What locomotive(s) do you have that you consider to be your pride and joy (or centerpiece for perhaps a better term)?

[HLWLillyBelle173]

So I'm new to this forum, and I thought I would, for my first post ask others what locomoitves (or self-propelled railcars (e.g. trolley, subway, doodlebug, speeder, etc.)) they consider to be their pride and joy (as I like to call it) or centerpiece/favorite in their collection. 

For starters, I have 2 actually, but if I could only pick one: Despite my name indicating that my LE Carolwood Pacific Lilly Belle is one of my favorite locos, the one I would pick might be the one that has seen the most use, has been through a lot, and has deep sentimental value to me - My MTH New York Central 4-6-0 ten wheeler No. 1244 with Proto Sound 1. While it might not be as advanced as other locos (including those from MTH), this one means a lot to me. Sure there are folks out there who like to think of their Big Boy or Daylight or what have you as their centerpiece, and that's fine. But honestly, this loco means the world to me. If I had a $2,000 MTH loco and it broke beyond repair, it wouldn't mean as much to me than it would if my beloved ten wheeler were in that situation (it was very close to getting there, but that's another story). Even though I contemplated upgrading the loco to PS2 a while back, I decided not to because I just love the sounds that it already has (mainly the whistle and bell). I could just go on and on about how much I love this engine, but I think you may get the idea at this point. 

I might make another post here about my other prized locos (including my Lilly Belle), but for now I'd like to see what your prized locos are (i.e.your pride and joy or what you would consider the centerpiece of your collection.)

[tstage]

I like all of my steam and early diesel locomotives for a plethora of reasons so it's kinda hard to pick one.  That said, if I had to pick one and sell the rest I'd keep my two Trix Mikes.  The detailing is beautiful and it runs like a Swiss watch.

I did replace the older Loksound V2.0 decoder in one of my Mikes with a TCS WowSteam decoder.  The motor-control is exquisite and comparable to Loksound but the sound files are definitely better.

Tom

[Canalligators]

My Bowser T1, a DC locomotive.  I've remotored with dual can motors and added Modeltronics engine sound.  Constant lighting, of course, and real coal on the tender.  My road is set in current time so this lady isn't run often, but it is a smooth, sweet runner.

I'm not a huge Pennsy fan, but I am a huge Raymond Lowey fan.

[doctorwayne]

to the Model Railroader Forums, HLWLillyBelle17!

After reading your comments on your "pride and joy", I was surprised that you didn't include a photo or two, so we could all have a look.

I have several favourites, all mainly because of the work which I put into them:

This one was my first brass locomotive - it didn't run when I first got it, but now is a smooth runner and decent puller, despite its diminutive size.  It also looks quite a bit different than originally...

...this one is a Model Power FA-1 or 2 (opinions varied on which it best represented), which I converted into an FPA-4, my favourite cab-style prototype diesel.  I painted it, and a matching FPB-4, in CNR colours, but lettered it for one of my freelanced roads.  The pair are fantastic pullers, but have gone to a friend who models the late '50s, while my layout is set in the late '30s...

...a couple of Athearn Blue Box geeps, modified to match their specific prototypes.  Mine have been re-motored and have newer style trucks, (the originals had cast-metal sideframes, and one was originally a dummy) but the reason for them being on my list of favourites is because I found a way to create this prototype's paint and lettering scheme, as no accurate lettering had been available before.  Mine was done all in paint, as outlined in a short article in MR's Paint Shop, in February of 1980.  These two locomotives also started me on a path doing custom painting for others...

Four of these Athearn SW7s, modified somewhat to represent the SW1200RS locos widely used by CNR and CPR, but painted in the scheme of another freelanced railroad, also make my list of favourites - great pullers (all re-motored with Mashima can motors) and smooth runners.  They were very reliable, and ran well with all of my steamers, too.  I also liked the paint scheme, loosely based on that of the TH&B locos shown previously.  One of these went to a friend in New York, another to a friend in California, and the other two to the friend here, who also has the FPA-4/FPB-4 set....

