Who had the most beautiful steam passenger power? January Trains

[cprted]

Though i remember in my Rail Power book that it said that the 4-4-2 Atlantic types with the 82" driving wheels made it up to 120mph, but i can't at the time remember what railway did that?

The PRR E-6 class Atlantics had 80" drivers with a top recorded speed of 115 mph, and the Milwaukee Class A Atlantics had 84" drivers and a top recorded speed of 113 mph.

[cnwfan51]

    This question is almost as bad as asking whats your favorite football team or who was the greatest baseball player of all time. But for my money it would have to be either the class Hs or class Es of the CNW the 7000s of the union pacifc or the Texas types  of the Chicago Great western.    The O5bs of the CB&Q  The class Js of the N&W were alos classics  The ps4 the southern were  great looking motive power  So its like asking  whicj came first the chicken or the egg There is no wrong answer but always causes a great debate   Larry

[tatans]

How about a NYC Niagara?? what a beauty!

[daveklepper]

And don't forget the New Haven I-5 4-6-4.

[Anonymous]

Definetly the N&W J Class!

[Trainmaster.Curt]

Check out this vid, i think the Southern fails in comparison to the class of the CPR, even in 2007!

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmYplrrF-n4

[fafnir242]

I, also, seem to be shortsighted, since I find the GS-4 to be a very beautiful locomotive.  Also, I'd have to go with the N&W Class Js.  I wish the 611 was still running.  I want to see it so badly.

[dwbeckett]

How about the SP-AC12

[ndbprr]

I've seen 611 numerous times and rode behind it once.  I think that nose is a bit bulbous for my tastes.  It kind of reminds me of the Oscar Myer wiener mobile.

[HarveyK400]

I almost forgot the PRR T1 with its rakish streamlining but subdued dark red paint even with the gold stripes.  That makes it a tie for me with the streamlined NYC J3, also more elegantly sophisticated but subdued in two-tone gray. 

Streamlined runner-up for me is the MR F7 with its orange, gray and maroon; but here the streamlining reflected the wind tunnel testing of front end shapes. 

The CNW E4 had the same shape and handsome balance of the F7; but the green with gold striping was even more invisible that the PRR colors.

The CNW E1 617 & 620 were bright yellow, but suffered from stubby pacific proportions, a small tender, and posed the exception to the vast majority of un-streamlined steamers.

 

[ndbprr]

T1 engines were all Dark green locomotive enamel or DGLE.  Raymond Loewy was involved in the shaping and the striping.  His designs are almost ageless.  he also designed the GG1 and the Studebaker Avanti which was still being made a couple of years ago with no body style changes after more than 50 years.  The T1 ranks right up there also in my opinion.

[New Haven I-5]

For them to select the the Southern Ps-4 Pacifics means they were very shortsighted.

Both the GN Mountains and Northerns in the Glacier Park green scheme and the CPR Royal Hudsons outclassed the Southern Passenger power in colors and power. And for a one of a kind how about the AT&SF Blue Goose. And i almost forgot the Milwaukee Hiawatha power. No one can be really serious about those Southen Railway Pacifics. And what about the SP GS Northerns that powered the Daylights.

That kind of article just invites a backlash.   

That is just Trains' opinion.

[EmpireStateJR]

For me a NYC Dreyfuss Hudson pulling the 20th Century Ltd is the most beautiful steam passenger power ever. The streamlined Hudson epitomized the art-deco era and was used in many advertsing ads. This steam power has stood the test of time as it has endless beauty. For a more utilitarian look, the NYC Niagra with it's elephant ears just cries out "Brute Power".  Just my personal favorites, not looking to diminish anyone else's favorites.  

[Chafford1]

Gresley's A4 Pacifics weren't bad looking - fast too!

 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=P2jEM0_gkKg

 

 

[METRO]

Don't forget the CPR 4-4-4 Jubilees, the fastest passenger steam engines that were.

a 113mpr CP Jubilee is fast and beautiful.  However, the 120mpr PRR S1 is faster and just as pretty. Beating both though is a Milwaukee F7 Baltic, going god only knows how fast, and looking amazing doing it.

For my money though I've got to go with NYC's Streamlined Hudsons, pulling the 20th Century Limited back when it still had blue pinstriping too.

Cheers!

~METRO