Trains.com

Ugly Locomotive

145587 views
417 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
  • 2,385 posts
Posted by trainfan1221 on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 6:47 PM

fuzzybroken

silicon212
I know this is old, but Bachmann also produced a model of the GE U36B wearing Santa Fe warbonnet colors back in the 80s!

Hey, I have one of those!  Not sure what I'm going to do with it as of now, but it might get re-lettered if it still works. Wink

I have the one painted in Bicentennial colors. With the unique 4 wheel drive train.  Wonder if its worth something?  Not that I would part with it though I don't use it anymore.
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Lehigh Acres, FL
  • 65 posts
Posted by P5se Camelback on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:42 AM

CPRTD --

When I was young (c.1955, 11 yrs. old), my 14 yr. old model railroading buddy and I called the objects pictured in this thread "Large, Moldy Diesels."  We were all about steam, but then, we saw steam on a daily basis.  Me, I saw the Pennsy and the Reading Company.  Steam locomotives have character.  Except for USRA designs, each railroad's shops built to their own requirements.  Diesels all look alike except for paint jobs -- if you've seen one, you've seen them all.

Camelbacks are so ungainly that they are KOOL!!!  But they look the way they do for a reason.  They burn REAL coal ... hard anthracite, not that soft bituminous crap!

All my motive power on the Lehigh Susquehanna & Western are Camelbacks.  Wooten fireboxes are wonderful ... big, fat, wide, tons of grate area ... good stuff.

 No offense intended, I like my steam, but I have built one diesel -- started as a "kit-bashers kit" (a few pieces to add to an early GP unit that you had to take a razor saw to) and ended up as a super detailled and weathered Conrail GP15-1 (following photos that I took of a unit that hung out in the little yard in Lansdale, PA, outside Philly.)  I actually do like it -- it runs well, pulls well, looks great and will soon sound kool as well on those occasions when I take it with me to operate on an aquaintance's modern layout set in the northeast.

 Hey!  We all like different stuff, but must all agree ... Model Railroading is FUN!

biL

BiL Marsland (P5se Camelback)
Lehigh Susquehanna & Western
Northeastern Pennsylvania Coal Hauler
All Camelback Steam Roster!!

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" -- George Orwell, Animal Farm, Chpt. 10

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Sunday, October 25, 2009 6:27 PM

Yesterday, I saw a picture of a "CP" Camelback.  Quite ugly!  It was purported to be a Canadian Pacific locomotive.  Could that have been?  It had a 3-digit number, with "CP" on the cab, and I think I saved it from my 'newsreader'.  Why would CPR have had Camelbacks?  Perhaps it was a lignite burner.  Dunno...  Maybe the "CP" was not CPR.  "Camas Prairie"?  That don't compute, either.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Friday, February 5, 2010 11:33 PM

Another ugly locomotive!

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Friday, February 5, 2010 11:34 PM

I enjoy the color blue but the nose of this locomotive is way too long.

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Friday, February 5, 2010 11:35 PM

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Track 2, Penn Station, Newark, NJ
  • 181 posts
Posted by fafnir242 on Sunday, February 7, 2010 12:58 AM

Awesome!

I enjoy the color blue but the nose of this locomotive is way too long.

GP-9 rebuild?

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Sunday, February 7, 2010 1:40 PM

That ain't a "Boat", boy.  That's a F-M "HH", not a GE.  It would look cool in 'Desert Camo' (not the current 'chocolate chip')!

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Sunday, February 7, 2010 1:47 PM

That's a one-off EMD 2000 hp "AA" ("Almost Alligator")!  Sure is prettier than a GP-30!

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Sunday, February 7, 2010 1:53 PM

Judging from the destination board, that is the German, or Swiss, answer to the 1953 Buick, but it needs more chrome and at least three portholes!

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Sunday, February 7, 2010 2:06 PM

FYI, the Wooten firebox was designed to burn stuff the mines couldn't give away, called "culm".  It was poor quality and usually ended up in the tailings heap.  With the wide Wooten firebox, railroads could use it, as it took more and didn't cost as much as the salable anthracite.  Good article in the current Trains about the D&H's use of culm.  Incidentally, it was mixed with some coal-of-the-"B"-word!  Do set a "culm" fire, if you can get it started, under your GP15-1 and get a nice GE!

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Sunday, February 7, 2010 2:52 PM

Hardcore!

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Sunday, February 7, 2010 3:01 PM

Awesome!

Hardcore!

Yeah, hardcore foamer!

Are those ditchlights I see?

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
My Videos on Youtube: Youtube
My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Sunday, February 7, 2010 3:26 PM

ns3010

Awesome!

Hardcore!

Yeah, hardcore foamer!

Are those ditchlights I see?

