Trains.com

What's your favorite Steam Engine?

10458 views
46 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 19 posts
Posted by sr4501 on Monday, July 21, 2008 9:18 PM

SR 4501

unforunelty never saw her in steam, much too youngSad [:(]

saw her static when I was six

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: The Great state of Virginia
  • 36 posts
Posted by C&WRailway on Monday, July 14, 2008 12:30 AM

(Warning! Thread Resurrection)

Well thats simple... ANY Freight locomotive.  Streamliners are nice (like the N&W 'J') but make make mine Black and sooty.  Yeah, Yeah your streamliners get all the glamour and girls but when there is a job to be done you better park your pretty boy self in the siding and watch how the real juggernauts knock it out (grin)!

To pick one Freight locomotive is tough but im picking the unsung hero of the rails.  Because like it or not those cars, Freight and Passenger, wouldnt get anywhere unless someone built the train to begin with.  So my vote is for the USRA 0-8-0 and in particular the last of the N&W Steam Products those short and squat S-1a 's.  A beautiful brute of a yard stump puller if there ever was one.  Check her out in all her Fresh coat of paint and off the shop floor glory:

Thats the last time she will look that good, but hey its a forged hammer of a switcher and not a mainline beauty queen.  So give it up for the steamers who built this country... One train at a time.

NC

Got Steam?
  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Wayne County Michigan
  • 678 posts
Posted by dale8chevyss on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 5:01 PM

<----------------------

 

N&W 611 

Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.

 Daniel G.

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,475 posts
Posted by New Haven I-5 on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 11:14 PM

   NKP 765 (2-8-4)

   NKP 587 (2-8-2)

   Any Shay

   Any surviving Sierra Steamer

   Any Articulated ( Favorite: DM&IR YELLOWSTONE!!)

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Outside St. Louis, MO
  • 48 posts
Posted by steam_marc on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 7:33 AM
3751 wins hands down for me. Fast, powerful, and beautiful.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
REI
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • 150 posts
Posted by REI on Monday, April 7, 2008 10:48 PM
My favorite steam engine in the whole world is the #1 Walter E. Disney of the Walt Disney World Railroad.
"Howdy folks! And welcome aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad!"
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Track 2, Penn Station, Newark, NJ
  • 181 posts
Posted by fafnir242 on Monday, April 7, 2008 4:07 PM
3985 and the QJ.  I'd love to see one of those QJs in action.
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • 19 posts
Posted by pm_1225 on Monday, April 7, 2008 12:20 PM
 Pere Marquette 1225 is the best I ever saw Lima super power.                                        Norfolk and Western A1218 I have a photo on my wall I took of it with Mr Claytor driving the greatest big locomotive I ever rode behind.                                            
  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Methuen, Taxachusetts
  • 189 posts
Posted by ArtOfRuin on Monday, April 7, 2008 6:01 AM

My favorite locos are the three geared steamers- Shay, Climax, and Heisler. All those pistons and driveshafts make them interesting to watch. I've actually ridden in front of one of only three operational Climaxes left in the world in NH when I was 8- it was a push-pull tourist ride in open passenger cars. I stayed in the car closest to the loco so I could look at the gearing at work. There was also a static Shay and Heisler at the same place.

For rod locos, I like the K-29s (also interesting to watch) and the British Class 9F 2-10-0s. I don't usually care for British steam, but for whatever reason I find the 9F stunning, especially the 'Evening Star' in dark green passenger colors.

-Jonathan Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, Is just a freight train coming your way - "No Leaf Clover," Metallica
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Shelbyville, TN
  • 679 posts
Posted by Berk765 on Monday, April 7, 2008 12:53 AM

Without a doubt, my favorite of all the Iron Horses is,the beautiful, the almighty,the Green Mikado Southern Railroad #4501. She has all physical atributes that catch my eye. Her stack domes and cab are just the right size for me, and I love how her boiler starts out small and gradually gets bigger as it nears her cab. She is definetly the "Southern Belle" of all the steam locomotives. Her valvegear moves majestically as steam poors out her cylinders like clouds of a dream that I prey that I would have. And her whistle sounds perfect, triumphent, and unstoppable as she thunders down the old rusted over rails of 88 years ago. That Southern green Mikado will always thunder, and whistle across the rails in the soft spot in my heart. Rest in peace 4501, and maybe, I would dream of being at your throttle so we will highball into glory on rails of gold.  

Give me steam locomotives or give me DEATH!

Berkshire Junction, bringing fourth the cry of the Iron Horse since 1900.

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: SF bay area
  • 682 posts
Posted by Nataraj on Sunday, January 6, 2008 2:48 PM
SP 4449

Nataraj -- Southern Pacific RULES!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The GS-4 was the most beautiful steam engine that ever touched the rails.
  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Wayne County Michigan
  • 678 posts
Posted by dale8chevyss on Friday, December 28, 2007 10:44 AM

<-------

 

 

that one 

Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.

 Daniel G.

