What was your favorite C&O loco, steam and/or diesel? My favorites: Steam - G7 or G9 Consolidation or else the Allegheney. Diesel - E8
Jon, For me it would have to be the H-8 Allegheny, or the M-2 (I think that class is right ) but, the C&O steam turbine! I never really got into C&O diesels, but the double yellow pin striped GP-7/9's where a decent looking loco with the 2 yellow stripes on the Enhancement Blue.
I have always liked C&O power, both steam and diesel. My favorite would have to be the Allegheny. I am fortunate enough to be able to go look at the one at the B&O museum in Baltimore about 45 minutes south of here. There is also a streamlined 4-6-4 with poppet valves there, interesting. The "Sacred Cow" turbine was notable also. It's really hard to pick favorites, variety being the spice of life.
Fitz - I may be getting a Con-Cor Hudson soon, which I'll re-detail into something more representative of the C&O Hudsons.
Hey now... I'm quite fond of steam engines. Perhaps I'll have my own 1.5" scale live steamer one day.
Jon, if that Hudson is a New York Central one, please don't kitbash into C&O's configuration. Harold, steam is what railroads are all about. Those diesels are just "what came after." Kidding aside, the C&O had a "look" to it's steam engines, much like the New York Central did. Coming right at you, you couldn't tell a Mohawk from a Hudson on the NYC nor a Hudson from a Kanawah on the C&O, unless you read the number boards. This is a C&O Kanawah, (Berkshire) from the C&O Historical Sociey collection in Clifton Forge.
Jon, Here is a New York Central Hudson. It is difficult to tell the subtle differences, but for one the NYC engine was much lighter. The front end was entirely different, with the C&O looking quite brutish while the NYC looked a little delicate. This one is a J-3, from the collection of Harold K. Vollrath.
Just kidding about the "steam" comment...... The C&O had a lot of interesting and uncommon EMD diesels including: BL2's, SD18's, and GP39's. Of course, with a name like "chessie" I just might like ANY C&O power Harold
You know this is mostly tongue in cheek, except when it comes to steam. Have you ever visited the C&O Historical society museum in Clifton Forge, Va? I would not have even known it was there, but for my wife's aunt who lives in CF and did a little volunteering there. They have a huge photo archive. There is also a big yard there. Don't know how active it is these days.
I have never been to Clifton Forge It's on my list of places to get to: including Roanoke. Maybe some time soon Harold
Harold, Roanoke is a very impressive place. When we went back there in 1993 to railfan, we started in Roanoke. The 611 and 1218 were active then, so they weren't there in the museum, but the 763 got my interest, as we were later going to ride the 765 on the New River Gorge trip. For you deezel guys there are all manner of deezels there in the museum. Great place. When I say "went back there" it means flying from California to Roanoke. People couldn't believe we did that. You have to grab what you can because you don't know what is going to run and what is not. The 765 hasn't run since. We caught the 611, and you know what happened to her. Same with Virginia Central Pacifics--haven't run since.
Gee Fitz, I feel like I have missed out I'll get there one day. In the mean time, I still have more current pics to take Harold
The H-8 has to be my favorite steam loco; I even did a drawing of one. As for diesels, I like the BL-2's just because they are so oddball. [ 26 January 2002, 02:28: Message edited by: crash219 ]
I also like the BL2. I bought one for my future layout simply because it is so unique. *sigh* Why must a model of an H-8 be so 'spensive?
