Favorite Locomotive purchase

[tomikawaTT]

Dating myself terribly, my all-time favorite was a Kawai 2-6-4T that looked similar to the JNR C11 class, purchased in 1959. It was the first consciously Japanese-prototype loco I ever purchased, and has shaped my modeling interest ever since. (I didn't know that my previously-purchased Tenshodo Baldwin 0-6-0T was also a model of a prototype that operated in Japan.) That Kawai C-tank, fabricated from sheet brass, succumbed to bad solder joints years ago. The Tenshodo, cast in high-quality Zamac, still runs like a Swiss watch.

Much more recently, my present favorite is a Mantua Uintah 2-6-6-2, wide-gauge variant. At the moment it's running in fresh out of the box configuration. When I get some bench time (in a couple of years or so) I'll fabricate a new superstructure and new front end cylinders to create a believable freelance Japanese-built Mallet, then put it to work taking empty coal units up the hill to the collieries. I'll keep the original parts so that whoever buys it from my estate can return it to 'as new' condition.

[Anonymous]

BLI C&NW E7A #5008A

[mmartian22]

all iogging locomotives i could lay my hands on, namely shays heisler. climaxes they great with sound toooooo.

[Medina1128]

Oh my gosh.. It has to be a 4 way tie.
1) Santa Fe F7B powered unit
2) Broadway Limited light Mikado
3) Broadway Limited ATSF #3751
4) Bachmann Shay

[Anonymous]

The one i got today my Atlas 8-40cw NS paint job in gold series with decoder and sound im so happy hahahaha

[Todd McWilliam]

Iowa Interstate GP38s and Genesis SD70MAC BNSF

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxmu

My favorite would be P2K 's Chessie/ C&O SD-50 it is the only six axle Chessie I have!

My favorite also, but mine is UP.

I also like any other 6 axle hood units.

[dxr8007nz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan

Kato HO EMD SD70MAC BNSF9838.
Retail Price:101.99.

[8D]
That is my favourtie locomotive SD70MAC BNSF carry with coal hopper
GO BNSF RULES [8D]

[Anonymous]

So far I have only bought 1 locomotive so I would have to say my N scale Canadian Pacific GP-9 made me interested in this hobby.

[Anonymous]

Mine is my Dapol N gauge class 73 'The Royal Alex' in Pullman livery:-



I always liked the loco when I saw it on train journeys, it's a good little runner and it's also the first RTR loco available that can pull passanger stock for the area and era I want to model.

[Anonymous]

My all time favorite engine has always been the ATSF Madame Queen #5000. Recently I bid and bought a Hallmark version on eBay. Like the above gentleman that got is thrill at 62, well, I got mine at 72. My MQ will be painted and then Tsunami sound put in place. If anyone knows of a video showing her I would much appreciate it.
Charles9810

[Anonymous]

That would be a tough one to answer, since I go back to the '60's in H.O. Having gone from an Athearn "Hustler" with "High-F" (i.e., "rubber band") drive to the excellent locos of today, I have purchased many "break-through" engines, such as the old Athearn Pacific (early 60's, I believe) and their 0-4-2t "L'il Monster, a Lindberg SW-1 (with a flywheel and a spring-like band drive to the gears), and an early version of the "Blue Box" GP-30 by Athearn. With this in mind, and having a point-to-point switching layout, my favorite purchase must be my KATO NW-2, purchased almost new in Chessie livery. It is a far cry from the early locos, in detail, quality, and performance. I like it so much I recently purchased an extra shell and parts in case of future problems! Close to this would be the old Walthers FM H-12-44, heavy and an excellent performer, now modified with different lighting. The Steward VO-1000 is right up there with the KATO but overall, the NW-2 is my favorite loco purchase--so far!

[ksax73]

The Atlas AEM7.

I model Amtrak and because my Bachmann E60 failed me, I could not model Northeast Corridor trains. Then when I saw the advertisement in Model Railroader I remember eading it very carefully and in fact it did say HO! I was so excited and couldn't wait for thier release. I got mine the following January and was very happy with it.

I think the next best purchase was an American GK E60. I've had bad luck with 3 bachmann E60s already and I would hear here and there stuff about another E60 run by a different company but not many mentioned it. My friend Mike Thomas showed me his and I figured I wouldn't be as lucky but then later that week I found one on eBay and you better believe I was watching it like a hawk. When I won it I was really excited because I knew the performace was much better and repair and maintenence would be allot easier for me to do. I also modified it to an E60MA.

