what is your favorite RR company

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

ANY ONE that was around BEFORE the MEGA MERGERS took place. NOT BNSF, and NOT UPSP. This would have to be before 1980 and before that would be even better.

[yellowducky]

How about before CSX? How about even before Chessie System? How about before most any other railroad? Well, I'm not that old, but I did work for the B&O while it was still: The Baltimore & Ohio.

[Mikeygaw]

I always liked Conrail, problably because I grew up watching Conrail.

[prewardude]

Just about any of the Eastern roads before WWII. I guess if I had to choose only one, it would be the Pennsy.

[Anonymous]

B&O! of course Pennsy comes close second, but I have lived near former B&O tracks most of my life, and love hearing stories of the early B&O, and the B&O in its glory days. In fact, Brunswick Maryland (Where I am now) was pretty much started by the B&O, and is said to have held the B&O's largest yard complex (possably the largest owned by a single company in the world at the time) for a while, back near 1900. Around 1987, CSX ripped out the 8 mile yards and built a smaller one, then tore down the old Roundhouse in '96. It was a sad day when the roundhouse came down....

Well, I guess I went off too far, so to put it shorter, B&O!

[shiellb]

My favourite RR is a toss up between CN and CP. I do lean toward CN on most days of the week.

[squeeze]

My favorite RR would definately be PRR. They had it all. Horseshoe curve, Altoona shops, history, K4's, on the cutting edge, name it, they were there. I live by the old Beefsteak & Onions main line in W. Pa.

Roy

[Anonymous]

For me the Chicago & North Western and the Southern Pacific were my favorites. They were both far flung systems that ranged from big cities with commuter service to tiny agricultural towns on branchlines served by locals on an as need basis. Both carriers served a very diverse geographical area, and had long corporate histories, from the Iron Horse days into the era of A .C. locomotives powering unit coal & stack trains. From the stand point of their people, and how those folks exuded pride in their rail roads, personally the C&NW employees in Iowa and the Norfolk Southern guys around Virginia were the best to me. As far as understanding and apreciating interest in trains, the Stockton Terminal & Eastern folks along with WP personel in Stockton and BN's ex-Great Northern workers at Klamath Falls. But again the North Western's people were most always super. Some how I get the impression I would've loved the Lehigh Valley and probably the Western Maryland too.

[464484]

Make mine the New Haven!
Few railroads packed such density of traffic and equipment in such a small company.
Great Steam, Great Diesels, Great Electrics, 4 track main lines, Grand Central, Hell Gate Bridge, Poughkeepsie Bridge, South Station, Cape Cod, "The Merchants Limited" "The Speed Witch," just great stuff!

[ironhorseman]

I've been trying to make up mind what railroad to pick and although I have several that could be broken down into several categories I'm just going to keep it simple.

All time favorite is the Santa Fe and I like the BNSF. I've had the most exposure with this organization and that's why.

But, other's would be the MKT, the BN, the UP, the Chessie Sys and the N&W. The last 2 because I've read so much about them.

[Anonymous]

Soo Line; small and spunky.

It's passenger equipment, with several baggage car exceptions, was all standard stuff. But it was painted a georgeous deep maroon, deeper than Pennsys. And until at least the mid 50s the equipment shone with polished sides.

[Anonymous]

The "Great Western Railway "of Colorado,Built too haul sugar beets in the early 1900's and still surviving today.Four of its steam locomotives still remain in operating condition today,#90 is in regular use at the Strasburg rr in pensylvania,#75 is in use on the Heber creeper rr in Utah,#60 is currently being inspected at the Black River Valley in New Jersey,and #51 has just returned to mead Colorado awaiting inspection at the GW shops in Loveland.The past history of the GW included the use of McKeen motorcars.The Great western had a double spout watertank to service locomotives on two different tracks...{pretty cool eh?}today the GW uses diesel engines but still handles alot of freight.I think the GW really is a GREAT Railroad.

[Anonymous]

The Southern Pacific by far. They had the Tehachipi Loop (i know i'm probably butchering it), Cab Forwards, their GS series for their Daylight trains, an extensive rail network, and they were creative. I just love the SP, even though I never had the chance to see it in person.

[Anonymous]

The Norfolk& Western Railway.They always believed that a RR was supposed to make money,and They were ahead of the curve during the period leading up to WWII.Couple this with the fact that the motive power from the Roanoke shops was generally superior to what was produced by the commercial builders and a perfect match for they`re road profile and you come away with a pretty terrific RR.

[Anonymous]

Well, my favorite RR has been the IHBRR (who I once worked for as a tower operator). It has been around for quite awhile. The two roads that used to own the IHB were the Pennsylvania RR and the old New York Central. The IHB is independent of the other two, who finally merged and was the PennCentral for awhile, and that later became Conrail. The Conrail companies are gone, but the IHB is still a fighter and is still operating today, compared with all the others who were bought out or went bankrupt. Ralph Zimmer Alsip, IL

[Anonymous]

Santa Fe!! as a kid lived 150ft from main line in Calif. Warbonnets Forever!!. But today like to follow the U.P. thru Neb. never knew that was that much coal in the world. Looks like a well run railroad, clean, sharp, well cared for. just my .02 worth.