This one was done for the same friend last mentioned, and may be the most modified loco I've ever done.  It started as this...

...and ended like this...

I'll wrap-up my list of favourites with "The Bee", a free-lanced diesel-electric doodlebug.  It started life as a Rivarossi combine, but utilises part of the frame of an Athearn F7, with the one powered truck, plus a Mashima can motor, and detail parts from several suppliers along with parts "borrowed" from other models.  The pilot is from a Bachmann Santa Fe Northern.  It can easily handle a dozen cars-or-so, but usually operates solo or with one or two freight cars...

Wayne

 

 

[angelob6660]

When I do make my G.N.O. Railway it will be centerpiece. Along side a functional layout. 

For now I have a Con-Cor NYC J3a 20th Century Limited Hudson in N Scale. It no longer runs and needs a motor since I bought it in 2003.

Secondly it will be my full roster of Amtrak locomotives and rolling stock.

[RR_Mel]

 

Like others I have many favorites but if I had to make a choice it would be one of my kitbashed Southern Pacific AC-9s.  I have many favorites all SP articulated steam.

 

 

 

 

 

It began it’s life as a Rivarossi Cab Forward AC-10.  It has a Faulhaber 2224RS motor and a Soundtraxx 826105 Sound Decoder with a pair of 1” 4Ω 1 Watt full range speakers in the oil tender.  I added 10 ounces of weight to the locomotive and it will pull the paint off the walls.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BATMAN]

 

HLWLillyBelle173  

I have a BS 4-4-0 that I am quite fond of. When I am working on the layout I have it pulling a

six-car work train around the layout. On occasion, it has run the entire day without a hiccup.

It may be de-throned soon though, as I am awaiting the arrival of two Rapido Royal Hudsons (maybe three) so it will have stiff competition to have the most time out on the main.

 

I just have to remember it comes by every six minutes when I am trackside and focussed on the job at hand.

 

[Southgate]

Welcome aboard!

(Great pictures so far, guys)

Ya gotta know, this is like asking which is your favorite child! But I'd have to go with this 4-4-0. My wife bought for our anniversary in (note road number) 1986, a Roundhouse Old Timer 2-6-0 kit, knowing I planned to make it into a 4-4-0 following an article in Model Railroader. It combined parts of the kit, with Mantua 2-6-0 (like a Dixie Belle) parts. I retro fit it with a can motor and a flywheel.

For a lack of better pictures, here's a little golden spike scene I set up when my original loop was completed.  See "86" on the right.

Perhaps second to that would be a very recently acquired, Long-LONG sought after Keystone 44 tonner kit, complete with drive (NWSL gears), a WIP as I write. 

The 4-4-0s don't fit my current late '60s era, but will be in the roundhouse and get to take little excursions.  Dan

 

[SeeYou190]

to the Model Railroader forums. Your first few posts are delayed by the moderators, but that will end soon enough. Please stick out the delay and join us.

.

My favorite locomotive is my Bachmann EM-1 2-8-8-4. The locomotives I run the most are my A-B-A set of Stewart F7s. My pride and joy is an N scale conversion of a boxcab diesel that I built 35 years ago in High School.

.

-Kevin

.

[PRR8259]

I have re-thought my motive power roster for a variety of reasons.

I'm going to say my Stewart/Kato Drive F units due mainly to the quality of the Japanese mechanisms.

They may not have the detail of some of today's models, but were state-of-the-art at the time of introduction, and run reliably and look...good enough for me.

John Mock

[hon30critter]

Hi HLWLillyBelle173:

Welcome to the forums!!         

Like most other modellers I have lots of locomotives that I really like so choosing a favourite is quite a challenge. I love FP7s and FP9's in Canadian Pacific's maroon and grey scheme, and I love all of my 'critters' (two axle industrial switchers and mini railtrucks). However, since I have to choose, I will pick my McKeen Motor Car. It was made from a Funaro and Camerlingo unpowered resin kit. Some of the kit's details were great but many were really bad and unusable.

