What is YOUR favorite locomotive manufacturer?

[Anonymous]

G E seems to be slipping (wheel slipping that is) and eating ALCOs dust.

[Anonymous]

G E seems to be slipping (wheel slipping that is) and eating ALCOs dust.

[Anonymous]

I went to vote on my favorite classic locomotive manufacturer.......AND IT'S NOT THERE!.
this company produced hundreds of locomotives!
My favorite:

Fairbanks-Morse!!

David Wallace

[Anonymous]

I went to vote on my favorite classic locomotive manufacturer.......AND IT'S NOT THERE!.
this company produced hundreds of locomotives!
My favorite:

Fairbanks-Morse!!

David Wallace

[kenneo]

Baldwin should have been a player even today, but got bit by the reliability sickness. They were doing cutting edge engineering and couldn't convert it to a reliable locomotive in time. As an example their standard diesel block was 200 HP per cyclinder. EMD and GE are barely just getting there 50 years later.

[kenneo]

Baldwin should have been a player even today, but got bit by the reliability sickness. They were doing cutting edge engineering and couldn't convert it to a reliable locomotive in time. As an example their standard diesel block was 200 HP per cyclinder. EMD and GE are barely just getting there 50 years later.

[Anonymous]

EMD is my choice
Does ALCO still make locos[?]

[Anonymous]

EMD is my choice
Does ALCO still make locos[?]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by appst03

ALCOs are my favorite locomotive. I am particularly fond of the Century line. I love the trucks, rounded cabs, notches on the many of the hood ends, puggy shaped sharp angle of the nose, the plain long hood without too many louvers, grills and odd shaped bulges. The deep, throaty exhaust sounds and dark, rich black, smoke these beasts made can't be compared to anything other than a steam locomotive.

To answer Alaskaman's question :
Alco does not make locos anymore but they do produce engines for marine and other applications. Other than the 244 engine Alco products were as good as any of that day. If they were not there would not be any left, and we all know you can STILL find Alco locos running and serving in railroad service, just not on Class 1 anymore. Alco could not compete with the financing available from either EMD or GE. I don't have a problem with any EMD product. They have made some mighty fine locos. The E units were super and we cannot forget the GP7s. As this poll indicates there is a hugh following, and I am one, of Alco. I just received the new Alco book today. (Can't wait to get into it but that will have to wait till after I get home from work.)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by appst03

ALCOs are my favorite locomotive. I am particularly fond of the Century line. I love the trucks, rounded cabs, notches on the many of the hood ends, puggy shaped sharp angle of the nose, the plain long hood without too many louvers, grills and odd shaped bulges. The deep, throaty exhaust sounds and dark, rich black, smoke these beasts made can't be compared to anything other than a steam locomotive.

To answer Alaskaman's question :
Alco does not make locos anymore but they do produce engines for marine and other applications. Other than the 244 engine Alco products were as good as any of that day. If they were not there would not be any left, and we all know you can STILL find Alco locos running and serving in railroad service, just not on Class 1 anymore. Alco could not compete with the financing available from either EMD or GE. I don't have a problem with any EMD product. They have made some mighty fine locos. The E units were super and we cannot forget the GP7s. As this poll indicates there is a hugh following, and I am one, of Alco. I just received the new Alco book today. (Can't wait to get into it but that will have to wait till after I get home from work.)

[Anonymous]

To add to what you said Jim, ALCo products are still manufactured, however ALCo does not manufacturer them. Fairbanks Morse (yes the builder of the Trainmaster) has the rights to manufacturer ALCo 251s for stationary and marine applications. They are even manufacturing 18cyl. 251Fs rated at 4000hp, the same prime mover that was installed in lone MLWs M-640, for marine applactions. http://www.fairbanksmorse.com/engines/commercial/alco/alco.htm

[Anonymous]

To add to what you said Jim, ALCo products are still manufactured, however ALCo does not manufacturer them. Fairbanks Morse (yes the builder of the Trainmaster) has the rights to manufacturer ALCo 251s for stationary and marine applications. They are even manufacturing 18cyl. 251Fs rated at 4000hp, the same prime mover that was installed in lone MLWs M-640, for marine applactions. http://www.fairbanksmorse.com/engines/commercial/alco/alco.htm

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

Baldwin should have been a player even today, but got bit by the reliability sickness. They were doing cutting edge engineering and couldn't convert it to a reliable locomotive in time. As an example their standard diesel block was 200 HP per cyclinder. EMD and GE are barely just getting there 50 years later.

In 1950,Fairbanks-Morse's ENTIRE LINE of locomotives were 200hp/cylinder. A better comparison of Horsepower would be DISPLACEMENT to horsepower ratio. You know, 12 little cylinders compared to 6 big ones-same displacement total.

David Wallace

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

Baldwin should have been a player even today, but got bit by the reliability sickness. They were doing cutting edge engineering and couldn't convert it to a reliable locomotive in time. As an example their standard diesel block was 200 HP per cyclinder. EMD and GE are barely just getting there 50 years later.

In 1950,Fairbanks-Morse's ENTIRE LINE of locomotives were 200hp/cylinder. A better comparison of Horsepower would be DISPLACEMENT to horsepower ratio. You know, 12 little cylinders compared to 6 big ones-same displacement total.

David Wallace

[Anonymous]

[:D]Sure MLW are Alco units made in Canada but they did produce some unique diesels such as RS10, RS18, FP4-A and B, M420 and M636. And the sounds of those engines are hard to beat