Favorite 1st generation Diesel Loco.

[Anonymous]

Nothing can beat a bulldog nose!

My favourite first generation diesels are EMD's E and F models.
Elegant body styling plus superb engine sound - that's why!

GM all the way - any day!
Offsetman

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

I have a question for the Alco fans out there. If Alco's were so good, Why did the Company go out of business???
TIM A

Tim
They started good but then there engines (later models) didn't perform and were very high maintence costs.Thats why ge and gm surpassed them.
stay safe[:0]
joe

[eolafan]

I would also vote for any of the "bulldog" nosed EMD E and F units, but most notably the FL-9. While waiting for my MU car train to take me into Manhattan in the early 1970's I couldn't wait until an express from up North of White Plains, NY would come through my then home town of Tuckahoe with an express at 50 mph plus, wow was I impressed and this caused me to become a confirmed FOAMER for the rest of my life.

[Trainnut484]

My favs is between Santa Fe's F3, F7, E8, and Alco PA[^]

[ironhorseman]

I'm not exactly sure what "1st Generation" means exactly, but gathering the era related to all of the above mentioned locomotives, I would place my vote, based on raw data and asthetics, on the Alco RS-2. I also like the RSD-15 low nose version and the C-628. I don't know if these qualify as 1st generation.

[Anonymous]

ALCO DL-109

[Anonymous]

After speending the past seven years working on the ALCO's,GE's, and of course the EMD's the one thing that I can say is they all present much the same challanges ,but when it comes to pure noise and the sound of tamed power I would go with the ALCO's in any loco or engine configuration.
I have most recently had the pleasure of tackling the new GE 6,000hp 7HDL engine on some component change out work and load testing ,and I don't even think thoes big bangers sound as good as the ALCO engines.

[Anonymous]

I love the sound of those 567's, so its a toss up between the Geeps and the F's. The N&W yard was full of GP-9's and the Southern's was full of F's. I remember when the Winston Salem Southbound ran their first GP-9 down the mainline, everyone turned out to see the NEW diesels. Some of the comments were, no more of those old smelly steamers! Little did we know........

Gene

[Anonymous]

Anything ALCO will do.

[Anonymous]

Hands down the RS3 is my favorite. But the VO1000 is a close second.

[BentnoseWillie]

MLW RS18. Ooooooh baby...

[vsmith]

[V]Geez, ya guys are choosing all these UGLY frieghties.[:(]

My favorite 1st generation diesel is:

The Pioneer Zepher -
Not only is it a drop dead gorgeous train, it was one of the very first diesel motor demonstrators built, it was also the first to use lightweight alloy construction, articulated design, aerodynamic principles and after its first run it was one of the fastest trains on the planet. It and its progeny were huge successes.

Thats what I call an awesome loco.[:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

I have a question for the Alco fans out there. If Alco's were so good, Why did the Company go out of business???
TIM A

The answer is actually quite complex but here are some major reasons.

1. the problems with the 244 engine turned off many customers

2. ALCO could not compete with GM's financing of the sales ( example: PRSL wanted C415s but had to "settle" for GP38s due to financing)

3. ALCO did not support the locos after the sale as well as GM

4. ALCO wasted a lot of effort on non locomotive efforts

5. ALCO had to rely on GE for the electricals GM had its own

6. ALCO made some serious design mistakes in the Century lines. i.e the weight balance of nearly all of the 4 axle Centuries. SP wanted to replace all of its switchers with C415s but they were too slippery because most of the weight was over one truck. The C424s and C425 had similar problems.

[Anonymous]

MY FAVORITES PROBABLY ARE THE FL-9, IN NEW HAVEN PAINT OF COURSE,( BUT IT STILL LOOKS GOOD IN NYC LIGHTNING STRIPES), FOR EMD BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I WAS RAISED ON, THE ALCO RS-1 IN SOLID BLACK NYC, BECAUSE I RAN ONE AND THE U25B IN MCGINNIS NEW HAVEN LIVERY BECAUSE THE WERE THE MAYBROOKS BACKBONE FOR HAULING TONNAGE.

[Anonymous]

I'm not really sure anymore but I really like the CB&Q E-5 on the front end of the Zephyr. It's kind of like an old car inside, with roll-down windows and front-quarter vent windows and a "dashboard".

it sure is fun to ride in that left seat!

Rich Witt
Arlington Heights, IL

[eolafan]

To jchoochoo71, I too am fond of the old FL-9, having grown up around them living in Yonkers/Bronxville, NY in the fifties through seventies. I remember hearing their air whistles in the middle of the night blowing as they passed through Bronxville and Tuckahoe stations. Last year I traveled way up to end of track on the Harlem line and saw several on short trains up that way...big difference between seeing a train up there vs. in Yonkers area! Where were you living when you were seeing them? Jim

[Wdlgln005]

My favorite is the Rio Grande F9 5771. Classy unit pulling a classy Rio Grande Zephyr, can't beat the trip from Denver to Salt Lake & back.

