Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Best looking steam engines.

4355 views
45 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Ohio
  • 1,615 posts
Best looking steam engines.
Posted by Virginian on Sunday, March 20, 2005 5:50 AM
The 'ugly' thread got me thinking. Which prototype steam engines do you think were the best looking. I like a bunch of them.
N&W J and A classes... and yes, even the Y6b's.
VGN 2-8-4's
C&O 614
B&O EM-1's
SP GS-4's
UP Challenger (without the ears)
Southern PS-4's
Milwaukee F-7's
SP AC-9 (non-cab forward)
UP Big Boy
C&O T-1's
What could have happened.... did.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 6:12 AM
i think the best looking steam engine is the Flying Scotsman which is a 4-6-2!

many thanks

pavariangoo
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: England
  • 1,269 posts
Posted by jon grant on Sunday, March 20, 2005 8:26 AM
Me too




Jon

Sweethome Chicago is now on Facebook

Sweethome Alabama is now on Facebook

Hudson Road is now on Facebook

my videos

my Railimages

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 913 posts
Posted by mersenne6 on Sunday, March 20, 2005 8:32 AM
NYC 999
William Mason's Phantom
The Tiger
The Peter Sweeny
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Peoria IL
  • 490 posts
Posted by cspmo on Sunday, March 20, 2005 10:13 AM
Brian
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Sunday, March 20, 2005 10:41 AM
C.P.R. 4-8-4 Northern Type K-1-a #3100 A real locomotive !
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Sunday, March 20, 2005 10:59 AM
I think they're ALL pretty darned handsome!! If stretched on a rack, though, I'd probably divide them into non-articulated and articulated, and go from there.
Non-articulated:
SP GS-series 4-8-4
Rio Grande 1700 series 4-8-4 (the 'prettiest' northern I've ever seen)
Southern Ry 4-6-2
N&W J 4-8-4
C&O 2-8-2's (especially the ones with 'eyebrow' Elesco FWH's).
ATSF 3800 2-10-2
CB&Q 4-6-4 (Without the 'Aeolius' shrouding)
GN S-1 4-8-4 (the one with the Belpaire firebox)
Pennsy J-1 2-10-4

Articulated:
Missabe Road M-3/4 2-8-8-4
SP AC-6 4-8-8-2
C&O H-9 2-6-6-6
N&W A 2-6-6-4
Rio Grande L-105 4-6-6-4
NP Z-8 4-6-6-4
Rio Grande L-131 2-8-8-2
N&W Y6-b 2-8-8-2
B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4

Not in any particular order, but I think they're all particularly handsome representatives of their particular wheel arrangements.

Oh, yah, and lest I forget: Southern Pacific #1--"C.P. Huntington" 4-2-4.

Tom [:P][:P][:P]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 1:07 PM
UP's FEF class 4-8-4s
UP's Big Boys
SP's GS class 4-8-4s
PM's N class 2-8-4s
C&Os J class 4-8-4s
ATSF's 3700 and 2900 class 4-8-4s
SP's AC class Cab Forwards
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 2:05 PM
let's see, the NYC'S Dreyfuss 4-6-4, SP's GS-2..6 4-8-4, NW's J-4-8-4, PRR's
4-4-4-4, PRR's K-4 4-6-2, B&O's royal and SF's goose 4-6-4's, LINER's 4-6-2's,UP's
4-8-8-4's, RG&W's 2-8-2's, CP's royal 4-6-4's, LINER's flying scotsman 4-6-2, B&O's
2-8-8-4's, You gotta love steam.
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: GB
  • 973 posts
Posted by steveblackledge on Sunday, March 20, 2005 2:24 PM
BEST looking by far is 6233 "Duchess Of Sutherland"
LMS is still king, look at the picture below,,,another reason is that 6233 has been picked to haul the royal train on Tuesday, YESSSSSSSSSSSS
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 3,864 posts
Posted by Don Gibson on Sunday, March 20, 2005 3:12 PM
I have always thought the Mliwaukee Road shrouded 4-4-2 'Hiawatha' the prettiest thing on wheels, with the SP 4-8-4 'Daylight's' a close 2nd.

'Prettiiest diesel was Santa Fe's 'shovel nosed' E-1's - for which the ORIGINIAL war bonnet was designed - was it EMC or D?
Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
Posted by AggroJones on Sunday, March 20, 2005 6:36 PM
Articulateds

Southern Pacific AC-6
DM&IR M-4
Union Pacific 4000 class
Norfolk & Western Y3

Non-articulated
Southern Pacific GS-4
Southern Pacific P-10
Santa Fe 2900 class
Santa Fe 3800 class

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

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

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Sunday, March 20, 2005 7:49 PM
While some of the late articuleds rate right up there. The Big Boy, Challenger, and the Allegheny all are impressive, but my personal favorite of all time is the USRA 2-8-2 Mikado. Beautifuly balanced, graceful, and just exemplifies the classic looks of the period. Like this 1917 CN 3254:



Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
  • 4,240 posts
Posted by Fergmiester on Sunday, March 20, 2005 7:54 PM
Got admit CN's Mikes with Elesco Feedwater Heaters wer a hansome looking engine. I would also go with there 6100 class Northerns. Along with CV's 700 class Texans. C&O's Kanawha's, Heck they were all nice!

