Favorite 2 Rail Locomotives?

I like my Red Caboose GP9; it runs quietly,smoothly, and can pull as many cars as I need (or have room for)...

 

Mark in Oregon

I'm in a similar boat -- in transition. I decided back in 2009 that all future diesel purchases would be MTH scale-wheeled and I haven't looked back. As for a layout, since I have a large three-rail investment, I'm designing it to be hybrid, keeping the running rails isolated so that I can support pure 2-rail equipment that comes around.

 

As to your initial question, I have two favorites at this time -- the Blue Goose Hudson (MTH Scale-wheeled/Proto-3) and a trio of CNW GP38's. They run nicely, have great sound, and can negotiate the AGHR layout. Hopefully I'll be able to coordinate with the Orange County O Scalers for some layout time running them under 2-rail DCC.

Wow! your favourite 2 rail loco, thats a hard one,can I have two?    The first is a Sunset I converted to Two Rail, and the second reflects my pleasure in my MTH modern diesels.  (cTr...Choose the Right)

My favorite Diesel is the Atlas O switcher and steamer is the Sunset SP 2-6-0.

Mickey

Cool stuff! I thought about a total 2 rail conversion on my next larger layout in the garage. But, like all things I've been collecting my 3 rail stuff since 2009 and am finally getting the stuff I've wanted for a long time. I like the 2 rail stuff, fixed pilots, the chance to use Soundtraxx and more!

Don't have any 3RdRail yet.  My 2Rails are the Atlas Steamer and the Atlas sw/switcher.

Rich yoder S-12

Hasn't been built yet and no matter what is available at any given time in the future it still won't have been built yet.

 

First attempt.  All-time favorite.  1984 - ran the first time Iput power to it, and still runs like a watch.

My PSC Pennsy B6sb switcher, painted up for the Union Transportation Company's 5244... the last steamer on the PRR and in NJ.

 

Michael Rahilly

Eastampton, NJ

Very nice job, Bob. Is that an AC1, AC2 or AC3?

All time favorite is tough, retroactively modified to include 2 rail mfr.

 

Steam would be a tie between Key Challenger and Sunset FEF 

Diesel would be a tie between MTH ES44 and MTH SD70ACe

Is the question appropriate?

 

Shouldn't the question be "What is your favorite locomotive" (implying prototype).   Then any model of that locomotive would be your favorite also, would it not?

It's appropriate, if I asked "What was your favorite locomotive?" I would post it to the real trains forum. I wanted to know what people's favorite 2 rail O locos were.

MM-2 - stands for Mallet Mogul 2.  It is both my favorite prototype and favorite model.  It has a steel boiler, since it was before the days when I could easily buy brass.

 

AC stands, in SP parlance, for Articulated Consolidation.  You already know a Consolidation has four driving axles.  The clue for a Mallet is the size of the cylinders.  The low pressure cylinders are quite large.

My favorite is the C44-9w in 2rail and many other modern diesels.

 

 

More trivia:

 

The Espee used alpha duplexes much like PRR.

 

The G 4-6-0 nomenclature when looked at positioned back-to-back gave rise to the name of the GG-1 wheel arrangement(2 G's 1 loco).  Same as the cab-forwards.

 

The H 2-8-0 was the basis for the Y sourced HH-1 (2 H's 1 loco).  BTW, when UP got the same Y they labeled it MC-57 for mallett compound w/57" drivers.

 

Other sometimes unnoticed common sense names:

FEF Four-Eight-Four

TTT Two-Ten-Two

 

To directly answer the favorite 2 rail engine question and trying to consider the possible casual depth answer sought I would have to say anything Made by Ry models, Atlas SW and AEM-7, any PD drive models and horizontal drive Weavers when smooth drive popular priced engines are in view.   

 

 

 

 

Most articulated 2-6-6-6   B&O EM1  what a brute  the N&W 2-6-6-4   UP 4-6-6-4 

and yes the big boy.   also NYC mohawks C&O J3's   NKP & C&O Berks

 

Kinda hard to pick a favorite.

 

Larry

Favorite 2-rail O scale engines:

 

Steam: Westside/KTM Dreyfus Hudson 4-6-4

          Precision Scale (PSC) SP AC-6

          Key Imports UP FEF 4-8-4

 

Diesel: Overland Models (OMI) Santa Fe PA-1 ABA set

          Overland Models (OMI) SP MP15AC switcher

 

Electric: None

 

All the above listed engines are painted brass construction - no plastic!

Even though off-topic, I agree with Bill Culliton.  The K-Line 21" cars were the happiest things to ever happen to O Scale streamlined passenger aficionados with limited budgets.

 

I doubt there will ever again be such bargains.  The new Sunset cars are better, but the prices are double.  The Hiawatha was indeed spectacular, but I would have preferred a richer maroon color. The Skytop was well done, but the rest of the dome cars left something to be desired.  All opinion.

Easy. The Yohs N&W Y6a 2164. I have the actual boiler gauge from this locomotive hanging in my train room.

 

Like others, so many favorites

 

Diesels

 

OMI SD70MAC

OMI SD40T-2 & SD50

MTH/OMI SD70ACe/M-2

MTH ES44AC/DC

MTH GP38-2 w/PS3

Atlas GP60

 

Would love to have some SD40-2's and GP40-2's in 2R with PS3/DCC

 

Nope! Models can range from GREAT! to well................let's just say really bad!

 

Simon

hello guys and gals.........

 

My favorite engine in 2 rail OR 3 rail would be the huge Santa Fe #5011 class 2-10-4.

 

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

I like the smaller, 19th century engines like the 4-4-0 Herman Haupt.

 

Favorite real loco, Milwaukee SDL39

Models Milw 261 Weaver, Sunset CB&Q O5

Atlas GP9

Who makes those?

littleevan99,

 

those two units are made by Overland Models in brass.

Don't those cost $2200 a piece? I could never afford half of one

I like any heavy drag engine and I have quite a few in 2 rail: Big Boy, Y6b, Virginian 2-10-10-2, S.P. AC-7, DM&IR Yellowstone. I have reserved an S.P. AC-9, and N&W Jawn Henry. I have many more in 3 rail, another Big Boy, N&W Class A, B&O EM-1, N.P. Z-5 Yellowstone, S.P. ACs 5,6,9,11,12, N&W scatchbuilt Jawn Henry, G.N. R-2, Virginian 2-6-6-6.

It's been a while since I've posted here.  I have shown this loco a couple years back.  It remains my favorite!  It is a 2 railed K-Line conversion with a few extra details.  The good news... I'm only into it for about $150! (but a ton of time!)

This is my favorite. Got that "old timey" look to her. NP Z class.