What is YOUR favorite locomotive manufacturer?

[Anonymous]

As A former Conrail Locomotive Engineer I think the Best Locomotives of all times were the EMD gp40-2 or the EMD sd40-2 they did everything well I think 3000 HP units are the best as far as building blocks to power trains lets say you have 4 3000 hp Locomotives on a Train 12000 hp total and an Engine fails on route well you still have 3/4 of the power that you needed to get the train over the road, Now lets up the ante to 4000hp locomotives now you just need 3 Locomotives to make the 12000hp and say you one unit dies on you well now you have 2/3 of what you need and if you are on hilly terrain you might be in real trouble now lets go to the new modern 6000 hp units where you need just 2 locomotives to make 12000 hp and now lets say 1 unit goes down you are now running with 1/2 the power you need you can be up the creek with out a paddle.so more hp is not always the best way to go also with 4 3000 hp 6 axle Locomotives you have the 12000 hp div in to 48 wheels that is 250 hp per wheel on a 12000 hp train with 2 6000 hp units 1t would be 12000 div. by 24 wheels or 500 hp per wheel so with the lower hp units with power divided to more wheel you would have much more tractive effort.

[Anonymous]

As A former Conrail Locomotive Engineer I think the Best Locomotives of all times were the EMD gp40-2 or the EMD sd40-2 they did everything well I think 3000 HP units are the best as far as building blocks to power trains lets say you have 4 3000 hp Locomotives on a Train 12000 hp total and an Engine fails on route well you still have 3/4 of the power that you needed to get the train over the road, Now lets up the ante to 4000hp locomotives now you just need 3 Locomotives to make the 12000hp and say you one unit dies on you well now you have 2/3 of what you need and if you are on hilly terrain you might be in real trouble now lets go to the new modern 6000 hp units where you need just 2 locomotives to make 12000 hp and now lets say 1 unit goes down you are now running with 1/2 the power you need you can be up the creek with out a paddle.so more hp is not always the best way to go also with 4 3000 hp 6 axle Locomotives you have the 12000 hp div in to 48 wheels that is 250 hp per wheel on a 12000 hp train with 2 6000 hp units 1t would be 12000 div. by 24 wheels or 500 hp per wheel so with the lower hp units with power divided to more wheel you would have much more tractive effort.

[Anonymous]

EMD SD90MAC

[Anonymous]

EMD SD90MAC

[Anonymous]

am i allowed to enter British manufactorers?

[Anonymous]

am i allowed to enter British manufactorers?

[Anonymous]

Like those EMDs. I would have to say I am biased as I have operated an EMD but not a GE.

[Anonymous]

Like those EMDs. I would have to say I am biased as I have operated an EMD but not a GE.

[BRAKIE]

For me it will always be the whine of a EMD 567..Having worked with EMDs FMs and Alcos I found out in a hurry what the number locomotive was..A EMD.

[BRAKIE]

For me it will always be the whine of a EMD 567..Having worked with EMDs FMs and Alcos I found out in a hurry what the number locomotive was..A EMD.

[trainfan1221]

I have to stick with EMD, though I grew up watching big GEs on my local railroad. I am not familiar with products of fairbanks morse or Baldwin aside from pictures and what I read about. I`m sure they were interesting.

[trainfan1221]

I have to stick with EMD, though I grew up watching big GEs on my local railroad. I am not familiar with products of fairbanks morse or Baldwin aside from pictures and what I read about. I`m sure they were interesting.

[pmsteamman]

Chalk up another one for ALCO, they could pull every thing in the yard roundhouse included, just ask the "Bigboy" at UP. Lima comes a close second.

[pmsteamman]

Chalk up another one for ALCO, they could pull every thing in the yard roundhouse included, just ask the "Bigboy" at UP. Lima comes a close second.

[pmsteamman]

I have to agree with you on the SD-40-2 they are the best but I have to give GE there attaboy too. I am a engineer on CSX and was called to take 125 cars (12000 tons) from Detroit to Toledo with a single AC4400. That beast screamed the whole way and slipped every now and then but got the job done (and me home).

QUOTE: Originally posted by jerzyjak

As A former Conrail Locomotive Engineer I think the Best Locomotives of all times were the EMD gp40-2 or the EMD sd40-2 they did everything well I think 3000 HP units are the best as far as building blocks to power trains lets say you have 4 3000 hp Locomotives on a Train 12000 hp total and an Engine fails on route well you still have 3/4 of the power that you needed to get the train over the road, Now lets up the ante to 4000hp locomotives now you just need 3 Locomotives to make the 12000hp and say you one unit dies on you well now you have 2/3 of what you need and if you are on hilly terrain you might be in real trouble now lets go to the new modern 6000 hp units where you need just 2 locomotives to make 12000 hp and now lets say 1 unit goes down you are now running with 1/2 the power you need you can be up the creek with out a paddle.so more hp is not always the best way to go also with 4 3000 hp 6 axle Locomotives you have the 12000 hp div in to 48 wheels that is 250 hp per wheel on a 12000 hp train with 2 6000 hp units 1t would be 12000 div. by 24 wheels or 500 hp per wheel so with the lower hp units with power divided to more wheel you would have much more tractive effort.