Re: PC: Re: Lightning stripes in the PC era?

[Jerry Jordak <jer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

PennCent wrote:
 
> Don't like the F-M's Jer? How come? :)
 
There was an article in Trains magazine a number of years ago about the
recollections of a guy who worked on the New York Central in the 1950s
as a master mechanic or something similar. After reading that article, I
got the distinct impression that Fairbanks-Morse power, at least their
cab units, were pieces of junk. I just tried to find the article, but I
couldn't locate it. Someone on this list might have it handy. It just
didn't paint a good picture for the mechanical reliability of the
locomotives.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against C-Liners or Erie-Builts,
and I think they were pretty attractive in terms of styling. But in real
life, they just didn't run real well. And if a locomotive won't pull its
own weight or spends too much time in the shop, a railroad will get rid
of it. Penn Central couldn't get rid of all their junk power because
they couldn't afford to buy as much new power as they probably wanted.
But that's part of the reason why we're all PC fans. :-)

-JWJ