Poll: Favorite MBTA passenger locomotive of all time?

[Tom coughlin]

The ex New Haven GP9’s. I loved to hear them start a train from a station stop. The Hancock air whistle sounded great.

A great memory was a trip from Sharon to South Station one summer afternoon in 1978. I was riding in the car behind the engine. The former Pennsy P70 coach had no AC that day so the conductor left the front vestibule door open. Listening to the Geep working at speed is something I’ll never forget. I timed a few mileposts and our speed was 80 MPH. This was the maximum authorized speed for these engines as noted in Amtrak’s employee timetable.

Tom Coughlin
Stow, MA

[highgreen215]

I-2 Pacific

[rmccown]

[Literalman]

Do the PA's count? They weren't painted for the MBTA but they were handsome.

[TomNelligan]

The Delaware & Hudson PAs were the first thing that came to my mind too, although I wasn't sure if they qualified since they were here on a one year lease rather than being MBTA-owned. Absolute classic locomotives, though, and they really brightened things up during their Boston residency.

PA 18 South station.jpg (277.03 KiB) Viewed 5326 times

[Backshophoss]

The F3 rebuilds,aka the F10's.
The PA'a did not fair well on the Worcester line service,they were not set up for commuter service,just LD service.

[highgreen215]

The PAs saw Providence service too.

[Tadman]

PA's for sure. You don't hear of them in commuter service much other than EL and Boston.

[JWilson]

E-8, PA,HSP-46, GP-9, F10, 010 & 011 (forgot the model #), F40 all variants, GP40 MC

[Backshophoss]

010 and 011 are MP36-3C ,have separate HEP Gen-set.
Again the F10's with their Gen-set HEP's are my fav.

[BandA]

When it comes to a diesel locomotive, my favorite is whatever one doesn't break down, has the lowest emissions and best fuel economy.

[BandA]

Apparently I remember back in 1988 the very old (B&M) locomotives on the north side would stall pulling out of the stations & have to be restarted.

[jwhite07]

When it comes to a diesel locomotive, my favorite is whatever one doesn't break down, has the lowest emissions and best fuel economy.

Here's one. Zero emissions and infinite fuel economy. Nothing to break down, either!

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone:

I have taken quite a liking to the F10 - they were the face of MBTA Commuter Rail in the 1980s.
There have been other good locomotives - such as the former NH GP9s.
I would have liked to have seen the ALCO PA's when they were in service...

JW's posted picture of Amtrak 410 above answered a question about the fate of one of what was
six GMD built F40s that were originally GO Transit 510-515. They were sold to Amtrak and were
renumbered 410-415 - overhauled by Conrail. One of the spotting features of the GMD F40s were
the small anti climbers on the front end. VIA's F40s also have this feature. Any idea when and
where this picture was taken?

MACTRAXX

[jwhite07]

JW's posted picture of Amtrak 410 above answered a question about the fate of one of what was
six GMD built F40s that were originally GO Transit 510-515. They were sold to Amtrak and were
renumbered 410-415 - overhauled by Conrail. One of the spotting features of the GMD F40s were
the small anti climbers on the front end. VIA's F40s also have this feature. Any idea when and
where this picture was taken?

MACTRAXX

It comes from this article posted in December 2015:
https://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2015/1 ... emeteries/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Location is identified as McDonald, OH which I believe is Larry's Truck Electric (LTEX).