Probably been asked before... which was the ugliest diesel (by generation)

[SD60M]

These are the loco's i cant stand. The list is long but there were so many ugly engines!

1. U50

2. BL2

3. CF7

4. GP50L L is for looks really wierd!

5. All alcos they dont look right to me

6.F40PH

7. 3 window SD60M's but the 2 windows look awsome

8. Dash-9's and AC4400CW's i have seen way to many and i cant stand them!

[joseph2]

Amtrak #59 was a European import I saw in an Indiana scrapyard. It may have been a turbine,looks like a beetle.   Joe

[Cheese]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

Never was much of a fan of GP30s (but those are still ok), GP50Ls and 3 window SD60Ms.

With a face only a mother could love

Fergie

The high hood GP30's look "cool" (IMHO)

 

I agree,

My local shortline, the Carolina Southern, has a High Hood GP30. It was a Southern unit, and when it was bought for the Wacamaw Coast Line (now part of Carolina Southern), it was left in the Southern scheme, but the words were painted over. Not well though, as you can still see them.

When bought by the Carolina Southern the Wacamaw Coast Line emblem on the front of the hoods were painted over, but, as with the Southern lettering, you can still see them.

Its not my favorite unit on the CS, but its close.

Cheese

[Gandy Dancer]

5. All alcos they dont look right to me

That seems a strange statement since the Alco's were so diverse from the most boxy to the most streamlined.  It also seems you would mention Alco and not Baldwin, FM or Plymouth, etc., now there were some strange looking locos.

Of course making a list is not specifying the ugliest. 

[AntonioFP45]

Wow! Haven't seen this thread in a while but here's my update:

Those "Green goat" things:  ULTRA, MEGA YEECH! 

Also agree with the sentiments regarding the 3-piece windshielded SD60s. The teardrop "cowl" style windshields were a big improvement.

CF7- Yep, looks like a mutated LEGO cluster.

Now just a minute! Who said U50 AND U-Boats???? Ugly?   Come on now.....I've always felt that these locomotives looked like they were "solid muscle".  Those U-Boats had, as described, that "Dick Tracy" pug face that connoted "Tough and No nonsense" (especially at grade crossings collisions!) 

O.K, back to ripping on diesels!

[Anonymous]

The GE 44 tonner gets my vote. Reminds me of the Pushme-Pullyou from the original Dr. Dolittle.

 

Here's a pushme-pullyou that lived a long life. Some people flock to take a ride in it. Yecchh.

Type 5, First Gen. UK, made by English Electric or the old Vulcan Works.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:40142_-_edinburgh_-_sep_1977.jpg

I can take the BL-2, ALCOs are the closest thing to a smokey steam engine I've got left and GeePs -- well. They just work.

 If that Brit diesel isn't bad enough I'm sure there's a photo of an old Soviet diesel (or Vodka-powered) that would do the trick...

:)

Ignatius 

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

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.     

[METRO]

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

 

Cheers!

~METRO 

 

[Cannoli]

I think the only locos I'd call ugly are the current crop of modern units from GE and EMD. They are just to common place and very similar in looks to me, then again, I was never a wide nose fan. The current SD70's and ES40's don't do much for me. I prefer the slightly older "modern" loco's such as the C40-8. As for the BL2, it's so different that I love it! My layout currently rosters two of them.

[cwclark]

I'd have to say the Alco RS low nose series of diesels were the ugliest diesels.

[Gandy Dancer]

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. 

I have to agree there.  I had considered that loco for the ugliest, BUT because it was a one-of-a-kind I discounted it.  If one considers the single unit abominations that the loco shops came up with they would probably win all the prizes. Note that three of METROs selections are one-offs.  The CF7 is a home built, but they made bunches of them so I think that is a valid "vote" for ugly.  Ditto for the GP9M built in Paducah.

[jblackwelljr]

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

[myred02]

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.

-Brandon

[tomikawaTT]

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)

[Cannoli]

I just did a search on Google for pics of  U50, I had never seen one until today. Now that I have, it defiantely gets my vote as ugly! I had previously mentioned that I'm not a fan of the SD70's and ES44's, but they are much better looking than the U50, that thing is a brute!

[accord1959]

Definately has to be the GE U50C. Only a mother could love that and since it doesn't have one....

[steemtrayn]

No comment.....

 Did anybody mention the BQ23-7?

 

[accord1959]

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!

[Cannoli]

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.

 

[Dave-the-Train]

No comment.....

 Did anybody mention the BQ23-7?

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?

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

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.   

[Paul3]

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
************

[Gandy Dancer]

No comment.....

photo of RS-3 rebuld deleted. 

The ultimate "hang dog" look?  A look the Chrystler corporation is trying to replicate on their vehicles so no one will call them cute.  Of course they don't seem to realize that "not cute" is usually closer to "ugly" than it is to "mean" or "cool".

What's also of interest is that strange box around the exhaust stack in the turbo-area.

I interpreted it as some sort of winterization feature.

[myred02]

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

 

[bpickering]

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. 

[hogheadmt]

 I'd have to say the BL-2 is the ugliest. (I keep thinkng there's gotta be an engine under that (front) "hood".)  The GE U50 is second in line....makes me think of a Great Lakes ore boat on wheels.

[Hudson]

Definitely the Baldwin "Babyface". First gen.

 

[jackmp294]

I would agree with most with it the BL-2 being the ugliest, but then most of the CF7's are in second place, and the ALCO C-855. But what about the nose on those MK5000. That barks at the moon. But they did sound good with that CAT power. Jackmp294

[snagletooth]

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

 

Yea, I understand it was so technically advanced it could wipe out an entire fleet of cabooses in the State of Florida in one strike!

[Renegade1c]

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.