful voyagers etc. A lot of ex br steam men can't stand the black 5's as they were as common as muck in there era.
Take for example the rover sd1 I love them but my grandfather who worked for rover in that era thinks they are awful cars.
Numbers etc have nothing to do with it. I had a a 1992 BMW 750 before I got my second omega a few days ago and many people think they are a classic and others think its an old banger.
The main thing is that we all love our cars otherwise we wouldn't be here. I think the rarer versions of the omega will be classics like the rare 8v select etc
Sorry but I must point out some facts on that statement.
I don't know where you have got that information from, but it is widely recognised in steam circles that Stanier's Black Five's were a highly praised engine. Among numerous statements made over the years by ex-LMS / BRM footplate crew, two of which I met, the likes of Eric Tracy, there is specifically ex-Midland Driver J.R.Carter, who states in his book
Working Steam (1976) that Black 5's were "the firm favourite of locomen". In addition Brain Haresnape, in his book
Stanier Locomotives (1970) states they were "one of the most successful and popular classes of locomotive ever constructed", which echoes not only the feelings of the old steam sheds allocated that class, but the feelings of the modern preservation movement who have close on 20 either rebuilt or awaiting restoration of the 842 originally constructed. Believe me they were always loved and still are, being a
true classic of British railway engineering.
