TOP 3 RAILROADS

[daveklepper]

Denver and Rio Grande Western. A family act with terrific employee loyalty. Great scenery. If the passenger service didn't have quite the spit and polish of the Sante Fe, also definitely a great railroad, it was still excellent, and the meals were superb. And the scenery. And the narrow gauge. And a good passenger diesel color scheme. And crews that enjoyed their work and on passenger trains let their passengers know it and made them feel like guests. While it is possible to say that the Central's Hudsons were the most handsome steam locomotives in America, the D&RGW 4-8-4's and 4-6-6-4's were also great looking locomotives and for character, who could beat a narrow gauge 2-8-2 Mudhen? Dave Klepper

[passengerfan]

Canadian National, BNSF, Alaska current
Great Northern, CB&Q, Canadian Pacific all time

[Anonymous]

O and seeing a CN train on its side theres a shock of the century

[Anonymous]

OLD FRISCO ROCK ISLAND and CHESSIE
NEW CPR UP BNSF I do have to agree that CN has pulled its act togther because being the worst to one of the best in ten years is incredible

[Anonymous]

Top 3:
1)Union Pacific-largest railroad in the country, hard not to pick it
2)C&NW-watched it for years, never got old(my other #1)
3)IC(now CN)-branch line ran by my house and school-always a treat to see a train go by*

Side note*: The CN has been using the hell out of this little branch line. To my suprise one day, I came home and saw the back end of a grain train laying on it's side in my friends back yard. 15 cars involved. Quite the sight. I will get pictures of it later.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

Canadian National, Canadian National, Canadian National. This company really got there act together. (Not to mention I made BooKoo bucks from there stock.) This company is moving in the right direction, and with it's routes has potential for even more growth. They have a exellent managment team in place. If I were Union Pacific, I would be worried about this company. If CN keeps growing, UP is going to find it is no longer the big boy on the block.
TIM A

CN has gotten their act together, but the UP has nothing to worry about. They have far too many ties around the country to outmatch our friends to the north.

[CP5415]

Mine would be

1)Canadian Pacific
2)Conrail
3)Maine Central

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Past: IC, CGW, CNW ; current: CSX, BNSF, Ohio Central

Especially fond of IC, having been raised on Iowa Division train watching during the 1950's in Rockford IL. Great memories of Mountain types, orange and brown E units, GP-7's, the Rath meat train, etc. Inspired me to write my book, Two Track Main which includes pix of 1950's IC action in Rockford.

John W. Baie, author, xlibris.com/TwoTrackMain.html

[Anonymous]

New UP, BNSF, and Georgetown Railroad

Old Southern Pacific,Santa Fe, and MP

[wabash1]

well mine are the ole southern railway, the chessie mopac, sante fe. oh wait you said 3 well lets tie the last 2 then.

[Anonymous]

Actually Kennecott mainly had GP39-2 High Cab locomotives, I think they had well over a hundred of them. I heard that the SP or UP railroad took over Kennecott operations, anyone know if this is true.

[edblysard]

Ok, I buy that. And just one more example of EMDs surviveing in hard service, F units in mine service!
How much harder can it get!
Thanks for setting me straight, LTV rings the bell.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Wasnt Kenecott the outfit with the F9 in mine service?

Ed,
I believe you're thinking of LTV Mining in Minnessota. They had several F-units that they used until quite recently. Kennocott had mainly SD-40's and some really neat electrics. They may also have had a couple of Alco's as well.

[Train Guy 3]

1. N&W
2. Virginian
3. NS

[Anonymous]

Wait a minute the best shortline in Chicago or Mabey anywhere is the EJ&E! Sorry I didn't put this down! What was I thinking? Anyway they may have the largest "fan club" In the US![:D]

[Willy2]

Mine are as following. The BNSF, the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. I do like Chicago Northwestern too.

Willy

[Anonymous]

Im not going to say anything about top railway cause I dont know anything about railway moneymaking but I will state my fav Railways
New
1:BNSF-I Love the new paint scheme, I love any warbonnet, I love the old BN Green, and I LOVE the BN executive scheme.
2:IHB-Indiana Harbor Belt and small regional railway near the chicago metro area. Orange and Black man I love that paint scheme!
3:CNW-My original love! Sad to see it go...........
4:Soo Line-First Frieght I ever saw......
5-Metra-The Way to Really Fly they actually mean it!

[Anonymous]

That's a really tough question! To chose only three out of all the railroads out there. I'm undecided-I love them all!

