What is your favorite model steam locomotive you have?

[leejax01]

While I like diesels, I have had my share of steams. i would say that my cab-forward 4-8-8-2 SP so far.

[jep1267]

"Mudhen"

 

You have an F-15 on you layout??? Great plane but I thought the question was about favorite steam engines LOL  

 

[DavidGSmith]

In HO I could not part with my little brass 2-6-0.I get a lot of flack when I run it on a friends layout with three passenger cars behind it. It is tiny. In On30 my verticle boiler Bachmann shay. It is one of the reasons I moved to On30. In "F" my bachmann two truck shay. I also have an HO shay, do I see a patern?

Dave

[PASMITH]

Oh, boy...  How do I choose?

I built all of my steam locomotives, as ready-to-run Pennsylvania Railroad steam engines are not really available in N scale.

All were kitbashed from chassis and parts from other engines.  Left to right:  H10sb 2-8-0 #8756, L1s 2-8-2 #762, and M1 4-8-2 #6811.

Each one represents months of work.  I wrote an article for the NTrak steam information book on the 2-8-0 on the left, and am doing an article for The Keystone Modeler on the 4-8-2 on the right.

I can't choose.  My favorite is any steam engine I put hours of work into.

Dave, I think you have changed my mind. I agree with you that my favorite locomotive(s) are those that I spent months on kit bashing or scratch building such as my Bowser Mountain that I kit bashed when I was 19 or my Spectrum 4-4-0 that I finished last year when I was 67. I am currently working an SP TW-2 4-8-0 Mastodon No. 2947 as it appeared in 1909. I should have it finished by the end of the month.

Peter Smith, Memphis

[UpNorth]

I'm partial to Shay's and all those wirring gears and shafts. Only one I have is from Bachmann and it blew the TCS decoder, but I like it just the same. 

[on30francisco]

 Mine are Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 with DCC/Sound & my 2 Bachmann Berks.And maybe, my new Athearn steamers when they arrive. What's yours?

Mine is the LGB forney. Built like a tank, runs like a charm. I like large models of small prototypes. 

[don7]

For looks alone, I enjoy watching my Spectrum 4-6-0, it is my favorite engine. Watching it pull a string of 60' coaches up the incline of my main line and crossing the trestle is pure joy.

Second choice would be my Spectrum Shay with a load of ore cars making its way up and down the steep incline from the mine to the processing plant.

Pity neither has sound at the moment.

Well one day. 

[sparkyjay31]

Small steam.  I like both of mine ( 2-8-0 and 4-4-0 ).  Nice little guys just chugging along...

[selector]

...<foam>....

Awesome shot!  And the lighting is spectacular!

You guys must have some seriously solid timbers up there in The Great White North if they can support a beast like a Pennsy J1!

Yep.   's called Douglas Fir.

I had a word with the old gal when she hesitated at the lip of the trestle on her first encounter. She then closed her eyes and stepped onto it. 

Now she actually likes the experience.

Thanks for your kind encouragement, Dave.

-Crandell

[Pathfinder]

Tough choice for sure, especially for a mostly diesel kind of guy 

I would have to say my PFM/United Sierra 2-6-6-2, done up as Rayonier #38.  Can motor and O ring drive make it very nice.  And not too big 

[CAZEPHYR]

Choices, choices, choices.  Toss up between my BLI 2-8-2 or my Spectrum 2-10-2.  I like the BLI for sound and I like my 2-10-2 for it's hauling/pushing ability.

 

You have said it right.   Choices, choices, choices.  How can some of us who have collected trains for over forty years choose just one.  With so many sound options and details offered recently, it is impossible to pick one.   

My thought is:   I never met a steam locomotive I didn't like.   

Yes, we got see some glamorous steam locomotives and some real freight hogs, but each one had a sort of personality that made it impossible for us who watched them not to like each and every one.  

Our HO model steam locomotives are much the same to me.  I like steam and tolerate certain diesels that only ran on certain name trains, like the Californina Zephyr and the High Level El Capitan.  

 

 

[Trynn_Allen2]

Choices, choices, choices.  Toss up between my BLI 2-8-2 or my Spectrum 2-10-2.  I like the BLI for sound and I like my 2-10-2 for it's hauling/pushing ability.

[nbrodar]

Since I only have two, it's impossible to choose...

My N&W J:

or my PRR K4:

hmm...I think I need a better picture of the K4.

Nick

[loathar]

Bachmann 4-4-0 #119, because it's the last gift my father bought me before he passed away.
Some things are more important than realism and running characteristics.

[jecorbett]

That's like asking if a the boat was sinking, which one of your children would you save. I love all my steamers but if I had to keep only one, it would probably be my BLI PRR Mountain. Looks great, sounds great, and runs great. What more could you ask for. I have two of the Spectrum Consolidations, one with sound and one without which are also favorites. I did pick up an undecorated P2K Berkshire last year but has yet to be upgraded to DCC. I've bought a Tsunami and a speaker but haven't gotten around to installing it and I need to letter it as well. When that happens, it might move to the head of the class.

