What's your favorite SD?

[Anonymous]

It's a little off topic, but my favorite SD is not a locomotive, but my Ensoniq SD1 synthesizer, as I hold down the keyboard chair in my church's worship band. However, since we're talkin' trains here, I have a soft spot for a pair of Erie Lackawanna SD45's (in numerical order, of course) cruising along the Delaware River with a UPS trailer train.

[Anonymous]

Erie Lackawanna version SD45-2

[railman]

I was waiting for that SD39....but either way the SD-9 recieved my vote.

[3railguy]

The SP SD 40 Snoot tunnel motor is my favorite of all but not on the list. I just love the look. A sleek nose and big rear end. The snoot is followed by the CB&Q SD-24 because of all the pipes and stuff on the roof.

[Anonymous]

Hmm...too tough to choose only one. Here are just a few of my favorites:

BN SD40C (bulging SD45 hood looks awesome on it)

SD40-2 (in Rock Island red and yellow)

Reg cab SD50s, 60s, and 70s

BNSF SD39

SD75M

[twhite]

Here I am a steam fan and you ask me a question like THAT? Seriously, I have no idea what the designation was, but what the SP and Rio Grande termed 'Tunnel Motors' was, I think, about the handsomest freight diesel I ever saw. Don't ask me why, I can't explain it, but they reminded me of Articulateds. And they looked RIGHT in the mountains, which is something I can't really say about most diesels. So, Tunnel Motors--whatever their designation--it is, for me.

[Anonymous]

Toss up between the SD45 (something about those radiators says "power") and the SD35 (remember the CNJ units when I was a kid).

[jrbernier]

I voted for the SD7 - it was the 1st SD. A close second is the SD45. The body filled up the frame, it had those flaired radiators ,and more HP than anything else at the time - the 'Muscle Car' of locomotives in that era.

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

SD-70M. Its big. Its heavy. And its cab is so well designed. This is one modern unit that is okay by me.

[Anonymous]

Probably the SD9. An Athearn SD9 in SP paint was the first US loco I bought back in 2001, and it's proved to be one of the best of my fleet. From new, it showed none of the Athearn growling noises and will creep slowly enough to count the splines on the driveshafts. I have yet to add extra detail parts though I have every intention of doing so when I find a supplier. This loco is used on everything from commuter services to switching on my layout - I also intend to buy a few of the new Walthers SP Bilevels when they arrive at my LHS to run with it as I hear the SP used their SD9s in commuter service?

[jabrown1971]

Wow there are a lot of votes for SD 70, 80 and 90's.......all very impressive and fuel efficient. The SD45 was neat-CNW's without dynamics-the originals-not the ones from Conrail, N & W SD45's long hood forward and the C & O-Chessie-INRD SD18's were all fine. But nothing beats the IT's SD39's. Big and green, they could have easily been the best camouflage diesels built for civilian service.

[SD40-2W]

Canadian National SD40-2W

[ckape]

If I could tell EMD what to do I'd make them build a locomotive with the long hood of an SD90MAC-H and the cab and nose of the early SD90MAC. But then since this poll doesn't count variants and they're the same major model number, I just said SD90.

[Anonymous]

I think my new favorite would have to be an SD80MAC in the Conrail Quality or CSX Lightning bolt scheme. The SD40-2 and the SD70M take a close second.

[Anonymous]

I voted for the SD7, but I like the SD40-2 equally.

[Anonymous]

My favorite SD of all time is the SD9, especially SP cadillacs.[:D]

Also love the "squashed" look of the SDL39's, and the mountain bashing DRGW 40T-2![8D]

Drew Of NZ

[espeefoamer]

My favorite 2nd generation SD is the SD45. 1st gen. favorite is the SD9.[:)]!

[Anonymous]

Yea what happened to the 45-2's?

-Matt

[Anonymous]

I thought you meant SD as in Star Destroyer (Star Wars). I like the SD45

[cwclark]

SD 45-T2 ...i like the short nose version with the big porch on the back

[Big_Boy_4005]

I've always liked the SD-24. The air reservoirs on the roof gave them a unique character.

[jfugate]

The SD9, actually SD9E, is a real favorite. I saw the original SD9 first in Black Widow paint back in the 1960s on the SP Siskiyou Line. With the GRIP rebuild in the 1970s, the model got another 20+ years of a new lease on life, and lasted well into the 1990s before finally being retired.


On my 1980s SP layout, I have over a dozen SD9Es ... long live the SD9 on the Siskiyou Line!

[wcfan4ever]

I had to choose the SD45. I loved the Wisconsin Central and its well maintained SD45's. They were great units. Second in line would be the SDL-39's. They too were great units. Too bad they are now down in Chile in South America.

[Anonymous]

we'll id have to say mine is an SD9, prefeably in SP paint =) i like the grey and red the best, but the black widow and SPSF paint scheems all look good on a great looking eingine.

[Anonymous]

SD40-2 BN

[Anonymous]

I'm going to post again, here is my top 5:

1. SD80MAC
2. SD40-2 (CR version with Flexicoil trucks)
3. SD45-2 (EL version)
4. SD60I
5. C39-8C (CR version)

Of course Conrail owned every one of these [;)]

[Anonymous]

I HAVE TO GO WITH SD7 AND SD9. I LIKE THE 1940 AND 1950's RAILROADING

[Anonymous]

SD45

[Anonymous]

BN SD70MAC.
BNSF SD70MAC.