Favorite Locomotive

[ironhorseman]

Let's get off these negative subjects and talk real model railroading.

Maybe this has been brought up before but what's your favoite locomotive you like as a model (it can be scratchbuilt, storebought, one you want but don't have, a special edition, or anything else you can think of that I didn't. I'm not exactly looking for brandnames like Bachmann, Life-Like, etc but if you throw that in that's fine, just be respectful of other's opinions.)

I like those model ALCOs. There's just something about they way they look as model. And the great thing is the model of a C-636 doens't behave badly like it's prototype (See Sept. 2001 issue of Trains Mag). I like the RS-2s the best. I also like my special edition Gravey Train F-Unit I got for my 8th birthday. It's HO scale and it's painted up with the Gravey Train dog food logo. This came out about 1988? Does anybody else have this one?

I kinda like the old locos, it's my way of time traveling [:D]

[Jetrock]

I may try to hunt down an Alco S1 in Sacramento Northern colors one of these days.

I have a soft spot for those Bachmann 44-tonners! I own three. They're nice in that they run very slowly, the detail is nice, and they are very smooth in operation. About the only thing they don't have that I'd like is a flywheel, but considering their light weight inertia isn't as much of a factor as it would be with a big engine, and it might cause some hair-pulling when trying to do switching with it.

I'm fond of Athearn GP7's, though--I have one I got from my father that I used to run when I was a kid, in SP gray & red that I detailed and weathered to the Nth degree, and just bought another in WP orange & silver--the guy who sold it said that his dad left it to him when he died. I told the guy that his GP-7 and mine would be good friends.

[Anonymous]

I have a Brawa 2-8-4 that I think is pretty much my favorite. It is DCC ready and fitted for a Seuthe smoke maker. Of all my loco's, this is the one.

[Anonymous]

Probably my Proto 1000 Erie-Built. I have one in C&NW livery, and it looks superb, as well as being a smooth and nearly silent runner. In my British OO collection it would have to be either my Bachmann diesels (drive systems on these are well up to Proto 1000 standards), or either my Hornby J94 (a little 0-6-0 steam switcher, runs superbly at low speed) or my Dapol Pug (a tiny little 0-4-0 steamer, an amazingly good runner considering it's only got four wheels and a short wheelbase!)

[eastcoast]

G E AMD 103. I know it is referred to as an "ugly duckling" , a mono shell over
a Dash 8 powerhouse, but I recall reading what was said when the F7 was new.

[Anonymous]

My favorite loco will be my first! I am hoping to get BLI's new Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern for Christmas.

I was given a ATSF GP-38 and a UP ???? (doesn't look like any of the pictures in any of my books so don't know what it is). These are fine for testing my track as I lay it but modeling in the early '50s era they just don't fit the picture. [:(]

[AggroJones]

My favorite locomotive would be an ATSF 2900 class 4-8-4. But I'll settle for its older sister, the 3751 4-8-4 to be released winter next year by BLI.

[ndbprr]

GG1 - any brand, any quality. A bad G is better than anything else and a good running G is heaven.

[Anonymous]

I'm partial to ALCo products, probibally because the plant was in Schenectady, New York which is fairly close to where I live.

My favorite locomotive is the Alco PA painted for the D&H. Thre's just something about how they look pulling a passenger consist, (like the Laurentian or Adirondack), that looks truly magnificent.

[Anonymous]

My favorite locomotive will be one I'm hoping to get very soon, a brand new Rivarossi 4-8-8-4 Big Boy[;)]. But alas, due to my current cash amount I can only amuse my self with my current locos, a harry potter 4-6-0 and a dale ehrnhardt SD-40, but the coolest ones I have are my UP 4-8-2 and my UP 0-6-0. They both are pretty good (only the 4-8-2, which is a Spectrum, is better). I want to start getting more prototype model locos with real road names.[:)]

[Anonymous]

I'm intense in my love of Alco units, especially the RSD-15. I am gathering a collection of these, with high short hoods, to be my fictional road's standard engine class, alongside RS-11's, which run a close second place. Their lines are so pure, they are like modern art compared to EMD's romanticist curvy lines (on the first-generation units) or brutalist boxy corners (in second-generation units). A flat faced nose, with numberboard notches cut at 45 degree angles, a perfectly circular radiator fan housing, and a constant-radius arc for the cab roof... actually, I guess this is really postmodernism, but then consider that these units were designed in the 50's not the 80's...

The high-nose RSD-15 is just a beast of an engine, much like the SD-45 which N&W insisted on high-nosing as well. The '45 is by far my favorite EMD. Never liked U-boats much. As for steam, it would have to be N&W's class J, which was all about elegance, subtlety, and power.

[nfmisso]

Roanoke steam, especially the Y5, Y6, Y6a, Y6b, J and A.

[Anonymous]

I like the SD90Macs because they are massive diesels. But my favorite is the SD70mac's in BN' Heritage scheme and finally got one now that Kato brought it out.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Anonymous]

I really like the steam locomotives. I too got a Harry Potter 2-6-0 (that I donated to my church railroad) and I'd have to say that was my favorate. I personally have an 0-4-0 switcher, but I'd kind of like to get a 0-6-0 with a tender or even one of those neat shays or climax ones with the crazy side rods.

Personally I try to respect everyones opinion but I don't see anything in the desiels... they don't have the style of the steam, and they don't chug and snort steam and hiss, even their horns are dull compaired to a steam train. the old steam trains are as if they are alive, like iron dragons fire in their bellies.