The first challenge was to hollow out the interior roof. The casting came with the roof squared off just above the windows leaving about 5/16" of excess resin that had to be cut out using a dremel. Preventing the dremel from going straight through the roof was difficult but I managed to avoid any disasters. After the car was finished it turned out that I didn't need to hollow out the roof. I had planned on modelling the unusual round windows that swung upwards inside the coach but ultimately they didn't work out. I wasted a lot of time on that!

There were no rivets molded into the roof so those had to be done with 3D decals. The window openings were full of flash. The pilot was a crude mess, and of course it lacked a motor and operating trucks.

The shell came out quite nicely if I may say so, and it really wasn't a lot of work. Building the front truck was not quite so easy, nor was the pilot. The power solution was easy. I used a NWSL Stanton drive in the rear truck. Not prototypical but what the heck.

Here are some pictures:

The original kit. The window openings have already been cleaned up and I have temporarily installed the scratchbuilt roof vents. The vents that came with the kit didn't match any prototypes that I could find:

The finished interior:

The interior lighting:

The roof rivet details:

The scratchbuilt front truck. It took a couple of tries to get it right. The sideframes move independantly from each other. Note the different size wheels front and back as per the prototype. The springs work but there is very little room for much movement. Power pickup on all wheels:

The scratchbuilt pilot next to the one supplied with the kit:

The underside:

The NWSL Stanton drive. I ran the car for many hours at the last show we attended and the Stanton drive worked great. It never got warm at all:

I have a kit for the passenger trailer that was sometimes used. It's on the backburner.

Thanks for your interest.

Dave

[Doughless]

Probably a toss up between the Intermountain GP10s, and Fox Valley GP60's, except the ditch lights are too dim.

The Athearn GP15, except it has bulbs instead of LEDs, and a Tsunami instead of a LokSound.  Switching the decoder and replacing the bulbs with LEDs will make it my slam dunk favorite.

My other locos don't have ditchlights, so they are not in the top tier.

[Little Timmy]

My favorite locomotive suffered a "CATASTRAPHIC" fall 10 year's ago, and is still in a box awaiting repair It's a Roundhouse two truck Shay. ( Demon's Hollow & Pacific #3 )

This is her Sister ( and almost identical twin) Shay #2.

I cut the metal running board's off of both locomotive's ,and replaced them with scale 2 X 8 plank's.

[Paul3]

I would have to say the Rapido FL9.  I take the most pride in that than anything else I have.  Why?  Not because I bought them, but because I was on the design team as a member of the NHRHTA working with Rapido. 

I spent hours collecting & scanning photos, creating spreadsheets of which units got what details & paint schemes, and so on.  Then more hours working on comparing computer 3D models with the photos and making correction after correction that could be understood in China.  Then it was correcting the paint scheme, fonts, and colors until we got the darn thing as close to perfect as we could make it.

The result is a model that I have yet to hear a single complaint about its' accuracy.  And in this business, that's pretty good because you should all know how rare that is. 

[gmpullman]

I like Paul's story of his contribution to the FL9 project. I have a blue and yellow FL9 in Penn Central because that's what I remember seeing and riding behind when I was in New Haven territory in the early 1970s.

IMG_6817_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

Thank you for your efforts, Paul  Are you working on the EP-5 Jets, too? I only saw one once, in 1971, at Shell Tower headed for Hell Gate. That's enough reason for me to get one

So, I'd have to pick another locomotive that traveled some of the same trackage as the FL9s.

IMG_6782_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

I was born about three years too late to see these behemoths run in the Cleveland area but I did get to ride behind them after they were converted to third-rail for use on the Hudson Division and Grand Central.

Speaking of GCT, I also was lucky to see some of these S-3s operating there:

IMG_6943_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

They used to pull the Century back end first into Grand Central. I think they were close to eighty years old when they were retired.

Thank You, Ed

[PRR8259]

Neat story, Paul.  You were indeed fortunate to have the time, contacts and expertise to be able to contribute.

Unfortunately, the engines I remember most would be Conrail's SD40-2's passing through Altoona, and the ex-EL SD45-2 helpers....nothing too exotic or not already modeled.

