just thought it would be interesting to see what everyones favorite and least favorite engine models are.
Chicago and Northwestern’s SD40-2’s or Dash-9’s
EMD’s SD-70M,SD-60M’s family, followed closely by the good ol’ SD-40-2 (as long as the horn isn’t on the cab roof!!). Next up GP-60. Least favorites, any GE, but in particular the old
U-boats and the -7 line. Gotta give credit to the Alco PA’s,just because of the look they have.
Rich,For me it has to be the GP7/9 hands down.Followed closely by the SW1200.The lest locomotives would have to be The ugly ducking of dieseldom-The BL2!Dave P.Morgan once the editor of trains mag. describe the BL2 as being"A cross between a cab unit and a borden milk car" How right Mr Morgan was in his description of the BL2! I could not agree more.
Rich, well, here goes…my “oldies” favorites are the F units and E units (no suprise there I bet), and my “mid-life” favorites are the F45, FP45 and SD45, with the “newest” favorites beign the SD70MAC and the GP60M. Seriously though I find it very hard to answer your questions as each and every model has some qualities, pro and con, so the answers are very hard to give. Jim, Aurora, IL
PRR M1a 4-8-2 with long haul tender.
I have a couple, and for strange reasons:
GP30s: EMD’s ads for these units were appearing in Trains when I started getting the magazine. So it was about the second-biggest thrill of my life when I was offered a brief cab ride in one, because they were the newest and best (thought I).
The biggest thrill, though, was the ride I had, as a young teenager, in an Alco RS1. It was the first encounter I had with anything that didn’t sound like an EMD. It felt and sounded like it was ready to really take off, and the smoke show was incredible.
My least favorite would have to be E and F units…not because of their looks or anything, but getting on and off those things (by then I was working for a railroad) was always a little scary to me.
I still work for a railroad, but don’t have occasion to ride in locomotives much. I think that were I to get into one of the modern wide-nose units I’d probably be just as excited about it as I was about the other two.
Carl
Of the steam era, the Berkshires just looked like the refinement of all that had gone before. Handsome. In the cab units, the alco FA or PA had a broad-shouldered beauty that hasnt been matched since. I agree that the BL2 was a rather ungainly looking unit. I had only seen one in old Chicago videos, wearing the Monon colors. Last year I saw one running in Kentucky, sure enough running Monon black and gold. Ugly or not, Im glad it is still around.
Rich
I worked for Conrail Mechanical Dept from 1969-1995. I worked on and rode almost every model GE, EMD or ALCO made from the 1940s thru 1990s. The most reliable, easiest to maintain, with the best ride were the EMD GP/SD40-2 models. The EMD E and F units (especially “B” units) were fun to operate (early in my work life I was a Hostler Helper) but a pain to work on as an electrician (mid career). The latest models EMD Macs and GE AC4400s are a pain because of the complex computer systems that control everything from brakes to fuel injection (Mgr. Loco Technical Services at career end).
Mike F. Cleveland, Oh
Number one on my list would be the Alco FA’s and PA’s. They are true all time classics. The first unit I ever boarded was a GM&O FA.
The Amtrak Genesis would be at the bottom of my list.
I’ve always liked the Dash 9. I’d take one in BNSF Heritage 2 paint.
Hi Rich, i´m an us-train fan from germany and my favourite models are the Amtrak electrics. Beginning with the GG-1, the X995 (by Märklin), the X996 (self built), the ALP-44 to the Acela. But also a SD-60 is a very fine loco. Greetings from Germany.
My favorite is the EMD SD60 and 60M. Like the DASH-9 from GE also. Least would be the E’s and F’s from EMD. They jsut don’t float my boat.
I never saw one,but for non steam I’d take a Veranda Turbine
hands down…MLW RS18 or EMD SD40-2
SD40-2 ok.GE C30-7 give it credit it looks ok.
Oh that’s okay…for Diesel buffs,but for overhead wireman like myself,I’ll allways loved a good’ol GG-1 and a E44 (a bit inkling for ALP44’s).[;)]
Glad to see I am not alone. I’ll take a GP30 any day of the week. No matter the paint, they all look good! I just wish CSXT would have kept some real ones, but I still like the looks of the road slugs. My first cab ride was also in an Alco, C420 on the Eastern Shore Railroad with my wife back in the 80s.
Mike
Well I guess I’ll be the first with these two: UP’s Challengers and Centennials (Orig Paint on the 6900’s) Next I would take a SD40-2. But as far as the ugly duckling goes, what about those ugly shovel nose units that I think Seaboard (Family Lines) had. I forget the designation.
Since I see them everyday, I like the F59PHI. My favorite line is the Surfliner, I see these many many times a day and I seem to be addicted in photographing them! I LOVE the sound of the engine powering up…
I also like the old F40s Amtrak used.
For frieght ops, I don’t know many, the Dash 8 & 9 are cool.
I really don’t care much for little switchers, I’m a big road diesel fanatic of the obsessed kind 
Fortunantly I have my own small diesel to drive around, my classic Crown schoolbus it’s gotta a good heavy duty powerful beastly engine.