The 5 Best Looking Electric Locomotives Ever Made

There is only one-------GG1

Matt I like your choices.  I'd put the EP-4 as 2nd right behind the GG1. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JFo04sZavo

 

Those howling wolves look pretty good to me. I've got a real nice looking Conrail E44, wearing the blue livery.

 

Electric North American locomotives from the past had/have an Industrial thing going on, re: their looks; and are much more appealing to me than the standard definition of good looks.

 

I have the other P5a type, the PRR box cab version; another nice looking box.

 

I've got a New Haven EP3 that did the porch thing long before EMD stretched their undersized SD40's, by adding a dance floor to the front and back.

 

Big, quirky and black, looking like two back-to-back old school locomotives with a fort in-between, my EP-2 Bi-Polar.

 

I don't have one, but I like the Joe's.

 

 

Rick

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-0icW_F4g

 

These unique EMD built gf6c's are pretty cool looking, too. At approx. the 12:45 mark of the video, a great scene is captured - CN5507, itself a fine looking specimen, sporting a Canadian cab, meets up with the BCR electrics.

 

 

Rick

I agree with Nick about the Little Joe, but I think the Hiawatha color scheme shows it off to better advantage. I like the sharply angled nose - gives it more of a streamlined Deco look. 

 

 

The maroon in this shot looks a bit brown because the photo was shot on an overcast day. This one is on display at Deer Lodge, Montana.

This may be heresy, but I've always considered the DB class 103 (Formerly the E03) electric to be a most beautiful electric locomotive. I especially like the early models in TEE colours with full skirting, but I couldn't find a good picture of one of those.

 

1 - NYC P2 boxcab - elegant and classy (and scrapped - big surprise)

2 - NH streamlined EP's - freight and passenger

3 - PC (okay, PRR) E44 Bricks

4 - Because they remind me of each other so much: CMStP&P Joes; VGN

     streamlined; GN streamlined (I forget the classes)

5 - and the PRR "Big Liz" 2-C-C-2 boxcab

 

Also-rans: NYC S-1/S-2/S-3 and the PRR L-5.

 

And the rest of them; electrics are cool.

Lionel's postwar version of the Great Northern EP-5, hand's down.

I nominate CNR 6710 which ran for 76 years, 8 months, 11 days, and ten hours after it first went into service.

 

 

Read more about it here:

http://raakone.hubpages.com/hu...e-Mount-Royal-Tunnel

 

Marek

Any GG1.  They stand tall,head and shoulders above all others even to this day I do believe. 

Norm Rish

I'll have to go with the GG1-- best American electric. Then There are the others: French TGV, and just about all of the various Shinkansen types.

#1 Solid stripe, dark green locomotive enamel, GG1.

#2 Solid stripe, tuscan red, GG1

#3 Class E44 in Pennsylvania colors

#4 P5a boxcab

#5 P5a modified

 

Sorry folks, but I grew up in Philadelphia!

Wow!  The CNR 6710 has the GG1 beat by about 25 years, although no direct fault of the GG1 since it was the electric supply that was changed at the catenary that forced them to retire.

 

They look kind of like the B1 Rats:

Believe, the initial reason for retiring the GG1's was due to cracked frame problems.

Someone will correct me if i am wrong

I have always been a sucker for this one:

 

The GG-1 is just an EP-3 with a fancy body and the insides rearranged to cook the crew. So I'd go with:

 

1. EP-3 'Flat Bottom' in dark green with the gold stripes and lettering.

2. EP-5 'Jet' in the pre-McGinnis pin-stripe scheme.

3. EL-C/EF-4 in VGN or NH paint schemes.

4. Class 373 'Eurostar' power car/loco

5. "Little Joe" EF-4

 

I like this guy..

Joe 

1-Little Joe

2-bipolar

3-Westinghouse quill

4-GE Box Cab

5-nothing qualifies 

Do you see a theme here?

Don

New Haven EP4/EF3 for sure, then the NYCS/CUT P1a, then the GG1, and then either the Lil' Joe or the GN W1.  Then plug in (sorry) the PRR E44, and the NYCS S1 and PRR P5a modified. 