[IRONROOSTER]

Ma & Pa. I read George Hilton's book 30 years ago and have loved it ever since, EBT, PRR and WWF are also favorites.
Enjoy
Paul

[passengerfan]

My vote goes to GN grew up in Pacific Northwest and witnessed first hand Milwaukee Electrics, GN Electrics, NP Steam and diesel, GN Steam & diesel, UP Steam & Diesel, First dome train in Northwest UP 457-458, New Empire Builders, Western Star, Internationals, North Coast Limited, Mainstreeter, Columbian, Olympian Hiawatha. Great period to grow up and an excellent region to see all that was taking place. Also witnessed the first Boeing -80 original 707 fly from Renton on maiden flight. Northwest was a great place to practically see it all. Travelled from Seattle to Vancouver on the CPR SS Princess Elizebeth one of the night boats, returned on GN International. Summers spent at grandparents in Vancouver and from their front yard could see the CN Super Continental and Continental arriving and departing Vancouver as well as the GN Internationals. Was able to ride downtown on a trolley bus in ancouver to see the CPR coastal ships and the new Canadian arrive in Vancouver. As a very small lad had have recollections of riding trams from downtown Vancouver to New Westminster.

With all of this to choose from I chose the GN as they impressed a small boy at a very early age with the proper way to run a railroad after my second or third trip on the Empire Builder between Seattle and Minneapolis in the late 1940's and the friendly crews probably contributed to my lifelong love affair with trains and particularly the GN.

[Anonymous]

I will have to give my vote to Southern Rwy, but also have to give credit to those N&W boys at the Roanoke shops for the steam locomotives they built!

[Anonymous]

Norther Pacific all the way! They ran the great 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones on rose bud coal and went through my favorite parts of the country, especially Montana and the Yellowstone area. The first northerns were also made for this railroad. The Milwaukee Road, Chicago and Northwestern, Great Northern, and Union Pacific all tie for second place in my book. I also like C&O very much as an eastern RR as they had some really neat locos, such as the M-1 steam turbine (a failure, to be sure, but what a great looking failure!)

[Anonymous]

It would have to be the Cape May Seashore Lines that runs the vintage restored Budd Diesel Electric cars . THis line was originally run by Penn Reading and called the Penn Reading Seahore Lines. . When they went bankrupt the line was turned over to Conrail (frieght only) and then abandoned in 1982 when the track was torn up. About 5 years ago long a man by the name of Tony Macrie, worked with NJ Transit to put the tracks back and rebuild the bridge over the Cape May Canal. Stations and a signal tower have been restored and service to Woodbine ( ABOUT 25-30 miles away) will be offered for the 2004 season. The plans are to eventually connect with the Atlantic City line but the State of NJ has been fighting to hold back service claiming that they will lose toll revenue on the Garden State Parway. Riding this line is like going back in time. WHen we are at our other home outside of Cape May we take the ride into town often.

[Anonymous]

PRR - My father worked for the pennsy. Living in New York City as a kid, Penn Station was a convient place top see the trains as was Sunnyside yards. Our family rode the PRR to Newark, Ohio many times to visit relatives. The GG1 was my favorite loco. I had the great luck to ride in the cab of a GG1 from NYC to Philly when I was 14 years old. That's something you don't forget. I also rode the Keystone Tubular Train from Trenton, NJ to Penn Station many times. I have been trying to find photo's of that train. but have been unsucceful.

[Anonymous]

CB&Q-Greatest of the Grangers, with many interesting towns on the line (Galesburg, Rochelle, etc.), and a little history in my area. Lots of nice steamers, too.

After that, the GM&O-GN-NP would be tied for 2nd place.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by yellowducky

How about before CSX? How about even before Chessie System? How about before most any other railroad? Well, I'm not that old, but I did work for the B&O while it was still: The Baltimore & Ohio.
hello yes i also worked for the B&O from 1977 to the fall 1982 as trackman from daffyduck

[Anonymous]

Hello fellow railroaders - It would be the B&O,I did work for the B&O from 1977 to the fall of 1982,even though it was Chessie System,may check stubs said B&ORR.I worked as a trackman,machine operater,Asst. trackforeman. I also did live along PRR panhandle route,and still due,but there isn't much left of it . Daffyduck signing off for now, Have a safe day!

[TicketAgent]

The Fast Freight Line itself - the Western Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Sante Fe All the Way!!!!

[Anonymous]

My favorite all time is the B&O. A very close second is the Western Maryland.

[Anonymous]

[bow]The Rock[bow]