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Your favorite models, and why?

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 11:31 AM
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
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 9:41 AM
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.
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Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 12:34 PM
And remember LOCOMOTIVE MODELS ONLY, PEOPLE!
Thanks!

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Posted by Ibflattop on Sunday, September 11, 2005 8:13 AM
Oh its got to be any of my Protos, Atlas, and then my Athearns. Kevin
Home of the NS Lake Division.....(but NKP and Wabash rule!!!!!!!! ) :-) NMRA # 103172 Ham callsign KC9QZW
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Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, September 10, 2005 8:06 AM
My favorite engine still remain a Athearn GP7 that my late wife got me back in 75..[:D]

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


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Posted by Berk-fan284 on Saturday, September 10, 2005 7:27 AM
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.
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Posted by davekelly on Friday, September 9, 2005 9:14 AM
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.
If you ain't having fun, you're not doing it right and if you are having fun, don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, September 9, 2005 7:21 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

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.


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
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 9, 2005 12:24 AM
This is actually my favorite. If you have to ask why....well...................

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Posted by CP5415 on Thursday, September 8, 2005 9:00 PM
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

Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!

 K1a - all the way

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 6:44 PM
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
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Posted by wctransfer on Thursday, September 8, 2005 6:30 PM
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
Check out my pics! [url="http://wctransfer.rrpicturearchives.net/"] http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=8714
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Posted by Virginian on Thursday, September 8, 2005 6:11 PM
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.
What could have happened.... did.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 2:42 PM
I'm attached to my Athearn RTR SD50 in Conrail Quality. Great puller and very detailed. My fav.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 8, 2005 12:52 PM
Lynda Lusardi [bow]... you guys don't know what you missed... Am I getting old? [%-)]
Hey! They can never take away your memories![:D]
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Posted by bbrant on Thursday, September 8, 2005 11:06 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Neutrino

I'm more old school.

Cheryl Tiegs is my favorite.




How comes I never see this model at the local hobby shop?!?
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Posted by davekelly on Thursday, September 8, 2005 9:01 AM
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.
If you ain't having fun, you're not doing it right and if you are having fun, don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.
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Posted by twhite on Thursday, September 8, 2005 1:29 AM
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]
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Posted by aloco on Thursday, September 8, 2005 12:56 AM
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.
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Posted by bogp40 on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 11:14 PM
My favorite would have to be my Stewart/Kato F3 B&O ABBA. These have been always run as a single unit. I believe they are some of the smoothest and most quiet drive I've seen, and the drawbar pull is incredible. The Stewart shells come very plain and considerable detailing is needed. To some all the work may be too much for some, especially w/ the Genesis RTR (superb Highliner shell). Super detailing to the prototype is what I enjoy most about the hobby.
Bob K.

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 9:44 PM
I have what I call my favorite 4. The first is my Rivarossi Big Boy, just looking at that envisions the power the original must have had.
Next is my Bachmann Shay. This is a finely detailed little locomotive and a pleasure to watch in action.
My last 2 are a Brawa 2-8-4 and a Roco 4-6-0. I just love the attention to detail you get from Austrian and German models.
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Posted by fiatfan on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 6:52 PM
P2K GP9.

Edit: I overlooked the "why"

It's a heavily weather GP9 in GN colors that runs well, looks great, pulls very well, and makes a calender look like a fast clock. GP9's have alwas been my favorite style of engine.

Tom

Life is simple - eat, drink, play with trains!

Go Big Red!

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Posted by Piedsou on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 6:21 PM
It's a hard choice, but probably one of my Atlas RS-1's and 3's. They are really smooth running, which is the main reason for my choice.

The following is a photo of my freelanced Piedmont Southern RS-1 on the turntable at Blue Ridge, Va.



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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 5:33 PM
mine is my ho scale life-like gp30's very ncie runners
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 5:27 PM
My favorite and best overall runners that are pretty good in the looks department are my collection of Stewart F-units. I have FTs, F3's, F7s, and a F9 set on the way that I just won on eBay. But for overall looks, I have to say that the Proto 2k GP7s are really nice, and the recent Atlas H16-44s are pretty good looking too.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 5:23 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Neutrino

I'm more old school.

Cheryl Tiegs is my favorite.




Wow! You got her autograph? I would hang on to that, never know when it will be worth something.[:p]
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Posted by ARTHILL on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 5:03 PM
I vote for the Shay. I have an old PFM three truck that doesn't run as good as the new ones, but I love it.
If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
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Posted by loathar on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 4:59 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Neutrino

I'm more old school.

Cheryl Tiegs is my favorite.



Yea, No dought. Heidi Klume and Cindi Crawford. Do you Really have to ask WHY??[8D][8D][8D]
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 4:58 PM
I like the Shays, Heislers and Climaxes. Cause they can out pull anything in their weight class, and bunches of things heavier.

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