Some locomotive starting sequences from YouTube.
EMD E-unit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNR8dYze ... re=related
Alco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zAi7wIgvrk&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do9CNax0 ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXx9Y2zc ... re=related
Baldwin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZC-BUSz ... re=related
Fairbanks-Morse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExEYewvs ... re=related
These next ones are British diesels in preservation. What stands out is how hard starting (and smokey!) these units are, especially when compared to the American units shown above. Apparently at least part of this is due to cold engines in cold weather, with cold fuel, at least according to some diesel men at Railway Preservation News.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG91fYHc ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpQivta ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_cGG56 ... re=related
These units give you the impression a steam locomotive would be easier to "start," and certainly simpler--all you need is a dry match. . .and several hours to raise steam. . .
Enjoy.