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whats a good manfacturer for HO diesel engine
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Here is a brief primer on real life, mainline freight diesel locomotives. <br /> <br />Currently, there are two major manufacturers of diesel electric (they are called diesel electric because they are electric motors powered by a diesel generator) locomotives in North America. They are GE (General Electric) and EMD (originally a division of General Motors.) Most freight locomotives have either four axles (eight wheels) or six axles (twelve wheels). GE locomotives will have a "B" in the model name if they are four axle units and a "C" in the model name if they are six axle units. EMD locomotives will have a GP (stands for General Purpose) if they are four axle units and SD (Special Duty) if they are six axle units. A GP 40 is a four axle locomotive manufactured by EMD. A C30-7 is a six axle locomotive manufactured by General Electric. If you are standing along the railroad tracks when a train comes by and want to know which manufacturer built the locomotive look at the hood. If it comes to a point it is built by EMD. If it is stubby it is a General Electric. <br /> <br />Another real life freight locomotive manufacturer that is popular among modelers were manufactured by Alco (American Locomotive Company). Alco went out of business sometime in the late sixties/early 70's. They built both four and six axle locomotives. RS was Alco's designation for a road switcher in the first generation of diesel electric power. Alcos are the Harley Davidsons of locomotives. They tend to belch a whole lot of black smoke when accelerating. <br /> <br />For HO scale modeling, most four axle locomotives can handle 18 inch minimum radius curves. Six axles usually need a minimum of 22 inches, but some can handle eighteen inch radius curves. <br /> <br />
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