Fergie

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, March 20, 2005 8:25 PM
I like the V&T Inyo and similar locomotives.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 8:36 PM
What, no N.P. locos? This poll can't be right!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 9:46 PM
In my personal opinion, Santa Fe's 4-8-4 3700s with their huge tenders, NYC 4-8-4 Niagaras and UP's 4-8-4 FEF3s were brutishly handsome. The GS-4 4-8-4 Southern Pacific more refined and elegant either in black or daylight colors. 4-6-4 non-streamlined Hudsons were well balanced and graceful in appearance.

As far as articulated, not much beats a UP Challenger in gray & yellow livery for looking sharp. Big Boys were just plain tough looking. SP's cab forwards were unusual enough to make them look cool. Allegany 2-6-6-6's seem unbalanced to me.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 9:55 PM
Southern pacific Daylights, but the GS-3 is the best looking to me, the GS-4's closed cab just losses some appeal.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Elyria, OH
  • 2,586 posts
Posted by BRVRR on Sunday, March 20, 2005 10:03 PM
NYC 4-8-4 NIagara's
N&W J-Class 4-8-4s
UP FEF 4-8-4
SF 3700 Class 4-8-4
SP GS-4 Daylight 4-8-4
All of the above were incredible machines. A few still are!

Remember its your railroad

Allan

  Track to the BRVRR Website:  http://www.brvrr.com/

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Sunday, March 20, 2005 10:29 PM
I like all steam, some more than others. I saw my first ever 4-8-4 AT&SF Northern on static display near Bullhead City in Feb, and that monster made me develop unnatural feelings for it. [:P]

The articulated big guys are very impressive; they just command respect.

But......but.... the K-4 just has that certain something........
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: The great state of Texas
  • 1,084 posts
Posted by TurboOne on Sunday, March 20, 2005 11:35 PM
Alright, the Turbo just got his first working steam in 30 years. It is tough. Its big. Its backwards. So its different.

CAB FORWARD BABY !

NO one does it as different as they.

They were so cool [8D][8D][8D] they went but first.

That is cool.

Tim (just got it today)[:D][:D]
WWJD
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 12:49 AM
i'm noticing SP's GS-4 on many list. My favorite beauties are
SP AC-9 2-8-8-4
SP GS-4 4-8-4
UP BigBoy
Northern Pacific Z-8 4-6-6-4
Pennsy J1 2-10-4
C&O Allegheny
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • 7 posts
Posted by amannlines on Thursday, March 23, 2006 8:19 AM
D&RGW L-105 4-6-6-4 w/sunburst
NP Z-8 4-6-6-4
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • 7 posts
Posted by amannlines on Thursday, March 23, 2006 8:20 AM
D&RGW L-105 4-6-6-4 w/sunburst
NP Z-8 4-6-6-4
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: CANADA
  • 2,292 posts
Posted by ereimer on Thursday, March 23, 2006 8:59 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by howmus

While some of the late articuleds rate right up there. The Big Boy, Challenger, and the Allegheny all are impressive, but my personal favorite of all time is the USRA 2-8-2 Mikado. Beautifuly balanced, graceful, and just exemplifies the classic looks of the period. Like this 1917 CN 3254:



i agree , the 2-8-2 just seems very well balanced in both size and bulk .
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: SE Minnesota
  • 6,845 posts
Posted by jrbernier on Thursday, March 23, 2006 9:15 AM
Just about any 'running' steam engine - Not the 'stuffed & mounted' ones!

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • 1,138 posts
Posted by MidlandPacific on Thursday, March 23, 2006 9:23 AM
The Rio Grande's F-81 class 2-10-2s for muscle and bulk.
The NP's Z-3 class 2-8-8-2s (without the smokebox-mounted air pumps) for a clean-lined Mallet
The D&SL's 2-8-2s as delivered
For class and style, nothing beats a Southern Ps-4 in green and gold
And for branchline power, a Baldwin stock light decapod with a high-mounted light: one of the first engines I ever saw in steam, and still one of the prettiest.

http://mprailway.blogspot.com

"The first transition era - wood to steel!"

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Elgin, IL
  • 3,677 posts
Posted by orsonroy on Thursday, March 23, 2006 9:31 AM
As anyone who's seen my roster can attest to, I'm a big fan of Mikados: USRA, NYC, Harriman...it doesn't matter. I'm working on an NKP USRA clone now, equipped with a feedwater heater, trailing truck booster, two air pumps, piping everywhere, and an extended range tender. To me, it's the epitome of raw steam power.

But my FAVORITE engines are 4-4-0s and 4-6-0s: they've got a classic look all their own, and a great sort of branchline charm. Now that Bachmann is offering both types in an affordable package, I'm finding myself drawn to backdating to the 1920s...

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:18 AM
My favorite as a Kid was the Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 Royal Hudson...

http://www.rrsites.com/royalhudson/
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:22 AM
OK my favorites are:

Passenger locomotive Southern PS-4 lettered fot the Crescent Limited

Freight Locomotive NKP 2-8-4 Berkshire also include PM, C&O and Virginian.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!