What's Your Favorite Style of Diesel?

Gary S.

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2005
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My favorite is the CF-7. For those that don't know, back in the early 70's, ATSF had a bunch of old F-units sitting around and they decided to rebuild them to be used for local freight operations. They removed the F bodied and turned them into something very similar to a Geep. Very cool!

The GP35 is a close second. But any Geep will do!
 

SeriousSam

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Nov 2, 2005
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CRed said:
I like my UP AC6000 and NP ES44DC the best,but I also have a BN SD70,BNSF SD75I that I really like.I need some smaller engines,I wouldn't mind a GP38 or GP60 and I like SD38 and SD40/5's alot.

The best looking one I have though is a A/B set of PCM AT&SF F3's,beautiful engines.

Chris

I agree with Chris. But I dont have an AC600 nor an ES44DC. hopefully they'll be on N Scale plastic soon. I like all the modern diesel locomotives, and all the SD series. Also the Dash 8s and Dash 9s. But I think my favorite is the ATSF E6 set that I got from Life Like.
 

CCT70

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Jun 25, 2003
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The greatest Locomotives ever built*, the EMD 40 series.

UPSD40-23472.jpg


wpkeddie4.jpg


*9 out of 10 engineers surveyed (myself included) will tell you that the SD40-2 was the all time most reliable workhorse they have ever had the pleasure of operating. :thumb:
 

CCT70

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Jun 25, 2003
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SeriousSam said:
hey, what does that other 1 out of 10 engineers surveyed say? Out of curiosity, since ive never been on a locomotive.

SD 70 series (damned kids) :D

When I was an Amtrak Conductor, the engineers really liked the F-40's and most preferred them over the P40's and especially the F-59's which are by the way the SORRIEST piece of crap any manufacturer ever turned out. :curse:
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
Dec 4, 2006
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Gary S. said:
My favorite is the CF-7. For those that don't know, back in the early 70's, ATSF had a bunch of old F-units sitting around and they decided to rebuild them to be used for local freight operations. They removed the F bodied and turned them into something very similar to a Geep. Very cool!
I'm almost postive that's what the SF unit sitting down in our rail yard is....
 

Relic

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Nov 6, 2005
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I'm not too picky, F7or9 and pretty much any high hood road unit,run long hood ahead.
Oh yeah it's gotta be in CN colours,
 

Triplex

Active Member
Aug 24, 2005
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I'm almost postive that's what the SF unit sitting down in our rail yard is....

Here's what they look like...

http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/railrunner/CF7/cf7.htm

Apparently they were fairly common with several roads owning them.Athearn has a RTR model of them,very peculiar looking.
Only ATSF rebuilt F-units into CF7s. After the rebuilds between 1970 and 1978, all were sold off between 1984 and 1987. With their fairly short second lives, most were snapped up by shortlines.

My own opinions, but first an explanation. This is how I tend to group locomotives:

Early
All FMs and Baldwins. EMDs through GP20 and SD24 (they have the same design style as the GP7/9 and SD7/9, which are definitely first-gen). Alcos through end of RS and RSD series. All cab (non-cowl) units.

2nd Generation
All U-boats and Dash 7s. EMDs from GP30 to end of Dash 2 line. Centuries and MLW M-series.

Modern
EMDs from GP/SD50 onward. GEs - Dash 8 and up.

My favorites from these eras, then:

Early - Baldwin Centipede, centercab transfer, Sharknoses. FM C-Liners.

2nd generation - DDA40X, SD45, SDP45. C630, C636, M636.

Modern - Easy; the SD80/90MAC.

I don't consider all of these good-looking. There's no such thing as a good-looking Baldwin, but they're interestingly ugly.
 

jbaakko

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Jun 25, 2006
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CRed said:
Well that certainly limits your choices!I have a BLI UP AC6000CW that's really nice,but there's not many 6000HP models out there although I'd like to get a Kato SD90 one day.

Chris
But you've left out a few. I count the SD80 even though its only 5k... SO I guess its 5000hp+

EMD SD80 series
EMD SD90 series
GE AC6000CW
EMD DDA40X
EMD DD40
GE U50B
GE U50C
ALCo C855
ALCo C643 (not sure of the HP but BIG!)
And last but not least:
MK5000C!!!
 

MilesWestern

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Sep 20, 2005
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CCT70 said:
The greatest Locomotives ever built*, the EMD 40 series.

wpkeddie4.jpg


*9 out of 10 engineers surveyed (myself included) will tell you that the SD40-2 was the all time most reliable workhorse they have ever had the pleasure of operating. :thumb:

HEY! Wait a minute! Isn't that a GP40? (Or a GP35)sign1 I don't think the WP had any 6 axle diesels, or a very small amount. VERY nice photo though! (Or was that your point, to show an SD 40 and a GP 40 too?) YOu don't see many WP photos around here, It's nice to finally see one. Do you have any MORE?
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
Dec 4, 2006
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Wow.
Who knew there were so many?
I think this is the first time I've seen most varieties listed together like this.


I think I would ahve a nervous breakdown if I were manufacturing model locomotives and trying to keep up with all the prototypes. :D
 

CRed

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Dec 10, 2006
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jbaakko said:
But you've left out a few. I count the SD80 even though its only 5k... SO I guess its 5000hp+

EMD SD80 series
EMD SD90 series
GE AC6000CW
EMD DDA40X
EMD DD40
GE U50B
GE U50C
ALCo C855
ALCo C643 (not sure of the HP but BIG!)
And last but not least:
MK5000C!!!

Even going 5000HP and up it's still a pretty limited list isn't it.Now if you went from 4000HP and up you'd have a ton of choices to choose from for models.

I know there's Kato models of the SD80/90 and BLI does the AC6000CW while Athearn does a BB model of the DDA40X,but does anyone have models of the others?I'm guessing Athearn might have BB models of a couple of them atleast,they have models of practically everything in their BB line.

Chris