Diesel Motive Power Reference

[Anonymous]

For all of the blather about the internet it just not seem to be a good resource for info about locomotives. Yeah there's a lot of pictures but heck I cannot tell an SD40 from a H16 without a scorecard. Anyone got one?

Pictures are nice but I also want to know some technical info...
How long is the wheel base?
How long over all?
How tall?
How much does it weight?
How much horsepower?

Plus some incidental info like...
What road does it run (or ran) on?
Are there any operating today?
Where's a good spot to see one?

I've never seen a web site for this info...is there one?

How about a book? Two?

Anyone got a clue?

TIA
--Rich

[coalminer3]

Kalmbach has issued several books over the yrs. on diesels that contain just what you need; check out their website. X2200 South is an excellent magazine for roster folks and those interested in who had what and when.

Hope this helps.

work safe

[Anonymous]

For specifications, try my website: www.geocities.com/guilford_350

[Anonymous]

The Kalmbach listings and descriptions of their books (they don't even list copyright or printing dates) really don't help me figure out which one (or two) is worth spending my money on. [:(]

A succinct listings of diesels with a photo or two along with data similar to what is on Guilford350s site (thx BTW) would be good. Along with good spotting locations and I'd be set.

[coalminer3]

Hi Rich:

I understand what you mean abt. needing additonal information to make a purchase. If you haven't looked already, Amazon has the Kalmbach vols. and you can look inside them on their site to get publication dates and idea of content. They also have a lot more books on specific builder's locomotives as well. Good hunting - I'd be interested to hear what you decide to get.

Hope this helps

work safe

[rogerhensley]

It may sound trite, but you have to do the homework yourself. The Internet is not the best source for what you want to know. You need to decide exactly what it is that you want to know and probably what railroads and visit the tables of a book seller. As I used to tell our customers when I was in the hobby business and later as a Service Manager in a computer store, "Pick up the book and look it over. If it makes sense and answers your questions, buy it. If not, don't."

If you are not where you can visit book dealers at meets and shows, then you will probably end up with a book or two that isn't what you want. Just don't expect the Internet to replace good reference books and materials. It won't. Also, don't try to go cheap at this point. Pay for what you need and you won't be disappointed.
:-)

[Anonymous]

Try "The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide" has locomotives since 1972

By Louis A. Marre and Paul K Withers

Published by Withers 2000

It's a little old, it does not have the Tier 2 locomoitives or some of the more recent purchases. But it gives you several pictures of each locomotive, basic dimensions, horsepower etc.

There may be newer additions

hope this helps

[Anonymous]

Second vote for "The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide", but also get the latest edition of the North American Diesel Roster (I think that's the name, it's named something like that anyways). Use the Diesel Roster to look up the road name and number of a locomotive that you see, it'll tell you what type of loco it is, then look that loco up in the Diesel Spotters Guide and it'll give you all the info on that model. I bought both books and carry them with me whenever I go chasing trains. You learn the difference between GE's, EMD's, SD's, GP's, U's and B's real quick.

One easy piece of advice... EMD makes GP's and SD's which are probably the easiest recognizable freight locos, GP's will always have 4 axles (two per truck), SD's always have 6 (three per truck), most of the engines you see doing the switching will be 4 axle types, and the ones you see on mainline runs will be 6 axles. GE's are similar, and they make the B's, U's, and CW's (Dash 8's, Dash 9's, etc) I can't remember which ones have how many axles on the GE's though, as I'm an EMD fan.... Well... I do like the AC44CW's that CSX has (did I get the model right? I can't remember, I just know what they look like).

Both of the books are great and will give you alot of info on different loco models and who owns what.