The California Zephyr always used conventional equipment.
neil300 wrote:I think he is refering to the original articulated streamliner.
I think he is refering to the original articulated streamliner.
Renegade1c wrote: Zodiac Thriller wrote:Hello I am new here and I will saythat the ugliest engine in general is the California ZepherThere was never an engine called the California Zephyr. This was the name of several passenger trains (full trains) that ran from San Fransisco to Chicago, via Denver.
Zodiac Thriller wrote:Hello I am new here and I will saythat the ugliest engine in general is the California Zepher
There was never an engine called the California Zephyr. This was the name of several passenger trains (full trains) that ran from San Fransisco to Chicago, via Denver.
myred02 wrote: The BQ23-7? Ah yes... the Aegis Class Cruiser! See the similarities?This would probably get my vote for second... or it would tie with that "RS-3" you have there...Apparently, once CSX got them they kept them in operation into the late 90's. -Brandon
The BQ23-7? Ah yes... the Aegis Class Cruiser!
See the similarities?
This would probably get my vote for second... or it would tie with that "RS-3" you have there...
Apparently, once CSX got them they kept them in operation into the late 90's.
-Brandon
Nice.... I'll have to remember that one.
but yeah, that RS3 has my vote. Initially, i figured all diesels have their charms, even if they are boxy, rusty, and ancient, but the way they did the windows on that RS3, and how they left the top of the round roof, its just weird.
Modeling Conrail, Amtrak and NJ DOT under the wires in New Jersey, July 1979.
EMD SD-50 gets my vote for least aesthetic -- it's just a long rectangular box with a cab and a nose. B-o-r-i-n-g. Maybe that doesn't qualify as ugly, but it's an utterly mediocre and forgettable design. To me that's worse than ugly.
P.S. To put that assessment in perspective, I really like the BL-2. I own three of them. (My wife says that from the front they look like a sad puppy dog.)
steemtrayn wrote:No comment..... Did anybody mention the BQ23-7?
No comment.....
Did anybody mention the BQ23-7?
The Canadian Pacific had some downright wierd looking engines, their RS3Ms were absolute buchery (notice they even cut the multimark in half!) but by no means was this their only oddball:
The FM Trainmaster "Ram Heads"
The SD10 (chopped nose hunched back SD7)
The M640 (biggest Alco CP owned, check out the weird radiator area)
Not all are completely ugly but wierd none the less, gotta love quirky railroads.
Cheers!
~METRO
bush9245 wrote:I have always considered the VR double ended GM locos ugly. Not when seen by themselves, but when connected to a train because it looks like the cab that should be facing forward is facing the carriages. And then if double heading it looks like they don't know which way they are going.
I always thought the VR RT 'Rail Tractor' was a strange beast. For those who have never heard of it, imagine a short 2 axle flat car, with a tractor engine, and an oversized cab. Then, to make it stand out even more paint it bright yellow! But despite being ugly, 54 of them were built, and many continue to survive where more 'beautiful' deisels have been scrapped or sold to tourist railways.
For a picture, go to http://home.waterfront.net.au/~sem/locos.htm#RT
For US deisels, the BL has to be top of the list for me. Followed closely by the Baldwin DT6-6-2000 which the EJ&E had, which looks like a GE44 Tonner on steroids. Ulgy, but still very interesting none the less - strangely compelling!
Go to railpictures.net and select the Baldwin DT6-6-2000 from Locomotive type list to see a photo or two.
James Stanford
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
myred02 wrote: steemtrayn wrote: No comment..... Did anybody mention the BQ23-7? The BQ23-7? Ah yes... the Aegis Class Cruiser! See the similarities?This would probably get my vote for second... or it would tie with that "RS-3" you have there...Apparently, once CSX got them they kept them in operation into the late 90's. -Brandon
steemtrayn wrote: No comment..... Did anybody mention the BQ23-7?
Definitely the Baldwin "Babyface". First gen.
accord1959 wrote:Definately has to be the GE U50C. Only a mother could love that and since it doesn't have one....
What? The U50C doesn't have anything on the Alco C-855.
NE Railfan picture
I want one, though. Darn hard to find, even in brass.
steemtrayn wrote: No comment.....photo of RS-3 rebuld deleted.
photo of RS-3 rebuld deleted.
Paul3 wrote:What's also of interest is that strange box around the exhaust stack in the turbo-area.
Remember folks, that an RS-1 has more of a square profile with riveted construction, and the cab has a little lip overhang on the cab ends. The fuel tank is under the cab and the battery boxes are under the frame.
An RS-2 also has the below-cab fuel tank and underframe batteries, but is of welded construction. It has a much more rounded profile at the corners and no roof overhang on the cab ends.
The RS-3 looks like an RS-2 (welded, rounded, no overhang), but has above the frame battery boxes, and has a below the frame fuel tank.
