Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

What engines do you not like the looks of ?...

2133 views
47 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
What engines do you not like the looks of ?...
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 5:56 PM
I myself am not a UB fan, nor do I care for the way switcher engines look -though they do have a job to do and are necessary. I don't really like the looks of the early Dash units either... If I don't like the way an engine looks, forget it!.

trainluver1
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 6:37 PM
The GEVO's are the ugliest things on rails to date. I was also never a big fan of 44 Tonners and 60 Tonners. The U boats aren't that pleasing either. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of GE's, just not those. I don't think I've ever seen an ugly EMD though (though I HATE the way some shortlines chop the noses on their GP9s! And then they call them "GP9Ms", and as we all know "M" stands for EMD Wide Cab! Makes no sense........).

Almost forgot, GP30s are BUTT UGLY!!!!!!!!!!
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
Posted by AggroJones on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 7:00 PM
The CP 2-10-4. And the Royal Husdon. It reminds me of a flancy flashlight.
The EMD GP-20. All early geeps need that high nose. Awful without it.
The EMD SD-70ACe. These modern diesels are getting uglier and uglier.

Lot of people dislike the appearance of the BL-2. Not me. That thing is awesome!

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Winnipeg Canada
  • 1,637 posts
Posted by Blind Bruce on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 7:08 PM
All diesels since the F3's are ugly. They never made a steamer I didn't like.
BB (an ole phart)

73

Bruce in the Peg

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,326 posts
Posted by selector on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 7:10 PM
Aggro, don't make me come over there!

Even though the Garratt is one of the two locos I can recall ever seeing in actual ops, I always thought that curved end to the tenders was butt-ugly. Sheesh.

Also, and I really don't want anyone to come over here, but is it the Challenger that has that absurd truck and pilot sticking way out in front? Whichever loco that is,.....what's up with that?!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 7:31 PM
H-12-44s and MK5000Cs.



  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 7:34 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1

I myself am not a UB fan, nor do I care for the way switcher engines look -though they do have a job to do and are necessary. I don't really like the looks of the early Dash units either... If I don't like the way an engine looks, forget it!.


Other than the early Baldwin & FM switchers (boxes on wheels) I always thought the BL2 and hunch back GP30 were the ugliest - and then I saw the first Whales and SD70s. I had to redefine what utilitarian ugly was.

Thinking about earlier units I guess I never really liked the low nose RS11? Alligators, and the early sloped low nose GPs - even worse if they were cropped to be that way.
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Los Angeles
  • 1,619 posts
Posted by West Coast S on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 7:35 PM
(1) Western Pacific sucessfully mucked up the steller profile on it's Lima built GS-6s by applying elephant ear smoke deflectors.

(3) Any current EMD or GE, due to the unmigated ugly factor.


(4) Answer #3 applies to include any plug ugly displaying the current BNSF paint scheme
SP the way it was in S scale
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Texas
  • 155 posts
Posted by Sunset Limited on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 9:05 PM
Here's my pick,
1) BL-2's
2) Krauss-Maffei ( their not pretty, but part of the SP empire).
3) DD-35's (Does'nt look right when it's between two small diesels).
4) Slug units (When their chopped in half).
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 9:11 PM
Pennsy GG1 and the BL2 First trys don't do so well some times.
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 664 posts
Posted by mustanggt on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 9:31 PM
BL2's
French electrics that look like old winnabago RV's
Those RDC's with the weird cabs built on to them
several Foreign (non North american) equipment
Engines with overly-long noses ( SD40 snoots, Alco PA's, The RSD15
C280 rollin'
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,639 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 9:44 PM
Regarding looks: I'm an ex-hot rodder and like machines that look tough and fast.

The GE Genesis series, to me are UGLY and WIMPY! The body is "plain jane". The front of these units, with that slanted nose and tiny windshields resembles the robot's faces in "Star Wars-The Phantom Menace! Took a "lonnnnng while for them to grow on me! I had gotten used to the cool yet tough looking body styles of the F40, P30, and SDP40fs as these babies "looked" tough and powerful.

GE U-Boats and Dash 7s are, IMHO, very cool and rugged looking. A poster once said that U-Boat cabs "sort of" resembled the old comic book version of *** Tracy, always looked mean!

