Eric Brooman-EMD Sellout? (No offence intended)

[trainboyH16-44]

Especially on BC Rail. There is no question that it was the C40-8Ms that took out the M630s and M630Ws, also the M420s. Stupid GE.
Matthew

[Newyorkcentralfan]

grande man wrote:
<br />
<br />"I like them all and don't understand the GE hatred. Would someone please explain it to me. "
<br />
<br />The crews on the prototype didn't like them because their performance was inferior to emds.
<br />
<br />There were design features particularly in control thatwere very quirky and made life more difficult for the crews. They were designed by people who didn't know what it was like to run trains.
<br />
<br />If you can get a hold of it try reading the Ed King article, 'Up the creek in a leaky Uboat' in the #17 Mar/Apr 1999 of Vintage Rails. It explains everything.
<br />
<br />Also, a lot of people didn't like GEs because they basically killed of ALCO.
<br />
<br />
<br />

[Anonymous]

I'm shocked to find out that Brooman is still a cab control guy, I figured all the "Big names" have moved onto DCC.

[ouengr]

I wonder... Will he model the all too common aftermath of the GE blowtorches?

[trainboyH16-44]

msamas, my theory is that he really liked the Kato AC4400s, and couldn't pass them up. My new theory, anyways.
Matthew

[Anonymous]

No way he can be a sellout. Eric is an original and I rate his Utah Belt as #1 well ahead of the V&O. Not only does he have a complete story surrounding his freelanced prototype but he continually updates it--even when it means disposing of his favorite locomotives to be kitbashed into new models. I give him kudos both for his concept and his willingness to follow through with it. Something I bet few other people would be willing to do (including myself).

Eric Brooman is the main reason I subsrcibe to MR. I've been a big fan of the UB ever since discovering some old back issues of RMC from the early '80s featuring the UB. While the days of the SD40-2s, yellow cabooses and F units was my favorite period on the UB, I'm always interested in seeing what he will do next. Although I was surprised by his GE move, I understand and respect it fully. Especially because he provided ample support for it in his latest article.

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by james saunders

he said in the december 03 MR that his fleet will be all EMD for the forseeable future but like he said he wants to keep up with the prototype and thought it was time to follow the lead and buy a fleet of GE's to keep the look of the truely modern feel of the UB and have a mix of EMDs and GEs.... but he must be able to fit a couple of ALCOs in somehow maybe a power shortage and resurrect a couple of C 630s or 28s hehe

Hee hee...

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

QUOTE: Originally posted by ebriley

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

Back on topic, since he went with GE do you think he is using the GE repair program or doing the repairs in-house,

If you read the article you know the answer.

ebriley
Someone pointed that out earlier, and I believe I stood corrected then, but hey, I will do it again, I read it, but must have forgotten that part. Thanks for reminding me again...[B)]

That's the problem with long topics.
Trainboy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ebriley

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

Back on topic, since he went with GE do you think he is using the GE repair program or doing the repairs in-house,

If you read the article you know the answer.

ebriley

Someone pointed that out earlier, and I believe I stood corrected then, but hey, I will do it again, I read it, but must have forgotten that part. Thanks for reminding me again...[B)]

[james saunders]

he said in the december 03 MR that his fleet will be all EMD for the forseeable future but like he said he wants to keep up with the prototype and thought it was time to follow the lead and buy a fleet of GE's to keep the look of the truely modern feel of the UB and have a mix of EMDs and GEs.... but he must be able to fit a couple of ALCOs in somehow maybe a power shortage and resurrect a couple of C 630s or 28s hehe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

Back on topic, since he went with GE do you think he is using the GE repair program or doing the repairs in-house,

If you read the article you know the answer.

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Jeff,

Excellent question which got me thinking. I wonder if the toughest thing faced by Eric is the retirement of his "outdated" engines. That takes a level of intestinal fortitude that I don't think I have. Of course I also wonder if . . . when no one's looking . . . .Eric takes those SD9's for a quick spin around the layout.[:D]

You know Dave, he may have some Alco's he runs, but he probably shuts all the curtains, bolts and locks the door and then pulls those engines out from under a secret location. Then when done running them hides them and opens everything back up and never breaths a word [8D] We will never know...

