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What is your Favorite "Locomotive" Engine

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What is your Favorite "Locomotive" Engine
Posted by Gray Cat on Thursday, January 17, 2013 6:43 PM

We all have many locomotive engines that we love so I'm sure it's hard to pick just one. But what Locomotive Engine used to model a toy train is your favorite? Please post a pic and a little information!

My Favorite is the Pennsylvania RR T1. I love the streamline looks of this engine! an added bonus is it's Pennsylvania RR my favorite. If only American Flyer had modeled this engine.

An amazing Locomotive engine last tested in Altoona at 6550 HP.. these engines were often run in excess of 100 mph with a long line of cars. They were rated for reliable performance at 100 mph. Also so powerful that improperly trained engineers caused excessive wheel slip even at high speeds. It was noted with the switch to Diesel it took up to four GP-7's to take the place of one T1 although even with four diesels it was more economical than running steam. Sadly all the remaining T1's went to scap and none are left. This is a beautiful Locomotive engine designed by Raymond Loewy. It is available as a model under many manufacturers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kmkGSSaxMU

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Posted by Penny Trains on Thursday, January 17, 2013 9:12 PM

My favorite engines are:

  1. Mikados and Berkshires of the Nickel Plate Road persuasion
  2. Norfolk and Western Y6b's
  3. The P1a's of the Cleveland Union Terminal (P2's when they went to Grand Central service)
  4. NYC 20th Century Ltd. Dreyfuss Hudsons (with first series tenders)
  5. Pennsy GG-1's (no matter what decoration they had)
  6. C&O Allegheny's and Kanahwa's
  7. UP Challengers
  8. Milwaukee Road Hiawathas
  9. UP Big Boys
  10. C&O Atlantics

OK, it IS tough to choose!  Laugh

Becky

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Thursday, January 17, 2013 11:07 PM

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Posted by Gray Cat on Friday, January 18, 2013 5:53 AM

Ok so you got me there.. I edited the title to specify locomotive engine.

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Posted by Gray Cat on Friday, January 18, 2013 8:21 AM

Thanks for the reply Becky..  can you post a few photo's of your top Locomotives? Being primarily an American Flyer toy train collector I'm only really familiar with the AF line of toy loco's.. I came across the T1 as a particularly beautiful locomotive and fell in love with it. I'd love to find one in S gauge. I'd love to learn more about favorite locos and why..

Thanks for sharing!

Pat

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Posted by lionelsoni on Friday, January 18, 2013 8:32 AM

I couldn't choose among the J1e (773), Big Boy (Rail King 30-1129-1, ATSF F3 (2243), and GG1 (2360).  My other favorite engine is the Volvo B18:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_B18_engine

Bob Nelson

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Posted by Prairietype on Friday, January 18, 2013 8:51 AM

The GG1. Simply magnificent and stylish

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, January 18, 2013 9:06 AM

Hudson

Berk

N & W J

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Posted by Texas Pete on Friday, January 18, 2013 9:08 AM

Until the powers that be allow direct posting of photos to their forum, like every other O/S gauge forum of which I'm aware does, I'll not put up any pictures.  However, my two favorite locos are the Williams/Bachmann EP5 in New Haven McGinnis paint (like the one by American Flyer), and the Lionel 646 Hudson from the postwar era, as per this photo:

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=646

The youngest the Lionel Hudson can possible be is fifty-five years and it still runs like a colt.

Pete

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Friday, January 18, 2013 10:05 AM

Anything with Norfolk Southern on it. Big Smile

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Posted by KRM on Friday, January 18, 2013 10:40 AM

It dependes on what I am running of mine on any given day. I would not have them if I did not like them

I do like my CSX Dach 8 40C

Confused    

 

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Posted by Curmudgeon on Friday, January 18, 2013 11:18 AM

That is a late model (thermostats on front of heads).

8BA base, 8CM Merc.

I have a 1950 F-1 with a 255 8CM Merc, a 1950 Tudor, same, and a 1949 Willys Wagon street rod with a 3/4 race Merc, 130 over, Isky 77B, Offy heads, and 4bbl intake, Holley 390cfm, Mallory, headers........ported and relieved.

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Posted by Gray Cat on Friday, January 18, 2013 12:02 PM

Ya know guys I was trying to spark up some conversation about something we are supposed to have in common on this forum. I was curious to see what the toy train collectors here chose as their favorites and why.

I'm disappointed it had to get hijacked with car engines. I have hot rods and cars too but this isn't the place.

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Posted by palallin on Friday, January 18, 2013 1:09 PM

Frisco 1500-class 4-8-2s.

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, January 18, 2013 2:06 PM

Presently its my PA-1, PB-1 set.

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, January 18, 2013 9:42 PM

Its hard to select just one locomotive as a favorite, but I know I tend to favor the Milwaukee Road Hiawatha

I think it has to do with its bold coloring, sleek design, and the time in our history that it represents.

It has been represented numerous times in the world of toy and model trains.

Lionel, produced a beautiful version, and has continued to do so over the years.

 

But as you might guess, my favorite is the version produced by American Flyer

 

 

 
 
 
Thanks for asking Gray Cat
 
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Posted by Hudson#685 on Friday, January 18, 2013 10:38 PM

My Favorite is the Hudson, followed by the Berkshire.

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Posted by railhead53 on Saturday, January 19, 2013 12:51 AM

I don't know that I have ever met a locomotive I didn't like, but since you asked for favorites I would say:

My favorite Post War locomotive is the Lionel #736 followed by the little 0-4-0 #1656.

