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What's your favorite 4-8-4?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Nebraska
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Posted by traingeek087 on Saturday, March 6, 2004 5:15 PM
CB&Q 5632
Rid'n on the city of New Orleans................
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 8, 2004 4:43 PM
bump
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 1:27 AM
The one I am helping restore, Cotton Belt 819 70" drivers built in 1942 at Pine Bluff, Ar
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 15, 2005 6:57 AM
The one built in my hometown, CB&Q 5632.
The Legend lives on.
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  • From: Ohio
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Posted by Virginian on Saturday, January 15, 2005 11:36 AM
Me thinks your poll is inaccurate my man. Someone is "stuffing" the ballot box. While everyone has a favorite, anytime a 4-8-4 poll isn't won by the N&W J class, UP 800 class, or NYC Niagara class, something is amiss. Sometimes the Santa Fe's will make a strong showing as well, and there are quite a few lovers of GS Daylights too.
In reviewing performance figures, the N&W and NYC were tops, although their designs were tailored to their environment, their power was unquestioned.
I can't find a darned pic, but I thought the 4-8-4's of the "original" Norfolk Southern were the lightest ever constructed for a US road. Somewhere I have two pics, one on the old Albermarle trestle, which was the reason for the weight limitation. The old NS used to run down thru Eastern NC East of US Route 17, and there were a lot of old wooden trestles. A friend of mines Dad was an engineer. It was a nice looking engine as well, but I believe the balance of the Northern arrangement resulted in a handsome locomotive for most roads.
What could have happened.... did.
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  • From: US
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Posted by conford on Saturday, January 15, 2005 12:51 PM
Thanks for including the GTW. Its clean lines and centered headlight bespeak true beauty to me. The Vanderbilt tender helps too. Thanks to Dallas Morlan for posting that pic. I am glad that U3b's live!

Peter
conford
Modeling Grand Rapids Michigan, C&O, PRR and NYC operations circa 1958.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 15, 2005 1:05 PM
http://www.4449.com

-dave
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  • From: Carmichael, CA
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Posted by twhite on Saturday, January 15, 2005 2:35 PM
Some of mine weren't even on the list: Here goes--
Rio Grande 1700 class--the prettiest Northern ever built.
Rio Grande 1800 class--big and handsome.
GN S-1, smaller drive wheels than the S-2 and a Belpaire firebox. Businesslike and powerful.
Other than that, I'm a sucker for Espee's GS series--any of them--especially their War Babies.
Also like the C&O--I think they called them 'Greenbriars', didn't they?
And the ATSF 2900's, especialy with the raised stack. LOVED that shrieking whistle!
Tom
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 15, 2005 3:24 PM
It will be the Western Maryland's Potomac 4-8-4. However the story of the Project 819 in Pine Bluff Arkansas is one that I truly hope to see under steam again. That is one strong 4-8-4 made to roll heavy trains.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 15, 2005 6:59 PM
The "J" is beating the FEF-3 because it is a better looking and more powerful locomotive. One of the best if not the best Northerns ever produced. With 70" drivers it was capable of 120 miles per hour yet exerted 80,000 lbs of tractive force for mountain pulling.

Rick
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Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, January 15, 2005 9:22 PM
The CNR U2G 6060 the bullet nosed betty's high drivered and green and mean. TB
  • Member since
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  • From: North Central Texas
  • 2,370 posts
Posted by Paul W. Beverung on Saturday, January 15, 2005 11:30 PM
I voted for the MILW's, but you have to mention that they had two classes. The S-2 and the S-3. The S-2 was the larger of the two and the first. The S-3 a was built during the war to a smaller size dictated by the war production board. There are 2 S-3s still in existance. One the 261 is in excurtion service. No S-2s were saved.

Paul

the Duluth, Superior, & Southestern

" The Superior Route "
Paul The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern " The Superior Route " WETSU
  • Member since
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  • From: Robe Valley, Wa.
  • 719 posts
Posted by GN-Rick on Sunday, January 16, 2005 12:36 AM
Even though I am a hard core GN fan, the NP A-3 class Northern-which also includes
the SP&S 700 (alive and well and steaming out of Portland, Oregon) edge out the
GN S-2 as my favorite. The GN S-1 is also a favorite-with its Belpaire firebox
and lower (73 inch) drivers it has an extremely pwerful look to it.
Rick Bolger Great Northern Railway Cascade Division-Lines West
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  • From: California
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Posted by AggroJones on Sunday, January 16, 2005 3:24 PM
I can't believe that blasted Dixie is beating everything else!

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 16, 2005 4:27 PM
I agree Aggro! I'd never even heard of the Dixie until I read Steam Glory.
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  • From: Ohio
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Posted by Virginian on Sunday, January 16, 2005 8:00 PM
How to make your favorite win; Log out, clear cookies, log back in, vote again, and repeat.
Not worth the effort.
What could have happened.... did.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 17, 2005 7:10 PM
SOUTHERN PACIFIC GS-4! Mucho guapo!
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 17, 2005 10:55 PM
Mi favorito 4-8-4 es N&W J, #611,

Why?
Aesthetically pleasing, and technologically marvelous, and I really like it.

Alvie.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 11:09 PM
My favorite 484 is very hard to pick. I have four 484 O gauge models, 3 Rd rail Santa Fe 3751 painted Brass, MTH UP FEF3, MTH N&W J 611 and MTH SP GS-4 Daylight.
All are very nice detailed models and all have sound systems. I have seen all the real engines and I would have pick the Santa Fe 3751. All the engines are my favorites and that's why I own the models of them !!! COL model train club web site take a look http://www.trainweb.org/centoplines/

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