For embarrassed locomotive engineers...?

I have only seen the BL-2 in photos, but Wow, is that thing ever ugly, LOL. A few years ago, due to a snafu in motive power availability, I had to run the local "Industry Job" using an old SW-8 that was normally reserved for hostling around the engine house. It rode like a lumber wagon. And it was about half the size of any one of the cars I was pulling. Dam thing belongs in an amusement park.

I don't mind getting stuck with one or two old Geep 7s or 9s. They're very responsive and you can really feel what the train is doing behind you. Geep 35s are much better though - simply for the power. That was mostly a tongue-in-cheek post I put up before. But the hint of truth matter behind it is, when you're out "barkin' with the big dogs" pulling a 12,400 ton train, I really didn't want an old dirty SD-40 as the lead unit with a plume of exhaust that would lead people to think it burned coal. Actually that situation just became our joke of the day.

1. I’m not so sure that the SD40 was a Rambler. In fact, the SD40s and 45s were at the top of the locomotive heap for nearly three decades. But to my mind, the Rambler, Edsel and Yugo of the day were rolled up in a big ball with the introduction of ANY of the GE U-boats, the EMD SD contemporaries.

2. Any of the GE U-boats.

3. See answer to #1 and #2.

4. Again, not a Rambler at all, but the locos I enjoyed to run the most was the SD9 with a 24RL brake schedule. The best local and road switcher power I’ve known. Pulled great, no short time rating and their ride was extremely smooth, which garnered them the moniker of “Cadillac.”

I would argue all of todays locomotives will seem primative, as the last generation to be propelled by diesel fuel, and sooner than later.

Nothing made by EMD was the rambler of locomotives.That honor would have to go to the GE "U Boats" like the U 25.They were horrible engines in my opinion.I've never been on a BL 2.Tomorrows locomotive to me would probably be an SD90MAC or even an SD70M. We have a lot of SD70M's and they aren't a very good engine when compared to a GE C45.The SD70 Has one very annoying habit that seems to be common to many of them(not all of them though).When you go into dynamic brake they don't load.So you keep advancing the dynamic and all of the sudden they surge and cause a run in of the slack.The SD45 was a good engine but very similar to a 40.As for my choice to run it would be an SD45 i guess or an SD9.The SD9 was a great riding engine for an old dinosaur.We have very few of them left around here.On the line i run 95% of our power is SD70's and C44 and 45's.The C45 AC's are the best engines i've ever run.

For question 1, I would have to say a GP7 or GP9. E.M.D. manufactured almost 2,000 of the GP9's. It wasn't really an "embarrassment" though.

For question 2 I think the most embarrassing locomotive of tomorrow will be your suggestion with the SD90/43MAC. Although I don't like E.M.D locomotives just because of their trucks and their cabs, I like the SD90 the best. I love its highly distinctive configuration of headlights on its cab.

For question 3, I have only been into trains for 3 1/2 years so I have never seen an SD45 in action especially where I live. I live in a city with ALL GP40-2's for power that are hard to catch. And if I go to the city ahead of me, Janesville, it's GP38, GP40-2 again, SD40-2, MP15AC/DC, and GP15-1's.

I'm not an engineer so I have no clue on the last one.

Didn't know there was such a thing as an embarrassed engineer. Most that I know are rather proud of their locomotive regardless if it's an odd looking machine or an underachiever. Embarrassment and mortification are mostly in ones own mind. Old, ugly, slow.....they all deserve respect and love, even the less than stellar ones. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! What kind of rail "fan" focuses on the shame or inadequacies of our impressive workhorses anyway? Suppose that's why your just a fan and not an engineer.

Never known any locomotive engineer think his locomotive is "embarrassing". Seems to be something you thought up all by yourself

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