Lord Atmo wrote:EMD all the way. GEs always have noselights, which are really ugly on widecabs. of course i also loathe SD60Ms, SD60MACs, SD60Is, and especially SD60Fs beyond all belief. i drew how i see them to better explain why i think this way:freaky mutant locomotives. ugh
Thats not an SD50F bud.....
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
Here is what happens to old Geeps. (Hint - they just get repainted).
http://www.trainweb.org/sp5623/index.htm
midwestfan wrote:EMD is STILL the best. No question. GE may build them cheaper and quicker but in the end EMD still comes out the winner. Has anyone noticed there is little to no market for used GE's ? There seems to be a demand in Central and South America but those roads are obviously looking for cheap power and that's what they are getting. Cheap power and junk all at the same time. But there is very little demand for GE's used junk here. GE locomotives start out as junk and get worse as they get older. Just scrap all the old GE's and send them to their death in a blast furnace. GE couldn't build a quality locomotive if it TRIED. LONG LIVE EMD !!!!!!
OK...just for the sake of argument, what is so bad about GE locomotives? Just because other countries don't want them doesn't meen they're bad engines. Although, some countries do have GEs: Ferromex has AC4400CWs, and Pilbara Rail has AC6000s. And yes...even though you say there's no need for GEs in South America, Argentina did (and may still) operate GEs...so even though you consider them as "junk", a lot of railroads use them...Even Alaska's White Pass diesels are GE, made especially for them! Just think back to the Popsicle and diesel-hydraulic experiments that never got off the ground...if GEs aren't good, then why do all of our major class I railroads have them (thousands of them)? I still haven't seen one "shoot fire", though it does happen (once in a great great while).
SD60MAC9500 wrote:Lord Atmo your not the spelling bee champ yourself... definitely
Come on, give him a break, his keyboard could have stuck or something.
Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.
I'm not intentionally bashing. It just seems like 90% of your posts are complaining in some way, shape or form. I'm honestly curious why you hang out at a railfan place when it seems like most railroading causes you grief. It doesn't seem like much of a gratifying hobby to me.
To each their own, I guess. Personally, I think I'd try to hook up with some other railfans in your area. Maybe you could hitch a ride with someone else and get a little more out of the hobby.
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Not so, Conrail and NS units have headlights!
Give me a TRAIN-MASTER!
CopCarSS wrote: To each their own, I guess. Personally, I think I'd try to hook up with some other railfans in your area. Maybe you could hitch a ride with someone else and get a little more out of the hobby.
About three years ago this issue came up on a forum about steam versus diesel.There was a CSX engineer on the forum and some others that were knowledgeable about the performance of EMD and GE locomotives.It was hands down that GE made a better locomotive.Reliability was an issue, but what I remember most is that the GE would outperform the EMD by a good margin when they had similar or identical horsepower ratings.They sounded like they knew what they were talking about but I can't verify their statements as being honest or true
Terry
Lord Atmo wrote: CopCarSS wrote: in terms of success, GE wins. how many roads purchased the AC4400CW? Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Atchkinson Topeka and Santa Fe, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern (did they? i'm not sure on that one), Canadian Pacific, and Chicago & North Western. and i'm sure other roads also bought it. quite the purchase. then compare that to how many roads bought the SD90s. just Union Pacific.
CopCarSS wrote:
To compare AC4400 to SD90's is like comparing a Chevy Truck to a Toyota Camry, different animals. Also Santa Fe never bought AC4400's and I don't think that NS did either.
Bert
An "expensive model collector"
You can't compare the SD90MAC to the AC4400CW. SD9043s aside, they're in two different classes. If you want to compare SD90MACs against a GE product, you're looking for the AC6000CW. How many railroads run those? UP, and I think CSX. I don't know if BNSF runs them, they might, but I'm not sure.
UP and CP both had SD90MAC-Hs.
but what I remember most is that the GE would outperform the EMD by a good margin when they had similar or identical horsepower ratings.
What a bunch of horse hockey.
.
I like both, really... I do have a soft spot for the RS-3, however.
I absolutely love SD40-2's for some reason... But, then a nice pair of C40-8's can catch my eye too. Love SD70's and AC4400's ....
So, EMD, or GE.... makes no difference to me...
Lord Atmo wrote:my guess is MRL has a lot of snowy areas on their line in the winter. thing is with noselights, they get hot and that's no good for crewmembers standing on the porch when the train is pulling into a yard etc.
Perhaps, but when a crewman wants to warm his hands after holding on to grabirons for the last hour, the noselight works great! And there's no glare on the top of the locomotive's nose.
zardoz,
I was just about to say the same thing myself.
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