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

My favorites are my trio of Walthers GE B40-8W units

and of course I love my Athearn blue box Tunnel Motors

my Athearn blue box SD40-2's

and my Athearn blue box Dash 9's

and my Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern

and don't forget my Rivarossi 4-4-0 American, The Genoa

[Harrison]

My favorite is my P2K GP38-2 D&H #7312.

[selector]

I think like Tom does about this.  I'm what some members refer to as 'a collector'. Every locomotive I have is one I desired, spent some time thinking about and researching, and eventually adding to my roster.  This means I have reps from about eight different roads.  I'm literally all over the place.  But, like Tom, I do love my locos, and it's hard to play favourites with them.

Still, if I'm between a rock and a hard place and have to choose, I would have to look most seriously between my metal and/or brass locomotives.  I only have one 'brass' loco, a Sunset CPR 2-10-4, and it's a very nice and heavy locomotive.  I also have several brass hybrid models from BLI, and of course the PCM metal Y6b Mallet, which is really an amazing brute of a scale locomotive.  Just ask Cudaken.

My latest big locomotive, a BLI Hybrid, came to me after a six year wait.  It's the magnificent 9000 series 4-12-2 from the Union Pacific that I received in March 2013.  Maybe only because I had to wait for it the longest I would have to say it's my favourite.  

[richg1998]

My favorite has always been a HO scale 1855 short firebox Winans Camel I bashed many years ago. They were made in short, medium and long firebox at one time for hard coal. About two hundred were pproduced just before the Civil War.

PB locked up all my photos and I deleted the photos and left the site some time ago. Too bad. I still have the photos though.

Rich

[Beach Bill]

I have a NWSL (brass) HO standard-gauge Dunkirk, which has to be top of the list.  The known roster of Dunkirk logging locomotives includes 2 or 3 that went to "logging rr in North Carolina", which feeds the story of how one made it to my Winneshiek & Western RR which is set in deep southwest Virginia.  This is a tiny locomotive.   As someone else mentioned on this topic, when photobucket stopped wanting to host for here I didn't bother to join another photo hosting service, but you can check Google Images under Dunkirk Locomotive to see one.

Although described as "runs well" when I bought it, I found that it indeed ran well forward but would often have a gear bind that would stop it if it encountered almost any obstacle running in reverse... like even a turnout frog.   I sent my Dunkirk out to "The Shayfixer" and Phil found that the truck frames had not been manufactured perfectly square.   He re-squared those and now my Dunkirk runs like a gem.  It absolutely creeps along (DC operation). I know that it can move 12 hopper cars (6 Westerfield with Kaydee trucks and 6 Accurail USRA hoppers), but it does look odd doing so.

I am currently evacuated from my layout in North Myrtle Beach due to the storm and am staying with my sister in Asheville.  I don't know if my sawmill, layout, or even the room it is in will be there when I get back, but the Dunkirk and a couple other locomotives are evacuated with me.

Bill

[snjroy]

So many are dear to my heart... Especially those that I assembled myself (MDC kits), and those that I literally took apart to fix and make them run like new with DCC, like this Katsumi Shay and Bowser 4-8-4.  Simon

DSC_0117 by " alt="" />

4-8-4 bowser 0113 by " alt="" />

[OldEngineman]

gmpullman wrote: "I have a blue and yellow FL9 in Penn Central because that's what I remember seeing and riding behind when I was in New Haven territory in the early 1970s."

The 5027. I remember working on that one as a young fireman, keeping the steam generator going. But by the late 70's, it didn't look nearly that clean any more!

gmpullman also wrote: "Speaking of GCT, I also was lucky to see some of these S-3s operating there:"

When I was a hostler in the Harmon shops during the summer of 1983, they had one of the last running S-motors up there. I remember getting up on it, can't remember if I needed to move it around, but I recall moving it just a little anyway -- that was 35 years ago!

