Sounds to me like we have a question with no answer. I see a lot of mention of a few locos, but all of us are subject to our own experience. How does one measure the most famous loco in history? Number of people who have heard of it? Number of times it’s been mentioned in print? Are there famous locos in other countries than the US and UK? Who gets to vote?
For instance, if sheer numbers are the measure, then the trolley on Mr Rogers Neighborhood (I know, it’s not a loco, but bear with me) probably beats most everyone, including Thomas. Virtually every kid who has watched TV, at least in the US, in the past {how many?} years, and their parents, knows of that piece of rolling stock. For that same reason, Thomas would rate high in sheer numbers. How many 3 year olds have heard of many of the real loco’s mentioned? But they know of Thomas.
For that matter, “the little engine that could” probably beats all of the locos mentioned so far in terms of people who have heard of it. I think my vote goes there.
But, of course, anytime one asks for an opinion on any topic, there is by definition no “correct” answer. So to that extent, this is a question with no answer. But that doesn’t mean we can’t ask it.
Actually, it wasn’t really an “answer” I was looking for, but rather just a well-thought out opinions. Alas, I’m sorry to say that largely didn’t happen here as many of the posters apparently misread the question - despite my restating it on several occasions. Others simply had to name their favourite locomotive (or class of locomotive, or train.)
One wonders if the denizens of dialectical dialogue who seemed to populate this thread, would answer the New York Yankees, or the American League, if I’d asked them to name the “most famous” baseball player in history.
Tree: You are what we call in my part of the country "A true Gentleman of Note. Kindest regards and I do beg the forgivness of my fat finger in typing 4100 rather than 4000 it seems that I mistook a Manatwoc crane number 4100 (200 ton rating) from another life for the ultimate Alco on the UP property. Regards - Roy
If we can count them, then my votes would be for Mr. Rogers’ trolley and Thomas the Tank Engine, for the reasons mentioned above. I believe that since there are now many real-life incarnations of Thomas the Tank Engine, those can be counted for it.
As for locomotives with true prototypes, I will begin thusly:
The Rocket–to those who follow early steam locomotive development, this is a quite well known locomotive. However, at least in the US, few members of the public have ever heard of it. The same in my judgement applies to Locomotion, Stourbridge Lion, Puffing Billy, and Best Friend of Charleston (not many Californians care to know about George Stephenson’s locomotives). To railfans, Mallard is fairly well known, but its fame ends there. The General and Tom Thumb are fairly well known in the US (I can’t speak for other countries), but I am guessing that the world’s most famous locomotive is Central Pacific’s Jupiter, for two reasons:
It was at the very famous Golden Spike ceremony
Most people find the name Jupiter easier to remember than the other locomotive’s number, 119.
I recognise pretty much all the locomotives and classes named above, in that the name evokes an image in my mind’s eye.
nowhere in the original question did I read the phrase “must be a real locomotive.”
the MOST famous ones are by definition the ones that spring immediately and un-prompted to the minds of the general public, not the one most picked by railfans (after careful thought) from a multiple choice list.
5)so: if someone were to spring this question on me by suprise and at random (a 'la Jaywalking) it’s even odds that I’d have said either “Thomas the tank engine” or “the Little Engine that Could.”
By no stretch of the imagination is this scientific, but I think that many of you would probably said the same if Jay Leno jumped out at you with a microphone and a camera crew.
(I wonder how many of the dumb answers he gets are an artifact of a “deer in the headlights” reaction from people startled by simultaneously meeting a celebrity and having a TV camera pointed at them?)
(though I might have said “4449” if you caught me thinking railroady thoughts, as that was my first experience with the living, breathing reality. . . my dad took me to see her in '75 and managed to wrangle a cab tour for his 5 year old son. Pulling a whistle cord and making noise leaves an impression. . .)
(note: my personal favorites are all geared locomotives and yard goats, so don’t land on me for favoritism. . .)
I’m sorry to report that 5498CP has failed “reading 101” and will have to repeat the grade again. He(?) has repeatedly misunderstood directions and still has not learned to differentiate between a locomotive class and an individual locomotive.