[Hawks05]

my favorite locomotive is my only locomotive. a Burlington Northern GP40 made my Athearn. it has the orange and black front on it. looks awesome. hopefully i'll be able to test it on a track sometime soon.

i'm hoping to get a somewhat similar Canadian National GP40 in the near future along with a few ATSF, BNSF, CSX, CP, and maybe a Rock Island.

[CP5415]

my favourite? ones that i own --->My SD40-2's all eight of them
ones that I want ---> an Alco PA in D&H livery which
are on order

Gordon

[Anonymous]

The old GE U-boats are a fantastic looking machine, especially the U23B's. The EMD GP's are equally good looking--the best of that lot would be the GP38!

[Anonymous]

My favorite locomotive is the one im researching/working on at the moment. I get a huge kick out of buying a moderately priced mass produced steamer and bringing as near as I my current skills and knowledge will allow to what it looked like in service with XYZ RR.

[Anonymous]

Favorite? I always liked the E and F diesel units the best. Those Streamliners had some sharp engines. The Alco PA was a nice one too. And the new F59phi on the Amtrak Cascades train is good to see in the Seattle area, with an F40 on the end for power. Almost anything steam would be a big favorite though, big ones from a 2-8-2 to a 4-8-8-4. Seeing one of those up close is something else. There's an old NP steamer in Auburn rotting away in a park. What a shame. Still worth a trip to check it out though.

[Anonymous]

Mine would have to be any 4 axle EMD Locomotive.

My personal favorite model is my newest one. An Athearn GP 35 in Chessie System Livery. Nice flywheel drive in it and even though she is definitely a growler she runs smooth as silk on the rails and starts and stops beautifully.

My other Geeps are made by Life Like (Non P2K) and they May go faster but they also do not have as fine a control as the Athearn at the same voltages. They are also truck mounted motors which is not so hot.

My Second favorite would have to be the EMD F Units. In our collection here we have an ancient Athearn B&O F7 that although she runs hotter than blazes will still out pull almost any other engine on the tracks other than the new Athearn I have. She is definitely on the rebuild list once the layout is up and operational.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rabbidgerbal

Personally I try to respect everyones opinion but I don't see anything in the desiels... they don't have the style of the steam, and they don't chug and snort steam and hiss, even their horns are dull compaired to a steam train. the old steam trains are as if they are alive, like iron dragons fire in their bellies.

I agree[^]. I like diesels o.k., but there's just nothing like a good 'ole steamer, big or small, chuffing down the line with a frieght or passenger consist in tow.[:)]

[Anonymous]

BN SD70 MAC in executive scheme Atlas released one in N Scale
and be Damned! if i cant get ahold of one just one!!

Larry

[FThunder11]

Of all the engines out there the number one best is the Dash-9 in eaither THe BNSF orange and black scheme or the Union Pacific Scheme. That and I also am obsessed with the Acela Express electric engine.

[Anonymous]

My personal favorite is the PROTO 2000 E6 diesels. There may be better detailed, higher quality replicas by other manufacturers but, for my money, the 2000 series were a great deal.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Ten Wheeler ( 4 6 0 ) lover myself. I have 5, old Varney's that I have rebuilt, with new Boilers , cabs, Tenders and can motors. I like anything steam however.

[Anonymous]

SD45's , SD45-2's and SDP45's...... These diesels with their flared radiators and 20 cylinder engines were beasts. Now flared out intakes are the way to go, and the da***wo's and P models were as big as sd60's..... quite impressive when I was a kid.

[Anonymous]

Steam were still around when I was a kid in Illinois but the change to the D/elect was just coming one strong so They are my favorite , I model in HO and anything that is alco or baldwin and many EMD models fill the bill , most are F unit's or some sort of rebuild like the baldwin /EMD locos C&NW had or the RS-3 hammerheads and the highhood second generation geeps by EMD , most of the older switchers SW-1 NW-2 VO -1000 H-10-44 "s all are great loco's and FP-7 's with the longer body . I have built or kitbashed many of these loco's in HO and have many out of the box , everytime I finish a kitbash a year or so later some manufacturer has come out with one except the rebuilds , VO 1000 with the four tall stacks is hard to beat . A must is the correct width hoods , nothing can ruin the look of a loco more than an over scale hood , the athearn S-12 is one of the first loco's I cut in half and built new walkways just to get the scale width hood and to make some of my first VO 1000's out of four sections , I'm even into the SD-40's in high and low short hood versions with the short length being the favorite plus the tunnel ports . So I would have to say there are many and I can't choose just one or my pocket book would be much better off . Now since I'm 54 I am starting to feel the need for a lighted magnafier , it is a sad thing when I realized I can't see close for long periods of time anymore .

[Anonymous]

my fav loco is a SD 9 Southern pacific black widow it wasnt to expensive and works superb but does anyone know what colour hand rails are on the black widow do u think the shop colour silver is right ??????

cody

N.Z

12 Y/O

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure whether you mean the black widow or the "bloody nose" paint scheme - I've got an Athearn SD9 in the "bloody nose" scheme and the handrails for this are supposed to be black, but the handrails next to the steps (the ones you'd use when climbing onto or off the loco) should be white - hope this helps!

[adrianspeeder]

ALCO C-420, and C-628. Lehigh Valley had them, and they just looked good.
Check out my profile pic, because the shirt i printed in a graphic arts class is a screen print of LV C-628 # 637
Adrianspeeder