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • 30 posts
Posted by fordv10 on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 8:07 AM

14 years ago I was given a Take the Throttle certificate for my 30th b-day.I chose Frisco 1630 a 2-10-0 at Illinois Railway Museum. All I can say is I still remember that day like it was yesterday,the engineer was the late C Kevin McCabe who basically showed me how everything works and what to do as we pulled out of Union Station onto the IRM mainline to steam to the end.On the way back to Union the fire man asked me if I wanted to throw coal into the firebox and proceeded to show me how it was done. That experience will stay with me the rest of my life.It gave me a newfound respect for what the engine crews jobs were like back in the steam era. My second favorite is the NW 2050 2-8-8-2 y,I remember seeing it as a 4th grader at IRM.

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 11 posts
Posted by bobbo on Monday, December 24, 2007 4:52 PM
My favourite locomotive is a diminutive English 0-6-0 1924 Hudswell Clark called Slough Estates No.3. I would admit to being biased as I'm involved with the society that restored it but my favourite American loco is UP 844. Bobbo.
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Stevens Point
  • 436 posts
Posted by AlcoRS11Nut on Sunday, December 23, 2007 11:21 AM
Any articulated or any DM&IR and UP steam power.!!!!!!Bow [bow]
I love the smell of ALCo smoke in the Morning. "Long live the 251!!!" I miss the GBW and my favorite uncle is Uncle Pete. Uncle Pete eats Space Noodles for breakfast.
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • 1,009 posts
Posted by GDRMCo on Sunday, December 23, 2007 11:16 AM
GDRMCo M5 Class 2-10-6 'Highlander'

ML

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: South Dakota
  • 1,592 posts
Posted by Dakguy201 on Sunday, December 23, 2007 9:46 AM

For me, SP 4449, MILW 261, UP 3985 & UP 844.  Others that are "stuffed and mounted" are interesting, but those four are live, working big steam.

edit:  Somehow I neglected to mention CP 2816.  I saw that one in LaCrosse last summer, and it is a beautiful machine.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Columbia, SC
  • 51 posts
Posted by Joe the Photog on Saturday, December 22, 2007 8:02 PM

L&C 2-8-0 #40. It's actually the aforementioned New Hope & Ivyland #40, but the only time I've seen her in person (so far) was 2006 when she was back in her L&C lettering for a short time. 

Joe H.

"As the world gets dumber and dumber, I feel more and more at home." -- Peter McWilliams
  • Member since
    August 2001
  • From: US
  • 261 posts
Posted by JonathanS on Thursday, December 13, 2007 8:27 AM
The 0-6-0 fireless that ran at the Shamokin Dam power plant until about 10 years ago.
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 30 posts
Posted by dealemeout on Thursday, December 13, 2007 7:25 AM
Baltimore and Ohio 4-4-0 #25 aka the "William Mason"
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 131 posts
Posted by BurlingtonJohn on Thursday, December 13, 2007 12:41 AM

CB&Q 5629 at the Colorado RR Museum in Golden.

 Regards,
Burlington John

Cool [8D]

THE site for American Freedom Train fans http://www.freedomtrain.org

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: Sydney Australia
  • 80 posts
Posted by gregrudd on Thursday, December 6, 2007 4:55 PM

here is mine:

 

Articulated steam: EAR 59 class Garratt

Geared Steam:  Any Shay

 

Let me reiterate, what I was saying to you previously -Rex Mossop
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 4 posts
Posted by Consol on Thursday, November 29, 2007 11:06 AM

Standard Gauge, Mainline... Sp 1269, Sp4449, Up 844, Up3985

Standard Gauge, others...Any Lima Shay, Sierra#3, #28, #36, #38, Quincy RR #2

Narrow Gauge...DRGW K-class(all), E&P Eureka

Ok, Ok...any operating steam engine!!

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • 34 posts
Posted by steamfanatic on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:20 PM
Not the prettiest, but mine is Reading 2102.
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Long Island, New York
  • 15 posts
Posted by Anthony SRR on Monday, November 26, 2007 5:32 PM

This is a hard one so i'll make a list

SRR No.90

SRR No.475

SRR No.89

SRR No.31

 LIRR G-5 No.39 ( the engine at my group)

BRW No.60

NHI No.40 

 

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Ohio
  • 1,615 posts
Posted by Virginian on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:23 PM
Since you said 'engine'; singular, my response has to be N&W Class J # 608.  I got to sit in "the" seat and blow the whistle one Sunday while she backed down to the waiting 'Arrow' in Norfolk.  A darned shame they didn't save a J with the duplex side rods.
What could have happened.... did.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 9 posts
Posted by Opus17ech on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:17 PM
I'm not an N&W guy by any means, but the most beautiful machine I've ever witnessed is the #611 J-class.  Those old men in Roanoke knew how to build 'em...
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Joliet, IL
  • 1,646 posts
Posted by EJE818 on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:03 PM
While I am not the biggest steam fan (I'm more into 60s and 70s EMD diesels), if I had to pick 3 they would be the 261, CP 2816, and UP 844.
Robby Gragg - EJ&E fan Railpictures photos: http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=5292 Flickr photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24084206@N08/ Youtube videos: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=EJE665 R-V videos: http://www.rail-videos.net/showvideos.php?userid=5292
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: West Coast
  • 4,122 posts
Posted by espeefoamer on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:05 PM

1.SP Daylight GS4

2.N&W J

3.PRR T1

NYC J3

Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.

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