Feeling nostalgic for locomotive variety.

[n2mopac]

I live along a very busy UP main (the old MoPac Sedalia sub in central MO) and I see dozens of trains pass every day. But with all of those trains I basically see only 4 locomotive types; dash 9's, C4400AC's, SD70's, and SD90MAC's. I may occasionally see an older SD unit, but very little else. This is not a complaint against UP, as they are in the business of moving freight the most efficient way possible. I'm just feeling nostalgic for a variety of GP's and dash 8's--anything different. Antrak goes through here also twice daily, and I am SO tired of the Genesis. I think it is the ugliest loco on wheels. Wi***hey would send an F59PH through here once in a while.
Ron

[vsmith]

Thats why I do model RR's and little railfanning outside of tourist live steamers and museum lines. Its just not that interesting to see 4 trains go by, all 4 DASH9 double heads and a row of double stacked container cars.

[joegreen]

I watch trains along the BNSF Aurora sub and I see some GP and SD units but not as much as the dash 9. you could probably see the same dash 9 go by 3 or 4 times a week.Those SD40-2s are going quickly.[:(]

[BaltACD]

The truth is there has always been a limited variety of locomotives in operation at any particular era of railroading.

Each improved generation of motive power forces its predecessor to the scrap line.

In the early diesel era on most roads you could view EMD FT's, F3's and F7's with the occasional Alco FA or a very rare Baldwin RF16 thrown in. As that generation of power was replaced you got to view EMD GP7's and GP9's, then came the era of the GP35's and 40's, which depending on a roads preference for 4 or 6 axle motive power could have beenSD35's or 40's or even the Alco or GE equivalents. Todays world of EMD SD70's-80's or 90's and the GE line up is not all that different from the locomotive variety that has been operating in any prior era.

[Anonymous]

I got excited the other day when I saw a couple of CP SD40-2's leading an intermodal train down to Roberts Bank, it's almost the same power out there all the time.

The key is catching the BNSF coal trains that head down there, at least I get to see some different paint.

[wallyworld]

I share your nostalgia for variety in motive power. My frame of reference is the 1960"s just north of Chicago. The variety of that timeframe has sentenced me to comparitively terminal boredom ever since that now seemingly long ago era.
The other side of this coin is that I am thankful for the memories.

Alco, EMD F and Geep units along with the FM switchers at Roundout on the Milwaukee Road, Baldwins on the EJ&E, steam generator equiped Geeps on the Soo, sometimes F units pulling the Laker along with rarer FA units on freights. Matched sets of A-B units on the CN&W on the point of the "400."

It was truly a feast for the senses with the added bonus of a wide variety of paint schemes. ...For just one day I would love to take my younger peers back in time, trackside to Northern Illinois It would be one full day to remember.

[Anonymous]

The new motive power reminds me of those movies you always see.

In the future everyone is always wearing the same thing, I suppose the railroads are just ahead of their time. [:)]

[espeefoamer]

We always think motive power is as dull as it can get.In the 80s my friends and I all hated the ubiquitous SD40-2.It seemed we never saw anything else.One time,in the late 70s, a friend and I were eating at a Denny,s near UPs East LA yard.We saw three trains leave.They all had the same loco consist.We were commenting about how dull trains were getting since everything was the same.Each train was pulled by two Centenials spliced by an SD40-2.Now the Centenials are gone forever, and SD40-2s are getting scarce.(Getting old s*cks).[:(!]

[UPTRAIN]

Mo-pac man...former MP employee here still work for UP, we have all kinds of locos here in Poplar Bluff and Dexter, lots of leased and foreign lines...come on down and see.

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BaltACD

The truth is there has always been a limited variety of locomotives in operation at any particular era of railroading.

There may not have been much difference in the make and model of the motive power, but oh, the railroads. A big town might have several RRs operating in it's environs, each with its own colors, and sometimes locomotive preferences. Nowadays you usually get a choice of two, usually just one, local shortlines notwithstanding. Merger mania has done a lot to limit variety.

[UPTRAIN]

QUOTE: Merger mania has done a lot to limit variety.

That's exactly right...PB used to have 3...now...just UP the borg. Abandoning has some to do with that also. [:(!][B)][xx(][V][}:)][:(][:O][banghead][censored][%-)][sigh][tdn]

[UPTRAIN]

(yay I just made my first quote box thingy)

[n2mopac]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Mo-pac man...former MP employee here still work for UP, we have all kinds of locos here in Poplar Bluff and Dexter, lots of leased and foreign lines...come on down and see.