My favorite Modern Era locomotive is the Lionel EM-1 closely followed by the Vision Line NYC Hudson.

Bo  Smile 

 

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Posted by overlandflyer on Saturday, January 19, 2013 4:46 AM

currently my choice is a simple one...

NKP Berkshire #753...

construction is moving along quite well.
hopefully #753 (1.5" scale) will be steaming by 3qtr 2013.
cheers...gary
 
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Posted by Gray Cat on Saturday, January 19, 2013 6:21 AM

It is so hard to choose a favorite. The Alco PA is a beautiful sleek diesel, the Hiawatha with it's streamlined design and bold colors, the Dreyfus, the PRR GG1, the Berkshire with it's symphony of running gear (like bows on a violin)..all the other choices cited.

Sleek streamlined or complicated running gear? or both.. Sharknose diesel, Alco PA, 0-6-0 switcher

Guess it depends on the mood.

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Posted by billbarman on Saturday, January 19, 2013 3:07 PM

Its hard to choose, but I think this image can give a clue...

But aside from the J1e, I'm also a big fan of the Pennsylvania Railroad G5 ten-wheeler (Due to local bias...) as well as the H10 and H9 consolidations.

Also can't forget those beautiful  Nickel Plate Berks.

I aso have quite a soft spot for the 2 foot narrow gauge engins up in Maine...

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Posted by Penny Trains on Saturday, January 19, 2013 5:13 PM

Holy crap Gary!  Now THAT'S my kinda toy train!  Big Smile  Yes  Beer

As far as posting pictures goes, I'd love to.  The problem is that I'd have to post pictures I didn't take and don't own the copyright to.

Becky

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Posted by Lehigh Valley 2089 on Saturday, January 19, 2013 5:56 PM

 Love my Lionel. This is as far as toy trains.                                                            Live auctioneers

This is pretty self-explanatory.                                                                            Streamline Memories.

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Posted by tjl0824 on Saturday, January 19, 2013 6:31 PM

F2a Jubilee. Why? Marx...

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, January 19, 2013 9:46 PM

My favorite?  The Norfolk and Western Class J 4-8-4, best steam passenger locomotive ever built.  Lady Firestorm and I were lucky enough to ride behind #611 several times before the Norfolk-Southern steam program was terminated in 1994.  Losing that engine broke as many hearts in Virginia as Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House did in 1865.   Lady Firestorm hasn't forgotten and won't forgive the loss of "her engine", that Art Deco delight.

I can't post a picture, can't figure out how to do it, but I think we all know what 611 looks like.

And I just LOVE my MTH  "Baby 611"!

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Posted by submmbob on Saturday, January 19, 2013 10:59 PM

As far as a model train locomotive goes, I will have to throw my vote in w/ LV for the 2025/2035. Just what a model train should be: big, heavy, handrails, eccentric valve gear, w/ a Belpaire firebox to top it all off.

For full size prototype engines it gets a bit tougher:

Will always have a soft spot for the #40 4-6-0 and #93 2-8-0 used on the Nevada Northern that I had the privilege of helping to repair and service. Before I left they gave me a cab ride on the #93 and I even got to try firing for a bit. I can still smell the smoke in what was supposedly the longest curved tunnel in the continental U.S.

I've never quite got into model  diesels, but  standing next to a real one changes things a bit. Pulling heads and cylinders on an Alco V-12 tends to drag you in as well. I was able to get in the cab of one of our operating RS's when we used it to hostle the steam loco's.

The Daylight will also hold a special place for me. The first operating steam loco that I stood next to that really sticks in my memory was the #4449 as the AFT in 1976. After touring the train we slept in the motorhome in the parking lot of the Phoenix Colliseum to see the train leave in the morning and then chased it out of town. Someday I need to make a digital copy of the tape dad made of it at the last crossing we caught the train at. Still gives me chills when I hear it.

Bob

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Posted by 8ntruck on Sunday, January 20, 2013 12:07 AM

Fullsize, I'd have to say the #1225 Piere Marquette Berkshire. As a grade schooler, I used to play on it when it was on static display at Michigan State University.

Of the toy locomotives currently in my collection, I'll go with the NYC Empire State Express streamlined Hudson and my N&W J-Class. 

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Posted by Frank53 on Sunday, January 20, 2013 12:28 AM

This one:

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Posted by Gray Cat on Sunday, January 20, 2013 6:35 AM

Firelock76

My favorite?  The Norfolk and Western Class J 4-8-4, best steam passenger locomotive ever built.  Lady Firestorm and I were lucky enough to ride behind #611 several times before the Norfolk-Southern steam program was terminated in 1994.  Losing that engine broke as many hearts in Virginia as Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House did in 1865.   Lady Firestorm hasn't forgotten and won't forgive the loss of "her engine", that Art Deco delight.

I can't post a picture, can't figure out how to do it, but I think we all know what 611 looks like.

And I just LOVE my MTH  "Baby 611"!

So many good Loco's to choose from. But I have to agree that the 611 is a beauty. My sone runs one on his HO layout with DCC and sounds.. even in miniature it's quite an engine.

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Posted by LL675 on Sunday, January 20, 2013 9:54 AM

pretty much anything with a red Keystone on the front!

a Lionel 675 was the first steamer I bought for myself.

but I am rather fond of a certian NKP Berk, especially after finally seeing it in person last summer.

Dave

It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody  from Toy Story)

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