Favorite locomotive (from the 1980's): GP and SD40's. Where I worked, this was as good as it got. Now look at the list of garbage that caused us to appreciate 40's so much: Hated locomotives (from same era): We were actually expected to get our trains over the road with GP20's (ancient CBQ relics), and GP30's. I know that these models were, at one time, very prestigious, but that was back when horses had three toes. In 1983, they were good for putting you on overtime or going dead. From the looks of other replies, the GP15 is a recurring nightmare; I agree. The SLSF units didn't have dynamics and the hostlers would, without fail, put them in the lead. And now my Ode to Godforsaken GP35 Torpedoboats of the SLSF which were kept around a little too long. Here is a radio conversation between a switchman and the engineer trying to get some work done: switchman: "give me a pin" wait...wait...wait ...wait (usually 10 seconds after coming out on the throttle) "that'll do. A-Head to clear" wait...wait...wait...wait........ "that's good. (then the switch is turned) "OK, back up 5 to a joint" wait...wait...wait...wait........ you finally come to a joint and the pins don't fall. "They didn't make...go A-Head 1 car" wait...wait...wait...wait.... You go in and open knuckles for another try. "OK, back up 1 to a joint" wait...wait...wait...wait.... You make the joint and you're ready to pull. "OK, mainline" wait...wait...wait...wait.... You get the idea. Try doing that for eight hours.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ed pinkley: what railroad do you work for wt&c?\<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Chessie from 1979and into CSX 1995 got out and work for WVRA.love those sd38s !!
I've talked with some engineers on the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway who say their favorite Motive Power are the EMD's. The E&N has an all EMD roster, four GP38's(3809, 3870, 3876, and 3877(3876 and 3877 are ex-NS and 3809 and 3870 are ex-Conrail) an ex-Conrail GP10 numbered 1001, and an ex-BN GP20 numbered 2099. The crews prefer the Conrail GP38's over the ex-NS GP38's because of the better visability, and toilets.
