Who had the best looking 4-6-4, 4-8-4 and so on..........?

[Dr Leonard]

This is a poll regarding the BEST LOOKING, not necessarily the best locomotive. As the French say, "Chacun a son gout" ("Each one has his taste") -- this is a subjective matter.

I don't consider the older rivet-fabricated trailing trucks very good looking; the one-piece casting of the Delta type looks much better. That rules out the Southern PS-4 4-6-2 or the N&W class K 4-8-2 (both in either streamlined or non-streamlined versions).

Then, spoked drivers are not as appealing, in my opinion, as disk drivers of the Scullin or Boxpok type. That eliminates the N&W class J 4-8-4, despite the streamlining, the CPR Hudsons, the NKP 2-8-4s, and many others.

Headlights mounted at the top of the smokebox do not seem as aesthetically pleasing as those mounted at center, or slightly above center. That rules out all PRR locomotives, none of which (except the T-1s and a few others) had disk drivers.

For 2-8-4s, the W&LE and L&N Berkshires both had disk drivers, but suffered aesthetically from the inboard-journal pilot truck. The outboard-journal truck of the NKP (and other "Van Sweringen") 2-8-4s was more pleasing. If the two could have been combined the appearance would have been more pleasing.

I would agree that the B&M (and L&HR clone) 4-8-2s were nice-looking engines, but I also like the Rutland "Green Hornet" 4-8-2. Don't forget the NYC's L-4 class, and the CNR bullet-nosed U-1-f class was outstanding.

I am partial to the NYC J3 class, especially with the Dreyfus streamlining, but there were some other good-looking Hudsons such as those of the Wabash.

There are several candidates for good-looking 4-8-4s, but I would not include the Milwaukee's because of that ugly solid pilot. The Rock Island's 5100 series, the SOO's 5000s and the Frisco's 4500s were appealing. The NYC's Niagaras were outstanding engines but perhaps not as aesthetically appealing because of the raised headlight and their compact profile.

I could go on, but will stop with these. As I said, this is all subjective. But I just think that, when nominating locomotives for "best looking," we should be able to give reasons why we have picked them

[jimrice4449]

4-8-4 N&W J
4-4-2 Milw A
4-6-4 MIlw F-7
2-8-4 Any Lima Super power, NKP will do nicely as an exemplar
How can everybody miss the Southern Ps-4 in the 4-6-2 category?

[trainboyH16-44]

Hudson....CPR
2-10-4...CPR
4-4-4....CPR
Northern...CPR
Consolidation....CPR
Mikado....CPR (P2)
2-10-2...CPR
4-6-2....CPR. (G5)
I think it's safe to say where my loyalties lie...

[Anonymous]

I think I can safely say UP had the best looking 4-12-2 [:)]

I really like the clean lines of most late model Alco built Northerns. I have to go with Candian Pacific for the best looking Hudson, with an honorable mention to NYC's Dryfuss J3a's with Scullin drivers.

[palallin]

4-8-2 Frisco 1500s.

[markn]

Best looking steam loco ever..N&W J.

[markn]

Best looking steam loco ever..N&W J.

[Anonymous]

The best looking

4-6-4 PRR class P5

4-8-4 PRR class R1

4-6-6-4 New Haven's EP4

4-8-8-4 Milwaukee Road and South Shore's "Little Joe"

[M636C]

In non -streamlined form, there is nothing to match a New York Central J1e!

I have a reproduction Lionel scale model of 5340!

I have an HO J3a, and even allowing for the size difference there is no way it looks as good as a J1e (with a Coffin heater)!

For a 4-8-4, there is not much to match the SP GS-4 in any form!

M636C

[David_Telesha]

4-6-4 New Haven I-5
4-6-2 NH I-4
4-8-2 NH R3a Heavy
2-10-2 PRR
4-8-4 SP GS4

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

0-8-0 - IHB 100-102
2-8-2 - NYC
2-8-4 - NKP
2-10-2 - BRC
2-10-4 - ATSF
2-8-8-4 - B&O
4-4-2 - MILW A
4-6-2 - Erie K5
4-6-4 - NKP
4-8-2 - PRR
4-8-4 - ATSF
4-6-6-4 - UP
Garratt - East African Railways

[Anonymous]

4-8-4 Milwaukee Road S3
4-6-2 Chicago Great Western K5
2-10-4 CGW T1
2-8-4 Illinois Central
2-8-0 CGW

[Train 284]

I tihnk Canadian Pacific had the best looking hudsons, UP had the best looking northerns and articulateds, well except for SP's daylights and cab forwards! The K4's were the best looking Pacifics by far!

[PBenham]

Best looking 2-8-0? Rutland #31. 2-8-2? NYC's H5 class. 4-8-2? N&Ws K2 class as built. Tied with B&Ms R1s! 2-8-4? Nickel Plate's S class. 4-8-4? Lehigh Valley class R1 The Wyomings! what else? 2-10-0s Lehigh & New England's group have my vote, wide firebox and all! 2-10-2s? Any USRA heavy will do . I'll say. 2-10-4s? Central Vermont's, naturally! New York Central takes the best Hudson: The J3as. The best Pacifics? A Pennsy K4s No more needs to be said! Challenger? D&Hs, and Clinchfield's "eastern" Challengers, naturally! 2-6-6-4s are defined by N&W As! N&W also had the best 2-8-8-2s, by far and then there are those Divine 4-6-0s the Rutland possessed for nearly a half century! Well, there you are. Sorry it isn't neater.

[JanOlov]

2-8-0: Reading I-10sa (WM Class H-9 in close second)
2-8-2: DL&W Class 2145-2150
2-8-4: C&O Class K-4
2-10-0: WM Class I-2
2-10-2: RDG Class K-sb
2-10-4: C&O Class T-1
4-4-2: Milwaukee Road Class A (PRR Class E-6s in close second)
4-6-0: PRR Class G-5
4-6-2: RF&P Class ? (later types)
4-6-4: Milwaukee Road Class F-7
4-8-2: WABASH
4-8-4: WABASH Class O-1
2-6-6-2: C&O Class H-5
4-6-6-4: D&RGW Class L-105
2-8-8-2: N&W Class Y-6b