Best Diesel Electric
EMD GP40-2 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive produced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1972 through 1986. Its 16-cylinder 645E3 diesel engine was rated at 3,000 horsepower, and the model incorporated the Dash-2 electrical and reliability revisions used across EMD's updated loco...
Why this score?
Highly reliable, versatile, long-lived road switcher with excellent maintainability and enduring demand across freight and regional operators.
Scoring methodology
The EMD DDA40X is a diesel-electric locomotive built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad. Produced from 1969 to 1971, each unit combined two diesel engines on one frame and delivered 6,600 horsepower through eight traction motors. Union Pacific cal...
Why this score?
Exceptional power, imposing design, Union Pacific fame, and enthusiast acclaim offset by limited production and specialized utility.
Scoring methodology
The EMD SD40T-2 is a diesel-electric freight locomotive derived from the SD40-2 and built with a modified cooling system for mountain routes. Its low-mounted radiator air intakes draw air from near track level, helping the locomotive avoid recirculating hot exhaust air while operating in long tunnel...
Why this score?
Successful specialized cooling design combined SD40-2 reliability with excellent mountain service and remarkable operational longevity.
Scoring methodology
The EMD SD40 is a six-axle diesel-electric freight locomotive produced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1966 to 1972. It uses a 3,000-horsepower EMD 645-series diesel engine and a C-C wheel arrangement, giving it the tractive capacity required for heavy North American freight service....
Why this score?
Rugged, dependable freight locomotive with broad service and strong influence, slightly overshadowed by the improved SD40-2.
Scoring methodology
The EMD E9 is a streamlined passenger diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division from 1954 to 1964. The A-unit used a 2,400-horsepower 567-series engine and was designed for high-speed passenger service, while B-units provided additional power without a driving cab....
Why this score?
Iconic streamlining, strong preservation reputation, dependable passenger service, though technologically evolutionary rather than groundbreaking.
Scoring methodology
The British Rail Class 08 is a 0-6-0 diesel-electric shunting locomotive introduced in 1953 and built in large numbers through the early 1960s. Its low-speed tractive effort and compact wheel arrangement made it suitable for moving wagons and coaches in yards, docks, and industrial sidings. It becam...
Why this score?
Extraordinary production volume, simplicity, durability, and continued service made it Britain's definitive diesel shunter.
Scoring methodology
The EMD GT26 is a family of six-axle, Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives developed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division for export markets. GT26 versions were adapted for different railway gauges, loading clearances, climates, and operating requirements. Railways used them mainly for freight, wi...
Why this score?
Highly successful export platform with powerful performance, rugged construction, extensive rebuilding, and decades of international service.
Scoring methodology
The EMD SD70MAC is a six-axle freight diesel-electric locomotive developed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in the early 1990s. Its defining feature is alternating-current traction: a diesel engine drives an alternator, and traction inverters supply AC motors at the axles, giving the locomo...
Why this score?
Highly influential AC freight design, strong hauling performance, broad adoption, and generally respected reliability.
Scoring methodology
The EMD G12 is a four-axle export diesel-electric locomotive developed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and introduced in the 1950s. It was designed for railways outside the United States and was offered in versions adapted to different track gauges, loading clearances, and national operati...
Why this score?
Exceptionally successful export design, valued worldwide for simplicity, durability, adaptability, and reliable operation under difficult conditions.
Scoring methodology
China Railways DF4 is a designation for a family of Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives developed in China and first produced by Dalian Locomotive Works in 1969. The family includes variants used for both passenger and freight service, and its locomotives became a major part of China's non-electrified...
Why this score?
Enormous production, decades of service, adaptability, and national importance establish it as China's definitive diesel locomotive family.
Scoring methodology
The EMD FP7 is a diesel-electric passenger locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division beginning in 1949. Rated at 1,500 horsepower, it used the F-unit streamlined carbody but had an extended frame to provide space for passenger-train equipment such as a steam generator. Railroads in...
Why this score?
Successful passenger variant of the celebrated F unit, combining iconic styling, reliability, range, and broad North American service.
Scoring methodology
The EMD FP9 is a 1,750-horsepower B-B diesel-electric locomotive developed by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and General Motors Diesel for passenger and mixed-service trains. Production ran from 1954 through 1959, with units built for railways in Canada, the United States, and other N...
Why this score?
Well-regarded higher-power passenger locomotive with strong Canadian legacy, though smaller production limits its broader historical impact.
Scoring methodology
The GE Dash 9-44CW is a 4,400-horsepower diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation for North American freight railroads. It uses a C-C wheel arrangement, a 16-cylinder GE 7FDL diesel engine, and direct-current traction motors, and it belongs to the Dash 9 family introduced in the 1990s....
Why this score?
Prolific, dependable freight workhorse with strong performance and longevity, though less distinctive than landmark locomotive designs.
Scoring methodology
EMD Class 66 is the common name for the JT42CWR family of Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives developed by Electro-Motive Diesel for European heavy-freight service. Production began in 1998, with examples used by freight operators in the United Kingdom and continental Europe; related versions have als...
Why this score?
Enormous European commercial success and strong reliability reputation, offset by noise, emissions criticism, and limited driver comfort.
Scoring methodology
JR Freight Class DF200 is a Japanese Bo-Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotive developed for freight service on non-electrified routes. JR Freight began commercial operation of the class in March 1993, following the 1992 completion of the DF200-901 pre-production locomotive, and introduced it for service...
Why this score?
Successful high-power diesel optimized for harsh Hokkaido service, praised for reliability, traction, and distinctive engineering.