My own "favorite engine(s)"? AEM-7 916 -- when it was a brand-new engine, and I was a brand-new engineer, had my picture snapped in the cab window down at Stamford. The other was the 909 -- very first engine I ran on my first over-the-road trip (I had never run one before, really, I just "got on and went" and learned as I went along!). And it was the very last engine I was on, on the day I retired.

[gmpullman]

OldEngineman

The 5027. I remember working on that one as a young fireman, keeping the steam generator going. But by the late 70's, it didn't look nearly that clean any more!

Thanks for sharing those great stories, Engineman —

That deserves another look at the 5027:

IMG_6820_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

 

OldEngineman

My own "favorite engine(s)"? AEM-7 916

Well, I have the 911 and 901, close but no cigar 

AEM_911-901_2k by Edmund, on Flickr

 

They're pretty clean, too. I'm behind on my weathering chores.

Glad to hear these stories!

Thanks, Ed

[riogrande5761]

Looks like steam is the pride & joy winner here.

I don't have any pride & joy engines but I do have an old Lionel Hudson which is pretty beat up from my early childhood that I've kept to whack bad guys over the head with; it has sentimental value.

When ScaleTrains releases their lovely tunnel motor this winter, that will likely become my pride and joy diesel engines.

[robert sylvester]

Dr. Wayne:

I have always admired your work over the years, you pictures are never dissapointing, in fact they inspire all of us to do better. Your photographs are amazing and absolutely beautiful, and so realistic.

I have some pictures posted on this sight from years ago and I am not sure how topull them forward to display but one of my favorite engines is, of all models, an IHC Mountain of the Reading Railroad. To me it is a classic style and a wonderful engine. Very quiet and runs as smooth as glass, a good puller too.

I have many others but probably my favorite is from 1975, an Atlas GP 38, (I believe), that I purchased in Memphis, Tenn. It's not as detailed as the engines today but being old as it is it runs fantastic. Jackson, Tenn, where I lived at the time, still had a yard and the ICG had special proto type painted in the orange and white colors with black lettering. Right below the cab windows on both sides it read, "Casey Jones". The ICG crew let me sit in the engineers seat to get the feel of the engine and even blow the horn, what a thrill.

My model engine is now 43 years old and has never had any repairs, all I do is lubricate it and it still runs like Swiss watch. In fact it is my go to engine when I build a new layout, it is always the to first to run to check out the new track.

Wish could pull some pictures from the  site and show everyone what I am talking about.

 

Thanks,

Robert Sylvester

[caldreamer]

My favorite engines are the Con Cor/Kato U50B's  I have five of them.  They will pukk 14 ounces up a 2.93 percent grade at half throttle like their is nothing behind it,   I have never tested the full pulling power of them, but it is exceptional.

[Pruitt]

PFM brass GN P-2, custom painted and numbered for the one that bit a large rock many years ago north of Seattle.

[doctorwayne]

Robert, thank you for your very kind words and generous assessment of my work.

robert sylvester

.....Wish could pull some pictures from the site and show everyone what I am talking about.

If you have some time to spare, you may be able to find those photos:  simply go to your Account/Profile, in the upper right corner of this page, and click on "Your Discussions".  A log of all of your contributions to this Forum will appear, and if you can remember roughly when you posted those photos, you may be able to find and recover them. 

Of course, if they were linked from photobucket, and you're no longer a Member there, the photos will be gone.

If the latter is the case, but you still have the original photo but are unable to post it, contact me via PM.

Wayne

[BigDaddy]

robert sylvester

I have some pictures posted on this sight from years ago and I am not sure how topull them forward to display but one of my favorite engines

There is no method for the rest of us to search, at least in a practical sense.  One could scroll through all the pictures, but I'm not doing  that.  However you have a link to your own pictures on the right side of this page. 

1. Find and click on your picture.  It should come up in it's own window with a web address. 
2. Copy that web address
3. Links to the forum don't link with the link tool above. 
4. You have to use the brackets, which look like parethesis that are squared off
5. Replace the parethesis with brackets in this example, you also need the url and /url bits:

(url)http://cs.trains.com/mrr/m/mrr-layouts/2013362.aspx(/url)