Top 10 diesels

[Murphy Siding]

     At the bottom of some of the pages is an offer to subscribe to Trains Magazine and receive a copy of Trains Magazine's Top 10 Diesels.  Now, this looks interesting, pondering which would be the top 10, and in what order.  My list would look something like this:

1) FT units

     FT units make my list, because they were the locomotives that proved that diesels could be built that could haul freight trains.

2) GP7/9

3)  SD40 / SD40-2

4) Alco RS1 / 2 / 3

5) SW series switcher

6) F uits

7) E units

8) U25

9) Alco PA

10) GP30 / 35

 

 

[ericsp]

What criteria are you using? I think that there were significantly more GP9s built than GP7s (I am partial to the GP9s since SP had those but no GP7s, although SSW did have one GP7).

Don't forget to include the SD40T-2 with the SD40/SD40-2.

[nanaimo73]

Perhaps the Alco S2 switcher instead of the EMD SWs.

I would include the SD60MAC in the top ten, even though there were only 4 of them.

[Murphy Siding]

     Boy are you guys fast.  Of course, I have absolutely no clue who is on here at any given time!  My criteria is, the 10 I like best!  I'd explain why, but I'll do that later.

[ericsp]

     Boy are you guys fast.  Of course, I have absolutely no clue who is on here at any given time!  My criteria is, the 10 I like best!  I'd explain why, but I'll do that later.

That is the best criteria.

Here is my top ten.

1) SD40T-2 (short nose)

2) SD45T-2

3) SD40T-2 (long nose)

4) GP9

5) GP60

6) GP40-2

7) SW1500

8) GP38-2

9) GP20

10) 8-39B

[tomnoy3]

Let me start off by saying Im only 19, so forgive me if I dont list any classics.  I can only like what I know, and I can only know what Ive seen, right?  Order is just newest to oldest, most of them being UP designations.

1. C45ACCTE

2. SD70ACE

3. C44ACCTE

4. C60AC

5. SD90MAC II

6. SD90MAC

7. SD70M II

8. SD70M

9. C44-9W

10. SD60M

[Lord Atmo]

easy

1. SD60
2. SD45
3. SD40T-2
4. SD45T-2
5. SD40
6. GP60
7. GP40
8. GP38-2
9. C40-8
10. C41-8

[Murphy Siding]

Perhaps the Alco S2 switcher instead of the EMD SWs.

I would include the SD60MAC in the top ten, even though there were only 4 of them.

     OK.  "What do you mean SD60MAC is included in the top 10!!!  They never got their picture on bubblegum cards did they???" (Paraphrasing Lucy Van Pelt from Peanuts).  What is it about SDMACs, that would put them in the top 10?

[n012944]

Perhaps the Alco S2 switcher instead of the EMD SWs.

I would include the SD60MAC in the top ten, even though there were only 4 of them.

     OK.  "What do you mean SD60MAC is included in the top 10!!!  They never got their picture on bubblegum cards did they???" (Paraphrasing Lucy Van Pelt from Peanuts).  What is it about SDMACs, that would put them in the top 10?

 

They were the 1st of the AC units, and started the trend to go AC for coal trains. 

 

Bert

[eolafan]

My list would include (not in order of preference):

E units (just about any of them with the E9 being at the top of the sub-list)

F units (ditto above)

F45/FP45

DDA40X and the other "monster UP units.

SD45 in all variations

SD7 and SD9

GP7 and GP9

GP40 (and dash 2 variant)

SDP40F

F40 (original version)

I would like to take the liberty of adding an eleventh model, the GP60/GP60B, which to me are the modern version of an F7 A-B combination and have a bit of a "bulldog" look as it were.

[nanaimo73]

Perhaps the Alco S2 switcher instead of the EMD SWs.

I would include the SD60MAC in the top ten, even though there were only 4 of them.

