Favorite Steam Locomotive

I don't know how all you guys get to be "Engineers", so maybe my being just classified as a lowly breakmen doesn't allow me to put in my two cents. If not, I appologize. When I was 4 and 5 my Grandmother took me from Wichita,Ks down to Aline,Ok on a Doodlebug both summers. 1939 my dad got us a ride in the cab of a 2-6-6-6 from roundhouse to coal tipple. 1941 same thing in BigBoy #4004 I think. 1943 Saturdays I worked around engine house; eventually got to ride cab of 2-6-0 of Darlington,Kensit & Searcy RR from Searcy to Judsonia,Ark. 1946 to 48 I got to ride cab of T&P 2-10-4's from Abilene to Big Spring,Tx and back. Summers after I worked roundhouse at ElReno,Ok. How could I pick a favorite?? Steam is steam, I love em all!

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Watash

 

The Santa Fe 3751 is my favorite, bar none. See my 99 years post this section.

 

Pennsyvania Railroad T-1's are my favorite extinct steam locos for their uniquenss if nothing more. That Raymond Loewy styling is without a doubt the coolest thing to ever grace the rails. Though they were smoky and slippery, when an experienced engineer could control the slipping drivers, they were the fastest things around. New York Central Niagaras are a close second, though. Its a shame no examples of either engine were preserved.

Of the existing operational steamers, Milwaukee Road 261 (4-8-4) is my favorite. I have seen it in action several times in the Chicago area and consider myself lucky for that experince.

 

OK guys I know I already submitted my favorite, but resurrected a long lost slide taken by my friend Paul Burke in 1976. This was EVERYONE in USA's favorite locomotive in '76.

 

Sorry, the Reading T-Class was better on the Freedom Train! Saw it in Springfield, IL. in Summer of 76. It was a real brut guys! First live steamer I ever saw.

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BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!

 

After much thought, my absolute top favorite engine is the Southern Pacific's AC-9 stream lined mallets that we paced beside in southern Kansas until they out ran us. I estimate those Yellowstones must have been hitting at least 75 mph going west pulling 88 cars I counted one time. That's a train a mile long! " YOU GOTTA LOVE 'EM " as the gal on TV says!

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Watash

[This message has been edited by watash (edited 04 October 2000).]

 

Here is Richmond, Fredricksburg & Potomac RR malley #2 at Alexandria, Virginia 2-27-46. It is a former C & O engine. Isn't this a brute? It is so ugly!!



(It reminds me of a blind date I once had! She was nearly six feet, short stubby legs, and both have great huge twin air pumps set up so high only one eye looks down on you from between! Like the engine, she had toes going in all directions, a bell like nose, squinty eye, and receading forehead. Hair like billowing black smoke, all over, some on her head too.)

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Watash

 

You would probably really fall for the blind date then! Want me to introduce you?
snicker, snigger, snaughk, guffaw & hoot.


These were my favorites too!
(The engine I mean) Hoo Boy!

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Watash

 

Watash--Is "she" really a mallet? From that angle it looks like pistons/cylinders are same diameter. What was on the other side? We need to start an ugly engine forum. NP, UP freight front ends come to mind, with all the appliances up there in front. Yuk. Even the beautiful C&O Alleghenies looked ugly from the front. What say you?

 

We didn't get too technical back in my day, even Articulateds were "Malleys" to us. Ha! The AC-9 Yellowstones of the Southern Pacific were my favorites! Only 12 were made in 2-8-8-4 with Hood over their domes. All the rest were made cab foreward, so were 4-8-8-2's for tunnel work. I was going to make an AC-9 in HO but there are no good drivers (I can afford) made today. I can get brass ones for $18.00 per pair, takes 8 pair. Just too much. I'm not a purist anymore. I have made too many super detailed models for expositions, seminars, technical prototypes, and paying customers. Now its my turn, I want to just run something and watch the valve gear working! Oh Yes! That's my main interest now. I'll have remote working cranes and as many really ugly engines as I can get running!. Maybe some triple and quad headers pulling long freights! That's it!! Yeah!

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Watash

 

Class 25 South African Railways 4-8-4
A Loco and Tender with combined weight of 222 tons on 3'6' gauge with 5' drivering wheels. Now thats a Loco !!! Untill a year ago passed my house every Friday and Saturday pulling the train to Cape Town for 110 miles as a tourist attraction, Alas no more. Rode the footplate often, due to a very friendly Engineer. 69 built in total the last in 1953 only threeof four still in working order.

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The Big Boy is my all time favorite!!! What a "bute"!!!

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Craig Martyn

Best Looking Models Around
Custom detailing

AND N scale detail parts.

BLMA N Scale Detail Parts
BLMAinfo@aol.com

 

Hey Craig, was the 'Big Boy' the one they put the rubber bands around the rear drivers?




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Watash

 

My favorite steam engine.

Would have to be the Shay they have one at the Cass Scenic railway in Wva. They were used in south America on Cog railways and if they had magnetic trucks and rails they probably could go straight up a wall. Those little engines had traction+.

Art

 

That's a fair choice, Art. The D,K&S abandoned their little two trucker out in the woods. It was still there 15 years ago.

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Watash

 

Hey Art and Charlie, have either of you or anyone else ever heard of "Old Maude", or why she was named that?

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Watash

 

Watash.

No I have never herd that name used. The Shay left in the woods could probably be used by a scenic railroad at least for parts.

Art