First, John, I found that web site, It's www.steamlocomotive.com . Also, check out www.bullsheet.com . It's got Loco rosters & other news On CSX. Now, I'd like to ask Modelers & Railfans, What is your Favorite Real Steam Locomotive?
I would have to say I'm a big fan of NP steam, especialy there Northern's, Challengers, yellowstones, or any of there big steam. but for Steam that is running today I would say SP&S 700, or any D&RG Naroe Gauge stuff. Kevin
My all time favorite steamer is the AC-9 streamlined Yellowstone type used on the Southern Pacific. They were the sharpest looking engines that my dad used to race along beside in western Kansas and New Mexico on our vacations. They always out ran dad's 1936 Chevy! The Cab forewards 4-8-8-2's were more famous but I thought the AC-9 2-8-8-4's were sleeker. All the domes were covered in a "stream lining hood". Yellowstones made for other roads did not have the hood, so looked more rugged and bruteish. [ 24 March 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
The handsomest steam locomotives ever built were the Pennsylvania Railroad's M1a's painted for passenger service with gold striping on the cylinders, drivers, cab, and long haul tender. They were also amost the most adaptable, equally at home in front of a "blue-ribbon" passenger train or an ore drag.
I have to say the NYC J-3 was the purest, prettiest locomotive ever built! Look at the competition between the Century and the Broadway daily out of Chicago for New York. The J-3's were just coasting along while those poor li'l ole K-4's were working their meager hearts out Hank
Kevin, I have tickets to ride behind SP&S 700 next month. The finest locomotives to run (sorry Greg) were New York Central Hudsons and Niagaras. Unfortunately not one was left for us to admire today. We should all support every locomotive that does run today, the UP 844 and 3985, SP 4449, SP&S 700, Santa Fe 3751, SP 2467 and 2472, Milwaukee 261, and on and on.
Back in '46, I was on the platform in Elkhart, IN when a Pennsy T-1 came gliding through at about 5 mph. I thought it was the most impressive locomotive I had EVER seen! I still think they are (were ) a very impressive locomotive. And this from someone who grew up on the New York Central! Oh, the shame of it , Hank
Hudsons are nice and being a NYC fan they are some of the best locos I've laid eyes on. However, my favorite steamer is still a Decapod Happy Railroading guys! Russ/NYC The Hoffman Valley Railroad
Baldwin Built 2-6-0s built for narrow gauge and painted "Denver and Rio Grande" on the tender. These are followed by K-27 Mudhens, painted in "Denver and Rio Grande Western." Of course any of the ATSF steam power is also great, but I am particular to the Mountains since they are so rare these days. Happy Modeling!! John
My favorite steam loco is whichever one most recently dusted me with cinders, filled my nose with the smell of coal smoke, and shook the ground beneath me. But deep down it's L&N 152 at the KyRyMuseum. Almost a hundred years old and still running. A beautiful high-stepping Pacific, both classic and unique. Don't miss a chance to view and ride behind this piece of history. Chuckles
It's obvious to me that anyone's favorite steam locomotive has a great deal to do with where each of us were raised and where we were exposed to observe them. While I was born and raised on the west coast, I am more familiar with Southern Pacific's locomotives than others. With that thought in mind, I can not see beyond the beautiful SP Lima GS4 painted in Daylight colors. But the most interesting steam locomotive I have ever seen operate is one of those little cog locomotives that pulls one car up the flank of Mt.Washington in New Hampshire. I would love to model one of those.
Well guys I got 2 loco's that are a favorite. First off I'm siding with Watash I like the Yellowstones (EM-1's) 2-8-8-4's of the B&O!!!! But out of the odd I like the size and steam power of a steamer that runs today!!! At Cass The Western Maryland #6 3 truck Shay. Its hard for me to pick between those 2 loco's the EM-1's 2-8-8-4's and the Shay!!!! Just no comparison. So Watash you already know I love the "Yellowstones", but I also love the WM #6 Shay too....
Hi guys, Just to add an international flavour to this discussion I have posted a photo of my favourite steam loco. No it isn't a switcher, it is a British "Coronation" class Pacific originally built for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. This example named "Duchess of Hamilton" has been preserved and still works enthusiasts specials although I think it is undergoing overhaul at present. If Alan is reading this thread I am sure he will disagree with my choice !!! Take care, John. [ 25 March 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
Ironhorseman, Minor correction - Mt Washington engines push their one coach up the mountain. The engine, with its steam powered cogs, is on the downhill side holding the coach from becoming a runaway - not a good scene Another interesting note - the last steam locomotives built in North America and in continuous revenue service are on Mt Washington. The last one was completed in 1968. I heard that another one was being built two years ago, but the effort was suspended for lack of funds - dunno Their site is http://www.mtwashingtoncograilway.com/ Hank [ 25 March 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
Thanks to all of you who posted answers to my question and may I encourage all to keep on posting. It Is interesting to see such a variety of steamers that we hold as favorites from our favorite railroads. If I may, I'll add mine. As my sign on name implies, It is the B&O Class S1a 2-10-2 Santa Fe type, a.k.a. "Big Six". "Big", because they were big, and "Six", because they're numbers started with 6. The B&O owned 125 of this type starting with class "S", built by Baldwin in 1914. Class S1 was built by Baldwin & Lima in 1923 & '24, S1a, in 1926. If you ever see films or videos on them, they were used in freight & coal trains, but they were the best on helper service on the Sand Patch Grade Between Cumberland Md. and Connellsville,PA. They were so efficient, even the EM-1 didn't displace them from Sand Patch, only the diesels did, but you would even see them helping diesels up the Mountain! Sadly, they were all scrapped by 1959 and only pictures and models preserve their memory. But they ruled Sand Patch in their heyday. Keep on replying!
to John W. That is one beutiful engine! I am impressed by it's clean lines. And it proves that there is nothing that comes close to watching a steam locomotive especially when on a run. A steam engine looks it's alive and breathing with all the action from the drive rods driving the wheels and seeing all the recipricating parts in motion when it rolls down the tracks. Thanks for the picture!!
Cass Scenic Railroad #5 the raw power, and the naked gears turning, is just an awe inspiring sight if you really get to be close to a moving one. You jst Gotta love those shays. also I like the C&O's Allegeheneys' I hot to sit in one at the B&O museum in Baltimore and got to sit in #1603 in Huntington,WV
Hi all, my vote goes to F.R.R. Shay #3 although I was young and impressionable (and my DAD knew those guys) then. It's on the east coast now and apparently well treated. More recently I got to watch U.P.3985 take a passenger consist down the Feather River Canyon enroute to Sacramento,(also several years ago), but I got a few seconds of film of it going through the "Sweetheart Tunnels", the sound of it was visceral. Had a few moments to ask some questions of the Engineer at Portola before the run and won't forget how polite and patient he was. I gotta' dig into my tapes of Japanese monster movies and see it again. (I still like GODZILLA) But the Shay gets my vote.
My favorite steam locomotive would would have to be the little 0-4-0 porter that sits by the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott Arizona. Yeah, that's right, just as little old porter. Why? It is one of the few pieces left from the mining days of the Peavine from Drake to Prescott and then to the mines up in Crown King on the Bradshaw Mountians. And I know that if any of this is incorrect, somebody will correct me soon enough! My second favorite? I don't know what it is yet, but it is Big. (The Boy is quite popular, a favorite for so long, I'm trying to find something else)
