Best looking steam engines.

[tomikawaTT]

"Best looking steam locomotive" is like "best looking woman." (Or "best looking man" for the ladies present.) With a few rare exceptions, they all look good, just for different reasons. Thus I'm going to give reasons for my choices, with which you may feel free to disagree.

1. N&W class J 4-8-4, which was as fast as it looked.
2. NYC class S-1A 'Niagara' 4-8-4, because even bulldogs can be beautiful.
3. N&W class A 2-6-6-4, proving that brute power can be elegant.
4. USRA heavy 2-8-2, upgraded with a cast steel trailing truck, balanced power.
5. Baldwin's 1890-1900 era 'catalog' tank locos with capped stacks, three domes and balanced wheel arrangements (0-X-0. 2-X-2), charming, like fine china teapots.

Chuck.

[ARTHILL]

Sierra 2-6-6-2 and any Shay.

[CP5415]

Ok, call me biased!

Pretty much everything Canadian Pacific including a 4-4-0 still running here in Ontario as well as UP 8444 & SP 4449

Gordon

[Darth Santa Fe]

I like the PRR T-1 4-4-4-4s. I think they look pretty cool.[:D]

[Canondale61]

K4 frm PRR, has got my vote hands down

[NeO6874]

the PRR K-4/K-5 are my favorites, though there isn't a steam loco that I don't think looks good.

[ArcadeAttica]

4-4-0 American, by far

[Virginian]

Okay you Santa Fe fans, you have to tell me why you think those other 4-8-4s look better than the 2900's. I'm shocked.

[jnichols]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned any of the narrow gauge locomotives, but for me the best looking steam ever to grace the rails ran on track three feet wide and worked the Rio Grande line. While I like the look of any of the K series (Mikados), I prefer the K27 to the others. I don't know why I like the "Mudhens" so much, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder right?

[:D]

Jeff

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ArcadeAttica
4-4-0 American, by far

That covers a whole lot of locomotives that vary greatly in looks. There were the really pretty ones like the V&T Reno (slim stack) & Genoa (funnel stack), but there were some really ugly ones in this class too.

I've also noticed that it isn't just the locomotive but the tender than can make or break the looks. Consider the lowly 0-6-0 switcher. Put a slope back tender like the Pennsy and you get "yawn-ho-hum". Put an URSA tender behind and the locomotive gets overpowered. BUT take the tiny tenders that the NYC put behind the S2 class and wow what a classy looking combination.

I've seen several people list the AT&SF 4-8-4 3700 class. This surprises me, as I've always thought the air pump placement was strange and detracting as well as the trailing truck just doesn't look like it matches the rest of the locomotive. Or does everyone really mean the 3765 or 3776 classes, ordered as 4-8-4s from the manufacturer? The 2900 class on the other hand if they would have put the number board up front rather than midway down the boiler would be at the top of my list.

I am thinking that THE best looking would have to be one of the Hudsons. They came in so many classy configurations it is difficult to choose. AT&SF 3460 class (except the blue goose - yuck), CB&Q home shopped ones (not the 3000 class they had funny rear trucks), NYC's of course, and the CMST&P Hiawathas.

[Anonymous]

Would have to be either the Gresley LNER A4 (Mallard is one of these) or the near-lookalikes. A4s are a 4-6-2 but there were a pair of B17 class 4-6-0s fitted with very similar streamlining and also the semi-streamlined P2 2-8-2s. I've long felt that Hornby could do well with a new loco and tender bodyshell for their existing B17 to offer the streamlined version.

[selector]

This pic speaks for itself.

[pcarrell]

The one that runs through my back yard from time to time!


NKP No. 587, a Mikado

[Anonymous]

If I had to pick one, I'd say Hiawatha F7.

Generally fully-shrouded streamlined steam takes my vote. Streamlined K-4, Dreyfus Hudson, John Wilkes, Blue Goose, etc. Many of the brit locos on the same basis.

[Berk-fan284]

USRA Light Mountain 4-8-2, I like the tapered boiler, the tender is sized just right in proportion to the locomotive (depending on the railroad that is), plus it always seems to get overlooked on most any poll or list.

[Soo Line fan]

N&W J
SP GS4
Soo Mikado

Jim