Western Railroad Discussion > Baddest locomotive out there.

Hey rails, you guys and gals that actually run the engines, what is the best pulling, most powerful, baddest locomotive out on the rails today? AC44CW, SD70MAC, ES44AC, SD70ACe or any others? I heard a story years ago of a Southern Pacific (DRGW) 100 car loaded coal train on the Craig Branch that was stopped at a red signal on a grade. This train started on the grade in a rain storm from a dead stop, and the engineer was very impressed that he even got it going, no slippage, didn't get a knuckle. Just sheer power. These were two AC4400CW's when they were new. I don't think the train had helpers. I could be wrong on that. Engineers, what do you think?

SantaFeRuss

Depending on where the train was stopped makes a huge difference on the power. If it's
uphill from P'Burg he might have had 2 AC4400's for power, with a four or five unit
swing helper! As stout as the AC4400s were they still wouldn't lug 100 cars into Bond
on their own.

Out

Id say a Cab-Forward. :):)


Nudge

I know they are getting older---but you couldn't beat the SD70MACS on a coal train in the Powder River. The biggest improvement was when distributive power was perfected on BNSF.

SD70MAC. When working:) Now if you're a whiner the GE may win as it may have better creature comforts.

I'll take an ES44AC over anything. A SD70MAC follows. I'll run anything before I want an ACe.

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Gevo

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AC6000 that still has a 6000 horse engine...

1. AC6000CW
2. ES44AH
3. CW44AH
4. BN's heavy SD40-2's

usa4624 Wrote:
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> AC6000 that still has a 6000 horse engine...


Even when down-rated to 4400 like CSX has done they're still pretty beast motors. I was on a Q439 one time heading south down the A-Line to Rocky Mount. Down-rated AC6000 on point followed by something else. Round about Weldon we were at speed and the second unit ran out of fuel. Not much further on, we went into the hole at Delmar and pulled up to Bricks and stopped. Train was something like 160 cars. Manifest freight. Figured we'd NEVER get it going... but she did. Made it into Rocky Mount and did our set-out. No trouble.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/15 23:26 by Totallamer.

AC6000 (Big Six what I call them) are by for the best pullers! Before the idiots decided to derating them, they would pull the white off a golf ball!

Definitely AC60CW. By far best dynamic brake and if you have dry rail, truly impressive pulling power. They tended to get a little slippery on wet rail even at speed when pulling upgrade. A quick application of sand and the wheel squeal would stop and they would usually dig right back in.

From some of the posts from a week or so ago from BNSF crews, I would say a lot of railroad crews would not say the es44c4. SteveH

1. GE AC6000CW -- as stated by several posters, they will flat-out pull
2. ES44AC/AH / AC4400CW
3. SD70MAC -- in their younger days they were solid pullers (sure, they had their idiosyncrasies, but overall good motors)
4. SD40-2 -- before AC traction & microprocessors, the SD40-2 was king: power, reliability, quick loading, great riding