Best Steam Locomotive

[espeefoamer]

My favorite steam engine that doesn't exsist anymore is the SP AC9. These were awsome looking engines.I just wish I could have seen one.[:(]

[Anonymous]

4-8-4 's are my favorite mainline locomotives, they just have such a classic form. Cotton Belt 819 would be my pick.

Nothing beats an old shortline workhorse though. Give me a high boiler Ten-Wheeler, Consolidation, or a lite Mike anyday.

Visiting the Cumbres and Toltec's "mudhens" in their native habitat is worth whatever it takes to get there...

[UPTRAIN]

on the Durango & Silverton?

[Anonymous]

I sure like all of those narrow gauge ex-D&RGW steamers that I've rode behind from Durango and Antonito.

[ternan92]

The late great Every Where West! CB&Q O-5b 4-8-4 #5632.

[UPTRAIN]

I read that........I really like how that dude thinks [:D].

[foamer4000]

The BEST steamer of all time is definatly any of the C&O H-8 Allegheny's. They were successful, powerful, able to handle drag freight or passenger service! To para phrase Doyle McCormic " I would sell my reserve seat in hell to hog one of those" Trains Feb 2004
David

[Anonymous]

I gotta say my favorites are the NP's and SP&S's 4 8 4 NORTHERNS like the SP&S 700 and NP 2626 ex 1111 also the Northern Pacific's 2 8 8 4 Yellowstones but my very favorite of all Was the NP's little 0 8 0 # 1174 yard goat in Yakima Washington.

railwayray
Sagle Idaho

[Grinandbearit]

From a Canadian perspective, how about the Royal Hudson (2860) or The Empress ( 2816) a not so Royal Hudson or maybe a CPR Jubilee , a CPR Selkirk ,a CN streamlined Northern 6400 series or CN 6060. Sadly all but The Empress exist only in a museum. Any one of these would qualify for the best looking steam engine in my humble opinion !

[Anonymous]

Sorry Michael it was 126.5 m.p.h down Stoke Bank in 1936 By the way the firman "Bray" recently died

[jokestre]

kinda partial to the 3700 series - Rio Grande
UP 3895/844
SP Daylight 4499 (beautiful)

[UPTRAIN]

TO sprnt12: WHERE YOU AT?

[Anonymous]

Southern 4501; 2-8-2 Mikado
NW 611J

[AntonioFP45]

Split between the New York Central streamlined J3a Hudsons and the 4-8-4 NIagras. Super machines! Tragedy that none were saved. Stark reminder that the business world's first priority is profit followed by minimizing expenses.

[RAILFANUSA]

How about the WESTERN PACIFIC # 94 at Rio Vista Junction, Ca. --or-- Roaring Camp & Big Tree's "DIXIANA" a Shay Locomotive....they're awesome!!!

[Anonymous]

The REAL UP 3985 went by our house today on it's way from Cheyene to the Super Bowl. Neat ole train!

[Anonymous]

Though question, and after reading the posts I see everyone has an opinion, you know what they say about that! The best post ---- "The last one I saw and the next one I see"!!!
Maybe the best line of the new century guys. You ought to be real today, if your favorite locomotive were the last one in service its over for everybody. Variety is the spice of life. But my personal favorite, Northern Pacific 4-8-4 2626, should have gone to the Smithsonion. For shear lines Southern Pacific 4-8-4 Daylights. As for the best, hang it up everyone today will tell you thier favorite engine was the Biggest, Fastest, Best, EVER, even if it was a yard goat, and there you go.

[UPTRAIN]

Amen....lol

[Anonymous]

The last one I saw and the next one I see!!!!

[Anonymous]

Not easy!!!

My favorites are N&W "A", UP´s Bigboy´s, Challenger´s and the ATSF "Northern" 3751.

My numberone: I think the Challenger ! When I saw Challenger 3985 hauling that APL doublestacktrain across Archer Hill, I think it was in 1990, wow, this was pure power!

By the way: I saw ther LNER "Mallard" at the museum in York!
She was fast, have a beautiful design but, oh my god, it´s a little engine!!!

[Anonymous]

I don't know. 2-8-0s, Reading T1s, I mostly follow diesels.

[UPTRAIN]

The 3985 schedule is at http://www.up.com and http://www.upsteam.com........happy rails.

[Mikeygaw]

like, i'd have to go with the good old American 4-4-0's because of my interest in the time period in which they served.

[UPTRAIN]

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

[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.

[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!!!!!!!!!!!! [:-,]

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[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.

[co614]

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