Best locomotive ever?
- Thread starter Truemac
- Start date
Southern Railway Ls-2
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/sou4052bwd1928.html
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/sou4053.html
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/sou4054.html
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/4057.html
Built to conquer Saluda Hill, the steepest Class 1 mainline grade in the US. No other road can say that about their engines.
The could also go 55mph on the Washington-Atlanta Mainline with a large train.
They also looked really good. How many times do you see an articulated with a brass eagle? (Last Pic)
To be in Trainz in the Future, Southern Steam Project.
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/sou4052bwd1928.html
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/sou4053.html
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/sou4054.html
http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/2882/4057.html
Built to conquer Saluda Hill, the steepest Class 1 mainline grade in the US. No other road can say that about their engines.
The could also go 55mph on the Washington-Atlanta Mainline with a large train.
They also looked really good. How many times do you see an articulated with a brass eagle? (Last Pic)
To be in Trainz in the Future, Southern Steam Project.
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jadebullet
might be back?
Either a Shay, for the reasons above, or a BL2, because it helped pave the way for modern diesel design. (road units rather than cab units. You could actually see behind you without hanging out of the window)
The shay's deserve a ton of credit here. They could climb where no other normal locomotive could, and were far more popular then their other geared counterparts.
The Challengers were very good engines as well, as they filled both passenger service and freight service.
That same theory applies to the ALCO K-28's as well, the only modern Narrow gauge engines not built by Baldwin. They were called sports models, because of their high speed and streamlined looks. they were also the only locomotives left operating on the Silverton line when it was transfered from D&RGW control
What, you thought I was going to make a post here without mentioning the K-28s?
The Challengers were very good engines as well, as they filled both passenger service and freight service.
That same theory applies to the ALCO K-28's as well, the only modern Narrow gauge engines not built by Baldwin. They were called sports models, because of their high speed and streamlined looks. they were also the only locomotives left operating on the Silverton line when it was transfered from D&RGW control
What, you thought I was going to make a post here without mentioning the K-28s?
NTrainR160
Building something...
that kinda looked like a big boy
Anything beginning with a 'G' and ending with 'tt'
(oh and built in Britain)
Basically Garratt's, Beyer, Beyer Peacock or other manufactures under license, they were the worlds most amazing, versatile steam locos produced, over 1000 were produced in UK or under license World Wide, in Australia, India, South Africa, and even a few were used in the UK. Ranging from tiny 0-4-0 0-4-0's to 2-8-2 2-8-2's were built and some are still running.
A beaut !!!
(oh and built in Britain)
Basically Garratt's, Beyer, Beyer Peacock or other manufactures under license, they were the worlds most amazing, versatile steam locos produced, over 1000 were produced in UK or under license World Wide, in Australia, India, South Africa, and even a few were used in the UK. Ranging from tiny 0-4-0 0-4-0's to 2-8-2 2-8-2's were built and some are still running.
A beaut !!!
For the steam era, the USRA 2-8-2s. The USRA 2-8-2s were very versatile machines. They could easily switch, run a branch freight, run a drag freight, run a fast freight, run a general purpose freight, and haul the occasional passenger train in a pinch. They were extremely modern engines, and many of the features that were introduced on the USRA engines were used on new steam until the end. The designs were also very solid, so that the last copies were being built during WW2. Many railroads kept them around until the end of steam.
For the diesel era, the GP7. A GP7 was about as versatile as the USRA 2-8-2s were. They were very reliable and parts were easily available (still are). In general, a great success that lead to the rest of the GPs and SDs. Also, they're still running on many roads, pretty good considering the last one was built 54 years ago.
A note for both: Yes, many bigger engines came later in both categories, but the versatility of both of these engines meant that they could be downgraded to lesser services when a replacement came; When the Berkshires and Northerns were replaced, they couldn't be downgraded to branchline or switching service.
Cheers,
Ben
For the diesel era, the GP7. A GP7 was about as versatile as the USRA 2-8-2s were. They were very reliable and parts were easily available (still are). In general, a great success that lead to the rest of the GPs and SDs. Also, they're still running on many roads, pretty good considering the last one was built 54 years ago.
A note for both: Yes, many bigger engines came later in both categories, but the versatility of both of these engines meant that they could be downgraded to lesser services when a replacement came; When the Berkshires and Northerns were replaced, they couldn't be downgraded to branchline or switching service.
I can point out others, but I figure you only mean on the D&RGW narrow gauge.
Cheers,
Ben
Best locomotive is a very subjective thing, as many are designed to do different tasks. A Big Boy would be one of the worst switchers, and wouldn't handle commuter service very well either. On the other hand a Shay isn't going to do very well pulling a long freight or a crack passenger consist.
