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Re: The Worst Locomotives
Author: BOB2
Date: 09-08-2008 - 11:05
Almo,
They don't make many engines worse than the C-415 or the U-50 from a hogheads perspective.
There are some runner's up. The 5200's (six axle Baldwins that the train fans loved too)that SP had for years were pretty useless, too. That's why they were used for years as basically breaking sleds for pull downs at Taylor Yard. Good brakes, fair power, a Delaverne WWII marine diesel that took about three hours to load current? They were too underpowered for the road and could create enough current to actually switch cars.
U-50 is the all time worst, poor ride, smokey and gassy in the cab, terrible ride on the bb-bb truck configuration. You were lucky if you ever had one where both diesel engines actually were running, so they were often underpowered, despite their purported rating. You sat so high and up front, that when you went around a tight turn (like that wye in Old Colton) that you thought you were off the track. And, you could get thrown out of your seat just going through a switch at even modest speeds. The only engine I know of that could actually make you seasick. Thank goodness they only built two-three(?) before they burned the plans.
There is a pefectly good reason that RR's like SP bought hundreds of SD 40 and 45 T-2's and hundreds of SW 1500's they ran great, were easy to take care of, and were powerhouses that produced. Not until the mid eighties, did GE finally make locomotives that were the equal of GM's. Today, they are both on par.
They don't make many engines worse than the C-415 or the U-50 from a hogheads perspective.
There are some runner's up. The 5200's (six axle Baldwins that the train fans loved too)that SP had for years were pretty useless, too. That's why they were used for years as basically breaking sleds for pull downs at Taylor Yard. Good brakes, fair power, a Delaverne WWII marine diesel that took about three hours to load current? They were too underpowered for the road and could create enough current to actually switch cars.
U-50 is the all time worst, poor ride, smokey and gassy in the cab, terrible ride on the bb-bb truck configuration. You were lucky if you ever had one where both diesel engines actually were running, so they were often underpowered, despite their purported rating. You sat so high and up front, that when you went around a tight turn (like that wye in Old Colton) that you thought you were off the track. And, you could get thrown out of your seat just going through a switch at even modest speeds. The only engine I know of that could actually make you seasick. Thank goodness they only built two-three(?) before they burned the plans.
There is a pefectly good reason that RR's like SP bought hundreds of SD 40 and 45 T-2's and hundreds of SW 1500's they ran great, were easy to take care of, and were powerhouses that produced. Not until the mid eighties, did GE finally make locomotives that were the equal of GM's. Today, they are both on par.
