Favorite Locomotives

[brianel027]

This is one of those questions that obviously is one of personal preference based on lots of circumstances including layout size and finances.

I've been to plenty of train shows and have certainly seen lots of the nice scale detailed locos - and yes, they are impressive. Those big SD90MACs look great, the detail on the Shays, Railsounds, the smoke put out by those MTH steamers... the list goes on. But they're all too big for my layout and a little too steep for my wallet.

But given what I have to work with, I like what I have... sort of as Jaabat said.

I have a couple custom made 027-ized locos like an RS3 and a U36B both in Conrail. I have custom made high hood switcher in Norfolk Southern. I mess with everything and have modified and added weight to many smaller locos like plastic bodied 2-4-0's and docksides, or the Lionel Industrial Switcher - and they all run great and pull beyond what I would have imagined. Even one of my several Lionel MPC plastic bodied Docksider (now done in CNJ) with little chassis modification and no traction tire still pulls better than my BEEP did before I rebuilt it.

I have one Industrial Switcher where I sanded down much of the vent detail on the long hood, so that I could decal it much easier, while still seeing some detail. That one is now in Norfolk Southern with additional detail including ditch lights. I have others in CR, CNJ and Lehigh Valley.

For the money, I love the former K-Line S-2's, MP-15's and Alco FA's which are far more detailed than their Lionel 027 counterparts. Though I have to say my two rebuilt 8020 Lionel Alcos (one in a NS Operation Lifesaver and one in Conrail) are very good runners now. For their shorter and simplier looks, these little locos sure look good in current road schemes: I have an Alco FA in the CSX orange MOW scheme, S-2's in the G/Y/B CSX scheme, the stealth scheme and the new C&O heritage scheme. I shorten the height of the shell of the MP-15 which makes it not tower above the typical cars I run, and actually makes the engine look bigger.

My Alco FA in the Lehigh Valley "snowbird" scheme always gets comments as does my New Haven S-2 and Alco FA. I have a NW-2 that was a junker that now runs like a champ done up in the two-tone wide yellow band Lehigh Valley scheme.

Many of these locos get extra handrails, working marker lights, working headlights, strobe lights, ditch lights, replaced horns hand bells, painted door handles and black painted diaphragms on the Alco FA's, an engineer figure in the window, engineer/fireman figures in the cab of a steam engine ... all sorts of little things that make a cheaper loco look better than it is. On locos with all plastic solid decorative horns, I use a Dremel cone-shaped grinding bit to hollow out the solid plastic horn... they look a lot better that way. I did that to the horns on my RMT BEEP too. I cut an actual window into the back door of the K-Line S-2 and some have back marker lights too.

Some of my Alco FA's have aluminum painted side vents like my black Penn Central. That one also has an PRR radio antenna/handrail made from a cut metal Lionel light tower ladder. Some of the locos and steamers that lack smoke units have a piece of fanned cotton coming out of the smoke stack or smoke vent to replicate smoke. Some of my cabooses also have that after I drill out or drill a hole into the solid smoke stack.

And of course, my rebuilt RMT Erie Lackawanna BEEP now runs like a champ with no shorts and pulls anywhere from 8-12 cars with ease.

And the funny thing is that I like them all and they're all my favorites. But I've put time and effort into everyone one of them. For me, it's very satisifying to take a loco that had spartan detail and make it look much more expensive than it really was.

[M636C]

  736 berkshire                           

 

  Huh???

 

That is in "wingdings"

In Times New Roman it reads:

736 berkshire  

Fairly clear and straight forward, I think!

M636C

[Cesco]

My favourit is the Lionel Hiawatha... this is a great set for collector... one day i can buy it !!!

LIONEL #51000 "THE HIAWATHA" PASSENGER SET BLT-1988

great day for you all !!!

cesco

 

[Anonymous]

  736 berkshire                           

 

  Huh???

[Anonymous]

  736 berkshire                           

[ezmike]

Right now it is the "new" 1953 736 Berkshire I just acquired. Runs smooth, smokes great and can pull just about anything.

Ask me again in a few months, who knows?

My heart's favorite will always be my original 1950 2036 Prairie.

Mike

[Ralph]

My MTH Premier Big Boy and my MTH Reading T-1

[sulafool]

226E; runs like it has a can motor

[Reading T-1]

MTH Reading consolidated steam

[thor]

Thor, are these British outline engines 0 gauge?

No, I beg your pardon, I assumed people would know they were HO/OO which was remiss of me.

[cnw1995]

Thor, are these British outline engines 0 gauge?

[laz 57]

Lionel Century Club 773 Hudson,

MTH Premire Niagara.

Diesel would be the O scale Lionel Conrail SD-90, its really big.

laz57

[thor]

My favorite locomotive is the GWR Pacifics so the Hogwarts one WILL take pride of place when it comes.

My favorite main line express locos are all British

Bulleid Pacifics
Stanier Pacifics
Gresley Pacifics

However I also love tank engines and frankly most of the work is done on my layout(s) past and present with tank engines. I already sang the Docksiders praises but she takes pride of place right now

The best locomotive I ever had was Hornby Dublos City of London a smooth and powerful diecast brute that ran well from a crawl to TGV like top speeds and would pull a rake of eight tinplate carriages or a long line of wagons without a hitch. I live in hope that the success of the Hogwarts train will get Lionel to venture into the British market...

[Anonymous]

Zeke,

Try posting what the problem is with the particular engine and somebody will give you operating tips or repair tips for the engine. Post it like this; My 2020 won't go into reverse or whatever the problem is.  Don't know what you have but try posting a problem with your locomotive on the Forum here and see what happens.

We all like to run trains and learn from others here.

Lee F.

 

problem being corrected right now, thanks!

 

Id have to say my favorite loco is the ones that were gave to me, like this one from charles:

lionel 4-8-4 Lackawana

 

 

 

 

and these from another special person, williams and k line a5 switchwer

 

These are my most cherished possesions right now, I love them.

[lionelsoni]

My first Lionel was a 1955 2243, which I'm very fond of.  But I have thought the 2363 was a beautiful locomotive ever since I first saw it in the Lionel catalog.  A couple of years ago, I finally bought a set.

[Prairietype]

My favorite is my original: Illinois Central 2363. Fifty-two years old , the strongest/fastest runner and I think destined to be running like this at 100.

Steam: I just got a 2035 which runs real nice. Can't say that it is a favorite yet. I have the Chicago and Alton 1983 set which is very nice looking. But I can say that the 2035 seems to run smoother.

Cherished: My GN #58 Snow Blower. A present when I was 8 that cost 8 dollars. It runs great too and still has its original rubber band.

Passenger cars: I have the Regal Pass, Vista Valley, and Indian Falls. I'm still nuts about the best Christmas present ever. The lights at night still have the same effect on me.  

[phillyreading]

Zeke,

Try posting what the problem is with the particular engine and somebody will give you operating tips or repair tips for the engine. Post it like this; My 2020 won't go into reverse or whatever the problem is.  Don't know what you have but try posting a problem with your locomotive on the Forum here and see what happens.

We all like to run trains and learn from others here.

Lee F.

[3railguy]

For me, Lionel UP H7 2-8-8-2.

[Anonymous]

my favorite would be one that runs.....lol still having issues with mine...

[Jumijo]

...Diesel: Lionel B&O FT's. REALLY smooth runners at any speed or load. RailSounds horn is simply the best!...

Jon

I have a Lionel Santa Fe FT, and love the horn!

My favorite locomotive is what ever one is on the track. Currently I am running a 2055, but like children, it's hard to pick a favorite. They are all my babies!

Jim 

[Deputy]

My S-2 2020 absolutely!!

My Fire/Rescue #54 then my CNJ Beep

Hey Dep! 

 

Hi Anj!!!!

I may get a 2020 if I can find one in excellent condition. It's the only S2 I want/need badly

Dep

[otftch]

I love the Lionel postwar Santa-Fe Alcos.

                                Ed

[locodude]

 

My favorite locomotive is 622 A.T.& S.F. NW2 diesel Switcher.

Locodude,

[RR Redneck]

My favorite is my MTH Erie Triplex

same here. it's an awesome engine.

 

Don't have it,m it looks nice but it's expensive for a railking loco

Well fer starters, it is the only loco in the line like that. Think pains MTH had to go through for the tooling for that thing.

[Big Walnut Railroader]

My favorite is my MTH Erie Triplex

same here. it's an awesome engine.

 

Don't have it,m it looks nice but it's expensive for a railking loco

yea, we dont have one either.

o, and when i say we, i mean my dad and i. he subscribes to Classic Toy Trains and i read them and participate on the forums here.

[alexweiihman]

My favorite is my MTH Erie Triplex

same here. it's an awesome engine.

 

Don't have it,m it looks nice but it's expensive for a railking loco

[Big Walnut Railroader]

My favorite is my MTH Erie Triplex

same here. it's an awesome engine.

[anjdevil2]

My S-2 2020 absolutely!!

My Fire/Rescue #54 then my CNJ Beep

Hey Dep! 

[jwse30]

Out of what I own, I could narrow it down to this:

Steam: 2046 small Hudson (2020 turbine coming in a very close second )

Diesel: 624 C&O NW2, though I don't own many diesels.

Electric: Lionel green solid stripe GG1 (first one with TMCC, which I don't use). This and a 520 are the only electrics I own.

 

J White