RailRoadFan.com

Decided to bounce-off of amessmann's post and do one but with our favorites

I'll start with my top 3:

1. EMD SD80MAC

Unfortunately word has it all of them have been scrapped, but they are and always will be #1, simply because of two things, the design and prime mover.

The 80's were sortof designed like the Boeing 777 with one word in mind, simple. Not many sharp edges, no fancy, futuristic cabs, just a simple design, but waaaaay longer, and a pretty cool looking tail end though.

My second favorite part is the prime mover, if I wasn't a railfan, was told an SD80 had 5,000 horsepower and shown a picture, I wouldn't believe it. However, hearing them in person makes you think otherwise. Correct me if I'm wrong, But I think the SD80MAC was the only locomotive that was successful with 5,000 or more horsepower (when I mean successful, I mean not blowing crankshafts into smithereens or stuff like that ). They also sounded really cool in high idle.


2. GE P40DC/P42DC

These are (in my opinion) the best looking passenger engines ever made, they are very sharp looking, they sound INCREDIBLE when running in HEP mode and have worn and created some pretty badass liveries.

They have become the stereotypical locomotive for Amtrak trains and it'll be sad when the last P42 is retired from the Amtrak roster. However other railroads have taken some and have plans to use them for awhile, such as CTRail.

3. EMD/MPI SD40-3 (Sorry AARR )

I like this engine, unlike the SD80's where I like a clean design. I like these, CSX took a...I'm going to get a lot of crap for this...boring looking engine (SD40-2) and made it look like the entire locomotive model type was designed in the 2010's. It's just such a sharp looking engine, and word has it CSX may be *possibly* starting the program again.

I also like the way their ditchlights flash and the micro-precision K5LA's they've got, Don't know why


I'd love to hear what everyone else's are.

1. B39-8E
2. B40-8
3. B40-8W

GP and SD 38's any model/version. If I owned a short line railroad with the right kind of traffic it would be my locomotive of choice. They are good pullers, easy to maintain and very reliable. Everyone likes them including the engineers and maintenance technicians. GP7's/9's and 18's would be my second choice.

F/FP45 family
PA/FA family
RS family
K-36

We can still be friends

David Collins wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 26, 2022 3:36 pm

3. EMD/MPI SD40-3 (Sorry AARR )

I liked those NS high-hood SD40-2:


Also the C40-9's


Sorry JT, but those were some of the first locos I shot, and like that style.

#1 GE U25B
#2 BLW AS-616
#3 EMD GP30

You and I are the only two guys that know about these engines

GR H & C wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:27 pm

#2 BLW AS-616

1. Es44ac
2. Es44dc
3. et44ah

My one number favorite is EMD's.....SD40.

EMD FP45
ATSF FP45 #92 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

EMD SD50 (and the identical SD60)
CSXT SD50-2 #8608 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

EMD SD80MAC
Big MAC by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

While those are my top three, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the SD40 and the GP38.

CSXT SD40-2 #8145 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Blues by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

I am also a big fan of the F-45 series and the economy sized F-40.

Standard Railfan wrote: ↑

Mon May 02, 2022 8:04 am

I am also a big fan of the F-45 series and the economy sized F-40.

2nd roughest ride I can remember was in an FP45 (ATSF LAD 1st district). The roughest, without exception, was in an E60 - lateral movement tantamount to a frightening amusement park ride. The 45's seemed very bouncy, even on welded rail and good track. Nice roomy cabs though, and good looking, especially in warbonnet paint.

Man o' War

I'll bite.

D&RGW C25
D&RGW K27
GMD GP9 ex Cartier units
EMD SD9
ALCO RSD-15, only with low short hood.

EMD SD45 with 20-cylinder prime movers. Seeing them disappear as a kid only to see them re-appear when the new W&LE had a few on the roster.

EMD's GP15T is pretty slick - that or GP38-2s with the anti-climber

For shunting: GP38-2
For road freight: ES44AC/AH

From a engineer standpoint, GMD SD40-2s are hard to beat, they ride great, pull great and respond great. I ran a ex MP GP35M for a few months that thing was a close second for favorites. It still had the original wiring system in it. You could really make that thing dance.

I also enjoyed the CEFX AC4400s at the LS&I, those things were great for what we did, plug loading at the pocket was a breeze, slow speed was good for the scales, and they loaded pretty well for our railroad.

If we are going for favorite locomotives we’ve run, I really liked the SD70MAC. They pulled well, always seemed to have good dynamics and had a decent ride. I also like SD40-2s, ES44s and SD70ACes (isolated cab ones, that is).

For me, I have an EMD obsession and its hard to choose but with no shadow of a doubt:
No.1 SD80MAC - The sheer size and hp rating of these EMD monsters were amazing to watch on the NS Pittsburgh Division and Keystone Secondary. The look of the cab and the curved angle of the nose were gorgeous but that amazing CR Quality logo/livery just added to it.

No.2 GP30 - The main reason I love these locomotives, design. Being designed by the GM automotive department, though rated at 2300 hp, still look so cool.

No.3 SD60M Triclops - The cab design and low nose headlight look awesome plus I fell in love when Buffalo & Pittsburgh leased 6 from PRLX, still in their original BN Cascade Green.

No.4 SD35 - Personally, I think the larger, 6-axle version of the GP35, is a cool looking locomotive. The liveries it was delivered in and the fact its basically an SD40 on a smaller frame made its design interesting.
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Honorable mentions:
MP15/SW1500
GE D8-40B
NYC 4-8-4 Niagara