I think every railfan would like to owed a car like this? Yes, those are ditch lights for going backwards.

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,170 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Sunday, February 7, 2010 5:18 PM

Photo is Conrail GP-18 (1800hp) ( nee Lehigh Valley, had 4) >CR7498. Rebuilt in Paducah by VMV after being wrecked in 1971. 

The only GP-18 with a Chopped Nose and an Ox-Yolk Filter. (Probably photographed at Paducah (look at building?)

 

 


 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, February 8, 2010 7:57 AM

Can anyone name this shark of a locomotive?

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, February 8, 2010 7:58 AM

What is the name of this square locomotive?

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Track 2, Penn Station, Newark, NJ
  • 181 posts
Posted by fafnir242 on Monday, February 8, 2010 9:27 AM

Awesome!

Can anyone name this shark of a locomotive?

 

Looks like a GP7 frame with an RS3 cab.  That's actually pretty cool.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Track 2, Penn Station, Newark, NJ
  • 181 posts
Posted by fafnir242 on Monday, February 8, 2010 9:34 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH

For an ugly electric, I would nominate the PRR L-5.  Probably not that different than the Krokodil.

I think they look rather elegant.  They just have this...presence to them.  Almost majestic.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, February 8, 2010 10:11 AM

Awesome!

What is the name of this square locomotive?

It's either a U6B or U8B, depending on what's inside.  It's a rather unusual domestic application of a GE export design.  Any number of Vietnam veterans would be familiar with U8B's.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, February 8, 2010 10:14 AM

fafnir242

Awesome!

Can anyone name this shark of a locomotive?

 

Looks like a GP7 frame with an RS3 cab.  That's actually pretty cool.

Actually it's a repowered RS3.  MKT had several of these.  SLSF and RI had re-powered RS2's with a similar appearance.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Monday, February 8, 2010 2:39 PM

The ALCO trucks are a giveaway.  The "F" (short hood) end is cool, the long hood end is truly ugly!  NYC repowered some RS3s, known as 'DeWitt Conversions'.  At least they kept the ALCO long hood and just raised the roof.  I think Mass Central runs one, maybe more, today.

Hays

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Monday, February 8, 2010 2:56 PM

Cool!  The "Super Bowl" locomotive:  a GE 70-tonner on steroids!  I don't think I have ever seen one before.  "Santa Maria Valley RR"???  Nope.  Never made it to Viet Nam in my 33 years of army service!  Did ride behind the cool ALCO RSCs on the Panama Canal Railway, back in the '70s.  Maybe they were RSDs, but looked great in their "Bicentennial" schemes.  All gone, now that they standard-gauged the line.

Hays

 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, February 8, 2010 6:42 PM

BNSFwatcher

The ALCO trucks are a giveaway.  The "F" (short hood) end is cool, the long hood end is truly ugly!  NYC repowered some RS3s, known as 'DeWitt Conversions'.  At least they kept the ALCO long hood and just raised the roof.  I think Mass Central runs one, maybe more, today.

Hays

Hays:

How come the design? It doesn't make sense.

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, February 8, 2010 7:16 PM

Can anyone name this Garbage Truck? I think they copy from MKT RS2 with GP35..Banged Head if you notice the front cab its seem it was a crew hangout.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
  • 2,385 posts
Posted by trainfan1221 on Monday, February 8, 2010 7:26 PM

I have never seen that before, is that one of the hydraulics?

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, February 8, 2010 11:26 PM

trainfan1221

I have never seen that before, is that one of the hydraulics?

I don't know the answer but it sure is ugly!Blindfold

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 6:47 AM

Awesome!

Can anyone name this Garbage Truck? I think they copy from MKT RS2 with GP35..Banged Head if you notice the front cab its seem it was a crew hangout.

  

This is one of SP's KM torque-converter locomotives that was converted to a camera car to provide footage for the simulator used in engineer training.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Track 2, Penn Station, Newark, NJ
  • 181 posts
Posted by fafnir242 on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 7:15 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Awesome!

Can anyone name this Garbage Truck? I think they copy from MKT RS2 with GP35..Banged Head if you notice the front cab its seem it was a crew hangout.

  

This is one of SP's KM torque-converter locomotives that was converted to a camera car to provide footage for the simulator used in engineer training.

I was actually thinking KM had something to do with this.  Didn't want to say anything because I wasn't sure.  Don't want to mislead people.lol

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 798 posts
Posted by BNSFwatcher on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 10:38 AM

Cool!  All it needs is a 'quad' .50-cal., or a 'chain gun' on the short hood.  That'd teach those crossing warning runners!  Pretty clean, for an Espee unit -- just the right amount of rust!  Was it still powered, while in photo service?

Hays

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy