Do you have a favorite engine?

Not possible. But it's down to 2. Both NYC, and #3 is a Mohawk. This should be easy.

Its very hard to say 'cause I love 'em all but in the end I have to give the nod to my Post war Lionel 746 N&W Class J 4-8-4 Northern; truly a sleek and beautiful engine. 

Well, mostly anything Pennsy, of course.  Likely the M1a/b (have it by 3rd Rail). Howsomever, my go-to is my Lionel J1a, bought when first released many moons ago. Just runs and runs, pulls a ton.

My favorite locomotive is always the one I want to run next.

All of my big MTH GE electrics under wire. Two sets of box cabs and three Little Joes. Don

It was said by a famous US Army General that "The best warriors are not always the best soldiers"

I love my older Lionel JLC scale Challenger.It doesn't always do what you tell it.It for sure doesn't always stop when you tell it.It runs a little rough,and some of the detail has fallen off, but it always runs and will pull what you put behind it!It stays on the layout!Nick

                                                 the next one I'm getting...

                                  I guess the answer would probably be "diesel"...

Steamer posted:

can't pick just one.

The Marx Commodore...my Grandmother paid $1 for it during WWll for my Dad, he passed it down to his brother, and I got it when he passed

Uncle Jim's Turbine I watched under my Grandparents Christmas tree...now it runs on the same platform under my tree

My 675...the first steamer I bought for myself

 

my 4-8-4 I made from a pile of junk box parts

My Mountain

225E...another junk box project along with the tender

 

and all the rest

Some great stories with those favorites!. thanks for sharing.

Tim

Not sure I can pick one....

No.

MattR posted:

You gotta be kidding me!!  No one has mentioned the 726!! The best of the best.

Did mention it just not by its # further down on page one as the 1946 Berk which is the first year of the 726 made with its dual worm drive in 1947 motor and the drive train was completely changed but hear they also run nice that 1 same as the 736 minus the magnets. Have 2 of these with a nice spare motor and beautiful looking complete wheel sets, they come out of frame after taken off its pickup plate and rods its one of my favorites as it runs well at slow speeds and can pull very good.

One i stripped down to bare metal and kind of like the way it looks the other has original paint perhaps one day i paint the bare one , did purchase the 726 rubber stamp pad and silver ink for it.

I rarely run Post War or MPC any more....but I still love the running gear on the 726 and 736 locos.

Here are mine one Pre War UP M 10000 and one Modern Era AC 9

lionel 44 missile launcher still haven't got one yet 

or the lionel 752e and 636w i want one so bad i am willing to take a junk one to repaint it for ARCTA

my new favorite might become the green machine ac6000 once see it in action

Yes...about 15 of them.

All the Lionel Hudsons  are my favorite. I have more Hudsons in my collection than any other loco, but if forced to choose one, it would be my prewar black 763E. It has no smoke, no sounds other than the air whistle and the buzz of the e-unit, but to me it's the best. There's something about running this survivor from 1941-42 that is difficult to put into words. Yes, you read that right: I run mine. No shelf queens here. 

John

Arnold,

   I have no problem picking, the Tin Plate 263E is my favorite Engine and Work Train.

PCRR/Dave

The Lionel Original Gun Metal Gray 263E on the inside Track, and the MTH Light Gray 263E P2 on the outside Track, both Work Trains have original Lionel Yellow, Red and Green Crane Cars in their consists.

Here is my newest acquisition and one of my favorite locomotives.  Atlas O Trainman U23B with TMCC.

D500 posted:

Not possible. But it's down to 2. Both NYC, and #3 is a Mohawk. This should be easy.

 

NYC and Mohawk can be one great engine. MTH Railking Mohawk (made around 1995-2000) is a beautiful smooth running engine:

It was also relatively inexpensive as I recall.

Dieseler mentioned having a stripped 1946 Berk. I had one that needed a paint job. I did mine in light grey with a black steamchest and dark grey boiler front. I used dry transfers for the cab numbers.

The 1946 version of the 726 is my favorite too. It would be the last item to go in a liquidation.

Having transitioned years ago from a collector to an Eastern roads layout operator, I don't have as many favorites as in the past. I guess the six that I run on four loops are all favorites 5340 scale Hudsons (2), Lionel NYC MPC F3, Williams Pennsylvania Alco, Lionel CNJ Trainmaster, Lionel Lehigh Valley RS3, K-LIne Reading RS3.  All simple conventional operation and never an issue.

