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Nominate the ugliest Class 1 railroad steam locomotive

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Posted by oldline1 on Thursday, December 15, 2016 5:59 PM

Speaking of fugly front ends..........the huge bald, flat face of the Challengers and Pig Boys on the UP have to rate pretty high on the ugly scale if not on top.

Roger Huber

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Posted by challenger3980 on Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:22 PM

Nope, not even close to as hideous as the facial view of the H-8, Granted they don't compete with the FEF, and GS classes for Prettiest Face, but still a far cry from that face not even a Mother could Love on the H-8, that is just PUG Ugly

Doug

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Posted by ACY Tom on Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:25 PM

challenger3980

Nope, not even close to as hideous as the facial view of the H-8, Granted they don't compete with the FEF, and GS classes for Prettiest Face, but still a far cry from that face not even a Mother could Love on the H-8, that is just PUG Ugly

Doug

 

H-8 of what railroad?

Tom

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Posted by challenger3980 on Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:28 PM

C&O H-8 Allegheny.

Sorry, had been mentioned earlier, just responding to the post before mine.

Doug

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Friday, December 16, 2016 12:29 PM

Since we seem to be nominating facial beauty contestants, the later NYC Mohawks had that absolutely flat smokebox front with the 'half moon rising' door - Ick!

The Niagara raised that by having a stack about four inches tall, almost completely hidden by the Worthington SA feedwater heater.  Side view, sleek, lean and mean.  Front view - Embarrassed

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by GP-9_Man11786 on Friday, December 16, 2016 1:14 PM

Here's one from across the pond, the London & Northeaster W1. It looks like an A4 that spent too much time at Golden Corall.

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Posted by 7j43k on Friday, December 16, 2016 3:57 PM

GP-9_Man11786

Here's one from across the pond, the London & Northeaster W1. It looks like an A4 that spent too much time at Golden Corall.

 

 

Fraid not, pal.  That's one of those inflatable fake locomotives the Brits used to fool the Huns!!!  Aside from the obvious balloon-curvature, note the free-floating extra trailing wheel--obviously added by a balloon artist who had no feel for the real thing.  Although, I must admit, the guy did right good on the drive gear.

Also note that the hold-down guy wires are practically invisible.  Pretty good, what?

 

Ed

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Posted by wraithe on Saturday, December 17, 2016 9:22 AM

Funny but I dont even find the experimental locos, in steam, ugly...

Jawn Henry was a rough looking turbine but it still had a beauty of its own...

C&O steam turbines look colourful but again they looked good...

The UP steam turbines looked more like diesels so they look ok...

I use to think that streamlined steamers where ugly, but in escence, they had a purpose for the covers and was still a steam engine underneath...

That being said, I did love the Gresley A3 (Flying Scotsman fame) was a beautiful loco, but the Gresley A4(Mallard) is very beautiful streamlined and very fast...

But I have enjoyed reading others opinions in this regard..

PS, the triplex does look odd tho, but still a nice steamer, pity they didnt succeed..

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Posted by ACY Tom on Saturday, December 17, 2016 7:31 PM

 

7j43k

 

 
GP-9_Man11786

Here's one from across the pond, the London & Northeaster W1. It looks like an A4 that spent too much time at Golden Corall.

 

I hope nobody believes you, Ed. It was real.  

 

 

Fraid not, pal.  That's one of those inflatable fake locomotives the Brits used to fool the Huns!!!  Aside from the obvious balloon-curvature, note the free-floating extra trailing wheel--obviously added by a balloon artist who had no feel for the real thing.  Although, I must admit, the guy did right good on the drive gear.

Also note that the hold-down guy wires are practically invisible.  Pretty good, what?

 

Ed

 

I hope nobody believes you, Ed. It was real.

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Posted by wraithe on Saturday, December 17, 2016 9:54 PM

ACY

 

 
7j43k

 

 
GP-9_Man11786

Here's one from across the pond, the London & Northeaster W1. It looks like an A4 that spent too much time at Golden Corall.

 

I hope nobody believes you, Ed. It was real.  

 

 

Fraid not, pal.  That's one of those inflatable fake locomotives the Brits used to fool the Huns!!!  Aside from the obvious balloon-curvature, note the free-floating extra trailing wheel--obviously added by a balloon artist who had no feel for the real thing.  Although, I must admit, the guy did right good on the drive gear.

Also note that the hold-down guy wires are practically invisible.  Pretty good, what?

 

Ed

 

 

I hope nobody believes you, Ed. It was real.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_W1

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Posted by Shock Control on Saturday, December 17, 2016 11:28 PM

doctorwayne

No, he's referring to this one:

 

 

 
7j43k

 

 

 

Wayne

 

I still would like to know what this engine is.  Either no one knows, or they are not using the quote feature, or they are not saying "Shock Control, here is what this one is."  

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, December 17, 2016 11:38 PM

We have two things going on, here.

One is that we've certainly found the world's ugliest steam locomotive.  It neither has the intrigue of a visually complex locomotive, nor a hint of an interest of visual style or aerodynamic need.

As much as I admire Loree's work, I am considering comparing this one to his namesake, the 4-8-0.  Both look as if they feel the need to cover up what they are.  I do suppose that the Brit loco can claim the need for speed, something the LOREE did not aspire to.

 

Ed

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, December 17, 2016 11:40 PM

Shock Control,

It is a UP streamlined Pacific.

On the plus side, I see a whole lotta roller bearings evident.

 

Ed

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Posted by challenger3980 on Sunday, December 18, 2016 3:37 AM

Shock Control

 

 
doctorwayne

No, he's referring to this one:

 

 

 
7j43k

 

 

 

Wayne

 

 

 

I still would like to know what this engine is.  Either no one knows, or they are not using the quote feature, or they are not saying "Shock Control, here is what this one is."  

 

That is Union Pacific's "49'er", there were two modified with that streamlining,

a 4-6-2  #2906 IIRC, and a 4-8-2 #7002.

Doug

 

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Sunday, December 18, 2016 4:55 AM

UP 2906, built 1920, streamlined 1937.  The vanderbilt tender stenciled Union Pacific (extreme left, beyond the bathtub) is a better clue than the washed-out UP shield over the cylinder on the walkway shroud.

Unfortunately, the black and white film couldn't differentiate between the stripe and the lettering, so the 2906 under the cab window and Union Pacific on the tender are illegible.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - sans streamlined steam)

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