I’m sure the question has been asked a million times before but I have to ask again:
What is your favorite engine(s), of any era, and why?
Mine: The Milwaukee Road Bi-polars because they are so bizarre yet
such a cool idea and the Centennials because they are the like
the “Big Boys” of the diesel era.
Of course, I never had to work in either of them…
might have changed my opinion.
I think that there will be some bias here, as most people’s favorites will be the engines they’ve seen or ridden behind.
My favorites could change, but I’ll try:
Early era: Tom Thumb would have been pretty cool.
Mid-19th century: any colorful 4-4-0 with engineer’s name on loco
Early 20th century: triplex
Mid-20th century steam: Santa Fe Texas
Mid-20th century diesel: D&H PAs with matching passenger cars
Modern: no favorites in freight; they are all look-alikes to me. Some of new Amtrak passenger engines that are streamlined look pretty neat, however.
My favorite loco’s would have to be the ALCo RSD-15 cause I just like the way it looks. And the EMD SD70 Good looking and reliable.[8D][:D]
The RS-11s we had on the old Central Vermont. The dang things just wouldn’t quit (even if they smoked like… !)
My favorite would have to be ALCo’s C-630 with the 6-axle Hi-AD trucks, that is one mean/burley but cool lookin’ locomotive. [:D][8D][;)] Next would come the Bombardier (ALCo/MLW sucessor) 3 ft. gauge RSD-35W’s and the RSD-35’s (actually the RSD-35 was built by MLW) built for the White Pass & Yukon Route RR in Alaska. RSD-35’s are better known by their specification; DL535E, RSD-35’s (or DL535E’s) have standard cabs, and RSD-35W’s have a Canadian style safety cab. 10 RSD-35’s (spec. DL535E) were built from 5/69-12/71 (original order of 8, but 2 were destroyed in a roundhouse fire, so 2 more were ordered to replace them). 4 RSD-35W’s (spec. DL535E also) were built by BBD in 1982.
However, the WP&YR went bankrupt and defunct in 1982, so they sat in Montreal until 1990 when 2 were purchased by US Gypsum (USG), they bought the 111 and the 113 (units were WP&YR 111-114) they wrecked the 113 and bought the 112 to replace the 113. In 1988 the WP&YR reopened as a tourist line, serving cruise ship passengers, they finally bought the 114. All surviving units are in service. All DL535E’s were powered with a 6cyl. 251C rated at 1200hp. Just a little history lesson for ya’ all [:p][;)][:)]. And third is the classic and ever beautiful ALCo PA locomotives (I like 'em all PA-1, PA-2, PA-3).
Also I’ve included a computer generated drawing I did, to illustrate WP&YR RSD-35W #114. http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/protodraw/images/DL-535Epainted.GIF [:)][:D][8D][;)] Sorry for the long message, sometimes I just get carried away. [:D][}:)]
Hey techguy57, you say you like the MILW Bi-polars, as you (and many others) know I live in St. Louis, MO. The National Museum of Transportation here in St.L has the only surviving MILW Bi-polar. I was at their open house this past Saturday (4/10/03). They have a track with overhead wire and a VERY tight loop at one end that they use for their several operating street cars, and Chicago “L” car. While I was there I was (but forgot) to ask just what it would take to convert the Bi-polar to operate at their voltage, which is at standard voltage for street cars. Can it be done??
N&W 611-J
if you’ve seen her live or on video you’ll know why.[:)]
stay safe
Joe
railpac,
I went there this summer and saw it in person. I’d read about them but they really are pretty amazing. I’d been to the museum before, but not for at least 7 or 8 years.The DDX40 was a very pleasant surprise as was the EL diesel. My personal favorites as far as rolling stock goes were the wooden vinegar car and the whale belly tanker. I love Bobby Darin’s car too! I’ve got lots of pictures! Thanks for the info!
Mike
PS I live very near to the Illinois Railway Museum. If you haven’t been there you need to go, on weekends they run multiple engines! It’s definitely a cool place.
my favorite locomotive would be the GP-9. engine because it was a very strong loco. that did’nt need a kick in the tush! to get it started. not only that it always knew when to bite the rail for power when it needed it which was everyday… it always gave 100% to it’s bosses. i know that whatever EMD builds it will never replace the respected GP-9. now thats a locomotive to grow up with…
The RS3 is my favorite. I just loved watching them on local freights, coal drags, and occasionally on commuter trains when there was a shortage of MUs.
BRC TR2 and TR4 sets. I originally saw them in transfer service to Burnham yard running on trackage rights on CWI. Later saw them switching at Rail-to-Water Transfer and in pulldown duty at Clearing.
I was intrigued by their appearance since they were the first cow-calf sets I saw on a regular basis.
