This topic is not meant for starting “builders wars” or “my favorite is better than your favorite” bickering. Favorite locomotives can be from the same railroad.
My votes go to AT&SF’s 2900 class Northerns (steam), and the ALCO DL109/110 and PAs (diesels)
I also admire the Pennsy’s T1s. They looked very impressive with their shark noses.
What’s your favorite[?]
Take care,
Russell
I’ll go along with you on the PA in Santa Fe Warbonnet but the DL-109-DL-110 were nightmares to keep operating. I think only the New Haven had any luck with these.
As for stem I like the Challengers they were excellent pullers and could be found operating in both freight and Passenger service on the UP and all railroads that operated them got good service from them.
The Northerns were great engines but it was like everyone had them or almost everyone.
Another popular diesel with me during this period was the EMD E7A and B units most popular selling A-1-A trucked passenger units. Still liked the look of the PA whether it was AT&SF warbonnet or SP Daylight colored.
Put another one in for the 2900s
Gunns
Hands down the RS3. Go anywhere do anything.
I have to admit a fondness for the C&NW yellow/green streamlined pacifics they used on the “Minnesota 400’” in the forties to very early fifties. Not too many people know about them (many more know the all dark-green streamlined CNW engines) but coupled to a string of then brand-new streamlined passenger cars it made quite a train !!
N & W J and their other streamlined steam engines in and out of Cincinnati and the passenger E units on all the railroads in and out of CUT.
The Great Northern 4-8-4… seeing that locomotive as a kid “hooked” me on trains !!!
Bob
Steam-SP Gs4
Deisel-EMD E Series
Let’s see, my favorite steam locomotive? I have three, Pennsylvania’s S2 6-8-6 steam turbine (1944), C & O’s M1 steam turbine (1946-47), and N & W’s Jawn Henry (1954).
My favorite diesel was the Baldwin Centipede of 1945.
~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~
G.N Class M2 2-6-8-0…Class N3 2-8-8-0
Hands down any Alco. They built some of the best steam and had darn good diesels too. I would have to vote for the UP 4-8-4 FEF3’s ( debated to be the best passenger steam loco in the world). I’m an Alco-haul-ic.
James[C):-)]
I agree that the UP Challengers were great.
I love the N&W class A locomotives. Of course, they started building those in the 30s. Other favorites are N&W class Y6 and, of course, the NYC Niagaras.
European engines: the Chapelon-built (or rather improved) 242 A1 4-8-4 was magnificent. The former Czechslovakian “Albatros” engines, 4-8-2 class 498 were also among the most modern and best looking engines. You can see for yourself:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/cz/steam/498/pix.html
and
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/sk/steam/498/pix.html
Steam. SP GS4 Daylight 4-8-4.
Diesel SP FP7.
Hmmmm…
Steam:
N&W “J” 4-8-4
~Clinchfield~ Challengers. [;)]
Diesel:
FP7s.
Several MoPac engines -
Steam -
P-73 Pacifics (4-6-2)
(T&P) I-4 Texas (2-10-4)
MK-63 Mikados (2-8-2)
(in black, of course)
Diesel -
EMD E3 & E6
EMD FT & F3
EMD GP7 GP9
ALCO RS1
(all in Route of the Eagles blue, gold, & gray)
I also have a fancy for Pennsy duplexes, gotta love 'em.
Steam:
Pennsy T1 (can I also sneak in K4s?–I know it’s old by this time, but I love those engines).
http://www.toltecimages.com/trains/later%20images/0656.jpg
Diesel:
Pere Marquette E7A
UP Northerns. We called them “ghost trains” because of that mournful whistle in the night. Check the streaming video of 844 today over on the Railroads forum
Also the handful of 3200 series Harriman Pacifics that UP ran across the Kansas Division at the end of steam.
And, over on the late, lamented ATSF, the Alco PA’s.
For diesel I’ve got to go with the multi-talented Alco RS-series, specifically the RS2 which I think was the best looking diesel ever.
For steam, it’s nothing but the Canadian Pacific passenger locomotives. From the Royal Hudsons to their monster ten driver streamliners (the biggest streamlined steamers on earth) those were beautiful trains.
For steam, I’d have to say the Nickel Plate Berkshire. I rode behind the 759 in the late '60’s between NYC (actually electrics took us to Hariman) and Niagra Falls.
For diesels, the Baldwin RF-16 shark nose. Especially in Delaware and Hudson paint.
