We all have our favorite locomotives, but my question is a bit more practical for those who know. What steam locomotive was built more than any other- and by whom? The answer would tell me what the favorite locomotive was for the railroads- not the railfan.
I’d like to know the same thing for diesel locomotives as well.
Just to add spice to the mix, let’s not limit the question to just the USA or even North America, but open it up to the entire world.
Erik
The most popular steam locomotive design was the USRA 0-8-0 switcher (and copies). It was also the last steam locomotive built for US common carrier service (for N&W). I believe the most popular diesel was the F-7
Since he includes the entire world, and being the Alco fan that I am, I would think that the top diesel would be either the DL560/WDM2 or DL535/YDM4. Both enjoyed huge production in India under license from Alco. Keep in mind that this could be trumped by some diesel model from the former Soviet bloc.
Indeed , the M-62 was a very popular locomotive , I think there were at least a dozen or more countrys with a large number of them. A group of them are getting a new lease on life in Poland.
I’d be quite surprised if the GP7/GP9 weren’t high on the list of most popular, at least here in the U.S.
LC
The answers make one wonder why these locomotives were so popular with railroad execs.
The 0-8-0 switcher does not surprise me. I wonder how many of them are preserved as compared to their larger brethren? There is nothing particularly glamorous about the humble switcher. They didn’t set speed records or do any majestic combat hauling long freights over hills.
I also wonder about the Soviet and Indian locomotives. Does anyone think that they became so popular because there was only one manufacturer doing the building?
And where does the American 4-4-0 fall into the numbers game? Seems that was the locomotive of choice for us over here…
Erik
F7’s Rules, too bad they’re gone. Makes me wish I had one.
As far as the DL560/WDM2 and DL535/YDM4 are concerned, they are Alco designs and the DL535 can be found elsewhere, including WP&Y. The Indian manufacturer (Diesel Locomotive Works) was able to obtain a license from Alco for these designs, after the earliest locomotives were imported from the United States and Canada in the 1960’s. EMD also made some sales to Indian Railways, but was unwilling until recently to grant a manufacturing license to DLW.
I would think that the Russian Decapod at over 1000 built would outnumber the USRA 0-8-0.
Popular does’nt equate to quantity built.
Huge numbers of USRA 2-8-0’s and 2-10-0’s were built during WW2. They were appalling to drive, fire and maintain but were a necessity at the time.
Are we talking about the most built of a wheel arrangement, if so I think it’s the 2-8-0 followed by the 4-4-0.
Enjoy
Paul
The UK “Railway Magazine” recently carried an article about this.
Globally the most predominant wheel arrangement was 0-6-0, followed by 2-8-0. I can’t remember what came next but I don’t think it was 4-4-0.
I’m at work and can’t immediately find the answer but I’ll attempt to dig it out when I get home.
Looking forward to hearing the results, Simon. Did the article give a break out of which manufacturers produced the most locomotives?
Also, any feedback on diesels?
Thanks,
Erik
I would say that EMD has produced the most diesels in North America.
If popular is by quantity produced then the SD40-2, C44-9W, GP7, GP9, and GP38-2 would have to be mentioned. The last new GP38-2 was built in Jan 1985 but RRs are rebuilding GP40/40-2/50s into them.
USRA locomotives were built in 1918-1919 and there were no 2-8-0s or 2-10-0s.
The locomotive you are referring to were US Army (Transportation Corps) locomotives, but even then there were no 2-10-0s built for the US Army. There were standard gauge 2-8-0s and 2-8-2s and metre gauge 2-8-2s. The Russian 2-10-0s were given USATC numbers but were not military locomotives.
I think you are a bit hard on the USATC locomotives. The 2-8-0s and 2-8-2s had long lives post war and new 2-8-2 were built for India and Pakistan, Portugal and Australia. A number of early post war British locomotives introduced features first seen in the UK on the 2-8-0s.
To get on with the thread however, the Russian Class E 0-10-0 (including later subclasses) with about 10 000 units is generally agreed as the most numerous single class of steam locomotive, followed by the German wartime class 52 2-10-0 with around 7000 units built.
Soviet diesels, too are likely to be the most common single classes:
Class TE3 had 6803 (twin units) = 13606 locomotives
Class 2TE10L had 3533 (twin units) = 7066 locomotives
There were several other 2TE10 developments, 1557 2TE10V = 3114 locomotives, 3000 2TE10M = 6000 locomotives.
All of these used Fairbanks Morse design opposed piston engines with 207mm bore, which might give that engine a chance of beating the EMD 567 type in numbers.
M636C
As far as popular with crews, The Cadillac, AKA SD9.
On the Wisconsin Central (back in the good ol’ days) I heard that the most popular locomotive was the SDL39. It was light weight and had a lot of power under it’s hood. I had a lot of engineers say they were some of the best they ever ran.
James
M636 - you are correct - as usual!
I meant USATC and whilst I can’t dispute their longevity all accounts I’ve ever read suggest that they were immensely unpopular.
Just today I read an article about the Porter And Vulcan built 0-6-0’s for WW2 service. Their drain cocks were so inadequate that within months many of them had hydraulicked.
Regrettably I’ve already passed the magazine I referred to earlier to my local preservation group (they’ll sell it on to raise funds) but I’ll try and find a copy on line.
To get on with the thread however, the Russian Class E 0-10-0 (including later subclasses) with about 10 000 units is generally agreed as the most numerous single class of steam locomotive, followed by the German wartime class 52 2-10-0 with around 7000 units built.
Soviet diesels, too are likely to be the most common single classes:
Class TE3 had 6803 (twin units) = 13606 locomotives
Class 2TE10L had 3533 (twin units) = 7066 locomotives
I think you are absolutely correct with the numbers. I looked up diesel production in North America, using a source that was printed in 1994. The closest competitor produced in the USA or Canada on the diesel side was the EMD GP-9, with 3436 units built between January, 1954, and December, 1959. Second place in the diesel division for North America also goes to EMD, with 3131 units of the SD40-2 produced from January, 1972 to February, 1986.
I wonder if the Russians have a railroad museum, and if so, if one of their TE3’s is there.
I have heard rumors that the German “Kreigslok”, which I believe is the model 2-10-0 you mentioned, has a functional unit somewhere in Germany, probably in a museum as well.
Maybe TRAINS should send someone over to Russia to see what their railroading is like. (I volunteer, Jim- I’ll even get my passport updated.)
Erik
PS. Manifold apologies for the use of the word “popular” in the title. I was looking for the largest sales of locomotive types made to worldwide railroads. This kind of decision isn’t made by locomotive engineers, who have a different set of criteria for what is popular with them.
I heard the SDL39s also ran quite well, but the WC SD45s with EM 2000 (7495,7496,6497?,7498,and the 7499) trumped them. Not only more horse obviously, but these were the best running SD45s known to man, could pull you out of anything at low end, and could pull through the roof at the top end.
Alec