Beauty Contest for Passenger Trains

For what it's worth, the Southern Pacific steam powered "Daylight" was always advertised as "The Most Beautiful Train in The World"!  Pretty hard to argue with THAT, in my opinion.

Whew - So many to pick from!

Personally, I would probably choose an early E series Santa Fe Super Chief for diesel

The mighty PRR T1 Duplex and the F.O.M. cars for steam

A sleek green GG1 with silver streamliners for electric

Southern Crescent (Limited) Green Pacific/Heavyweights

I have to agree with Hot Water.  The Southern Pacific Daylight, IMHO, was the most beautiful steam train to grace the tracks.  Matt

Ya cain't beat good ol' stainless steel:

 

Rusty

My choices would be the Southern Pacific Daylight for steam and the Santa Fe Super Chief for diesel.

I love the "understated" PRR "Fleet of Moderism" livery that appeared on "name trains" from 1938-48.

Southern Pacific Daylight all the way, both steam & diesel.

 

Close second to me is the WP California Zephyr.

Dreyfuss Hudson and 1938 20th Century Limited Honorable mention 1941 Empire State Express

 

1950 Super Chief with the MU'd F's,  Honorable Mention The Southern Crescent with Green E's and stainless steel consist.

 

1952 GG-1's in Tuscan 5 stripe scheme pulling streamlined Budd cars for "Congressional"

Remember folks, You have three categories to vote for!

Santa Fe Super Chief for diesel

Hands down, this one. Without a doubt the most recognizable and most colorful paint scheme in the industry.

 

 

Texas Chief ran from Houston, Texas

to Chicago from 1970-1972.

 

 

I will vote for the GS4 powered SP Daylight.  Honorable mentions go to the NP North Coast Limited, the GN's Empire Builder, and the ACL's Champion.

This is a great topic!  I had a ton of thoughts for trains (Reading's Crusader, North Coast Limited, Empire Builder), but I had to narrow it down:

 

Steam: SP Daylight

Diesel: SF Super Chief

Electric: PRR Congressional

I'm particular to the PRR's Broadway Limited....Greg

L&N's Hummingbird

 

 

Forgot about that one for modern era ... and a pleasure & bargain to ride too (see how much vintage ATSF rolling stock you can spot  sitting on sidings along the way).

 

Beep, Beep!

Texas Chief made by MTH.

AND a little history,

MTH historians need to go back to school.

When I ordered this train about 3-4 years ago.

On the box it gave a little "history" about what was in

the box. They stated that the Texas Chief was the

Super Chief that ran between California and Chicago.

I sent off an email informing them of their mistake,

and got no response.

 

Steam 1st: SP Daylight, 2nd: NYC Dreyfuss, 3rd: PRR S1

Diesel 1st: SF Super Chief, 2nd:Milwaukee Road Hiawatha, 3rd: UP City of Los Angeles

Electric -Still thinking...

This week I like Rock Island's Peoria Rocket. The 1936 TA led version.

No way I can pick one from each era. That's why I have so many scale versions. Maybe a top ten from each era......

American Freedom Train, Daylights & Hiawatha's  

This one!!!

 

  or the Gulf Coast Rebel, even in black & white.

Also, I'd like to go out of the box and nominate something for the "Fictional" category:

 

The Polar Express.

I have to go with Alaska. I think Allan Miller would agree. 

Steam: N&W Powhatan Arrow pulled by a J class

Diesel: California Zephyr pulled by CB&Q, D&RGW or WP F units (take your pick - I like 'em all!)

Electric: Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee RR Electroliner

 

The Canadian, of course.

 

Bob

Iron Horse Rambles on the Reading

And the winner is:

The PRR Congressional Limited Express pulled by GG1's in Tuscan red with gold leaf pin stripes!  Take that! 

 

 

 

 

What, me worry?

 

 

 

 

 

Steam: CP's Empress

 

 

 

Diesel: Tossup between the Super Chief and the Royal CP

 

 

Electrics: The first Gen Bullet Train

 

Steam……. Diesel…… Electrics………  uhhhgggg…. too …. much….. to choose……. from.  Too….. many….. beautiful…. :::::groannnn::::: trains to….. choose.

 

Can't pick…… I think I'm going……. to explode!!!!

 

 

I always thought the particular blues and the combination of them as the B&O livery were especially tasteful and handsome; perhaps, my favorite.

FrankM

A train is only as good as its "head end" 

 

Texas special and any UP passenger set, steam or diesel. 

I've always liked the blue, yellow and silver from the C&O line. It's handsome!

Steam: B&O Cincinnatian; streamlined P7d and rebuilt heavyweight coaches

Electric: Green (!) 5-stripe GG-1 and the 1949 Broadway Limited

Diesel: oh, Sou. Crescent Limited, but otherwise I barely care.