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