I knew that Brooman guy was OK!!!!!

You guys are probably right. The AC4400 thing is just a front! He isn't a sellout, he's just keeping that stuff in the closet! (In all senses of the word)
Trainboy

[davekelly]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Jeff,

Excellent question which got me thinking. I wonder if the toughest thing faced by Eric is the retirement of his "outdated" engines. That takes a level of intestinal fortitude that I don't think I have. Of course I also wonder if . . . when no one's looking . . . .Eric takes those SD9's for a quick spin around the layout.[:D]

You know Dave, he may have some Alco's he runs, but he probably shuts all the curtains, bolts and locks the door and then pulls those engines out from under a secret location. Then when done running them hides them and opens everything back up and never breaths a word [8D] We will never know...

I knew that Brooman guy was OK!!!!!

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeffshultz

I wonder... what does Eric do with the locomotives he retires off the Utah Belt? Something tells me those were fine running SD9s.... and I know they looked excellent.

I'll be happy to take them, as I'm in need of good first generation luggers. My address is 5555.......
I never retire good locos. When they're out of era, I run special sessions with different eras for them.
Trainboy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Jeff,

Excellent question which got me thinking. I wonder if the toughest thing faced by Eric is the retirement of his "outdated" engines. That takes a level of intestinal fortitude that I don't think I have. Of course I also wonder if . . . when no one's looking . . . .Eric takes those SD9's for a quick spin around the layout.[:D]

You know Dave, he may have some Alco's he runs, but he probably shuts all the curtains, bolts and locks the door and then pulls those engines out from under a secret location. Then when done running them hides them and opens everything back up and never breaths a word [8D] We will never know...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeffshultz

I wonder... what does Eric do with the locomotives he retires off the Utah Belt? Something tells me those were fine running SD9s.... and I know they looked excellent.

For the longest time he rebuilt them into something else. Eric for years was known for having the latest and greatest EMD model of this or that long before even the RPP people could get the shell out.. When he retired a locomotive (Often when it's mechinism wore out to the point it needed rebuilt) It was often the basis for being kitbashed into something else. In the first article I ever read on the Utah Belt, it said all his SD 40-2s and SD45-2s Got kitbashed into SD50s and SD60s with F45s kicking in the nose for some SD60Ms. That also demonstrates economy of materials because very little gets wasted in the process, and just goes to show how talented Eric is. It also gives me confidence that I can kitbash a few of my P2K SD60s into SDP45s (If Eric went from SD45 to SD60 why can't I go backwards?)

James.

[davekelly]

Jeff,

Excellent question which got me thinking. I wonder if the toughest thing faced by Eric is the retirement of his "outdated" engines. That takes a level of intestinal fortitude that I don't think I have. Of course I also wonder if . . . when no one's looking . . . .Eric takes those SD9's for a quick spin around the layout.[:D]

[jeffshultz]

I wonder... what does Eric do with the locomotives he retires off the Utah Belt? Something tells me those were fine running SD9s.... and I know they looked excellent.

[AntonioFP45]

GrayLoess,

Wow! I'll never call the BL2 ugly again after seeing this monstrosity! Just when I thought locomotives couldn't get uglier, yipes! Looks like a mutated switcher awaiting prey!

[peterjenkinson1956]

dannydd yep the mighty monaro lives.. allways a holden man... checked out erics articles in my folder and he was (is) a big influence on the way i model...peter

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GrayLoess

Now HERE'S one ugly chop-nose Geep![;)]

http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=30002

I guess they will go potty behind a bush [;)]

[Anonymous]

Now HERE'S one ugly chop-nose Geep![;)]

http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=30002

[AntonioFP45]

SD9: High Nose: Big Boxy Brute with style..
SD9: Low Nose: Yuck Ugly!

