I am just getting into HO Model railroading and would like to find a source for the names of the vast different types of locomotives that have been used in railroads. The site should also have pictures of the different locomotives. This way I can educate myself and know what to purchase. Could anyone knowing of web sites please respond.
Go to www.nmra.com You’ll find alot of pics,etc. on all engines here.
There is a book called diesel spotters guide this may be of help[#welcome]
Steam and/or Diesel? How many thousands of dollars are you willing to pay for my time and effort in compiling such a product, assuming, of course, that I am willing to expend the time and effort to compile such a list and accompanying photo gallery.
try here: http://www.nslocos.com/main.html
Go here and they have pull down menu to look at any type they have pictures of. Hundreds of thousands of pictures.
I may be reading a little extra into this, but it sounds like you want a source so you can identify and distinguish the different types and models of locomotives. Then, when you see a locomotive, you can identify it and say “Hey, that’s a GP-9” or “It’s a 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler”. For steam locomotive identification, do a web search on “Whyte locomotive classification” (Whyte being the name of the fellow who came up with this system). For diesels, I refer to “Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years”, published by Kalmbach (ISBN 0-89024-258-5). It covers diesels built up to 1972. For modern diesels, look for the modern diesel spotter’s guide. I don’t have a copy, so I don’t know the exact title, or the ISBN #, but they’re pretty easy to come by.
Brad
My personal fave:
One of my favorites for photos of the oldies:
(Scroll down and pick your fav RR.)
And to see when the diesels were built so you can set up a roster for an era:
http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRdieselchrono.html
ENJOY! [:)]
There is some good info on Wikipedia. You can start your quest with these:
ALCO Locomotives
Baldwin Locomotives
Farbanks-Morse Locomotives
GM-EMD Locomotives
Locomotives by Wheel Arrangement
Locomotive Manufactureers
List of Locomotive Builders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:EMD_locomotives
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-Motive_Diesel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotive#Diesel_locomotives
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:ALCO_locomotives
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:B-B_locomotives
There are some terrific responses to your question, I know all diesels look the same (they do, they do!)-I like steam stuff!!! Ignore a couple of responses that make no sense whatsoever. Just have fun, remember, it’s a H O B B Y , not an obsession .
[:O] Blasphemy, heretic among us. [;)] [making sign of the cross - railroad crossing sign that is] This poor soul needs to be put in solitary confinement and force to breath coal smoke and diesel exhaust until he is addicted like the rest of us.
North East Rails has 15,000 pictures with an emphasis on Pennsylvania and the dozen or so Class I railroads that ran through the Keystone State into the surrounding states…
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/home.html
On North East Rails left side are many website links. Don’t forget to see the Horseshoe Curve and the nearby Gallitzin Tunnels at Tunnel Hill which are just a few miles apart and a railfan’s delight.
I have the two quite helpful Diesel Spotters Guides mentioned above, and if you are patient, you can get each one for apx. $10.00 US including reasonable shipping & handling on eBay:
[1] ISBN #0-89024-026-4, The Second Diesel Spotters Guide, Jerry A. Pinkepank ($10.95 original price). This primarily covers first & Second generation diesel.
[2] ISBN #0-89024-088-4, The Contemporary Diesel Spotter’s Guide, Louis A. Marre and Jerry A. Pinkepank ($18.95 original price). This covers more modern diesels since 1972.
TIP: Do take your your good 'ole time “to vision” what era (span of years) and geographic region you want to model. This will determine what types of diesels you will eventually purchase. Another way to look at it is to model the era & geography of the diesels that appeal to you that run in that specific timeline.
For example: I’m using 1956 for the flexibility of modeling late steam, first generation diesel, and traction. The Pennsylvania is the main Class I railroad going through town. So, 1956 and the Pennsy “determines” my diesel selections.