Trains.com

TOP 3 RAILROADS

3947 views
48 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 170 posts
Posted by DTomajko on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 2:08 PM
Conrail:Rose from the ashes of the northeast's fallen lines to become a first-class show."Big Blue" forever! Pennsylvania:A transportation giant in its prime.Had more cars,locomotives, & freight than several other railroads combined.It was once said that PRR cars could be found on almost every railroad in the 48 states.The PRR was so ingrained in local culture that my 79 year old mother still use terms like "shifter" and "cabin car",even though noone in the family was a railroader. Bessemer & Lake Erie:A regional powerhouse before there were regional railroads.A hard working,plain-jane,all-business hauler of steel industry raw materials and finished products until the collapse of the mills,it still works out of the spotlight of the bigger railroads. Enjoy yourself and stay safe, DT,Pa.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: London, Ontario
  • 195 posts
Posted by brilondon on Friday, September 5, 2003 4:51 PM
[:D]My top three railroads would have to be #1[8D] UP for of the variety of locomotives #2 CP for their locomotive paint schemes.[:p] The beaver scheme really is a sharp looking paint job especially on the SD90MAC's.#3 VIA Rail from back in the early 1980's with its variety of locomotives and paint schemes.[8D]
Stay safe, support your local hobby group Stop, Look, and listen The key to living is to wake up. you don't wake up you are probably dead.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 5:37 PM
That's a really tough question! To chose only three out of all the railroads out there. I'm undecided-I love them all!

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Wasnt Kenecott the outfit with the F9 in mine service?


Ed,
I believe you're thinking of LTV Mining in Minnessota. They had several F-units that they used until quite recently. Kennocott had mainly SD-40's and some really neat electrics. They may also have had a couple of Alco's as well.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 8:17 PM
Im not going to say anything about top railway cause I dont know anything about railway moneymaking but I will state my fav Railways
New
1:BNSF-I Love the new paint scheme, I love any warbonnet, I love the old BN Green, and I LOVE the BN executive scheme.
2:IHB-Indiana Harbor Belt and small regional railway near the chicago metro area. Orange and Black man I love that paint scheme!
3:CNW-My original love! Sad to see it go...........
4:Soo Line-First Frieght I ever saw......
5-Metra-The Way to Really Fly they actually mean it!
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Omaha, Nebraska
  • 1,920 posts
Posted by Willy2 on Friday, September 5, 2003 8:19 PM
Mine are as following. The BNSF, the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. I do like Chicago Northwestern too.

Willy

Willy

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 8:24 PM
Wait a minute the best shortline in Chicago or Mabey anywhere is the EJ&E! Sorry I didn't put this down! What was I thinking? Anyway they may have the largest "fan club" In the US![:D]
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Anywhere there are trains
  • 578 posts
Posted by Train Guy 3 on Friday, September 5, 2003 9:59 PM
1. N&W
2. Virginian
3. NS

TG3 LOOK ! LISTEN ! LIVE ! Remember the 3.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Friday, September 5, 2003 11:14 PM
Ok, I buy that. And just one more example of EMDs surviveing in hard service, F units in mine service!
How much harder can it get!
Thanks for setting me straight, LTV rings the bell.
Stay Frosty,
Ed
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Wasnt Kenecott the outfit with the F9 in mine service?


Ed,
I believe you're thinking of LTV Mining in Minnessota. They had several F-units that they used until quite recently. Kennocott had mainly SD-40's and some really neat electrics. They may also have had a couple of Alco's as well.

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 11:34 PM
Actually Kennecott mainly had GP39-2 High Cab locomotives, I think they had well over a hundred of them. I heard that the SP or UP railroad took over Kennecott operations, anyone know if this is true.
  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 2,849 posts
Posted by wabash1 on Sunday, September 7, 2003 9:30 AM
well mine are the ole southern railway, the chessie mopac, sante fe. oh wait you said 3 well lets tie the last 2 then.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 8:31 PM
New UP, BNSF, and Georgetown Railroad

Old Southern Pacific,Santa Fe, and MP
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 7:11 AM
Past: IC, CGW, CNW ; current: CSX, BNSF, Ohio Central

Especially fond of IC, having been raised on Iowa Division train watching during the 1950's in Rockford IL. Great memories of Mountain types, orange and brown E units, GP-7's, the Rath meat train, etc. Inspired me to write my book, Two Track Main which includes pix of 1950's IC action in Rockford.

John W. Baie, author, xlibris.com/TwoTrackMain.html
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Whitby, ON
  • 2,594 posts
Posted by CP5415 on Monday, September 8, 2003 11:45 AM
Mine would be

1)Canadian Pacific
2)Conrail
3)Maine Central

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!

 K1a - all the way

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 6:55 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

Canadian National, Canadian National, Canadian National. This company really got there act together. (Not to mention I made BooKoo bucks from there stock.) This company is moving in the right direction, and with it's routes has potential for even more growth. They have a exellent managment team in place. If I were Union Pacific, I would be worried about this company. If CN keeps growing, UP is going to find it is no longer the big boy on the block.
TIM A
CN has gotten their act together, but the UP has nothing to worry about. They have far too many ties around the country to outmatch our friends to the north.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 7:08 PM
Top 3:
1)Union Pacific-largest railroad in the country, hard not to pick it
2)C&NW-watched it for years, never got old(my other #1)
3)IC(now CN)-branch line ran by my house and school-always a treat to see a train go by*

Side note*: The CN has been using the hell out of this little branch line. To my suprise one day, I came home and saw the back end of a grain train laying on it's side in my friends back yard. 15 cars involved. Quite the sight. I will get pictures of it later.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:40 PM
OLD FRISCO ROCK ISLAND and CHESSIE
NEW CPR UP BNSF I do have to agree that CN has pulled its act togther because being the worst to one of the best in ten years is incredible
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:45 PM
O and seeing a CN train on its side theres a shock of the century
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Central Valley California
  • 2,841 posts
Posted by passengerfan on Friday, April 16, 2004 6:21 AM
Canadian National, BNSF, Alaska current
Great Northern, CB&Q, Canadian Pacific all time
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Friday, April 16, 2004 6:47 AM
Denver and Rio Grande Western. A family act with terrific employee loyalty. Great scenery. If the passenger service didn't have quite the spit and polish of the Sante Fe, also definitely a great railroad, it was still excellent, and the meals were superb. And the scenery. And the narrow gauge. And a good passenger diesel color scheme. And crews that enjoyed their work and on passenger trains let their passengers know it and made them feel like guests. While it is possible to say that the Central's Hudsons were the most handsome steam locomotives in America, the D&RGW 4-8-4's and 4-6-6-4's were also great looking locomotives and for character, who could beat a narrow gauge 2-8-2 Mudhen? Dave Klepper

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy