Guess I'm from an earlier time than you. The pre-mega-merger era. So I had to vote "other." Boxcab E50
Either the GN or NP. If I must pick just one then it would be GN. The stories my dad told me about trains when he was a kid and growing up in the Twin Cities (Minnesota).....just allot of history and pioneering spirit!
One thing I find disappointing about modern railroading is while railroads "grow" they really dont grow. What I mean by this is they just swallow a smaller fish and use their rails. There are few new rails laid anywhere anymore. No new routes. I wonder if a bold company will ever tackle the New Your to LA High speed train issue. I think there is a market for a cross country high speed train.
I had voted earlier but I suppose I should have qualified my "other" vote. I'm going with Great Northern.
I picked Chessie cause I always liked the look of the paint scheme and it was in my neck of the woods. If I had to vote for a New England road it would be Boston & Maine, newer GP50's would look great in the McGinnis Bluebird scheme. And for the Midwest? The Burlington! CB&Q! Imagine if the BNSF painted their ES44DC's in Chinese red and silver!
Had to vote other. I for one would like to see the Southern back. The classic tuxedo scheme back on the rails!!!!!
"Other" for C&EI, Monon, Clinchfield, DT&I, AC&Y, D&TS, Milwaukee Road, Rock Island... You get the point!
I'd love to see passenger service return from the grave! The only true ride I had was as a kid aboard the NP between St. Paul and Minneapolis.. but alas, I was too young to remember it!
Great Northern! And yes, like DiezMon said - I once, (I was 14), road on the Southern Cresent from NY to Orlando. It was fan-tastic.
FRISCO, of course......... Next would be MKT, CNW, MoPac, Rock Island (well, perhaps a healthier Rock Island), the Great Weedy with their long strings of F-units....matter of fact, just about everything that disappeared prior to the megamergers.
Hill Roads...Is there any othere...Frisco bob, will shoot me over that I grew up along the BN Ex CB&Q and still remember seeing the Commuter Queens (E9s) My Grandfather worked for the NP and BN and now I live in Bellingham WA along the GN (the NP runs though my 'address" town of Everson) What can I say been around it most of my life. Long live J.J. Hill.
I'd love to see the D&RGW return. The Aspen Gold looks much better in the Colorado mountains than the UP yellow.
I voted for D&RGW as well, as other. GN, NP, and I would have loved to see SP&S in action with their eclectic roster of Alcos!