Ranking the Amtrak locomotives* of the northeast corridor by aesthetics (from best to worst)
1. GE Genesis P42DC
From a sustainability standpoint I don’t like that they’re diesel, but I Do like the way they look with the carbody shell. Very chunky and train-like while also looking pretty modern. Vergara did it again
2. Avelia Liberty Trainset (motive car)
Looks like it’s actually meant to go fast. Nice to see a US railway using technology from this century too.
3. Siemens Charger ALC-42E
easier on the eyes than the Cities Sprinter and electric. Hopefully the next northeast regional I take will be on one of them.
4. Siemens Cities Sprinter ACS-64
Nothing wrong with it from an engineering standpoint, but aesthetically it looks like the brick-ified pug version of the Charger.
5. Acela Express trainset (motive car)
I’ve taken it, it’s a perfectly fine train, but the aesthetics are a bit.. off. It looks squished and dated compared to the rest of the world’s high speed trainsets.
*I’m counting the ALC-42E and Avelia Liberty even though they technically haven’t entered revenue service yet. fight me about it
The Avelia Liberties while being very fucked up are still incredibly fun and fast