The BL2 is defintly no beauty queen. Neither are EMD switchers......all of them!
The Krauss Maffiei's are also good candidates for the "Yuckster" list.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 10:13 PM
I think Metras MP36 are the ugleyste engines I have seen in person.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 10:55 PM
Definitely the GE 44 tonners, though I like the tiny 25 ton industrial locos, but I absolutely do not like any of the british steamers or modern european electric or diesels.... just never thought they had the rugged looks of an EMD or GE loco here in the states.
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Milwaukee & Toronto
  • 929 posts
Posted by METRO on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 10:59 PM
Anything EMD made for freight after the first generation just doesn't sit well with me. I do like their new F-59PHIs and DE locomotives. EMD's switchers were never anything to show off either in my oppinion.

GE has had a better run looks wise, I do think, but wow if the U6B wasn't one of the ugliest things to ever pound rails.

Baldwin's VO series switchers were some beautiful machines, but by the time they'd turned into the S12 and S8 they had lost almost all of their charm.

~METRO
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: CANADA
  • 2,292 posts
Posted by ereimer on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 11:41 PM
most diesels , steam locos with a tank instead of a tender (yes , including Thomas)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 2, 2005 12:26 AM
How can you call 44 tonners ugly!!![:O]

My picks: U boats, GP 30, any steamers with the cab sitting on the middle of the boiler (yuch [xx(]) and those plymoth switchers.
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,390 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Thursday, June 2, 2005 5:05 AM
DIESELS! [:o)]

Just kidding! There are one or two diesels that look okay.
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Holly, MI
  • 1,269 posts
Posted by ClinchValleySD40 on Thursday, June 2, 2005 7:07 AM
GE U23BQ. Ugly. I'd be embarassed to run one.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Georgia
  • 486 posts
Posted by soumodeler on Thursday, June 2, 2005 7:17 AM
All GEs past the Dash 8 line are ugly, the ugliest being the C40-9. Also any EMD that has a low nose (except the 70 line, those are great).

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!
soumodeler --------------- The Southern Serves the South!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 2, 2005 7:29 AM
Diesel: I don't like RDC's, C-Liners, and F-units. Love Geeps! and Alco RS loco's.
Steam: Hate the Camelback! And the Vandy Tender has never grown on me. All other Steamers are great.

For me, a diesel engine has to look tough and powerful. Built for purpose. All the rounded nose stuff looks whimpy to me...

Hope I didn't offend anyone too much.

Trevor[:D]
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Peoria IL
  • 490 posts
Posted by cspmo on Thursday, June 2, 2005 8:52 AM
WEMCO Blue goose gas turbine
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_cnw4000.jpg
Krauss-Maffei
All foreign locmotives except for TGVs
Brian
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: City of Québec,Canada
  • 1,258 posts
Posted by Jacktal on Thursday, June 2, 2005 10:01 AM
It all a matter of taste...a model one dislikes may be a jewel to someone else.My personal ugliest loco is the U-50 and yet I will get to own one some day.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Crosby, Texas
  • 3,660 posts
Posted by cwclark on Thursday, June 2, 2005 11:42 AM
I always thought that the Krauss-Maffei, the Pennsy GG1 and any fairbanks morse diesels where the ugliest locomotives ever made...

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Middle o' Nowhere, MO
  • 1,108 posts
Posted by palallin on Thursday, June 2, 2005 12:52 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

I don't think I've ever seen an ugly EMD though (though I HATE the way some shortlines chop the noses on their GP9s! And then they call them "GP9Ms", and as we all know "M" stands for EMD Wide Cab! Makes no sense........).


Actually, most call them "GP9m" (Note the lower case) where the "m" stands for "modified."
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: indiana
  • 792 posts
Posted by joseph2 on Thursday, June 2, 2005 1:47 PM
The GP30 had a face only it's mother could love.Nice the CSX still has GP30 slugs on its roster though.
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
Posted by AggroJones on Thursday, June 2, 2005 1:51 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by joseph2

The GP30 had a face only it's mother could love.


Its mother and me. Gnarly looking diesel, say I. [:)]

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 2, 2005 1:59 PM
all of the new generation ,ge/emd stuff's ugly,it all looks the same, give me a smoking alco any day....
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
Posted by AggroJones on Thursday, June 2, 2005 2:02 PM
I'm still waiting for someone to bag on the Big AC.[}:)] [;)]

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 2, 2005 2:05 PM
F-units are ugly!!! Before you f-unit lovers out there torch me, let me say one thing: The SD70ACE (or whatever EMD's newest loco is called, MR ran a feature article on it back in january i think) is HORRIBLE looking.[xx(]

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!