[Anonymous]

I can't stand the SD9, love the SD40, and adore the AC4400. [bow][bow][bow][bow][bow][bow][bow][bow]
Maybe he likes the look like I do. Why aren't all you guys who are complaining driving old cars, redone of course?????[}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)] If my model where to try to be economically viable, then It would have to serve my dinner[:P][:P][:P][:P][:P][:P][:P][:P][:P][:P]

Hi Peter, yep, the GTO was made in Australia, but we call it the Monaro. But the Clubsport Rules the Streets
(Sorry guys[#offtopic][#dots][sigh][censored][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][2c][oops]Got carried away. DD

[AntonioFP45]

Dave!

I was yanking your chain as well, guy! If the Utah Belt were mine, I'd have a couple of Alco rebuilds as "run thru" power from one of the railroads that owns them today.

Earlier this year in Tampa, my jaw fell open when a trio of locomotives, running light, cruised by my train watching spot. First two were CSX, the 3rd was an Alco RS something! It was completely white. I assumed that it was probably being transferred to an industry or musuem somewhere in Florida. Yes, Alcos still live!

[Sunset Limited]

I remember years back when Eric ran his Utah Belt F-Units, GP's,SD's and cabooses. I think it was in the Railroad Model Craftsman magazine. That's when I really like his layout. I would have gone further back in time and included passenger equipment. I model around that period. Now I respect his decision to modernize his railroad. It's his railroad! It seems that every era has a give or take situation, the choice is yours!!!
SELLOUT? No, just a modeler with a vision![^]

[davekelly]

Antonio,

I was just yanking your chain earlier. [:D][:D][:D]

Alas, I've accepted the fact that big time railroads like the Norfolk Southern, BNSF and the Utah Belt would never bring back an Alco. [sigh][sigh][sigh][sigh][sigh]

But, how about if some rich eccentric guy buys a controlling interest in the Utah Belt and then decides he doesn't care if it loses money, and he really thinks Alco's are cool looking and then he ...................... Yeah, probably not likely. Now if the government were to buy the Utah Belt.................. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Wow! How did UP wind up getting in this thread?

Student of the Big Blue Sky, it is a worthwhile issue. Why don't you post a new thread on it.

Because they just get deleted.

Now as to the Utah Belt, Exellent Model Railroad. Eric is a fantastic modeler. He is second only to Allen McClellend in his greatness. Eric, like Allen devised a concept for his railway and grounded it solidly in reality. Then stuck rigidly to that concept. Allen is only greater because he did it first. I am still trying to figure out how to build a house inwhich I can build my own GN model railroad. Ressurect the V&O Afton Divsion, and the Utah Belt and route traffic between all three. The only other thing I worry about is if Allen and Eric will have any problems with that. And the fact I would have all three set in 1969.

As for the EMD vs GE debate. Its accademic. Both companies for years have designed their engines more around what the work is to perform rather than what looks good. To illistrate my point. the SD50 looks alot like an SD60 which looks alot like an SD70. Same thing with GE. Dash 8s look alot like Dash 9s wich look alot like like the new ES44s. Beuty is hardly a consideration in design. The fact that they both came out with design asthetics that have endeared fans to them is a secondary effect and happened purely by accident.

As for Union Pacific, my hatred for how that company does business now clearly illistrates why I abandoned my old name "Grayhound Challenger"

James

[TrainFreak409]

Well, from what I've read of the Utah Belt, I am not surprised that he is adding GEs to his roster. Railroads today are doing it for various reasons, and he is reflecting that in his railroad. I understand completely why he is doing it, and I think that his railroad is one of the best I have ever seen. It's not just the operations, or how it looks, but the fact that it IS constantly changing, and upgrading for specific reasons. In my view, that is one of the characteristics of the perfect model railroad.[tup]

Now, I am not saying that I truely support his decision from the viewpoint of my interests, which don't mean anything to him, so I wouldn't get upset. But, it did touch me seeing the SD9s go. I love high nose diesels, especially the lower numbers of EMD's SD series. They are stunning locomotives, and I was sad to see them go.

Now, when it comes to the argument about which diesels look good, and which bad, and which are just down right ugly...I think for the most part, a lot of them look the same today. I like the change in design with the SD70ACe. I can actually distinguish it from other locomotives.

But, my favorites would have to be ALCo's, and Krauss-Maffeis.[8D]