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RE: (erielack) The face of ugly.

Alan wrote:

> I have said this before -- a unit like this could indeed have 
> a PA/FA or E/F unit style cab.  However, today's industrial 
> designers seem to think that these designs are too dated, too 
> art deco.  I very much disagree, except for the _very_ art 
> deco headlight grille on the PA/FA.  When I see photos of 
> these classic locomotives, it does NOT bring images of 
> vintage automobiles, toasters, or refrigerators to mind.  
> 
> As far as I can tell, the current concept of "modern sleek" 
> seen in the F59PHI and other locomotives seemed to originate 
> with the artist's conception of the "Marlboro Unlimited" 
> train back in the early 90s. 
> That's the first time I saw a rendering of what we now know 
> as an F59PHI.  Although the Marlboro train never operated, 
> several locomotives and cars were produced -- and it's not 
> too much of a leap to assume Philip Morris paid big bucks to 
> make sure the locomotives looked just like their artist's concept.
> 
> I do wish we'd see the end of "bricks on wheels," but unless 
> GE and EMD hire like-minded aesthetic designers for their 
> locomotives, we're not likely to see a change.  Too bad I 
> don't have the chutzpah to call their division managers and 
> suggest that they hire me.  Anyone care to try?


A lot of people don't realize why modern diesels aren't particularly high on
the "appeal scale." It all comes down to LABOR AND COST!

In some old EMD publicity photos, you can see a team of about 8 men working
on hammering out the nose contours of an F-unit. Lots of body putty, too! It
was an extremely time- and labor-intensive task.

Today's "streamlined" diesels are much simpler. The GE Genesis is designed
to remove all "reverse curves" (which are not easy to do,
mass-production-wise). All the Genesis parts can easily be stamped and
assembled. The design goal was to make a "modern" looking diesel while
keeping costs down.

EMD's two current passenger offerings, the F59PHI and the DE30AC/DM30AC both
have slab-side carbodies with a single fiberglass-cast nose piece - sure,
lots of curves, but all easily and inexpensively made.

Will we ever see an innovative E-unit or PA-style design again? Doubtful. In
the "old days," folks who rode the trains felt it was like a cruise ship on
wheels - so looks were important. Today, most of your new diesels are for
Amtrak (and not many people have the same "cruise ship" mentality about
them) or for commuter agencies, whose passengers could care less if a
streamlined diesel or a brick were at the head (or in many cases, at the
rear!) of the train.

I have my E8's and PA's in model form, and I'm quite happy. :)

	- Paul

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