favorite 3rd generation diesel loco

[Anonymous]

Well Dru, your statement is off topic.
And perhaps unusual for a railfan.

BUT -

Remember that one man's waste is anothers need.

The government pours a lot more money into the aircraft industry than it EVER will to the railroads. The flying "user fees" don't even BEGIN to cover the cost of the FAA, grants/contracts to aircraft producers, NASA aircraft research, airport grants, crossover military applications, etc.

For the relatively little funding AMTRAK receives, and the state of passenger service when it took over, it has done extremely well!

I'll agree to total privatization of AMTRAK when we have total privatization of the aircraft industry.

If AMTRAK goes, there goes cross-country passenger rail service in this country. UP or the others will never go back to it. That may be fine for NE or Ca commuters, but we like AMTRAK cross-country service here in Illinois-Iowa.

And I'll keep my vote for the P40 !
And never vote for McCain.

[Anonymous]

I have two favorites. my first one is the good ol SD90. i like it because it is just so big and powerful. i really like the design and the looks of it, and it seems to be the pinnacle of locomotive power for now (maybe too big). i also like the F59PHI that amtrak now has. i think it also is a beautiful engine, and i'm sure those amtrak engineers like the isolated cabs. once the railroads start to get used to AC tecnology, and how to service these high tec AC locos, i think they will become more popular.

Union Pacific "We Will Devour"

[favuprailroadfan]

AMTRAK IS A WASTE OF GOVERNMENT DOLLERS



DRU

[Anonymous]

I would go with the SD70 or a SD70M.

[Anonymous]

Funny thing about the 70(not the MAC). When it came out I thought it would sell like hot cakes. It had a very sound engine and the radial trucks allowed a "C" truck unit to go on most rails delegated to "B" truck loco's. What happened? A few to Conrail, NS and SP and that was it until the UP order which has a mystery behind it. Any way, I'm happy that the 70 is alive and well.

[wabash1]

the best power is the sd70 then sd60. you cant beat it for climbing hills starting on hills and getting going. a ge engine will never be able to do what a emd can. emd can do it better and easier and faster. i dont like the ac traction motor. as far as the epic over the 26l i find no differance both are good.

[Anonymous]

Jay, you forgot about the 4 SD60MAC's which were the first "real" AC's. I say real because MLW put out a prototype and EMD had a couple of test units on AMTRAK. I do love the 70MAC's. Shame they didn't sell better but the GE design has more redundantcy (spelling?) and is less restrictive in maintaining the wheels.

[Anonymous]

Just to be different - my vote is for the P40 Genesis.

My favorite way to travel !

Go AMTRAK !!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

SD-70MAC. Pioneer model of the ac movement. Awesome to see them coming down Evaro Hill in Montana.

[dandreas]

I have to go with the SD70MAC, being a BN fan and all. These beasts were what started it all with the AC technology, and I remember soon after their debut seeing a trio of the Grinstein Green and Cream BN units pulling a brand new set of loaded BN aluminum coal hoppers. It was the model train collector's dream....NO WEATHERING! Anyway, I anxiously await an N-scale release of this locomotive (other than the $400 brass version) to power my coal trains...

[Anonymous]

I'd go with the 70M's also, if I just had to base it on UP's order I wouldn't go with them 'cause they are too new, but SP had 25 of them that they got in '94, so UP had some experience ratings with them and saw that they are good units, hence the order. SD60's are good units as well, and one nobody mentioned yet, it's cousing the GP60's. 3 or 4 of these little dynamo's on a stack train is a good combination, you can really haul some @$$. their main rap is they are slippery when pulling hard at low speed, but that isn't what they were designed for, on stacks they are excellent. as for GE's as far as I'm concerned the only decent GE is a dead GE, but the C44-9W's were sort of o.k. especially when they had a cracked injector (smoke like an old ALCO!!).

[Anonymous]

DRU, I agree 100% with you and I also the like the SD60 all versions because they look good. I hope EMD comes up something that puts them back on top.

[favuprailroadfan]

Its me again. SD70M- no doubt- some may know and some may not. But the new UP SD70M have the old style controls. As someone has once said, they took a SD40-2 and made it better. No electronic brakes, its got 26L. If you haven't got the new issue of TRAINS, there is an quick story about the 70M, on the fourth page. It says that the 70's are running at a 94 to 96% availibility. Not to bad. But the 40-2's are still running at 92 to 94%. The DASH 9's are good also, but I prefer the 70's over anything right now. What will EMD come up with next?

Dru

[Anonymous]

Now what is your favorite 3rd generation locomotive and why? Mine is the SD60 cause it saved EMD. It brought a new engine and computers to EMD and the rails. I like the DASH 9 also because of what it can do. It is the new standard (good or bad).