This makes CPRail #8460 a chop-nose RS-3 (note the battery boxes next to the nose), sort of like an anti-Hammerhead. What's also of interest is that strange box around the exhaust stack in the turbo-area.
BTW, CP wasn't the only one to do this to an RS-3. I think Alaska RR did something similar.
Paul A. Cutler III************Weather Or No Go New Haven************
On another thread, forum members were mentioning how they disliked visitors calling their models "cute".
A model of one of several prototypes in this thread would be a potential cure for that situation.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Got to comment on this one! (Just so we get another look at it! )
That's not ugly... it's just wearing flip-up shades over specs!
Where can I get one?
...and are any of the BQ23-7s still available?
accord1959 wrote: steemtrayn wrote: No comment..... Did anybody mention the BQ23-7? That is the ugliest mod I've ever seen, is it a modified RS1? It's so ugly it almost looks good!
Looks like it started out life as an RS3 to me. I can't find any further info on this particular loco but the # previous in the series, 8459, is an RS3 at least it was accordign to this.
As for the BQ23-7, I forgot about that one, had a Bachman model very early into my model railroading life. Here's a photo of one painted in CSX livery.
Modeling the fictional B&M Dowe, NH branch in the early 50's.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
The absolute plug-ugliest diesel-engined locomotive of all time was not a production unit. It was an unsanctified marriage of a geared locomotive chassis and a high-capacity diesel engine (possibly from a piece of construction machinery) wrapped in corrugated sheet iron reminiscent of a dirt farmer's chicken house. Some Pacific Coast logging operation inflicted it on the unsuspecting forest.
Don't remember where I saw this thing, and don't have a specific reference - just the memory of a black-and-white photo that still sticks (sideways) in my aesthetic intake chute.
The 4 and 5 ton 4-wheel industrial tram locos used by the Kiso Forest Railway are a distant second.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
jkroft wrote:To anyone who said the BL-2............you KNOW you'd be fascinated if you saw a real one in- person running today.
Not only have I seen one running in person, but I also took a cab ride in one! Sure it's ugly, but it's got class. Plus, it just sounds cool (thanks to a leaky ol' EMD 567B prime mover).
That's me with my arm out the conductor's side window.
As for the ugliest diesel, I'll vote for the U50. It's big, it's powerful, and it's ugly.
bush9245 wrote:Dave,Thanks for starting this thread. I had never heard of BL2 or Ingalls. I reckon the BL2 gets my vote. That is ugly!!! Of course that paint scheme enhances the ugliness. Thanks for sharing that one.http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/monon35.jpg
One word comes to mind on that Monon #35.....platypus
Heartland Division CBnQ wrote:Now, if you want a really ugly engine, think back to pre-WWII. Santa Fe's orginal road passnger diesels were units 1 and 1A. They were box cabs built by EMC and hauled the original Super Chief with heavyweight cars. Santa Fe shops abominated the units with some incredibly ugly creations. Other re-builds followed, but the 1938 rebuilt #1 resulted in a rarely attained level of ugliness. They raised the cab to a high level and installed curved sheet metal across the nose.
Alright here's my update:
First Generation:
Winner: Reading's experimental Baldwin #60
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/rdg/rdg60s.jpg
Runner Up: Frisco's RS2M
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/slsf/slsf553.jpg
Second Generation:
Winner: SOO's SD40B
http://www.sooline.org/publications/drawings/locomotives/SD40_SD402/6450.gif
Runner Up: The SDP-45
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nw/nw6668ags.jpg
Third Generation:
Winner: Long Island's DE30
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/li/li418l.jpg
Runner Up: Utah Railway's (by way of SP) MK5000C
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-u/utah5005cqc.jpg
Special Category, So Ugly They're Cool:
Winner: Alco RSD15 High Hood
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/pc/pc6816ags.jpg
Runner Up: CP's FM Trainmaster Ram-Heads
http://members.shaw.ca/cprclc1/TMPics/CP8901_Nelson_Oct7-1957.jpg
Why is everyone picking on BL2's? They are much more stylish than the more common GP7's and GP9's. Now had GM installed Cadillac styled tail fins, you'd have a valid compalint. However, as built, BL2's aren't bad looking in my opinion.
Now, if you want a really ugly engine, think back to pre-WWII. Santa Fe's orginal road passnger diesels were units 1 and 1A. They were box cabs built by EMC and hauled the original Super Chief with heavyweight cars. Santa Fe shops abominated the units with some incredibly ugly creations. Other re-builds followed, but the 1938 rebuilt #1 resulted in a rarely attained level of ugliness. They raised the cab to a high level and installed curved sheet metal across the nose. Its lead truck was changed from 2 axle to six axle. For a period of time the rear 2 axle truck was retained. They applied the war bonnet paint scheme to the unit. It was quite a sight. Even with a war bonnet, it was ugly looking.
More recently (1970's and 1980's), some of the railroad shop's made yard slug units from old road diesels. You could enter one of those slugs in the ugly contest and have a potential winner.