I think that it might have looked better with a pantograph over the cab.
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I remember a "Trains" or maybe "Railfan and Railroad" magazine from a long time ago calling engines like these "techno-toasters" and "gnarly snarlers",
Minor correction: this one should be a C39-8. Note the six-axle trucks and the designation on the cab. This is still an excellent photo, by the way and thanks for sharing it with us.
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Interesting photo. Taken towards the end of the standard cab era.
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| Posted by XE-50W on March 22, 2025 | |
That “techno-toasters” designation related-to CR’s C32-8 #’s 6610 - 6619 delivered-in Sept.-Oct., 1984 and was from a c.1985 “Railfoam” in-part account their propensity for flaming exhausts when operating-in “Run 6” or above. Their early microprocessor fuel injection system had tendencies to overcompensate mix enrichments when not properly aligned. Operating crews on the former LS&MS/NYC/P-C main through Toledo often referred-to them as “flame-throwers” or “torches” and have a (subscription) dvd showing ‘em w/flames exceeding 6 to 10 ft. above their roofs trailing huge plumes of black smoke (largely unburned fuel and carbon deposits mimicking former ALCo “2nd generation” units) on various CR lines across Ohio c.1985-87. They could be quite spectacular if not downright disconcerting @ night when emitting such pyrotechnic displays, which usually lasted a few minutes or so. Later GE’s such-as then year-old C39-8 #6010 illustrated in that fine “roster shot” (above) had upgraded microprocessor systems w/much-improved injection mixing controls.
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