The title says it all, NO SITTING ON THE FENCE!
my loyaltys lay with EMD ill take a GP9 or a SD series any day.
GE all the way only one to ever produce a gas turbine locomotive for EVERYDAY service. Also came out with the pressurized carbody first. Also has the only 12 clyinder out there that makes 4400 HP take that EMD.
EMD I deal with museum power and you need the rliability of that 567 or 645. But GE locos do cost less…
Actually, EMD prototyped a 12-cylinder, 4400HP prime mover in the late 90s. It was to be used in the SD89MAC - they built one operational SD89 demonstrator. That would make EMD the first to have an operational 12-cylinder, 4-stroke 4400HP prime mover. Take that, GE!
Plus the EMD two stroke engine sounds much, much nicer and is overall, more reliable - certain exceptions noted.
Silicon a one off does not do mean much. The SD89 was a 4000 HP and meant as a replacement for the SD70 series not 4400 HP. As to EMD being more reliable not hardly just as many of them fail as any GE plus when they take out the Turbosupercharger say goodbye to the engine since you loose scavenge pressure. Yes GE when they go tends to be bad however they will keep running if it is the turbo just derated.
Forget both EMD and GE. Personally, I like UFO’s better. Neither one of them can touch the power and durability of anti-matter engine technology from another galaxy.
I think it mainly comes down to brand loyalty, kinda like who’s truck is better, the Dodge, Ford or Chevy? Whichever one you’ve been around the most is likely the one you favor. Like me I favor EMDs [oX)]
I’ll take a widenose GE anyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
Tell that to GE, with their hybrid model. Right now, there’s just one but there will be more. Same with the SD89 - it’s a prototype for the 4500HP V12 H engine that will eventually replace the 710.
No, it was actually rated @ 4500 HP, so we’re both wrong.
How many C30-7s are still in service? How many SD40-2s are still in service? How many B39/40-8s (out of all built) are still in service? How many GP60s are still in service? How common are EMD turbo failures? How many of those turbos currently in service on rebuilds are made by General Electric? (Answer: quite a few). I’m not knocking the GE made EMD turbo - if anyone understands turbine theory that company is GE (they build the best commercial/military aircraft engines bar none).
Yes, the GE will run if the turbo fails in theory. In practice, there’s usually a fire that ends the current trip.
Back to the original request: I’ve been a strong Alco loyalist for a very long time, I suppose that growing up on the Erie/EL west end had a little to do with it with PA’s, RS2/3’s, C424’s and C425’s, etc. on the roster and showing up regularly.
With Alco’s becoming increasingly scarce and India being far away, my loyalties are moving to the current trio of minority builders: MPI/NRE/Railpower.
I dunno - is there a train behind it? Looks good to me! I can barely tell the difference between current-day locomotives anyhow. Sorta like current-day cars. If you can’t read the name plate, you usually can’t tell who made it.
The Adirondack is more-or-less set in the mid-50’s. We run ALCo’s and EMD’s. I’ll take either. The RS-3 has a certain character, the EMD’s have a certain familiarity.
no baldwin fans?
i think that you all could say that GE was first in the busness, after all they did make the first boxcab locomotive. in apperence EMD takes the cake.
as stated its no different then claiming your favorite car make or TV brand name…
for off the shelf dependablity and workablity…EMD from any time frame or generation
for looks…ALCo
for historys sake of longevity…BLW
i am a fan of Baldwin both the man and the company but their diesel’s didnt stack up
EMD and GE never built steam locomotives, so neither can be worth very much! [:-,]
So given the choice betwixt ALCo and Baldwin, I guess I’d have to go with Baldwin. Something about the lines on Baldwins always pleased me more than ALCo steamers. Of course, we could throw Lima into the mix. Is there anything prettier than a NKP Berk?
says you. i dont care much for steam[;)]
i like locomotives that look powerful. that means EMD spartan cabs and 6 axles! i also accept DD35s.
but for now, SD60s win. SD45Xs are a close second
Fairbanks Morse…[:-^]
My favorite locomotives are older 6 axle GE U-boats such as the U30C, U33C and C30-7. Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s th BN ran scores of them through my home town caring anything from manifest trains to coal drags. Runnin northbound was upgrade and you could here them coming from miles away. Fond memories!
Alco’s for me , or in my case more importantly MLW’s [swg] Love those Rs10’s and 18’s stilllots of 18’s about too on shortlines and regionals [tup] 1800hp 251’s are the cats behind [tup]
Rob
I’d have to say Alcoa. Mastic makes a good siding too, just not as good.
I’m pretty young, and I’ve never seen a baldwin outsie of a chemical plant, and the only Alcos I’ve seen on a mainline was on the Apache.
I prefer GE’s, either AC or DC, Wide cab or Spartan, U-boat, B-boat, Dash, or Gevo.
They just sound better.