Here's a photo:

[Anonymous]

I was never a fan of steam until I got my Broadway Ltd Hudson. The sounds, the Bell,
The Steam pop off valve. Oh the romance of the era comes to life.
Ken

[Anonymous]

Athearn's F7

[Anonymous]

tough question.. so many choices.. ha.
well first would be the mantua artic logger my parents gave me in 1984.
second would be the riv. fef3 i bought in 1989 after seeing 8444 in two tone grey come through portland.
third.. the brass gs4 daylight my grandma bought me.
and fourth.. an atlas s4 in SP tiger stripe. sweet switcher.

ok.. new purchase.. the proto UP 2-8-8-2 thats one stunning steamer!

[camarokid]

My Rivarossi Big Boy, Athearn F7 AB SP Black Widow and P1K ABA Santa Fe Erie Builts. I never get tired of watching them run.

[Anonymous]

Most definitely, my three Atlas RS-3's - mainly because that was one of the first types I ran when diesels replaced the steamers. Very close in second place would be the Proto 1000 DX series RS-18's because I ran them LOTS!!![:D]

[Anonymous]

My Rivarossi Union Pacific FEF-3. The most detailed, most beautiful, and the best running locomotive I own.

[Martin4]

I love many of my lococ but my favorite purchase is a trio of Proto 2000 SantaFe GP60s. With many details included and slight weathering they look great at the point of any train. And run great too !

Martin
Québec City

[fiatfan]

I have had my favorite for less than 24 hours. 2 MDC criters that out of the box run great and look so cool. I have a somewhat limited space so I can't run really long trains. As a result, there is no challenge for my P1K and P2K engines when it comes to pulling a train. With these babies, I need to really work the grades. Train length is limited. If I need to run a longer train, I run both of them . Max capacity is about 9-10 cars on my 3% grade. They run very well and sound somewhat like a gas powered engine rather than diesel. I can definietly see more of the arriving in the future.

Tom

[Anonymous]

I'm answering this for my husband. His favorite loco purchase was a Lionel 70 ton centercab diesel...JUST LIKE THE ONE HE HAD AS A KID!!! He really enjoys his postwar Lionel, but heck, so do I. Come to think of it, aside from my 2 favorite On3 locos [ see my owm post] my 1953 Lionel Sants Fe warbonnet loco set and passenger train was a real thrill too. Its on display in our bedroom opposite wall from his 70 tonner and 'space age' Lionel cars.
Jennifer

[Anonymous]

I model in On3, O scale 3 foot narrow gauge. I have 2 favorite loco purchases that are going to pretty hard to choose between. the SP purchased a narrow gauge line from the Carson and Colorado in the Owens Valley of California. Towards the end of operations they had 3 steamers running, 8,9,and 18. I purchased 18 about 20 years ago when Presision made about 80 of them. I LOVE the looks of this engine with its whaleback tender. The other favorite is a Colorado and Southern 70, in oil burner configuration. This loco 'reeks' narrow gauge with lots of neat do dads and detail texture, including 2 small airtanks mounted crosswisw on top of the boiler, between the domes.

My favorite FUTURE locomotive purchase WILL be Nevada County Narrrow Gauge 8, a heavily modified C-16 pulling a whaleback tender. A few were built and imported 2 decades ago, and today are very scarce. HOWEVER.....Jerry Kitts and his son at Foothill Model Works are working up a tender and correct details to convertthe new plastic C-16 kit onto a very accurate number 8. Perhaps this winter.....
Jennifer

[Anonymous]

I think for me it was bli's new york central hudson,it was lost in transit for three days and i was a bear to get along with.I would call home from work everyday after the mail went and snarl and growl.When it finally did arrive the first time it came out of the tunnel with the whistle blowing i was in awe.

[bogp40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxmu

My favorite would be P2K 's Chessie/ C&O SD-50 it is the only six axle Chessie I have!

Is this the one that took a dive to the concrete below?[xx(]

[AlcoRS11Nut]

Any of my ALCo's, but soon it will probably be my two Kato SD90MAC's I'm thinking of picking up at trainfest. (I know, it may seem sacraledge for a ALCo fan to buy EMD stuff)

[Anonymous]

Without question, my purchase of an Oriental Models Erie Lackawanna
SDP-45 in brass which I found at a hobby shop in Akron, OH while on
a business trip. I had searched for two years for one through all the
channels but no luck.

This particular model was very rare and the hobby shop had acquired it
from a widow liquidating her husbands estate. The asking price was well
below my expectation, so I purchased it immediately. Unpainted, I had it
custom done through a painter for another brass importer.

It is the pride of our fleet. Perhaps nothing screams Erie-Lackawanna like
the SDP-45. I still love to see it working our Mahoning Division Piggybacks.

[Anonymous]

My four Trix Bigboys

[PennsyHoosier]

My first K4 Pennsy (which has now been joined by 4 others). I have "better engines now, but running that first one was sooooooo cooooooool.