Best Operating Steam Loco Of All Time

[traintownofcowee]

What is the best operating steam locomotive of all time?
Examples:
Southern Pacific #4449
Union Pacific #3985
Union Pacific #844
Spokane Portland & Seattle #700
Pere Marquette #1225
What Do Ya Think???
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Well...

[cbq9911a]

This needs to be qualified by the work the engine is doing. For example, Union Pacific 844 is not going to be "the best" when it's hauling 3 coaches on light museum track. Likewise, a ten wheeler like Chicago and North Western 1385 is not going to be "the best" pulling a 20 car excursion consist from Chicago to Galesburg without assistance.

That said, "the best" mainline steam locomotive would have been the Norfolk and Western Class A 2-6-6-4. It was perfect at the task it was designed to do, hauling merchandise freight trains on a heavy duty main line. It also could do as good a job as a passenger engine on varnish (though it was too much engine for most of N&W's passenger loads), and an acceptable job on coal trains.

[Murphy Siding]

Thomas the Tank Engine-unqualified success, and a very usefull engine.[:)]

[AlcoRS11Nut]

Ive gotta say either the 3985 or 844, or the SP&S 700

[Randy Stahl]

MILW 261

[Anonymous]

ATSF 3751. Looks great and runs great! [;)]

[Kurn]

My two faves are the 614 and 765.But 4449 is right up there,too.

[Anonymous]

The Berkshires seemed to perform really well for the railroads that owned them.

[traintownofcowee]

U GOTTA LOVE THAT 4449!
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Well...

[route_rock]

My Heisler !! Seriously though? 261 ranks number one in my book ( seen it in action) but come on lets give all the steam operations some credit. Of course the UP is going to do well. lets look to small time operators as well give thems ome kudos!

[SchemerBob]

One of the best would be Pere Marquette 1225. I haven't seen it in person, but I have seen it operate in the video America by Rail, and it seems to be a good runner. Maybe that's because I like Berkshires...

But, I have to agree...I also like SP 4449 and the UPs. Really, all steam engines are great, aren't they?

[Anonymous]

cbq991's statement that you would have to specify the job the loco was doing is correct. A 2-6-6-4 would be a totally useless loco trying to pull logs out of the woods. A Shay, Climax, or Hiesler would be next to useless trying to pull a mainline freight.
There are many loco's that could be called "the best", but, only at the job for which they were designed.

[Anonymous]

defintiely SP 4449

Followed by SPS 700

Then Thomas. Useful engine Indeed!!

[Anonymous]

I'd have to go with UP 844. It was never retired and it's latest rebuild should allow it to last another 40 years. It may already have more mileage in excusrion service than all the others combined.