     OK.  "What do you mean SD60MAC is included in the top 10!!!  They never got their picture on bubblegum cards did they???" (Paraphrasing Lucy Van Pelt from Peanuts).  What is it about SDMACs, that would put them in the top 10?

They were the 1st of the AC units, and started the trend to go AC for coal trains.

Bert

They delivered more than promised, and they were a big improvement for unit train operations.

[Murphy Siding]

Perhaps the Alco S2 switcher instead of the EMD SWs.

I would include the SD60MAC in the top ten, even though there were only 4 of them.

     OK.  "What do you mean SD60MAC is included in the top 10!!!  They never got their picture on bubblegum cards did they???" (Paraphrasing Lucy Van Pelt from Peanuts).  What is it about SDMACs, that would put them in the top 10?

They were the 1st of the AC units, and started the trend to go AC for coal trains.

Bert

They delivered more than promised, and they were a big improvement for unit train operations.

     Then, perhaps it appears they deserve to be on bubble gum cars afterall.

[CShaveRR]

Do bubble-gum cars go chew-chew?

I think this book is probably based on an article that appeared in the Magazine a while back.

[edblysard]

SW 9

SD 9 (ride one and you will see why!)

RS2 and 3...pull, pull and pull some more.

GP30...because I like the looks.

GP38...how many are still switching.

SD40, -2, -T2 all of them work horses others tried to imitate.

(personal opinion, the most sucessful of them all, still big fleets running around, and still being rebuilt for lease in big numbers)

GP 60

GP 60 B, together, the last sensible GP set up.

E 8/9. Elegant, clean.

B30-7A...GE's cabless booster...headed for their second life in South America.

[Anonymous]

Murphy:

Check out the October, 2002 issue of Trains Magazine.

E-3,4,5&6
FT's
S1&S2
GP7
U25B
SD40-2
SD45
8-40C
9-44CW
SD70MAC

[Murphy Siding]

Perhaps the Alco S2 switcher instead of the EMD SWs.

     I'd pick the SWs over the S2s, for the simple fact that there is aan SW switcher behind every grain elevator for 200 miles around me.

[edblysard]

The SW...kinda like a old Chevy farm pick up...everybody has one stashed out back somewhere, just in case!

[cr6479]

Here is my list:

1) ALCO

2) F UNITS

3) GP38-2

4) GP40-2

5) SD40-2

6) SD60,SD60I,SD60M

7) SD70,SD70I,SD70M

8) SD80

9) SD90

10) GEVO's

[Anonymous]

1) SD70MAC

2) SD70ACE

3) SD90MAC

4) ES44AC

5) SD60  "Oakways"

6) SD60M

7) SD40-2

8) GP50

9) GP38

10) SD9

[bnsfkline]

SD70ACe

SD70M-2

SD40T-2 Snoot

SD40-2

GP35

GP39-2

SD35

SD45T-2

SD40-2R

NREX 9502 (The Tunnel Motor turned conventional hood)

[Hugh Jampton]

I was a bit bored at work and I found this list on t'internet which I thought would start a mass debate.

I think the list is about 15 years old, but I wonder if any of the modern power even comes close to these numbers.

 

Top 10 diesels (well 15 really) by number built;

Manufacturer	Model	Start Date	End Date	No. Built
EMD	GP9	Jan.54	Dec.59	4092
EMD	SD40-2	Jan.72	Feb.86	3957
EMD	F7(A&B)	Feb.49	Dec.53	3849
EMD	GP7	Oct.49	May.54	2724
EMD	F3(A&B)	Jul.45	Feb.49	1807
ALCO	S-2	Apr.40	Jun.50	1502
ALCO	RS-3	May.50	Aug.56	1370
EMD	GP35	Oct.63	Jan.66	1313
EMD	SD40	Jan.66	Dec.71	1275
EMD	SD45	Feb.65	Dec.71	1260
EMD	GP40	Nov.65	Dec.71	1243
EMD	NW2	Feb.39	Dec.49	1143
GE	C30-7	Sep.76	Feb.85	1137
EMD	GP40-2	Apr.72	Nov.86	1131
EMD	SW1200	Jan.54	May.66	1024

 

[nanaimo73]

 I think the list is about 15 years old, but I wonder if any of the modern power even comes close to these numbers.

