Jamie, No need to escape the flaming, I can probably name 100 model
railroaders who will say the PA's beat the E's hands down and another 100 who
will say the E's win.(in the "looks" category) But I can disagree with the E-8
view, to me an E-7 looks better than the E-8, more purposeful, workman-like.
The F's vs FA's, other than both being freight power is almost like
comparing apples to oranges. Once again, two different design prime movers,
turbos, etc. Two cycle vs. 4 cycle, slow start vs. quick start. Obviously the
railroads preferred the EMD's over the Alco/GE's based on the numbers built.
The only complaint I ever heard from a brakeman on the LV was that the FA's
had a lot of oil spilled on the interior walkways, making walking from unit to
unit treacherous, but the LV, to the best of my knowledge, had no pulling
complaints or slipping past the sand tower complaints. The many videos I've
seen of the FA's in run 8 seem to confirm the excellent pulling theory, whereas
I've seen first hand F-7's slipping like crazy on slight uphill climbs. A lot
of any arguments on pulling power (or lack of) can be directed right to the
engineer, a good engineer could coax any power to work beyond its designed
limitations, a poor one could embarrass any locomotive salesman touting his
product's virtues.
Bud Rindfleisch
Hi All,
> I have donned my asbestos suit and am ready for a severe flaming, but I
> have always thought that EMD E8's were far better looking engines than PA's.
> I may be the only person not employed by EMD to think that (I did grow up in
> Detroit.), but that's my humble opinion. I'd take an F unit over an FA any
> day on looks, but of course Baldwin Sharks beat all! One of my favorite
> quotes from an old railroader was about FA's. "Those things would slip
> running light through the sand house!"
> Jamie Bothwell
> Bethlehem, PA
> PS If you are coming to my house with pitchforks and torches, be careful. I
> finally fixed the screen in the front door. You have to open it again. You
> can't just step through any more!
>
> On Oct 1, 2012, at 8:31 PM, Thomas Baker wrote:
>
> >
> > ________________________________________
> >
> > Bud,
> >
> > I was lucky enough to ride the "Adirondack" while Bucky Dumaine was
> > president. I had spent six weeks studying German at the Middlebury College
> > Ssummer Language School. After the program ended, I got to Burlington, rode
> > a ferry across Lake Champlain, and flagged down the southbound train at
> > Port Kent. Had a great ride behind one of the ALCO PA units in D&H
> > warbonnet paint. Rode as far as Renssalaer and then got on the mortal
> > remains of the "20th Centruy" and rode that to Chicago. The PC train was
> > late and thus I had to wait to get on the "Blackhawk" to Minneapolis to
> > meet up with my wife. The PA will always be a great memory.
> >
> > Tom
> >
> >
>
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