It's a "no-brainer" LOL!

1. Lionel #38

2. Lionel #42

3. Lionel #8

4. Lionel #318

5. Lionel #9U

1. EP5 Jet 

2. GG1

3. EP4

I assume we are talking heavy mainline electrification beyond 600V DC..I don't care for going to five inasmuch as the rest don't seem to have much styling outside of what was dictated by their functionality or more brute appearance. There are lovable ugly ducklings and unremarkable "box cabs on a raft". Perhaps a Class D steeplecab would fit in there. My criteria is what denotes speed in their styling not uniqueness etc. Probably the craziest and ugliest thing I ever saw was an electrified "bobber" caboose used for switching...talk about low budget projects.. 

have to agree with don about

 

(a) the bi-polar.

(b) his theme.

My 2

Whilst I'm a huge fan of the GGI, I do love a good Crocodile as well.

One of my favorites..

Joe

 

This has not been done in O-Gauge. A Virginian EL2B

I'm kind of partial to this one. Boxy, but the graphics get your attention.

 

With electrics, for the most part, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

 

There's nothing better than these IMO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim

I'm sorry to be anything but my usual Pollyanna self here, but except for the TGV and similar modern 'superfast' locos, which look like rockets on rails, the terms "beautiful" and "electric locomotive" are mutually exclusive.  This is particuarly true when a catenary is involved.  Many electrics are just plain ugly, if quite interesting to look at and intriguingly novel of design, but I can't think of anything with a catenary cage on top (the locomotive equivalent of Alfred E Newman's ears) that is anywhere close to beautiful. 

To me, "Best Looking" means sleek, aerodynamic, fast, stylish, nice color scheme, graceful curves ... and kinda sexy.

 

No one has listed Great Northern's electrics! 

 

W-1

 

Y-1

 

Z-1

 

Stuart

There ya go, Joe!  You beat me to it!  

Nicole, by "full skirting", do you mean below the buffers, like this.... [ Taken in '73 ] 

 

I admit I especially liked the first four from '65, with the silver roof, single row of vents, trim band, etc. -- and no  computer number, either. This shot taken in '66, when two had single arm pans.  I really liked the original 120's in the TEE scheme, though.

 

The original E10's and E40's were somehow 'just right':

 

And one can't discuss good looking electrics without at least a few examples from Paul Arzens;  here's one

 

So many favs.......

 

Best rgds, SZ

 

PS  Amazing no Pennsy fans nominated the E2c's or their E3b siblings;  an "electric Shark" -- what's not to like ??!?

 

PPS  No need for photo credits;  I took all these.

I agree with Lee

My five:

 

1. Amtrak Acela

2. Amtrak HHP-8

3. Amtrak AEM7

4. ICE train

5. Amtrak GG1

Tsk - no mention of the first U.S. railroad to purchase 3 of the electrics originally destined for the Soviet Union?  From a website across the Atlantic:  http://www.ashmore1952.freeserve.co.uk/page9.html  let me add the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend's most handsome 800 series in classic Traction Orange and Maroon to the list (not Little Joe's to a South Shore man):

 

 

I agree MTN 100%.  That is what I model.  Yes and they are the 800 series.  Who doesn't know that?.....lol  

I think my user name says it all.

 

Siemens S-70 LRT Big Nose LRT railcars!

Hey, that's the Lionel prototype. The real world versions were exported to a Chilean mining railroad in the 1920's and the info on them is hard to find.

 

N&W A

N&W J

N&W Y6b

Pennsy GG-1

VGN EL

 

oops you said electric .... never mind, I'm sticking with my answers

Ohhh, it's only the GG-1, a five striper.

Milwaukee EP-1, bipolar and GG-1 are right there together.  The big Great Northern, maybe W class, is impressive but maybe too large to be really good looking.

Seriously..choosing the 5 best looking electric Loc..that's not possible..maybe per decade..not even...all the above mentionned are simply superb example of motive power. Adding just 3 to the equation.

 

For cuteness and longevity, the He 2/2 from the JB railways (1 meter gauge) in service since 1912.