My favorite 2 all-around locomotives are the GG-1 (electric) and the Fairbanks-Morse Trainmaster (dubbed "the most useful locomotive ever built"). Both were versatile, innovative designs, handled either freight or passenger service with ease, and were more powerful than their contemporary counterparts. The GG-1 ran for 50 years without being surpassed. F-M's leaving the locomotive business prevented the Trainmaster from achieving such long lasting success. Strangely enough, both were designed (stylistically) by the same man, Raymond Loewy
My favorite 2 all-around locomotives are the GG-1 (electric) and the Fairbanks-Morse Trainmaster (dubbed "the most useful locomotive ever built"). Both were versatile, innovative designs, handled either freight or passenger service with ease, and were more powerful than their contemporary counterparts. The GG-1 ran for 50 years without being surpassed. F-M's leaving the locomotive business prevented the Trainmaster from achieving such long lasting success. Strangely enough, both were designed (stylistically) by the same man, Raymond Loewy
this sounds like entirely an eye of the beholder and matter of oppinion type question. even what by what measurements to consider best are pretty much an entirely subjective matter.
what can be looked at objectively are fuel consumption to power output ratio's, availability ratio's (i.e. how much shop time does it take to keep it running for how much revinue earning road time)
and so on.
by those two objective ratios, its obvious why the prototype abondond steam. abondoning electrification in north america is a little less clear.
obvously catenary maintainence is a burden, but third rail solves most of that, except, running accross country you then have the problem of small furry creatures and the occasional stray human electrocuting themselves.
best units aesthetically? well again this is very much an eye of the beholder question.
i was rather fond of the oddball uniqueness of the gp-30, still one of my favorites.
well i could go one and on, but i think my favorites have to be narrow gauge dmu's. which of course arn't locomotives as such at all.
there are some i've only seen in pictures and otherwise know little or nothing about, either their opperating charicteristics or performance peramiters.
i like the design with the cab all the way at one end and that end being the front, for maximized visibility. i also like the idea of a sheltered connecting walkway, especially for opperation under mountain and adverse weather conditions.
visibility issues have almost never been adiquitely addressed in locomotive design, not in north america, and little more so elsewhere either.
again multiple unit passinger equipment pretty much takes the cake in this context, as well as that, of to me, over all aesthetics.
one of the reasons i love japanese trains, many european ones, narrow gauge especially everywhere, and favor all three over standard gauge north american primarily freight oriented opperations.
=^^=
.../\...
what can be looked at objectively are fuel consumption to power output ratio's, availability ratio's (i.e. how much shop time does it take to keep it running for how much revinue earning road time)
and so on.
by those two objective ratios, its obvious why the prototype abondond steam. abondoning electrification in north america is a little less clear.
obvously catenary maintainence is a burden, but third rail solves most of that, except, running accross country you then have the problem of small furry creatures and the occasional stray human electrocuting themselves.
best units aesthetically? well again this is very much an eye of the beholder question.
i was rather fond of the oddball uniqueness of the gp-30, still one of my favorites.
well i could go one and on, but i think my favorites have to be narrow gauge dmu's. which of course arn't locomotives as such at all.
there are some i've only seen in pictures and otherwise know little or nothing about, either their opperating charicteristics or performance peramiters.
i like the design with the cab all the way at one end and that end being the front, for maximized visibility. i also like the idea of a sheltered connecting walkway, especially for opperation under mountain and adverse weather conditions.
visibility issues have almost never been adiquitely addressed in locomotive design, not in north america, and little more so elsewhere either.
again multiple unit passinger equipment pretty much takes the cake in this context, as well as that, of to me, over all aesthetics.
one of the reasons i love japanese trains, many european ones, narrow gauge especially everywhere, and favor all three over standard gauge north american primarily freight oriented opperations.
=^^=
.../\...
Not entirely. I based my vote for SD40-2 on an old Trains Magazine article that rated the best and worst locomotives of all time. The SD40-2 sold more untis than any other model, over a longer time frame, and more remained in service longer than any other model.
well i'm sorry but i don't see the choice of number sold, or any other single peramiter of bestness, as being anything other then a subjective choice as to what to base one's perceptions of 'bestness' on.
i will certainly aggree that would seem to indicate a very solidly good quality piece of equipment. just not that any sense of over all bestness is other then subjective.
there have been others before and since, with respectably long service lives as well. and that certainly is a worth while quality.
=^^=
.../\...
PB15
Are we forgetting the small, yet very powerful PB15's from the QR? The PB15's, even though the 'P' stands for passenger, could easily pull anything, and were incredibly powerfull considering there size...
________
Mercedes-benz clr
Are we forgetting the small, yet very powerful PB15's from the QR? The PB15's, even though the 'P' stands for passenger, could easily pull anything, and were incredibly powerfull considering there size...
________
Mercedes-benz clr
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traincrazy0918
Keepin it on the rails!
i think the gp(general purpose) series was the best overall,with a few modifications it could pull a passenger train,or a freight,and can switch.out of the gp series id have to say that the 38-2 was the best, after all,90 percent are still working on railroads across the US and Canada. The gp stood up to its name and became the diesel an non-railroad likeing person usually pictures when someone talks about a train..
and the sd(special duty) series was good too
and the sd(special duty) series was good too
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