Cool, and that's just half a state away from me in Sedalia. When I lived in the city (Fort Worth, TX) I could go down to the local UP or BNSF yard and see a great variety of motive power. Better yet I could visit one of the short lines, Fort Worth and Western for example, and see rebuilds from an era gone by. Now that I'm in small town MO I am limited to the consists that travel through town.
Ron

[wallyworld]

I was continuing to read this thread and it has jogged my memories further to think back to the amazing variety one could enjoy not only in motive power but in the consist as well. I remember being at trackside as a youngster marveling at all the exotic names and places on freight cars that rolled by and how much it intrigued my imagination to try and visualize these distant places..
Delaware and Lackawana: The Route of Phoebe Snow" Who?
Great Northern: "Mainstreet of America" Wow!
The Monon The What?
Then it was the anticipation and suspense as the end of the train approached. Would someone be on the platform of the caboose? Here it comes...smoke rolling off the stack of the stove inside and yes...a freindly wave of the hand and then this coloful parade would pass....blast it's horn, it's sound receding in the distance.
What a show....and what a romantic era it truly was.

[JoeKoh]

I agree. I take pics of trains and its nice to see an sd 40-2 or 38-2 at the point. I have seen some gp 38 on ns too spliced behind a dash 8 or 9.The way csx runs right now they'll take anything that runs.
stay safe
Joe

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

I agree. I take pics of trains and its nice to see an sd 40-2 or 38-2 at the point. I have seen some gp 38 on ns too spliced behind a dash 8 or 9.The way csx runs right now they'll take anything that runs.
stay safe
Joe

Recent experiences indicate that on CSX it doesn't run for long. Getting a engine consist to the next terminal without breakdon has become the exception, not the rule.

Cut the maintenance budget some more.

[dekemd]

I grew up watching SCL and Clinchfield engines pass the house everyday. Consists had EMD SD and GP 30's, 40's, 40-2s, 45's, occasionally something older like a GP18, some ALCOs, some GEs like U36s, and other assorted engines. Now 95% of what I see are CSX AC4400s. Everynow and then a 70MAC or a 40-2 or SD50 will come by but not very often. I about wrecked the car last weekend when I drove past CSX Pinelo yard in Charlotte and saw an SW1500 and a MP15AC sitting there.

I miss the good old days of variety. Not just the engine types but different paint schemes too.

Derrick

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The variety certainly isn't what it used to be (see BRC's current roster) but railroading is still interesting. I enjoy seeing BNSF SD70MAC's on an endless coal train or UP SD70M's on intermodal. Of course, it helps that I live less than 2 miles from Clearing Yard, which can provide almost all the variety that anyone could want.

[Anonymous]

You guys don't know how lucky you are - We are basically down to 2 heavy freight types (EMD derivatives or Brush class 60's), a handful of switchers and the absolute dregs of 3 or 4 other classes running in niche service. Every thing else is one or more kind of railcar England has just about killed the variety - mind you, I still stand trackside every now and then just to watch.

The LA area looked pretty diverse last week to me

[bnsfkline]

n2mopac, I live In St. Louis and regualarly go to Kirkwood, on the Same line as you, only in Eastern missouri. I have seen lots of power besides your "Big 4" But I have seen many diffrent each day. I see the local, usally older geeps or GE, I see lots of C40-8's, SD40-2's, SD60's SD60M's and lots of Norfolk Southern Power. So its more diverse than you think.

[n2mopac]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsfkline

n2mopac, I live In St. Louis and regualarly go to Kirkwood, on the Same line as you, only in Eastern missouri. I have seen lots of power besides your "Big 4" But I have seen many diffrent each day. I see the local, usally older geeps or GE, I see lots of C40-8's, SD40-2's, SD60's SD60M's and lots of Norfolk Southern Power. So its more diverse than you think.

The local that runs through here is usually hauled by a pair of GP-38's. I don't see it terribly often, though I'm sure I miss is many times. It switches 2 businesses here in little Otterville--an LPG dealer and a grain elevator that receives fertilized by rail. Sedalia however, just 10 miles up the line, switches a number of industries.

Ron