 

100 years young

 

in service with the Ambassador

 

or in swow removal duties

 

 

For uniqueness and power, the Ae 8/14 11852..from 1939 to 1971 the world most powerfull locomotive with 12'000 HP (8800Kw)..a single beauty.

 

 

And the HGe 4/4i from the FO/BVZ..just because I like it a lot

 

 

I have to agree with MTN. These three South Shore beauties should be on the list. Bet you have never seen this photo before with all three motors together. Don

LaFondue:

 

MANY THANKS for those great photos! 

 

Also LOVE that Chilean prototype of the Lionel 520!!

ALL of the locos shown in this thread are "easy on the eyes".  

Lil Joe....3a Rodina !

 

reminds me of Toby, think thats his name, from shining time station.

Excellent!

1.  Lafondue, all three of your choices are Swiss -- probably just coincidence......

 

2.  Re the 'Shore's 800's:  I'm not sayin I don't like em -- I have an 11x14 of one in a trainroom -- but IF I had to choose, I'd pick a pair of 700's any day:

[ I really like the AP bearings;  taken in '75 ]

Of course, YCoELMV !

 

Best rgds, SZ

 

"How it got in my trainroom I'll never know" -- maybe that should read ".. I have in a trainroom an 11x14 of one"

I'm having flashsbacks of visits to my grandparents' house on Pierce St. in Gary, IN - their house was about 200 feet from the South Shore's mainline, and when the juice was activated and the wires started humming we'd make a beeline to the corner and watch the action.  

1. APT-P

2. Virgin Pendolino 

3. Acela

4. Eurostar

5. GG1

nope, but I do enjoy E-loc above any other..doesn't matter where they are from.

 

Here another few who could make the top...

 

Yes, another Swiss one, the GDe 4/4..only 6 built ..narrow gauge as well and only made for 2 French Swiss railroad (MOB and GFM)

 

Nothing say more Switzerland than Gold, Chocolate and Cows (maybe watches are missing..!!)

 

 

From the SNCF..they have a few dozens nice one as well...but either the BB 9200 from Le Capitole or the CC 6500 from Le Mistral are striking example of their ingenuity and advance in high speed train.

 

 

 

And lately, specially with the Taurus, Austria and eastern Euro countries offer some stunning scheme of that amazing engine

 

A GySEV Taurus

 

 An OBB Taurus

 

and the list could go on and on...

 

 

I love the OBB Taurus with the steam locomotive graphics. If MTH built that one, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. 

PRR GG-1

SBB (Swiss) Ce 6/8 "Crocodile"

A&SE RR Baldwin steeple cab

PRR E-44

VGN EL-C

 

All other electrics (including, and maybe especially, "Euros") bow down before the South Shore 800s, IMHO. They were as gritty as The Region they principally served, namely northwest Indiana.

 

Here's three shots of 803, including one taken of it on the street in what I think was Michigan City, one at Gary in the "Little Train That Could" era and one finally at rest in the Illinois Railway Museum.

We seemed to miss the one electric that most ;likely we all rode at sometime in our lifetime and is still running today.  The Disney World MONORAIL!!  NO ONE SAID SELECTIONS HAD TO BE THREE RAIL!!!

Well, no -- but the OP did specify "locomotive", which would rule it out;  that would also rule out a TGV, APT, ICE, X2000, etc....

 

Lafondue, I agree with your choice of the CC6500;  I almost selected it for my post, too.   It's interesting that the first few [ half dozen ? ] built, along with the two CC21000 precursors, had the road number and SNCF initials on the sides in the same shade of red as the bodyside;  it really looked sharp, and I'm sorry SNCF didn't see fit to continue the practice.

 

I always thought the class looked its best doing what Paul Arzens intended:  Hauling a rake of Gran Confort TEE coaches at speed.  Here's one on The Evening Capitols in '73:

 

Best regards, SZ

Don M and I share the same enthusiasm:  The Milwaukee Road.  But for me, the all time glamor gal was the BiPolars the Road had.  Yes, I also like the "Joes"but they didn't share the same class and appeal of the BiPolars.  The GE box cabs were impressive but no way could ever be described as beautiful.  And finally, the Baldwin Westinghouse passenger box cabs were impressive if not for their attractiveness, certainly for their impressive size. 