Scoring methodology
The EMD SD45T-2 is a six-axle diesel-electric locomotive developed by Electro-Motive Division for Southern Pacific and related western railroad operations. Its 'Tunnel Motor' arrangement places the radiator air intakes low on the rear hood, helping the engine draw cooler air when exhaust accumulates...
Why this score?
Distinctive tunnel cooling, strong mountain performance, and enthusiast appeal, offset by fuel-hungry SD45-series machinery.
Scoring methodology
The UGL Rail C44aci is an Australian Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive model designed by UGL Rail and built at the Broadmeadow factory. It was developed for heavy coal traffic while retaining the ability to work high-speed intermodal services, using AC traction motors and a design derived from the NR...
Why this score?
Successful Australian heavy-haul workhorse with high power, strong reliability, and broad adoption across major freight operators.
Scoring methodology
The ALCO S-2 is a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company and its Canadian licensee, Montreal Locomotive Works, beginning in 1940. Unlike the 660-horsepower S-1, the S-2 used a turbocharged six-cylinder ALCO 539T diesel engine rated at 1,000 horsepower and was fi...
Why this score?
Durable, widely used switcher praised for strong pulling ability, simple construction, longevity, and characteristic ALCO sound.
Scoring methodology
The Fairbanks-Morse Train Master is the H-24-66 diesel-electric locomotive introduced in 1953. It produced 2,400 horsepower from an opposed-piston diesel engine and used a six-axle C-C wheel arrangement, giving railroads a high-power single-unit locomotive for freight and passenger assignments. Fair...
Why this score?
Landmark horsepower, exceptional pulling power, and cult reputation, tempered by maintenance demands and limited commercial longevity.
Scoring methodology
China Railways HXN3 is a six-axle diesel-electric locomotive developed by CNR Dalian in cooperation with Electro-Motive Diesel during the late 2000s. It was designed as a high-power freight locomotive for heavy-haul work, using diesel generation and electric traction motors rather than drawing power...
Why this score?
Modern AC traction, high power, and successful heavy-haul deployment earn respect, though public reliability evidence remains limited.
Scoring methodology
The ALCO RSD-15 is a six-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company in the late 1950s for heavy freight service. Its long, low hood led railroad enthusiasts to nickname the type Alligators, distinguishing it visually from shorter-hood road-switcher designs. The locomoti...
Why this score?
Distinctive appearance, strong low-speed traction, and enduring enthusiast appeal, though only modestly successful commercially.
Scoring methodology
The China Railways HXN5 is a six-axle Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive class developed for Chinese railway freight service. It was produced through cooperation between GE Transportation and Qishuyan, and entered service in the late 2000s. The locomotive uses a diesel engine to generate electrical po...
Why this score?
Powerful modern heavy-haul design with substantial deployment and good efficiency, but limited transparent evidence of long-term reliability.
Scoring methodology
The EMD GT42CW is a heavy-duty Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive designed by Electromotive Diesel in the USA, primarily operated by Pilbara Iron in Western Australia.
Why this score?
Rugged export locomotive with strong heavy-haul performance in demanding climates, but limited global recognition and variant-specific experience.
Scoring methodology
The EMD JT22CW is a six-axle Co-Co diesel-electric export locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division during the 1970s and 1980s. The designation is associated with locomotives using a turbocharged 12-cylinder EMD 645 engine, with examples supplied to railways in Ireland, Northern Ire...
Why this score?
Durable and capable export locomotive with strong Danish service, but narrower adoption and influence than leading EMD export families.
Scoring methodology
The GE U23B is a four-axle B-B diesel-electric road-switcher built by GE Transportation from 1968 to 1977. It uses the U23B designation for a U-series locomotive rated at about 2,250 horsepower, with power supplied by a GE FDL diesel engine and electrical traction motors. The model was designed for...
Why this score?
Commercially successful, versatile, and reliable early GE road switcher that helped establish the company's freight-market strength.
Scoring methodology
The Siemens Eurorunner is a family of diesel-electric locomotives developed by Siemens Transportation Systems for European railway operation. Its modular design allowed related versions to be configured for passenger and freight service, and the platform was offered with equipment suited to differen...
Why this score?
Modern, efficient, and dependable diesel platform with successful Austrian deployment, but limited production and international reach.
Scoring methodology
The Baldwin VO-1000 is a 1,000-horsepower diesel-electric switcher built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in the United States. Produced during the early and mid-1940s, including the World War II period, it was designed for moving cars in yards and industrial facilities rather than for high-speed roa...
Why this score?
Reliable wartime switcher with broad industrial and military use, respected durability, and substantial preservation presence.
Scoring methodology
The ALCO RS-11 is a four-axle diesel-electric road-switcher locomotive rated at 1,800 horsepower and built by the American Locomotive Company beginning in 1956. It uses ALCO's 251B prime mover and was designed for freight work, switching, and local duties associated with a road-switcher. The model b...
Why this score?
Versatile, visually distinctive road switcher with strong export and preservation interest, tempered by ALCO maintenance and support disadvantages.
Scoring methodology
The GE 44-Ton Switcher is a light diesel-electric locomotive introduced by General Electric in 1940 for switching and short-distance railroad duties. Its name refers to an operating weight at or below 44 short tons, a threshold that allowed some railroads to avoid fireman requirements under contempo...
Why this score?
Ingenious crew-cost-driven design, durable construction, and widespread industrial use, limited by modest power and narrow operating role.
Scoring methodology
The EMD SDL39 is a six-axle diesel-electric locomotive developed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division for the Milwaukee Road. Ten locomotives were built in two batches, five in 1969 and five in 1972, for branch lines and other routes where low axle loading was important. The model uses a turboc...
Why this score?
Clever lightweight branch-line design with distinctive proportions and strong enthusiast interest, but only ten units were built.
Scoring methodology
