What do you think is the worst (or ugliest) locomotive ever run?
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Oh, goody! Another one of these threads!
The EMD BL2, on both counts.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
i remember a nite summer 1980 in dixon il a train east bound stoped in front of depot,then started up the 2 percent hill,2 brand new gp50s. got it goin good up the hill,100 cars loaded. i thought then thats a great engine. i was wrong. i think one of gm worst was the gp50. good looking thou...
The ugliest part is a matter of taste, the worst part could be argued I'm sure. Theoretically, an SD45 or an SD50 could be considered flops due to engine problems. Maybe not as bad as some, but definitely high profile units. That doesn't mean they didn't sell well or that they were really bad, some accounts I've read of the SD45s are nothing but praise. And they are far from ugly, at least IMHO. When you factor in Baldwin, Alco, and Fairbanks-Morse, the worst part becomes wide open. I am sure people here who have actually worked with different kinds of engines can offer much more insight.
Over in the Locomotives boards, there is at least one (Ugly Locomotive) if not more threads on similar subjects. Check it out if you haven't been there yet.
GE's U36B could be considered a wrong locomotive at the wrong time. Having a 3600 horsepower, four-axle locomotive running in the early 1970's sounds like a flop to me.
As a generality, the BL-2 definitely hits both categories.
But....
The DL109 that was re-engined with EMD turned a fairly good looking locomotive into a "horrible heffalump", as one magazine put it. Definitely ugly. Most other similar conversions came out a high degree of ugly as well. The Ingalls Diesel was a face only a mother could love, too.
There were several steam-era "streamline" jobs that left a lot to be desired.
For worst I'd have to look at some of the one-offs that didn't make it, including steam. I think the Pennsy steam turbine would rate pretty high.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
IMHO, the Ugliest are probably and of the GE U Boats....
RJ
"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling
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As far as looks goes, my vote is for those GEs that had the crew cabs (not todays cabs but the ?originals) that CSX ended up with.
Century 415, both counts
CShaveRR Oh, goody! Another one of these threads! The EMD BL2, on both counts.
I tend to agree with this post,but I dont remember ever seeing one as a kid,I remember the first jeeps and I thot they didnt even look like a loco. I wanted them F7's to come back..
According to "Trains mag" The EMD E's were the worst...
CF7 has to be one of the ugliest.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
tree68For worst I'd have to look at some of the one-offs that didn't make it, including steam. I think the Pennsy steam turbine would rate pretty high.
From what I understand, the Pennsy S-2 did meet some of its design objectives in that it was more efficient than a reciprocating steam locomotives at speeds greater than 70 MPH. The problem was that the Pennsy's trains probably spent a majority of the time at speeds less than 70, and even more so fater 1948 when the Pennsy decided against equipping the Ft Wayne division with cab signals or ATC.
I kinda liked the looks of the S-2.
In modern times, the worst diesel has to be the 256H-engined SD90MAC. All of UP's are being scrapped.
EMD's early-1980s 645F GP/SD 50s weren't highly praised, though many GP/SD 50s are still on the rails 25+ years later.
Some historical examples:
EMD's early 1960s SD24s and GP/SD35s could be considered bad because of their complicated electrical systems to support the output of the turbocharged 567D, though many of these locos managed to outlive early GE U-boats thanks to rebuilding.
UP's GE-built 8,500hp "Big Blow" turbines. Very, very noisey and poor fuel miliage compared to diesels.
SP's Krauss-Maffei Diesel Hydraulics
Alco C855 double diesel
GE U50C double diesel. These tended to catch fire due to faulty wiring and suffered from cracked truck-frames.and then their's the various experiments with steam-turbines in the 1940s
Beauty and "ugliness" are both in the eye of the beholder, but for me the products of FM and Alco are the ugliest (especially FM)...and as far as the worst performing, I have to say the U.P. turbines come to mind, but I am far from an authority on the subject of unit availability (which is how they are likely evaluated by railroads, along with cost of operation per ton/mile).
I'll try to base this on a mechanical basis (appearance is too subjective and not really relevant).
Steam: VGN Triplex, too much machinery, not enough boiler; or D&H 1403, very efficient use of steam but a mechanical nightmare.
Diesel: Alco C855 or GE U50C.
Boyd CF7 has to be one of the ugliest.
Oooo, excellent pick for the ugliest motor on rails! Couldn't agree more with that tiny frame haulin' about that gargantuan cranium
I'm going to nominate the MLW M630 and M636 for number two spot...both of these high power behemoths did not meet carrier expectations from the get go. But those engines were good looking at least, and from a railfan standpoint fun to watch...lots of smoke to go along with the cadenz of the engine... These locos convinced one loyal MLW customer, BC Rail, to switch over to EMD...and they probably had alot to do with why almost all new locomotive purchases in Canada up until the early 90s were EMD.
Number one spot...MLW's last gasp at building locomotives for the North American market...the HR...High Reliability series which apparently were anything but. These locomotives were ugly too thanks to CN's insistance on the "Draper Taper"...can't even buy a scale model of one of those...
I agree with the BL2 being one of the most unsuccessful diesels built. The SD50 was also one of the most unsuccessful engines built. When EMD built the SD50 and failed, GE pounced with the Dash 8 and has dominated the locomotive market ever since. The SD50 was a huge turning point in locomotive building.
As for ugliest, the CN C40-8Ms are pretty bad. It is hard to believe cowl bodied F45s looked so good yet it looks so ugly on the C40-8M. I think the 4-window design is what does it...
chad thomas As far as looks goes, my vote is for those GEs that had the crew cabs (not todays cabs but the ?originals) that CSX ended up with.
Wagontop or Topeka Cab worked hard and certainly was better than a DeWitt Jeep, CRIP's Christine, Buffaloes or a Crandall Cab.
(The Mexicans had the really wierd San Luis Potosi rebuilds)
My candidate: Alco's Century-855
Only three got sold, all to UP. Despite all the work Alco put into the new Century designs, these things really bombed, right from the first time the customer pulled a train with them.
Built and delivered in 1964, all went out of service in 1970, scrapped in 1971.
What a shame--they look great in HO brass.
garyla My candidate: Alco's Century-855 Only three got sold, all to UP. Despite all the work Alco put into the new Century designs, these things really bombed, right from the first time the customer pulled a train with them. Built and delivered in 1964, all went out of service in 1970, scrapped in 1971. What a shame--they look great in HO brass.
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
Ahh yes, the BQ23-7.
I don't know if Alco made the mistake of using aluminum wire in the wrong places, but I recall that that was the source of a ton of trouble on GE's U50C. That was another great-looking locomotive design (at least in my opinion) which didn't work too well either. It had a remarkable record of catching fire, and didn't stay in service very many years.
The ugliest loco has to be the EMD BL1 and BL2's.
The worst engine ever built was the Erie triplex 2-8-8-8-2. It could not keep up steam. Was totally useless both as a road engine and in helper service. Also the Krauss Mauffei and Alco C643 diesle hydraulics. Both too complicated and required way too much maintenance. In the shops more than on the road making money.
anything that says GE on the builder plate
Well a Great Northern P-1 Mountain & tender was pretty goofy looking:
Yet the follow-up P-2 was a very handsome machine:
My vote goes to the Baldwain Centipedes, had to be the mechanical forces worst nightmare. And definitely would not win any beauty contests.
Al - in - Stockton
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