 

The South Shore Joes were also very impressive, being some 85' long and actually as they used them on the SS, they were more like the way the were designed to look.  Glad to see several of them have been preserved.

 

But there are two other ubiquitous electric locomotives, the GE "Steeple Cab" 45 ton engines, and the Westinghouse Baldwin series of steeple cabs available in several different tonnage ratings.  Probably not "things of beauty, they were neat engines and I'm glad I had a chance to run both types, years ago.

 

Paul Fischer

 

 

 

 

we have the answer right here.

 

1) 4800 is the best looking electric

2) the streamlined metroliner

3) the ugly E60, just something about it

4) the B1 Rat's 

5) the heavy hauler E44

I'm afraid that this poll is still too broad, because by saying electric locomotives, that would include all mainline electric locomotives all over the world. For this reason, I'm only including North American electric locomotives. I'm also going to exclude electric mu cars like the PRR Silverliners, the Metroliners, the MP-54s, and the New Haven washboards and NYW&B Stillwell-style cars and similar types.

 

But if one were to pick the five best-looking North American electric locomotives (And I'm including Mexico and its electrifications in the range), I'd pick (In no particular order) the Westinghouse/Milwaukee Road Quill drive electrics, the New Haven EP-4/EF-3 classes, the Loewy re-designed GG-1s, the E-44s, and the EP-5, with Amtrak's AEM-7s and the Milwaukee Road's bi-polars as runners-up.

Maybe we could have a poll for *ugliest* electric locomotives from North America or world-wide? I'm sure we can all think of nominees (heh, heh, heh).

 

Shinkansen 100 series

 

That would be a great idea..don't their "Taurus/Vectron" version suppose to slowly be delivered this year..!!..would be a good way to introduce a new engine..past and present...I know can always dream..

Hehehe..missing train shot, that's happen to me a lot...

And yup, the SBB had/have some very interesting applied scheme/ads to their Re460.
One of the most interesting was this one from 1999, sponsored by Marklin and featuring the side rods of the croc..

 

 

That is also very cool!

.

I agree with the ..

1] GG1

2] Ep4

3] Ep3

4]TGV

5] IT's a Tie.....

5]

 

 

 

My favorite, would be a Pennsylvania E-44.

Since my best looking diesel locomotive is the EMD F-Units, I'll have to stick with them for the electrics too.

 

Best looking electric locomotive is the EMD FL9 (bonus: it could also run without electricity)

Well, my top two anyway.  The GG1 is my favorite stylewise, but the BB1's look neat too.

 

I still have a soft-spot for the Italian FS E444 class electrics, nicknamed 'Tartaruga', so here's a photo of the third one I bought.  Not a bad model considering that it is now 38 years old

 

This Rivarossi model shows the tortoise/turtle logo with which they were adorned in service.

 

FS E444 loco, Rivarossi, cat # 7181

 

1. TGV (orange, white and gray)

2. Brunswick green 5 stripe GG-1

3. Little Joe

4. GN Cascade

5. Germany ICE 3

I like Don's GE box cabs.
Virginian Rectifiers are a favorite of mine.  EP-5s are nice.  Milwaukee Road Bi-Polars are way cool.  While I don't hate them, I have never really jumped for joy over a GG1.  I do like(and own one) the shortened Lionel Traditional GG1 though.

Classic TGV is hard to beat for sheer class and style.

Cruises at three miles a minute and still goes downtown on existing tracks.

MILW Bi-Polar E5
Pennsy E3b

FL9

Amtrak's HHL

Does the Electroliner count?

As long as we are going far afield maybe this Chinese electric rates a nomination. I know little about it save that the power output spec is 9600 kW or about 12,700 horsepower. One of these carries the Mao insignia seen in the photo.

 

My only interest in Chinese locos is in those of the scale model variety. I have seen the brass HO model pictured below in a Hong Kong train shop. It's made by Bachmann and I nearly got it for curiosity value. However I decided to conserve resources for the next Vision line offering.

T motors from NYC, GG1, S1 NYC, P2 NYC, GG1 (rivets) - in no particular order.