Your favorite models, and why?

For me, Life-Like GM switchers run the best (I have about a dozen of them), and for looks I like Alco switchers (I have 15 Atlas units and 5 Life-Like units). Over half my locomotive fleet consists of yard switchers. Most of the money I spend on my hobby goes into locomotives, so my interests are quite narrow compared to many other model railroaders. I do have a very small layout that I run idiot loops on at home, and the model railroad club I belong to has a modular layout that allows for both switching and running idiot loops.

My favorite is my 1964 Akane M-4 Yellowstone 2-8-8-4. Relatively well detailed for its age, a very smooth runner and a POWERFUL puller! Always has been trouble-free. Last year I put in a large NWSL can motor, re-did the articulated drive mechanism between the two driver sets, and popped some Cal-Scale castings to replace the original Akane castings (front pumps, converted the Worthington FWH to an Elesco, stuff like that). Numbered it in the never-was Rio Grande 3900 series (Rio Grande borrowed the Missabe originals during WWII). Like it so well, I got it a friend a couple of years ago, same model, same year, same manufacturer. Just got some PSC castings for THAT one, and that’s my next project down the line. If I ever find any more at shows or swap meets, I will grab them and run like crazy. Marvelous locomotives!
Tom [:P][:P]

My favorite? The little Tyco 2-6-2 steamer and the Tyco bicentennial diesel. Why? They were the engines that my dad always had running on his layout when I was a kid. Also my old 2-4-2 O gauge steamer (Marx?) . . . .my very first engine. Those were big time fun times and were responsible for me enjoying this great hobby today.

My favorites…

  1. Kato Canadian Pacific AC4400CW. I just got 3 of these and they are very good running loco’s and very easy to install decoders in.
  2. P2K Huron Central SD45. Very crisp paint and great runner like all Proto’s, nice details and very simple to install decoders in.
  3. Athearn Genesis Ontario Northland SD75I. Very nicely detailed loco’s but very brittle paint on rails, installing decoders are time consuming because you must solder it in, add resistors and hope it works.

How comes I never see this model at the local hobby shop?!?

Lynda Lusardi [bow]… you guys don’t know what you missed… Am I getting old? [%-)]
Hey! They can never take away your memories![:D]

I’m attached to my Athearn RTR SD50 in Conrail Quality. Great puller and very detailed. My fav.

THE favorite would be my brass custom painted N&W Class J. Next would be my VGN 2-8-4, probably because I waited 30 years for it in non-brass. But keep this to yourself, because I still love all the rest too.

Probably my Proto 2000 WC SD45’s. Then id have to say my KATO WC SD45. But i love all of my engines, but my 2 proto’s are my favorite.

Alec

I just gotta date myself. My all-time favorite locomotive is the pre-1963 Varney diecast Berkshire (2-8-4) locomotive. It was not particularly well detailed even for its time, but the mechanism leaves even the best offerings today in the lurch. Varney machined square ends on the driver axles with precision square holes in the driver centers. There was never a problem with getting drivers quartered so they did not bind. Years ago I purchased many of these locomotives that were in need of repair and have used them as a source of drivers, even rebuilding some of them to represent Ann Arbor H-8 locomotives. Lots of effort, lots of detailing, but ultra reliable and smooth running. And they will pull the paint off a wall at 300 feet…

My second choice would be the super ugly Mantua Mike from the mid '50’s, the one with the split frame. They are extremely sure footed and can be made into very nice looking locomotives using the Cary replacement boiler and bags of detail parts.

Old fart? You better believe it!

Tom

Too many to list but here’s my top 3

1 P2K D&H PA - I love the operating MARS light.
2 Athearn RTR AC4400
3 Toss up of my Athearn RTR SOO SD60 & my P2K CSX SD50.

The bigger the locomotive the better!

Gordon

This is actually my favorite. If you have to ask why…well…

I have fond memories of my Tyco 2-6-2. It and the Tyco 4-6-0 were my first two engines when I started in the hobby. I had many hours of enjoyment from each.
Enjoy
Paul

I forgot to add my Tyco General 4-4-0. I assembled this kit for my Railroading Merit Badge. I still have it. Looking at it now (and running it) I see it certainly isn’t a fine runner, some of the parts were assembled incorrectly and the paint job - well, let’s just say it’s wanting big time. But at the time I was big time proud of the fact that I built it and it ran. It still makes me smile every time I look at it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

It’s a tie between my Athearn SD 40s/SD 40-2 s(dependable, powerful, smooth), Brass + Rivarossi Big Boys (2 Key Imports, 2 Rivarossi) see above and quiet,Sunset and Rivarossi Cab Forwards (same again). The brass was used off of Ebay and required some TLC so in a rare occurence my repairs were beneficial for once. My choices admittedly vary like the direction of the wind so it might change in the near future.

My favorite engine still remain a Athearn GP7 that my late wife got me back in 75…[:D]

Oh its got to be any of my Protos, Atlas, and then my Athearns. Kevin

And remember LOCOMOTIVE MODELS ONLY, PEOPLE!
Thanks!

I’d have to say that my favorite is my P2K Atlantic Coast Line E6. I got a great deal on it, and it pulls my 30 cars with ease! I don’t even need a powered E6B. The A unit pulls everything easily enough.

Plus is there anything bad about these E6’s? I love that sloped nose. Not sure why they got rid of that. The F units look just like E6’s do if they ran into a brick building. All flat and squished up.

My favorite model locomotive is my Southern Railway GP40X that I kitbashed using a RPP shell, Cannon & Co. high short hood-cab-fans-etc., A-line steps and a whole laundry list of detail parts. Mounted it on a P2k GP60 frame and I now have a one of a kind locomotive.

Bob DeWoody