10-21-2009, 02:36 PM
Personally, I'd go with the GP7s: lighter than the grain cars that they'd be moving, but plenty agile enough, with four-wheel trucks, to negotiate any tight curves typically found in industrial areas, and more than enough power to move the projected tonnage. Oh, yeah, and plentiful spare parts available, too.
The SD24, GP20, and RS-1,-3,-11, and RSD-4 I eliminated because of the turbocharged engines, but other reasons came into play for some of the locos, too. The six wheel trucks of the SD7, SD24, and RSD-4 aren't well-suited to industrial trackage, and, of course, both the RS-3 and RSD-4 used the 244 engine, a weak point in a couple of otherwise-good locos. Based solely on aesthetics, though, my choice would've been the RS-1s - too bad about the turbochargers.
Wayne (who's never had to worry about how fast one loco "loads" compared to another)
The SD24, GP20, and RS-1,-3,-11, and RSD-4 I eliminated because of the turbocharged engines, but other reasons came into play for some of the locos, too. The six wheel trucks of the SD7, SD24, and RSD-4 aren't well-suited to industrial trackage, and, of course, both the RS-3 and RSD-4 used the 244 engine, a weak point in a couple of otherwise-good locos. Based solely on aesthetics, though, my choice would've been the RS-1s - too bad about the turbochargers.
Wayne (who's never had to worry about how fast one loco "loads" compared to another)