Skip to main content

EMD F and E units (I like the Alco's, but in my opinion the EMD bulldog nose beats an alco nose any day) because of their sleek style

 

EMD high hood GP7's or GP9's- they had a tough look to them

 

Conrail SD80MAC- just an all around cool engine.   Powerful, one of the few modern engines I like when it comes to looks and yeah.

1) Any of the EMD E-Series on just about any road (E-6/7/8), although I am particularly partial to the PRR Tuscan, B&O and the CB&Q silver.

2) F-3 (Warbonnet, PRR Green, CB&Q)

3) F-7 (Warbonnet, PRR Green, CB&Q)

4) EMD SD70ACE in MOPAC Heritage 1984 has to be right up there for me (NS black to a lesser extent)

*5) Just about any of the UP Turbines (there was diesel in there somewhere , wasn't there?)  I like them all but the 'Veranda' model works the best for me...

6) Did I mentioned the EMD E series?

 

Honorable mentioned to the ES44AC in good old fashioned UP Yellow with the big American flag (NS horse head,  again to a lesser extent).  That locomotive just screams 'U-S-A !!!' to me.  I'm also digging the new NS Southern Heritage that was just recently painted, and am eager to see the rest.

Originally Posted by Dave Allen:

Anything else comes second.

I would agree w/ you, Allan, and would therefore add these as secondary favorites of mine, though I can't make any reasonable explanation for why I like the Susquehanna switcher so much...

the one up front

Susquehanna

 

Oh, And I think these are good looking, too - aesthetically pleasing as can be. To me

IMG_2057x

IMG_2310x

Attachments

Images (4)
  • the one up front
  • Susquehanna
  • IMG_2310x
  • IMG_2057x
Last edited by Moonson

1 Alco pa's hands down

2 alco c-628 the Lv had em in black and white enough said.

3 Fm trainmaster it just screamed power!

4sd-45 especially running long hood forward.

5 alco rsd-15 what a snout on those things. i still want to paint one for LV.

i'm finding this hard to believe but the sd70 aces are really growing on me.

Dave

Originally Posted by Moonson:
Originally Posted by Dave Allen:

Anything else comes second.

I would agree w/ you, Allan, and would therefore add these as secondary favorites of mine, though I can't make any reasonable explanation for why I like the Susquehanna switcher so much...

the one up front

Susquehanna

 

Oh, And I think these are good looking, too - aesthetically pleasing as can be. To me

IMG_2057x

IMG_2310x

Frank, we have very similar tastes. I have the same Royal Blue J class and B&O E7's, although yours are E6's? in your second pic.

cheers

Dave

My favorite is the GP40P, 13 examples of which were built by EMD for CNJ commuter service in 1968. The units were subsequently conveyed to Conrail and eventually to NJ Transit.

 

Utilizing a frame elongated to accomodate appurtenances required for passenger service, they were closer in  length to the SD40 than the standard GP40. The GP40P was equipped with dual controls and frequently operated long hood forward. The image of that flat front bearing down on you at 70 mile an hour stayed with you for awhile.

 

 http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/njdot/njt4112crc.jpg

 

The GP40P was a most worthy successor to CNJ's legendary Train Masters.

 

Bob

Choosing from my roster, they would be:

 

#5:  ALCO S-2  Marked with the Western Maryland yellow stripes.  Great little switcher, even if the smoke just wafts out instead of being fan driven.

 

#4:  SD35/GP38-2  The former in WM red, white & black, the latter in Md. Midland blue and orange.  They look great and sound great.

 

#3:  AC4400CW  Just a brute of a machine.  In CSX livery.  Pulls anything I put behind it.  Love to hear it start up.

 

#2:  F3/F7  What can I say?  Everybody should have a set.  B & O blue & yellow.  It's just a railroad icon that represents the age of the diesel.

 

#1:  FM TRAINMASTER  Even though recently purchased, it's not my number one only because it's new to my railroad.  It's black, PRR marked, and is massive, even in O scale.  Have never seen one in person, but I would think if you saw that coming toward you and felt it going past you, it would take your breath away.  What an impressive machine.  MTH did a great job on the sound file for it, too.

 

 

Mike

My five favorites are:

!.  F-3 best looking all around diesel ever

2. E-7 a true classic

3. GP-7 or 9  killer diesels, set the gold standard for all others

4. RS-1,2, and 3's looked great coming and going  

5. PA-1 great looking, but could not beat an EMD, nobody ever will, the GM designers were the best

1. EMD F-3 Pennsy in DGLE with a single stripe....gorgeous! (and of course, Santa Fe!)

2. Alco RS-3 ...the windshield...the lines....the style!

3. Baldwin RF-16 Sharknose designed by the Greatest, Raymond Lowey

4. Fairbanks-Morse Erie Builts ....style plus

5. Erie 44 tonners....short in stature but big on looks....everyone had one, at least!

 

I really find most diesels to be appealing....very few are ugly to me.  Tom in Pittsburgh

Originally Posted by Mike Norberg:
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:

"Best looking 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.

I totally agree with Allen Miller that trying to decide which of today's crop of diesels is the better looking is like saying which one is the least ugly!   

 

I'd say that after the early hood units, the FP-45 and Genesis are the only US diesels I can think of that don't fit the ugly category. 

 

In my opinion, the European Traxx and Taurus are the most aesthetically pleasing designs going today.  

I think all you guys are correct in your choices but I think it also has to do with the colors and decoration in addition to the diesel type.  The right colors can make an engine look great, but other colors just make it look plain.  They are like automobiles in that way.  My favorite one is my F3 ABBA Erie Lackawanna in Grey, Tuscan and Yellow decoration.  The colors just set off the F3's shape.  Everyone that sees it in person loves it.

Post

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

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×