Skip to main content

Closed129 replies

The 5 Best Looking Diesels of All Time

Hogmaster 1Hogmaster 1OGR Forum Member
Today's diesel locomotives all look pretty much the same. The same goes for the rolling stock as well. This got me to thinking what are in my opinion, the five all-time aesthetically best looking diesel locomotives ever produced. My 5 favorites are as follows:

1. EMD SD40-2: With it's extended porches, it aesthetically appears to be both graceful and brutally powerful at the same time. The proportions are visually perfect on it.

2. Alco FA2: While I really like the PA's, the FA's have an all business, no B.S. appearance. When compared to their direct counterpart, the EMD F series locomotives, they look like a linebacker compared to a long distance runner.

3. Fairbanks Morse H16-44: This was the first locomotive that I bought. I like it because it looks like a brick with a purpose.

4. Baldwin RF16 "Sharknose": Just the front end alone puts it in my top five. The way that the sides angle up to the roof line and the drooping front windows are just an added bonus.

5. Alco RS Series: Classic locomotive with its 3/4 mounted cab and window shapes that look like they were inspired by a cathedral. Alco really paid attention to appearances.

Honorable Mentions: EMD GP-30 and F-3, Baldwin VO-1000, Fairbanks Morse C-Liner, and Alco RS11.

So what are your top 5 diesels and why?

Andy J.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

J JC642OGR Forum Member

>>"Attractive diesel" is something of an oxymoron in my view, but I would say the F3 was about as aesthetically pleasing as a diesel can get, followed by Alco PAs.  Today's diesel-electrics look like little more than boxes on wheels.<<

 

Have to agree with the F units but the SD70's and ES44's in some of those recent colors & graphics are simply stunning.

Joe 

 
prrhorseshoecurveprrhorseshoecurveOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

1. EMD SD40-2: With it's extended porches, it aesthetically appears to be both graceful and brutally powerful at the same time. The proportions are visually perfect on it.

2. Alco PA-1: While I really like the FA's, the PA's have it aesthetically and appears to be both graceful and brutally powerful at the same time. The proportions are visually perfect on it.. When compared to their direct counterpart, the EMD E series locomotives, they look like a linebacker compared to a long distance runner.

3. ALCo C636:  I like it because it looks like a mean muscle machine with a purpose. The bumpy protrusions in the carbody make it look like a brute!

4. Baldwin BP20 "Sharknose": Just the front end alone puts it in my top five. The way that the sides angle up to the roof line and the drooping front windows are just an added bonus.

5. Alco C430 Series: Its angle mounted cab window shapes that look like they were inspired by early aerodynamics. that Hi Adhesion trucks look like it has a lot of power!


6. GE c39-8 the NEw locomotive of my teenage years! It's round classic GE cab contrasting with the angular carbody of the future made it look like "Darth Vader" IT's hi tech components ushered in a new wave of Technical diesels for the 1990's to today!

LW Lee WillisOGR Forum Member

I agree with Allan: the F3 - it's hard to beat something that was actually styled when it comes to, well, style. Again, Allan put it very well - the F3 is about as aesthetically pleasing as a diesel can be.  EMD cranked out gobs of F and E series locos and they never fiddled with the basic cab design that much, because they recognized it was just about perfect.  And particularly in SF Warbonnett, whether you love that scheme or not, the F3 is just iconic - the diesel locomotive for entire generations of folks.

FlashFlashOGR Forum Member
My favorites 1. ATSF SD75I Warbonnet 2. GE B40-8. I've always liked huge radiator shed over the rear and short nose in the front. The 4 axle configuration with 1000 HP per axle make it look fast. 3. The early BN SD60M with the three piece windshield. 4. ALCO PA-1 5. EMD SD60 white and blue lease units. The ugly. 1. Any GP30. What's with that roof line? Looks like the lumpy head of an ogre. 2. Any ALCO RS and Century series. 3. The SF30C semi Warbonnet. The ATSF really screwed up that paint scheme. 4. EMD F40 and FP45. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing these on the front of the Super C. But they are ugly.
bluelinec4bluelinec4OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

1- Alco FA-2  Always one of my favorites for much of the same reasons listed above.         Its Ray Nitzke as compared to Travis Williams

 

2- Alco Century Series  Any of them really but the C636 was the most beefy looking locomotive around at the time.  You look at the C636 and it looks like - VICTORY.  You look at the C415 and it looks like - A Turtle

 

3- Alco DL-109 - Although my favorite railroads never had these babies they are the Black swan of railroading

 

4- GE 44 tonner - Everybody had them  Have to love em

 

5- Alco HH770 -  Funny looking enough to like it

 

5A- Baldwin Baby face units of the CNJ

FM Former Member

The F3 hands down is the clear winner. They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but based upon the all-time sales of O-Gauge diesels, the Fs have to be way out in front. The Trainmaster has to be right up there as well. Then who doesn't like the PAs. I also like the SD90s as well.

A AhitpyOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

#1 E3 In MOPAC Eagle colors and the CORRECT porthole windows

#2 Any road name paint on a GP7/GP9: utilitarian meets classic engineering design

#3 Alco PA/FA/FPA  the nose that could

#3 SW 7/9 again, utilitarian meets classic engineering design

#4 You will all hate me, but the BL-2 just doesn't get any respect!

Michael HokkanenMichael HokkanenOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Hogmaster 1:


EMD SD40-2: With it's extended porches, it aesthetically appears to be both graceful and brutally powerful at the same time. The proportions are visually perfect on it.

Alco RS Series: Classic locomotive with its 3/4 mounted cab and window shapes that look like they were inspired by a cathedral. Alco really paid attention to appearances.

I would agree that these are among the top 2. With diesels more than steam it is how they are decorated that helps. I like a dark body, bright tiger stripes in front, and that rotating beacon that some RR's use. Unlike their steam counterparts a RS-3 for example, can look great in a wide variety of paint schemes.

fisch330fisch330OGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

For me the FM Erie-Builts get the 1st prize for looks.  Didn't say anything about how good they were, and these units had their share of problems.  Number 2 would have to be the PA's, but again, they shared a bunch of problems with FM because of the difficulty in servicing.  I also put the FM Trainmasters, the H-24-66, as #3, simply because of their rugged and powerful look.

 

No.4 would be the early EMD model, probably the E-3 or E-6 with their slant nose.  Regardless of looks, the EMD idea of putting two prime movers into one passenger locomotive was a winner and is singularly the reason that EMD is still around and Alco, FM and Baldwin are not.  And I've always been fascinated by the Alco DL109 series.  Not really attractive by modern standards but in the days they were built, that was modern "art-deco" styling by Otto Kuhler.  Put that down as #5 for me.

 

Paul Fischer

D500D500OGR Forum Member
I'm no GM or EMD fan, but a high-short hood SD7 or SD9 without dynamic brakes
(no breakup of the lines) in a simple paint scheme looks far more sleek and power-
ful than any cab-type (F and E) GM diesel.

Alco DL-105, often confused with the DL-109, was just breathtaking in shape (Otto
Kuhler design). The DL-105 had a lower and more Art Deco headlight than the 109.

The GM&O had 3 DL's: 2 105's and one 109.

But I'll take a NYC J3a Hudson - plain or fancy - over all of them.
AGHRMattAGHRMattOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

My Top 4:

  • EMD E/F Units.
  • Alco PA/FA Units.
  • Fairbanks-Morse "Erie Builts"
  • Baldwin Sharks (the only Baldwin diesel that didn't get beaten with an ugly stick.)

My "Face only/maybe a mother could love" list:

  • Baldwin AS 616. It was so ugly that when it was born, they slapped the parents.
  • Baldwin VO-1000. I guess they had all those drop tanks left over from WW2 and made headlight shrouds out of them.
  • Fairbanks-Morse Trainmaster.
  • Fairbanks-Morse H10-44.
  • CNW E8B "Crandall Cab." Like the idea; like the use of otherwise surplus B units; but it's ugly. That said, I'm still planning to build one.
  • EMD BL2. If it a hood unit or a cab unit? Indecisive design; weird lines.
  • EMD Aero Train. A prime example of why cars and trains should not be allowed to inter-breed indiscriminately. All that said, I'm still thinking about getting one.
Next
Views: 15,614
Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership

OGR Forum Supporting Membership

Help support this forum with an OGR Forum Supporting Membership.
You will be able to watch the videos in the INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO FORUM!
A one-year OGR Forum Supporting Membership is only $12 per year, so sign up now!


    OR     


Access the ALL the OGR VIDEO FORUMS AND  over 300 back issues of OGR
with a DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION!



$12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×