I would like to built a diorama of the present day.
I have reed all the magazins en have surged the internet but y am still not sure wich engines to buy, or wath wil be the best brand.
I would like to know what engines are on the tracks today in the usa.
Dach-9, Dash9-44 CW, SD40T, SD70ACe, ES44AC???
I would like to buy the best there is.
Please help me with a little list and where I can buy these diesels
I am living in the netherlands.
Thank you.
Dash 9s and SD70s are modern. SD40T Tunnel motors are 2nd generation and are being phased out by Union Pacific which bought out Southern Pacific, the owner of almost all tunnel motors. You can find reviews of locomotives on this website. I’m not sure which model railroad stores ship to your country. Check the websites for the stores which advertise in MR.
Main power for class-1 railroads, such as NS, UP, CSX, BNSF, etc… are anything from Dash 8 series, SD40 series units, on to the newest SD70ACe and ES44 varieties, even now the ET44 series (tier 4) units. Local and yard power can be Genset units, to rebuilt models, even things such as GP38-2, up through the GP-60 series units, along with remaining MP15 series and left-over SW series units in some areas.
Regional and shoreline operations can have just about anything you would like, from old Alco Century units, to the SD40T, to newer Genset and rebuild low-emission units, up to second hand Dash 8 series units for road power, and almost anything for yard and switcher power, from old SW series units, to new Gensets.
Industrial operations can have older SW and MP series switchers, GP-9 rebuilds, up to newer Genset’s.
As you have not mentioned scale, I will give general suggestions, in HO-scale, Atlas, Intermountain, Bowser, Athearn Genesis, and Kato are all very nice units, along with the newer Bachmann units, and Athearn RTR line for “budget friebndly” models, in N-scale Atlas, Kato are favorites, along with a few others, and in O-scale, the standard is Lionel and MTH, along with Williams (now owned by Bachmann) and Atlas-O are well liked units.
We would really need to know price range, scale, and power style (DCC, DC, DCS, Lionel Legacy, etc…) to give a specific model suggestion, along with your preference of big mainline power, railroad preference, or short line/regional diorama as far as what exact model to recommend.
And, even though you are overseas from those of us in the States, with the correct dealers, shipping is not an issue. Shipping price would be higher than we would pay for domestic shipping, but it is entirely possible to ship almost any model. Paint and chemicals is where you would find issues, as well as radio control. Most of these are USA only…
Simply put from SW1s to SD90MACs depending on what you what to model.
A short line could use a Alco RS-1 to a GP50.A urban short line could use SW1500s.
The sad news Alco may not be around all that much longer since newer GP38-2s/GP40-2s can be bought and is far easier on fuel and maintenance cost.
Even the GP7/9 and Geep rebuilts like the GP10 or GP16 is slowly falling from short line’s favor.
Do you (the OP) mean, what is the best real locomotive currently in use, or what is the best model locomotive currently available?
Either one is really impossible to answer, as it depends on a lot of factors. Real engines are bought by railroads for specific purposes. An SD-70 or AC4400 are large powerful six-axle mainline freight engines, they generally wouldn’t be used in yard switching or a short local freight. That would find a smaller engine, like a four axle GP-38.
So, what model engine to buy is going to be partly determined on what kind of layout you’re going to build - long mainline freights, yard switching, way freights, etc.
It also depends on features - do want DCC / sound installed, or DC engines where you can add DCC and sound later?
Generally, it’s better to buy one really well made engine for say $300 than four “OK” engines for $75 each. Even if you don’t want to do DCC right away, you can get engines with DCC and sound that will still work on a DC layout.
Thank you all very much.
I try Walthers or Trainworld to by one or two engines with DCC sound.
I think Athearn genesis.
Jan.
Suggest to also consider MBKlein (modeltrainstuffcom). Not as much selection as Walthers but good selection of current offerings, good prices, good service.