I believe the AC4400CW ended with something like 2924 units.

Kalmbach's roster book says-

GP9 4979 EMD, 646 GMD = 5625

 

[Anonymous]

I'm more of a modern guy, and I like a lot of the oddball, not mass-produced units:

1. SD80MAC

2. FP45

3. SD50

4. SD70ACe

5. SD40-2

6. P42

7. GP38-2

8. SD70

9. GP60

10. E9A

[wctransfer]

1. SD45
2. SD40
3. F45
4. GP30
5. F3/7
6. SD60/M
7. C40-8
8. GP 9
9. SD40-2s
10. GP38-2

[TH&B]

GP 9

SD 40

Deltics

E 3

SD 9

Alco Switchers

RS 3

C630 (smoke, smoke, smoke, and more smoke)

V200

FM Trainmasters

 

All based on looks and sounds.

[Renegade1c]

1) Alco RS-3

2) GE 44-ton switcher

3) Alco S-2

4) Alco PA-1/PB-1

5) EMD low nose GP-7

6) EMD SD-40T-2

7) EMD SD70ACe

8) EMD SD-7/9

9) EMD GP-40-2

10) EMD GP-40

[PBenham]

OK At the 10 spot GE's best looking u-boat the U25B (phaseIIl) 9th; the F7s (preferably Lehigh Valley's) 8th; FA/B1s No need to say whose are the best, now do we? 7th BL2s, which need some love. 6th E7s, so many of 'em in so many great schemes from B&M's minuteman to PRR five stripe in Brunswick Green or Tuscan. 5th FPA4s in the original CN GM styling scheme they were delivered in! 4th C420s again do I have to say that LV 404-415 are the best expression of these? 3rd AC6000CWs, because they sound like Alcos, smoke like Alcos and off crews like Alcos, too! 2nd FL9s in the NH scheme they were delivered in. And the best? Anyone that reads my posts ought to know that the finest expression of diesel locomotive I have ever seen are the Lehigh Valley's PAs. I wish i'd seen the NHs, Erie's, Nickel Plate's (perhaps if Doyle McCormick can do the seemingly impossible) and NYCs in Lightning stripes, of course!!

[SchemerBob]

It's kind of hard to assemble a list of my top 10 diesels, from the best to the not-as-good, because there's not really any train locomotive I dislike (except a few maglevs and rediculous things like that). Although, I know what one of my favorites is: the EVOLUTIONS! Second would probably be the SD70ACe's, even though I haven't seen one yet....but, they look neat. All my other favorites follow them, though I don't really know where I'd put them on the list.

 

[edbenton]

For me it would have to go something like this. 1 the diesel that did it the FT 2 would have to be the GP 60 the entire line.  Santa Fe used those to pull the hottest of the hot known *** the 199-198 trains and the eastbound counterpart 991-891.  3. The B-40-8 and the wide cab verison also see previous one for why.  4. The F40PH  for 20 years they pulled whatever trains Amtrak needed them to pull.  5.  The SD70MAC 3 of those bad boys will pull the heaviest coal train that you can throw at them.  6. The PA-1 the onl engine to be declared a honerary steam locomotive.  7. the F 3-7-0 series Santa Fe used them to pull the Super Cheif need I say more.  8.  The GP-7 when designed it was not supposed to be a mainline locomotive per EMD tell that to the RR.  9. Dash-9 Outsold the SD-70 2 to one need I say more.  10. The U-25 This one locomotive introduced more improvments than anyother til the MACs

[Murphy Siding]

     I had to re-post my list of 10, as the new forum doesn't like me yet.