Now, when I first read the original post, I bet my wife the GP7 and GP9 would be the hands down favorite. Not because it was and still is such a good machine, but because it received so much press, and still does, and is viewed with a romantic twist, sort like the 57 Chevy Belaire.
Not knocking the GPs, they did exactly what they were designed for, and did it beyond everybodys expectations.
But, yard dog that I am, you can give me the old SW9s and SW6s. Yup, their small, not very good looking, and have none of the macho appeal of a road unit, they dont go anywhere but back and forth on a switching lead, but MU a few together, and you can pull just about anything you need to. Any what seems to escape most folks is it all starts in the yard, if the trains are not built and ready to go, the geeps sit idle, waiting.
And they are tough, really really tough. Go look at the few left switching industries, and take a good gander at the pilots, these things get hammered every day, and keep coming back for more.
They lack the glamor and grace of the geeps, but, in their own way, their form does follow their function, they look exactly like what you would expect them too, stubby little bulldogs, dragging things around.
I even like the UPs kitbashed SW10s, and the idea behing them, it can still be used, so why throw it away, and those beasties do have a “charm” all their own.
Stay Frosty,
Ed
I always liked the Fairbanks Morse C-Liner. I’m partial to cab units, and the Consolidation Liner was about the last line of freight cabs to come on line. It’s design was unusual but still had clean lines, and the “C’s” really looked great in Milwaukee Road orange and maroon.
John Baie, author, www.xlibris.com/TwoTrackMain.html
Within the narrow context of SP’s San Francisco “Commute” service in the '50s. I cannot dig out a single favorite, it is a dead heat between the SD-9s and FM H-24-66 Train masters. Both in Black Widow livery, washed regularly if you can believe it, with with the big barrel Mars lights up on the hood top. The SD-9s for thier “look” and the FMs for thier “burbling”, there is no other word, exhaust running flat out between station stops. Sorry guys, I can’t choose only ONE in this view. Also some do not consider a TM as 1st generation. Also in this view were GS and MT steamers which must be discounted in this thread.
All really good rides to and from TV repair school in “The City”.
Lowell
I’ve allways been partial to the ALCo RSD4/5’s. Just kinda liked the carbody shape
marty,Ca
I’m with you Ed. SW-1 and SW-8 are my favorite. Put dynamics on the 8’s and you got one sweet locomotive. Heck even 44 and 45 tonner have style. Seeing switcher lug bottle cars around is a sight to behold. The RS-1325 is a real nice engine too.
ALCO RS-2.
LC
I would say that the E-7 and E-9’s were the most beautiful and remarkable engines of
they’re time.The styling is timeless and there was hardly ANY paint scheme that didn’t
look good on it.
One day in 1973, I was trackside in Blue Island, Ill watching Rock Island trains, a westbond freight pulled out of the yards with three E-8s. This was incredible to me having grown up on the more financially secure chicago and northwestern. Always loved The E-8 and it has my vote
sorry, i suppose it was south bound
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
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
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
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.
My favs is between Santa Fe’s F3, F7, E8, and Alco PA[^]
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.
ALCO DL-109
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.
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
Anything ALCO will do.
Hands down the RS3 is my favorite. But the VO1000 is a close second.