Dennis LaGrua posted:

Having transitioned years ago from a collector to an Eastern roads layout operator, I don't have as many favorites as in the past. I guess the six that I run on four loops are all favorites 5340 scale Hudsons (2), Lionel NYC MPC F3, Williams Pennsylvania Alco, Lionel CNJ Trainmaster, Lionel Lehigh Valley RS3, K-LIne Reading RS3.  All simple conventional operation and never an issue.

Sounds like a fine roster of engines to me.

Over the years, the Atlas SW 9's have become a large part of my layout.  Oldest and a recent TMCC upgrade is a Pennsy SW9

I have a weakness for C&O Alco's.

Mike CT posted:

Over the years, the Atlas SW 9's have become a large part of my layout.  Oldest and a recent TMCC upgrade is a Pennsy SW9

Beautiful roadbed, track and scenery with the Pennsylvania SW9

franktrain posted:

I have a weakness for C&O Alco's.

 

I bet blue is your favorite color, Frank.

BlueComet400 posted:

All the Lionel Hudsons  are my favorite. I have more Hudsons in my collection than any other loco, but if forced to choose one, it would be my prewar black 763E. It has no smoke, no sounds other than the air whistle and the buzz of the e-unit, but to me it's the best. There's something about running this survivor from 1941-42 that is difficult to put into words. Yes, you read that right: I run mine. No shelf queens here. 

 

John

I totally agree with you, John, that all our trains are meant to be run. 

Would you have a horse and not run it? A locomotive is an iron horse. 

Even the word "motive," that means movement, is in the word "locomotive."

There’s no question which engine is my favorite: it has to be my Lionel #2025 received from Santa in 1947 in set #1435WS.  It and its cars have been relegated to shelf queen status these last 40 years or so.  But in honor of its 70^th anniversary this Holiday season, it has come down off the shelf to run around a small Christmas tree in the dining room.  It still runs and smokes although I had to replace the smoke unit 20 or 30 years ago.  Photo to be added later.  

This is the train that got me started in this hobby, no other engine in my collection can possibly be more of a favorite!

Bill

This is one of my favorite engine sets....  Santa Fe GP7u #1326 and slug #1118.

CBS072 posted:

This is one of my favorite engine sets....  Santa Fe GP7u #1326 and slug #1118.

 

So colorful. Who is manufacturer?

WftTrains posted:

There’s no question which engine is my favorite: it has to be my Lionel #2025 received from Santa in 1947 in set #1435WS.  It and its cars have been relegated to shelf queen status these last 40 years or so.  But in honor of its 70^th anniversary this Holiday season, it has come down off the shelf to run around a small Christmas tree in the dining room.  It still runs and smokes although I had to replace the smoke unit 20 or 30 years ago.  Photo to be added later.  

This is the train that got me started in this hobby, no other engine in my collection can possibly be more of a favorite!

Bill

I bet it's a very smooth runner and a very good puller for its relatively small size: a petite powerhouse.

here is another favorite of mine (see photo) 

mom gave me this the christmas before she passed and i am really wanting to run it again 

chessie 8008 soon to be Allegheny Federation 8008 and part of a 1980 set known as the chesapeake flyer 

i have no idea of the whereabouts of the rest of the set 

Yes, the Lionel ATSF 3000 2-10-10-2.

http://www.lionel.com/products...omotive-3000-6-11155

Got to learn to take good pictures; it's certainly worthy of one

"Over the years, the Atlas SW 9's have become a large part of my layout.  Oldest and a recent TMCC upgrade is a Pennsy SW9"  Mike CT

Oh, I like that Pennsy switcher Mike.  

Lionel NYC J3a Hudson

Lionel NYC F12e Ten Wheeler

My favorite in O scale?

My 1946 Lionel 221 w/221W tender

a Little Marx 400 was first electric train, so will always be a favorilte.

NYC Fan posted:

Lionel NYC J3a Hudson

Lionel NYC F12e Ten Wheeler

And is that a Lionel NYC S1 electric I see in the foreground?

Wow, this is tough.  But, if I could have only 1...my absolute favorite would be my Atlas MRS MP15 (lighted instrument/gauge panel).  Despite its size, it has TONS details and pulling power that tackles a mix of 20 plastic and aluminum cars with ease.  And the next, only separated by a hair is the Lionel UP C45ACCTE / ES44