I thought it would be fun to ask everyone what they're favorite piece of railroad equipment is. Do you like cabooses? F-3's? Do crossing gates strike your fancy? Maybe you're a fan of the jointed rail itself? So, what do you like? And what's your favorite type of model of it?
For example, Out of all the pieces of real railroad equipment, I like the ubiquitous semaphore best. And my favorite models of semaphores are the king sized 15" standard gauge tinplate replicas like the Lionel 80N shown below.
Another example would be that the second favorite on my list is tank cars. My favorite model is the Lionel prewar O 654 (or 2654). However I also like the highly detailed modern models of this type of car almost as well as the 654.
So, what strikes your fancy? What piece of equipment gets your blood boiling and awakens your urge to fire up your trains and take them for a spin?
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Becky thats a good question and bet most have more than one answer. At first I was thinking you where meaning whats your favorite piece you own of model railroad equipment but your after what piece as a whole interest you.
Well I have always had a liking to passenger cars for some reason and diesels. But this may seem odd but I'm starting to get into standard gauge so looks like I need to start likening steam engines lol.
Signal bridges have always caught my attention as equipment thou not sure why.
3rd would be items like speeders lol
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
A few decades ago I use to work for the Boeing Co in the State of Washington. Worked on the 1st 747, 1st 737, and the SST. So when the TCA Northwest Div and K-Line came out with the 3 piece Boeing consist of the 737 transporter thay became my favorite piece.
The real deal Boeing consist and K-Lines Boeing consist.
Bill T.
Bill where you working at boening in the mid 90's ?
I always get jazzed about military trains.
I worked for Boeing late 60's / early 70's. Worked at the Seattle Boeing Field Research & Development and at the Everett 747 Destruction Test facility. If you were born & raised in the Puget Sound area during that time it was kind of tradition of putting in at least a couple years in at the Boeing Co.
Short-wheelbase engines is my favorite type of equipment. The smaller the better. Current favorite: 0-4-0 Percy / Ivor.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
For Lionel, probably the 44-tonner Lehigh Valley #627 that my grandfather owned or the #520 boxcab I wish I owned. In real life, any GE 44-tonner or the Alco RS-3.
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/
I have always had a fondness for Pennsy Steam engines with the K-4 / American Flyer K-5 being my favorite!. Growing up in Chicago I seldom seen individual signals but saw the signal bridge over many tracks with lights in all different positions. This to me is the quintessential piece of railroad equipment.
Fifedog, is that Washington crossing the Delaware & Hudson?
In answer to the original question, passenger cars have always attracted me. As a kid, I always wanted passenger cars, but we couldn't afford them. And the people passing through town on PRR passenger trains always looked so comfortable and mysterious, bound for faraway destinations.
Geez, that's like asking which of my kids I like the best.
I like double crossovers. I also like some multiple turnout configurations I've seen.
I like steam engines, the bigger the better, also Shays, Heislers, Climaxes.
My fav diesels are my F3 Preamble Express A-B-A.
know what you mean there balidas got thinking and have to say my favorite engine would have to be GG-1. Even thou don't have one at present.
My favorites change pretty frequently, but I always seem to come back to the Scout type boxcars.
Neat topic!
J White
Postwar short boxcars (6454 series) and, of course, those white and cream milk cars. Also, anything Plasticville.......( "But, Plasticville looks so toyish", you say........Yup! ) Thanks for asking.
Hey fifedog! I also love to put toy soldiers on my Christmas layout! Looks like you've got quite the parade going on there! Am I seeing Britains Deetail and Forces of Valor figures in that lineup?
I like to buy cheapies like BMC and paint them myself. If you look close, there's one small group of Union soldiers barely visible in the upper left by the K-Line schoolhouse and a group of Confederates over on the right by the Plasticville Suburban Station. Much easier to see are the small parade group near Independence Hall, and the Union men and cannons on the General's flatcars. I also have reissued Marx Boy Scouts holding a Jamboree!
Growing up I lived close to the MIlwaukee Road tracks where the "City" streamliners ran daily between Chicago and Denver. I even rode the City of Denver on one occasion, west to visit the grandparents. Accordingly I have always had a soft spot for anything in Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Grey.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
I'm with Major on this one.. American Flyer Cast Steamers! Pennsy K-5, Nickel Plate Road 0-8-0, with all that working gear running down the track and that thick AF smoke and choo choo in time with the valve gear.. I can sit for hours just looking at a consist headed up by one of these engines (or any of the big Flyer steam engines) chugging around..
A second favorite would have to be the Flyer GP-7, preferable the 377-378 set with Diesel roar.
As a boy I spent my summers in Johnstown, Pennsylvania where there was always plenty of train action. My grandfather would take me down to see the trains and I still have vivid memories of Giant GP-7's moving so close to me I could reach out and touch them. The ground seemed to shake and you could feel the deep throated roar in your chest! Still excites me.. One of these days I'm going to rig up a sound system with a subwoofer just for a GP-7
Lover of all things Gilbert, truly a man ahead of his time.
Arkady - More like crossing Meyersdale 219.
PT - GW is from Britatins (newer stuff is super-dee-dooper detailed, and a little taller than traditional metal offerings, so it goes up front). 3 riflemen are loose soldiers I picked up from AMHS. The Union band if from Frontline Figures (again, "beefy" but highly detailed). Next, traditional Britains Royal Welsh Fusiliers (with "Shenkins" of course), followed up by another set of Britains US Marines. Bringing up the rear, is the beautifully done Clydesdale hitch from ERTL (offered as a bank).
A lot my parade inspiration comes form old city photos, taken along Baltimore Street, in Cumberland, MD. I need more spectators though.
fifedog I need more spectators though.
I need more spectators though.
Don't we all?
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