QUOTE: Originally posted by jerzyjak As A former Conrail Locomotive Engineer I think the Best Locomotives of all times were the EMD gp40-2 or the EMD sd40-2 they did everything well I think 3000 HP units are the best as far as building blocks to power trains lets say you have 4 3000 hp Locomotives on a Train 12000 hp total and an Engine fails on route well you still have 3/4 of the power that you needed to get the train over the road, Now lets up the ante to 4000hp locomotives now you just need 3 Locomotives to make the 12000hp and say you one unit dies on you well now you have 2/3 of what you need and if you are on hilly terrain you might be in real trouble now lets go to the new modern 6000 hp units where you need just 2 locomotives to make 12000 hp and now lets say 1 unit goes down you are now running with 1/2 the power you need you can be up the creek with out a paddle.so more hp is not always the best way to go also with 4 3000 hp 6 axle Locomotives you have the 12000 hp div in to 48 wheels that is 250 hp per wheel on a 12000 hp train with 2 6000 hp units 1t would be 12000 div. by 24 wheels or 500 hp per wheel so with the lower hp units with power divided to more wheel you would have much more tractive effort.
QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer The first train I rode was pulled by an A-B-A set of PAs.I was only 9 years old,but fortunately, my grandfather took movies out the window[8D]. This was in 1961 on the San Joaquin Daylight [:)]. I am also a fan of the FM TrainMaster[:D]. ALCo ALCo ALCo ALCo ALCo ALCo ALCo