[Dave Vollmer]

Oh, boy...  How do I choose?

I built all of my steam locomotives, as ready-to-run Pennsylvania Railroad steam engines are not really available in N scale.

All were kitbashed from chassis and parts from other engines.  Left to right:  H10sb 2-8-0 #8756, L1s 2-8-2 #762, and M1 4-8-2 #6811.

Each one represents months of work.  I wrote an article for the NTrak steam information book on the 2-8-0 on the left, and am doing an article for The Keystone Modeler on the 4-8-2 on the right.

I can't choose.  My favorite is any steam engine I put hours of work into.

[Dave Vollmer]

...<foam>....

Awesome shot!  And the lighting is spectacular!

You guys must have some seriously solid timbers up there in The Great White North if they can support a beast like a Pennsy J1!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

My NYC 4-6-4.

51 years ago my Dad returned from Japan with my gift, a Tenshodo NYC 4-6-4 in its own wooden box.  In retrospect, I was a bit too young for a brass engine. My old layout at the time was crudely built. One time, the engine rounded a curve on my poor trackage, and that caused a serious derailment. I was able to get the thing back together (sort of), but it was not long before it had another plunge to the floor. Then, I put its pieces back in the wooden box. The 4-6-4 hulk remained in that box for several decades. About five years ago, I restored the engine. I purchased suitable repair parts and some Microscale decals. After a lot of work, the engine now looks as good as new and runs fine. It is rarely on the layout, however. Instead it occupies a prime location in my model railroad "museum" (display shelves).

[Lillen]

Lillen, does this mean you have finalized your decision to model B & O? If so, tell us about your latest plans for narrow gauge.

Peter Smith, Memphis

 

Hi,

Yes I have decided to go with the B&O. But with a twist. I will model a place "somewhere" near Chicago. It might as well be a fictional place but with a large passenger station/terminal where lots of passenger trains coming to Chicago will run through.

 

Since the plans with the narrow gauge was disused things have happened, I didn't get to buy the house next to me so my space was halved or there abouts meaning I have to cut something. I will still include a small branch where I will run a single shay and some logging cars I've ordered(but seems to be gone!!!! in the mail). I will See when i get space all laid out if i can fit a small, very small narrow gauge line in since I really love those K-xx engines with plows. So I will have to see, it's still a possibility but right now I won't probably make it. If it happens it will be in about two years I would guess.

 

But, the B&O it is. I will take on of my BB's and decal it for the B&O since I got one to many soon.

 

I will start a new thread that I'm planning where I will go into details about my plan,

 

Magnus 

 

[marknewton]

JNR 2120 0-6-2 by Sango. It pulls like a dentist.

Cheers,

Mark.

[PASMITH]

You have got to be freaking kidding!... You own 24 BigBoys?. Now I know who robbed the national bank of Sweden.

Tracklayer

 

It's 25 actually! 

 

But the 25th isn't in that picture since it was damaged when it arrived. I was going to send it back so it went back in to the box. BLI however sent me the parts and it was an easy fix! Even for someone as bad as me!

 

Now, where did I place that gun and ski mask, I really need the 800 or so Consolidations that the B&O had.... 

 

Magnus

Lillen, does this mean you have finalized your decision to model B & O? If so, tell us about your latest plans for narrow gauge.

Peter Smith, Memphis

[SpaceMouse]

Rock Ridge 1 (with the LaFever conversion)

[Lillen]

You have got to be freaking kidding!... You own 24 BigBoys?. Now I know who robbed the national bank of Sweden.

Tracklayer

 

It's 25 actually! 

 

But the 25th isn't in that picture since it was damaged when it arrived. I was going to send it back so it went back in to the box. BLI however sent me the parts and it was an easy fix! Even for someone as bad as me!

 

Now, where did I place that gun and ski mask, I really need the 800 or so Consolidations that the B&O had.... 

 

Magnus

[fiatfan]

Well, we don't want to let the steam lovers get too far ahead in this so here's mine.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~tbohlen/IMG_2847.jpg

Tom 

My apologies for the above post.  I misread the headng for the topic. 

 

Tom 

[PASMITH]

Mine is a Northwest Shortline vertical boiler brass Shay. I only have one.

Peter Smith, Memphis

[Lillen]

 

Magnus, are you planning to recreate the entire Big Boy fleet?

 

Tom 

 

Not planning. Already done it! 

 

In fact, I got a 26th on order as well.

[fiatfan]

Well, we don't want to let the steam lovers get too far ahead in this so here's mine.

Magnus, are you planning to recreate the entire Big Boy fleet?

 

Tom 

[Tracklayer]

Well it would be this:

 

 

 

 

Magnus

 

 

You have got to be freaking kidding!... You own 24 BigBoys?. Now I know who robbed the national bank of Sweden.

Tracklayer

[Lillen]

Well it would be this:

 

 

 

 

Magnus

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

My 2-10-2 T2-a made by Mehano.