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Wasnt Kenecott the outfit with the F9 in mine service?

Ed,
I believe you're thinking of LTV Mining in Minnessota. They had several F-units that they used until quite recently. Kennocott had mainly SD-40's and some really neat electrics. They may also have had a couple of Alco's as well.

[brilondon]

[:D]My top three railroads would have to be #1[8D] UP for of the variety of locomotives #2 CP for their locomotive paint schemes.[:p] The beaver scheme really is a sharp looking paint job especially on the SD90MAC's.#3 VIA Rail from back in the early 1980's with its variety of locomotives and paint schemes.[8D]

[DTomajko]

Conrail:Rose from the ashes of the northeast's fallen lines to become a first-class show."Big Blue" forever! Pennsylvania:A transportation giant in its prime.Had more cars,locomotives, & freight than several other railroads combined.It was once said that PRR cars could be found on almost every railroad in the 48 states.The PRR was so ingrained in local culture that my 79 year old mother still use terms like "shifter" and "cabin car",even though noone in the family was a railroader. Bessemer & Lake Erie:A regional powerhouse before there were regional railroads.A hard working,plain-jane,all-business hauler of steel industry raw materials and finished products until the collapse of the mills,it still works out of the spotlight of the bigger railroads. Enjoy yourself and stay safe, DT,Pa.

[Anonymous]

The three greatest railroads?

Great Northern
Chicago Great Western
Pacific Great Eastern

John W. Baie, author,www.xlibris.com/TwoTrackMain.html

[favuprailroadfan]

1. Union Pacific

2. BNSF

3. CSX

[moparrailfan]

Norfolk Southern,Union Pacific,Rock Island

[Anonymous]

CNW b/c my father is from michigan and I inherited his like for it. I love the iron ore hauling. The Milwuakee Road because they were a real underated transcontinental carrier with some great lines in the pacific northwest and how they operated 70+ year old electrics over the cascades even in the 1970's. And finally and most ironically, the UP. Resiliant to this day. They built some amazing short lines, in particular the Oregon Short line and smaller ones in Idaho and Oregon that I'm partial to like the Camas Prarie railroad.

[Anonymous]

Am I reading this right. A fan from Eola, and EJ&E not mentioned? I thought all you guy's out west were die hard EJ&E fans.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

Gene, I'm sorry to hear that. I do not work for a railroad so all my information comes from article's that I have read. (I did not read the Train's mag. article, I find them to be a bit one sided). Most of my information comes from the bussiness section of various newspapers. This Mr. Harrison sounds like one of those managment clown's who preaches to the little people how they do not see the big picture. Big shots like that usaully hang themselves.
TIM A

[AlcoRS11Nut]

I don't know if you want the current railroads, or "all time" "TOP 3 RAILROADS", so I'll give both.

Current:
1. Union Pacifc
2. Wisconsin Southern
3. BNSF

All Time:
1. Union Pacifc
2. Great Northern
3. Wisconsin Central

[Anonymous]

Ok Ill also note fave passenger trains, Lionel, American Flyer, and Athearn ;) alright now outside of this room:
#1
Milwaukee Road's - Hiawatha's:
Who cannot love the wicked all glass observation car!?! Great looks + speed...Hard to belive this is not a car!

#2
The Japinise Bullet trains:
OMG are those things for real? this is the closest we will ever get to space flight!

#3
The European TVR High Speed trains
I thought the Bulet trains where rippin' rails! These trains are not as pretty as #'s 1 & 2 But its un-earthly fast!

I love HI Speed

Icemanmike-Milwaukee; Home of the Hiawatha's

[Anonymous]

I cannot argue Tim, they are seriouly haulin' A** and buiding fast!
Icemanmike

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but when I think of trains, I personnally think of passenger rail; in which case I have to say (of all time) CP rail of the early twentith century, with the stainless steel dome cars and oak (before they "art-decoed" after the war). Second would have to be the euro-star, from London to Paris - a remarkable engineering feet!!!!! And third has to be the bullet train...soorry but can you really not say that's just COOL!!!
Honourable mention to the current american orient express from Seatle through the Canadian rockies, on to Main. If you've ever seen this train it is so classically beautiful (should be for the price too!). According to the crew, it's falling apart, but man - it's some nice eye candy!
PS
How could ANYONE have voted for Amtrak!! Do you actually LIKE trains??!! I mean honestly! ACK! Hackhack!!