I can’t honestly say that I have one favorite passenger train in particular, but I do like those from the 1950s era more so than any other - like the Santa Fe Super Chief.
Tracklayer [:D]
I love the early 1950’s Texas Eagle before Mopac got their dirtly little hands on it a repainted it all blue and put GP9’s in the engine pool for it. But when Texas & Pacific had there 4-8-2 mountains and 4-6-2 Pacifics pulling it in full eagle colors it was by far my favorite. The T&P’s E8s looked great until Mopac had them all reapainted that stupid all blue paintscheme.
CSX’s annual “Santa Train.” Runs from Elkhorn CIty, KY to Kingsport, TN. Usually runs through here for watering and fuel. (Yes, watering. The local FD brings out a couple of huge tanker trucks. It’s for the water in the passenger cars.)
uspscsx
My all time favorite has to be the SP “Coast Daylight” in the late ‘thirties and forties’. It wasn’t called ‘The most beautiful train in the world’ for nothing.
Other favorites–the Rio Grande diesel-powered “Prospector” of the 'fifties. Handsome train, especially when pulled by those colorful Rio Grande PA’s.
Great Northern’s “Empire Builder”–the streamlined version. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Burlington/Rio Grande/WP “Exposition Flyer” in Pullman Standard, and a couple of “American Flyer” coaches. Handsome as all get-out, especially on the Rio Grande section where it was usually pulled by either the 1700 or 1800 series Northerns.
The Burlington/Rio Grande/WP “California Zephyr”. Dome cars galore, but it went through scenery that justified them.
The C&NW/UP/SP “Overland Limited” after the three participating railroads stopped using two-tone gray (boring!) and began pulling from their own passenger car pools. Talk about TECHNICOLOR!
WP’s “Feather River Express” , took eleven hours to make what should have been a five-hour trip (Oakland to Portola, CA), stopped at every fishing hole in the Feather River Canyon, but dang, was it cute!
Tom [:P][:P]
The 1955 incarnation of the Great Northern’s Empire Builder is
far and away my favorite passenger train. I also like the GN’s
International streamliner of the early '50s. It is one of those great
layout-sized trains that can prototypically appear through a scene
3 times during an operating session. The prototype ran between
Seattle and Vancouver B.C. Each of the two consists made one
and a half round trips daily-great for a model railroad. I am also
fond of the variety and operation of the GN’s #27 and 28-the combined
Western Star/Fast Mail of the 50s (do you notice a trend here?)[:D]
If it’s a passenger train I like it. Period. But if you must My absolute favorites must be (WITH PICTURES[8D][8D])!the El Capitan 
, the Auto Train Corp. 
and (if they exist) ACL smooth side purple and silver.
My favorites are a 3-way-tie between:
1: The Santa Fe Super Chief
2: Burlington Zephyr
3: Amtrak Amfleet Phase II passenger trains being pulled by an F40PH.[:)]
[#ditto][tup]
Well, I remember watching the VIA passenger train run through town when I was growing up in Alberta. It was the Blue and yellow colour scheme and I always wanted a model of that style, but its hard to find. I did have the Rivarossi 8 pack in HO (with the Athearn F7) model, but I sold it when I went back to school. [sigh] The saddest thing is that I’m now in N scale and I don’t think anyone makes that scheme. [:(]
I do think the Super Chief is cool though, and the California Zephyr.
The Cincinnatian. B&O railroad, blue paint job. I saw a picture a while ago and could not believe it. A railroad from my era, named after “my” town and in my wife’s favorite color. What was not to like?
Without a doubt, the beautiful Queen of the South…The “Southern Crescent”
REX [:p]
For me it has to be the"City of New Orleans" Love that brown and orange… Cox 47
it has to be the now gone Royal Scot, London to Glasgow service, i once got a ride in the cab of the 87 electric loco at speeds of upto 110 mph in the 1980’s, when i was a lad,
But today my favorite has to be this one below, The 71000 “DUKE OF GLOUCESTER” seen here at Brock in Lancashire this evening doing around 75 mph, [:P][:P][:P]
The Southern Pacific Sunset, birght red 50’ woodside overland coaches, pulled by a 1890’s 2-6-0.
The Denver Zephyr in the late 50’s and 60’s with the full skirted Budd stainless steel cars and the domes.
I also have to admit that the Empire Builder was a beautiful train as well.
And finally, the Hummingbird on the L&N.
RedGrey62
The 1961 San Joaquin Daylight.A-B-A set of PAs,17 cars, All red and orange except for some head end cars,and the diner.The train still had a dining car,and had the classic SP 3/4 dome lounge[:p]!
Of all the trains that I would have liked to have ridden, first choice would be C&NW’s Twin Cities 400; but I was only about 14 when it was discontinued. The most recent trip (a couple of years ago) was on Amtrak’s Capitol Limited, Chicago - Washington DC. Very nice ride and was the frist time wife and son were in a sleeping car and full dining car.
Other trains that I would have liked to have ridden are the Super Chief, 20th Centruy Limited, and Empire Builder.
Its a 3 way tie, Any CNW Passenger train, Super Cheif(gotta love that warbonnet[:p]) and the Amtrak Bluewater service with a P42 in phase 5 on one end and a Cabbage on the other.
For me, the Grande’s California Zephyr and the Prospector are cool pax trains. I also love the ATSF Super Chief.
Without a doubt, the Powhatten Arrow, an all coach consist pulled by the most powerfull and beautiful northern ever made.
Second choice the Broadway limited powered by a T1 or Streamlined K4.
Third choice, the Twentieth Century hauled by a Dreyfus Streamlined J3a.
Rick