The most beautiful steam passenger train that never was.

[fafnir242]

This is my idea of beauty

http://cjm.fotopic.net/p43857749.html

and this was just last August!

 

Agreed.  British steam engines are quite a piece of work.  (Forgive me if my grammar is somewhat off, because it sounds like it does)

[DMUinCT]

NEW HAVEN I-5

A.C. Gilbert Photo 1939

[daveklepper]

That might be my first choice for a "real train", since an I-5 heading the Budd Pennsy equipment with blunt-end observation is just theoretical.   The competition for me would be the Powhattan Arrow with a J up front and matched tuscan red and gold cars.   I admit a matched CP consist behind a "Royal Hudson" is really fine also.

[Philcal]

No bad ones out there, but I have to go with Southern Pacific's "Coast Daylight". Got to ride it twice as a kid between Los Angeles-San Francisco. The Lima GS-4 locomotives seemed like they were built for the Daylight. Combine Black/Silver/Red/Orange, you have a truly classic train.

[daveklepper]

I don't think you need to apologize.  It is a truly great photograph.   And I think most of us appreciate clasasic British steam and classic British passenger "stock" also.   I'm very glad I once had the privilege of seeing Gresley A4 Kingfisher serviced at Aberdeen and rode behind it along the coast to Dundee.   Thanks for sharing the great photograph.

Lord John Greton, the late owner of Great Western 4-6-0 Pendenis Castle, was a good friend.  I don't think I ever road behind a Castle, but did ride behind a Manor or two.   Black fives.  A Bullard Pacific on the Southhamption Belle.   And of course a Terrier Tank.

I think you Brits are very lucky to have so much preserved steam in mainline operation.

[michaelstevens]

This is my idea of beauty

http://cjm.fotopic.net/p43857749.html

and this was just last August!

 

When it comes to simple elegant grace, British locos in general are hard to beat. Is that a triplex? It looks like there are more cylinders under the smokebox.

As far as North America is concerned, the CPR Royal Hudson's come out on top for me.

 

Kings have 4 cylinders.

BTW I must apologize  --  I didn't notice the N and thought that the subject was "ever was"!

[cprted]

This is my idea of beauty

http://cjm.fotopic.net/p43857749.html

and this was just last August!

 

When it comes to simple elegant grace, British locos in general are hard to beat. Is that a triplex? It looks like there are more cylinders under the smokebox.

As far as North America is concerned, the CPR Royal Hudson's come out on top for me.

[Autobus Prime]

The I-5 was a better looking locomotive, black, grey, silver, and white, and nothing could beat the stainless steel Senator and Congressional Budd equipment with tuscan red letterboards and gold lettering.

dk:

The I-5 is a fine-looking engine, and those cars are good-looking, too, but to my mind US classic passenger steam was at its best when clean, unstreamlined, and pulling plain but dignified cars in green or red, maybe with some elegant striping and white driver tires. 

[michaelstevens]

This is my idea of beauty

http://cjm.fotopic.net/p43857749.html

and this was just last August!

 

[daveklepper]

The I-5 was a better looking locomotive, black, grey, silver, and white, and nothing could beat the stainless steel Senator and Congressional Budd equipment with tuscan red letterboards and gold lettering.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Also consider the proposed "Chessie" connection between Charlottesville and Newport News with a streamlined C&O Hudson.

[daveklepper]

Isn't it too bad that the New Haven I-5's (4-6-4's, streamlined) were removed from service just before the Pennsylvania Budd Senator equipment was put into service?