Best Steam Locomotive

[UPTRAIN]

[Just wondering what were some peoples' most favorite steamers. I vote for Frisco 4-8-2 1522, love the shiny black paint and gold letters and trim. Also any UP steam loco (3985, 844 etc.). [:D] [^][;)][}:)][:p][8D] Gotta go I'm sleepy[|)].

[Anonymous]

Ex Reading 4-8-4 2100 ( Ferroequus Railway )

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'll vote for an NKP 2-8-4, a steam locomotive that held off diesels until 1958. They also were the only steam locomotives I saw in regular service.

[daveklepper]

As a New York City youngster, my favorites were the New York Central Hudsons and the PRR K-4's. But today my all-time favorite is undoubtadly UP 844/8444 . I'm delighted I had the chance to ride behind it on fan trips and also the last eastbound City of LA, 1 May 1971. It is a great performer, lugging or at speed, and doesn't let one down. I enjoyed the TRAINS story of its being used as a pusher for a stalled frieght. Still, I'm partial to the E6 Atlantic and have the Fred Westing book, and the Green White and Gold Southern Ry Pacifics, and hope the one in the Smithsonian can be restored some day to operation. Dave

[JoeKoh]

the N&W 611-J
beauty and Power
pure and simple
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

I personally like the 4 8 4 s but the NYC J3a s were really good looking locos. I would have loved to have seen one in action. I wish I could see one now. But I have heard there are none around. Such a beautiful engine and none left for anyone to see. How Sad [:(] [|)] [xx(] [V] [:(!]

[michaelstevens]

Presuming that bestest is fastest, then

I've got to vote for the one with the 129 mph speed record

i.e. the L.N.E.R. A4 Pacific -- "Mallard"

[tree68]

I also vote for the Berks. I've made it a goal to see as many of them as I can.

[squeeze]

I would be partial to K4's, that was the class act of the PRR. Berkshires are no slouch either, N&W J class looked real good, I could go on and on, but I put my 2 cents in.

[dgustof]

I vote for the Texas Type. 2-10-4.
Wether it was in heavy drag freights as the T&P 600's or the fast freight, Santa Fe 5000's. They could pull it all.

David Gustof

[rrnut282]

Do I have to choose just one?

I can't do it!

Sticking with ones that I actually know anything about, I like Mikes and NKP Berkshires and N&W "A" a loco that was good on freight and passenger and rivalled some of the bigger ones in tractive effort.

[Willy2]

I have three. The N&W 611J, the UP 3985 and the Santa Fe 3751.

[kenneo]

Best Steam Locomotive HOW? Looking, pulling, speed, etc-------.

[Anonymous]

N&W 611,if you have ever seen her under steam,nuff said.

[espeefoamer]

The SP 4449 was the first mainline steam engine I ever saw.It is also the first one I rode behind.This was in 1975,when it was moving east to haul the Freedom Train.A friend and I chased it from near Dunsmuir to Sacramento.We then followed it to Trukee,thenI was allowed to ride the train to Sparks.This was totally awsome.[:p][:D][8D][:p][:)][^]

[Anonymous]

uhh....Ill just say any one built after 1802!

[Anonymous]

Being from the East, I can only choose the NYC Hudson and Niagara locos.
However, there was nothing like taking my 2 young sons to Harmon to see
NKP 759 lead the Golden Spike Limited in 1969

[Anonymous]

Sorry this is my first try at this.

Having been an NYC kid, I have to say the Hudson's and Niagara's.

However, there was no better day than taking my 2 young sons to
Harmon to see NKP 759 pull out with the Golden Spike Limited

[Anonymous]

I can't decide between the SP GS-4 Daylights (4449 is one of them, I wish I could see it) and the SP AC-12s (the 4-8-8-2 cab-forwards), or the NYC Niagaras, or the UP FEFs, or...

But then again, I guess mr. trainheartedguy's right: "uhh....Ill just say any one built after 1802!"

Oliver

[cherokee woman]

How about the steam engine in the opening/closing of Shining Time Station? I know it was a UP, but that's about all I remember.

cherokee woman

[JoeKoh]

arnstg
practice makes perfect.
welcome to the forums!!!
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cherokee woman

How about the steam engine in the opening/closing of Shining Time Station? I know it was a UP, but that's about all I remember.

cherokee woman

I think it was one of the challengers with an excursion!

[tree68]

The results of the voting, so far... Remember, some people mentioned several locos.

I had to do a little research. I'm not intimately familiar with all the types & locos mentioned, so needed to have a way to quantify them. Much of that has to do with the railroad's propensity to give their own name to a wheel arrangement, as you'll see in a moment.

So far, 20 locomotives have been mentioned, If I read my notes right.

Based on specific mention of a locomotive or class, the Berkshire leads with 5, followed by N&W J's (including 611) with 4. The K4 and the Hudson are tied at 3.

However, based on wheel arrangement, the 4-8-4, referred to here in 8 different ways, is the hands-down leader with 14 mentions, out of a total of 35[bow]. A check on the Whyte System on the web showed that the 4-8-4 had more different designations than any other loco type, with at least 12, most reflecting a significant feature of the railroad that used them. Probably the purest was the UP FEF (Four Eight Four).

I'd have to surmise that the bulk of the responses are the result of personal contact or a favored road. To that end, it might have been interesting to see what a similar poll, had it been possible in, say 1935 (Al hadn't invented the Internet yet.[:P]), would have turned up.

[co614]

With admitted prejudice C&O 614 is far and away the best looking steamer in the USA and the loudest to boot!!

[andyhjn]

sorry guys it's the u.p. challenger 3985 hands down, imho. beauty ,super power and never off the roster. as tim the toolman taylor would say. oh oh oh.

[Anonymous]

What about the baby that built this country? The American 4-4-0. It has to rank up there on anybodys list.

[Anonymous]

I did say anything after 1802, so the 4-4-0 is listed (Silently)

[Anonymous]

Ok, first vote goes to the SP GS-4's In Daylight colors. [bow] Second goes to the L.N.E.R. Mallard. [tup] Soon you'll be able to buy a live steam H.O. scale model in the states. [:D] Anyone else interested has to line up behind me. [:p] I got first dibs!!!!!!!!!!!! [:-,]

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scottydog

What about the baby that built this country? The American 4-4-0. It has to rank up there on anybodys list.

Hence my comment about most of the favorites resulting from personal contact. While I still like the Berks, it is hard to dispute that the classic high wheeled American, especially if all brass and bright paint, is a true beauty to behold. Classy, stately, proud. Not that any of our choices are in any way bad, but I'll bet that if you lined all of them up side by side, the 4-4-0 would get a lot of the attention, even from us.

[UPTRAIN]

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I GET TO RIDE IN THE CAB OF THE 3985 ON THE SUPER BOWL SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D