Best Steam Locomotive

Southern 4501; 2-8-2 Mikado
NW 611J

TO sprnt12: WHERE YOU AT?

kinda partial to the 3700 series - Rio Grande
UP 3895/844
SP Daylight 4499 (beautiful)

Sorry Michael it was 126.5 m.p.h down Stoke Bank in 1936 By the way the firman “Bray” recently died

From a Canadian perspective, how about the Royal Hudson (2860) or The Empress ( 2816) a not so Royal Hudson or maybe a CPR Jubilee , a CPR Selkirk ,a CN streamlined Northern 6400 series or CN 6060. Sadly all but The Empress exist only in a museum. Any one of these would qualify for the best looking steam engine in my humble opinion !

I gotta say my favorites are the NP’s and SP&S’s 4 8 4 NORTHERNS like the SP&S 700 and NP 2626 ex 1111 also the Northern Pacific’s 2 8 8 4 Yellowstones but my very favorite of all Was the NP’s little 0 8 0 # 1174 yard goat in Yakima Washington.

railwayray
Sagle Idaho

The BEST steamer of all time is definatly any of the C&O H-8 Allegheny’s. They were successful, powerful, able to handle drag freight or passenger service! To para phrase Doyle McCormic " I would sell my reserve seat in hell to hog one of those" Trains Feb 2004
David

I read that…I really like how that dude thinks [:D].

The late great Every Where West! CB&Q O-5b 4-8-4 #5632.

I sure like all of those narrow gauge ex-D&RGW steamers that I’ve rode behind from Durango and Antonito.

on the Durango & Silverton?

4-8-4 's are my favorite mainline locomotives, they just have such a classic form. Cotton Belt 819 would be my pick.

Nothing beats an old shortline workhorse though. Give me a high boiler Ten-Wheeler, Consolidation, or a lite Mike anyday.

Visiting the Cumbres and Toltec’s “mudhens” in their native habitat is worth whatever it takes to get there…

My favorite steam engine that doesn’t exsist anymore is the SP AC9. These were awsome looking engines.I just wish I could have seen one.[:(]

AC9…were these cab-forwards?

No,these were standard cab in the rear articulateds.They had a skyline casing over the boiler like the GS’s or Mountains.

Hmmm…ok thanks.

I have to say the Empress CPR 2816 is my fav.

If I have to narrow it down to just 1, it’d have to be the 4-8-0 [:D], but then again, I like all steam.

Jay

For the most credible contender against the onslaught of the diesel in the transition era, the winner would have to be the NYC Niagara. For most powerful non articulated power, it would have to be the PRR Q2 4-4-6-4 although it’s adhesion weight left a lot to be desired. But in looking back probably the most impressive was unfortunately never built before the last fire was pulled. This was the Lima 4-8-6. With 70 inch driving wheels, a huge firebox supported by a three axle trailing truck, a double Belpaire boiler with a large combustion chamber, Franklin rotary cams….It would have been quite a performer. As far as the most appealing in terms of aesthetics, my vote is for the futuristic Buck Rodgers appeal and sheer size of the enormous PRR S1.

Zach, the list is long but distinguished [^][:D][8D] . All kidding aside mine is Pere Marquette 2-8-4 1225.