The Ky RR museum has a Monon BL2. Go in the cab, it looks like a F3 without the nose & a strange carbody. At least it still operates on their little passenger run . New Haven to Boston & back in 1-1/2 hrs. Hope this link works:

http://www.kyrail.org/Images/bl2.jpg

[Anonymous]

My favorite 1st generation diesel would have to be the EMD-GP7. I used to love to see & listen to the old Rock Island GP7's roar & smoke pulling a grade when I was a kid!!....I also like the EMD-GP9's..........machinistman....

[Anonymous]

Speaking of 1st generation Diesel Loco's, has anyone out there heard anymore on the the two ALOC PA1's that were brought back from Mexico a while back to be restored? Any progress or is funding the big issues? Thanks.

Larry

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

I have a question for the Alco fans out there. If Alco's were so good, Why did the Company go out of business???
TIM A

The answer is actually quite complex but here are some major reasons.

1. the problems with the 244 engine turned off many customers

2. ALCO could not compete with GM's financing of the sales ( example: PRSL wanted C415s but had to "settle" for GP38s due to financing)

3. ALCO did not support the locos after the sale as well as GM

4. ALCO wasted a lot of effort on non locomotive efforts

5. ALCO had to rely on GE for the electricals GM had its own

6. ALCO made some serious design mistakes in the Century lines. i.e the weight balance of nearly all of the 4 axle Centuries. SP wanted to replace all of its switchers with C415s but they were too slippery because most of the weight was over one truck. The C424s and C425 had similar problems.

7. STABBED in the back by GE, who took their design and made them their own. What a faithful business partner NOT.

I have talked to different rr engineers ( some who ran both steam and diesel) and most all of them agree they would rather run an ALCO engine (when they were new)
than anything else. They told me Alco could outpull anything. Also many of them disliked the early GEs because of frequent wheel slips and very rough ride.

Alcos 244 engines were not a good product. However the 251 was good. Point #1 was correct. After the problems with the 244 many rrs never gave Alco a chance.

My favorite would be the RS1s RS2s and RS3 these had character and style. And for passenger service the Alco PAs.

[Anonymous]

to eolafan, growing up on the harlem line in pleasantville

[AltonFan]

My favorite 1st generation diesels would have to be the early ALCO road switchers.

I often wondered if ALCO didn't lose ground because during World War II, its diesel production was limited, and it had to spread its energies over both steam and diesel power, while GM-EMD could devote most, if not all, of its energy to road diesels.

[Anonymous]

ALCOs for many rail hobbyists' and model railroaders' perspective were the best in any generation. Nothing could beat their looks, sounds and all that black, suity exhaust! Additionally, the fact that most models weren't nearly as common as the EMD competition made them naturally more appealing.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AltonFan

My favorite 1st generation diesels would have to be the early ALCO road switchers.

I often wondered if ALCO didn't lose ground because during World War II, its diesel production was limited, and it had to spread its energies over both steam and diesel power, while GM-EMD could devote most, if not all, of its energy to road diesels.

ALCO also make tanks during WWII.

Stay Safe and Look, Listen, and LIVE

Don't forget the troops.

[gemperfilm]

Mine would have to be the GP9. I remember many a time hearing them accelerate to pull a coal train out of Portsmouth, Ohio. I still love that sound. Of course the N&W had Leslie horns on their GP9s Combine that sound with the EMD 567 and it was a slice of heaven.

[henry6]

Best first generation diesel? The EMD E units were beautiful in full gait but a Baldwin Shark back to back pulling the Pennsy Broker or a coal drag in Pennsylvania was an absolute charm. First cab ride was an RS2 but GP7s looked busy on the head end of anything. EMD F's were brutrish but cowered under the E's. An Alco PA was a plain lady doing her dance with grace and elegance and class; the FA, her baby brother. A Baldwin Baby Faced anything looked scared, fearful of what may be coming at it or from behind, but could they scamper like a centipede looking for a place to hide. And Fairbanks Morse made so many attempts at greatness until the Trainmaster its predecssors were all but forgotten while we stared at what the second generation could be.
I would trade any one of the above for a fleet of today's power!

[oltmannd]

If I had to own and operate one, it would be a GP9, hands down. Simple. Reliable. Easy to maintain. Cheap parts abound.

Just on pure looks, it would be the Alco PA (woulda been a GG1 if electrics were allowed)

[AlcoRS11Nut]

Any ALCO.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

I have a question for the Alco fans out there. If Alco's were so good, Why did the Company go out of business???
TIM A

The answer is actually quite complex but here are some major reasons.

1. the problems with the 244 engine turned off many customers

2. ALCO could not compete with GM's financing of the sales ( example: PRSL wanted C415s but had to "settle" for GP38s due to financing)

3. ALCO did not support the locos after the sale as well as GM

4. ALCO wasted a lot of effort on non locomotive efforts

5. ALCO had to rely on GE for the electricals GM had its own

6. ALCO made some serious design mistakes in the Century lines. i.e the weight balance of nearly all of the 4 axle Centuries. SP wanted to replace all of its switchers with C415s but they were too slippery because most of the weight was over one truck. The C424s and C425 had similar problems.
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ALCO might not be building locomotives anymore but they are still in business building engines for industrial and marine apps. I have a 12-251 running not too far from my house in a huge Bucyrus-Erie dragline for a gravel co.. They're still around, just not as visiable. [:p][:D][8D]

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