OK, here we go!
My list of favorites isn't going to be as elaborate as Becky's, I'm an operator, not strictly a collector, however if I like it, I buy it. And these are all favorites, if I don't like it I ignore it.
Pre-War Standard Gauge
The Blue Comet Set, locomotive and cars. What can I say? An absolute masterpiece of the toymakers art. Don't own one, unless I hit the lottery I never will, although I did see one at an antique show several years back. I was stunned at the size of it, photographs and videos don't do it justice, you have to see one up close and personal. Tinplate collector John Potter hit the nail on the head when he said a kid that got one of these for Christmas back in the 30's must have had a heart attack when he saw it under the tree! And remember, that set was $75 in 1939. That same $75 would have gotten you a Winchester 30-30 rifle and a Colt .38 revolver, and you would have had change coming!
Pre-War "O"
What else, the "Baby Blue Comet!" Don't own one of those either.
Post-War
Now we're talkin'! Steam, steam, steam! And these I own!
The 221 "Baby Dreyfuss." Lucked into this one at a hobby shop in Florida, Metro Trains and Hobbies, Fort Meyers. 1946 production and cute as a button! Looks great with four "O-Line" NYC streamline cars.
The 2055 Hudson. Elegant, the best way I can describe it.
The 2056 Hudson. I call this one "The Bruiser," it'll pull tree stumps out of the ground!
The 736 Berkshire. What can we say? Got one last year and it's all it's cracked up to be. Another great puller and produced the same year I was, 1953.
The 2018 2-6-4. A sentimental favorite, my childhood Lionel steamer. Take care of it as you should and it just runs and runs and runs. Not fancy, but it sure is reliable!
1970-2000
Only one here, a 1989 Susquehanna RS-3. "A diesel?" you say? Well, I had to compromise. I'm a fan of North Jersey railroads and couldn't find a Susy-Q steamer anywhere. Well OK, MTH made a Susy-Q Russian Decapod a few years back, but at $899 I just couldn't afford it. Wouldn't run on my 031 layout anyway.
Everything else I've got is MTH or Williams or K-Line or RMT and beyond the scope of this discussion.
Two amendments, since some nights my brain's not working as well as it should and I forgot I had 'em...
Post-War
A 224 2-6-2. This was a Christmas present from my best friend Shotgun Charlie last year. We ran out to the Chugger Barn and slapped it on the tracks, shot it the juice, and it took off like a rocket. Charlie was amazed, "Wow, made in 1946, 70 years old, and it runs like it's new!" Amazing all right!
1970-2000
The B&O "President Washington" Pacific, another great runner, 1994. If I can find a Bicentennial Set out there somewhere at a decent price I'll grab it and put the "PW" at the head end instead of that diesel. That'll be something, the thirteen original states with the original president pulling them along, which is what General George did, when you come right down to it.
Dat's all, folks!