Originally Posted by D500:
Unanswerable.
I was going to pick mine until I saw this answer.
I agree.
3rd Rail PRR M-1b
My Lionel 700K, but then I would have to put it together! 
(I should be so lucky!)
Carlton:
You are absolutely correct. She sure is a keeper. She has worked side by side with me over the past three months on our renovation project.
Wow, really tough choice. I would probably say the one that really got me hooked. The Lionel standard gauge 1835E I was given by my grandmother that used to be her sons back when it was new in 1935.
Gandy
Tough... Lionel Legacy M1b probably.
Ben
No doubit it would be the 2035 mom & dad bough me for my first Christmas '49. The wonderful memories we shared would not let me part with it.
LNWR Claughton express 4-6-0 by J S Beeson.
Beeson was finest model maker of all time and one Claughton was named after my grandfather (Claughton 1345, later LMS 5924), so I couldn't wish for a more appropriate model.
See Beeson's work at rear of Century of Model Trains by Allen Levy (now running ACE trains of London). Beeson taught the brass guys everything but decades ago and his work is still to higher standards than anything you can buy today. And, it was all concieved, developed and made by him.
I would keep the one have have not purchased yet. Sell the remainder to my wife who would let me play with her trains so long as I mowed the lawn and kept the driveway clear of snow.
Only one!
Naw, can't do it.
Legacy SF Northern 3751 maybe, or K-Line scale Hudson 5344 upgraded to PS-2 maybe, or........, or........
Rod
At first thought about one of my Legacy steam engines, but then I thought about which one meant the most to me and the memories associated with it. That engine would be Lionel Crescent Limited 4-6-4 engine that my Dad bought for me for Christmas in 1979.
Between my Lionel Legacy Hudson and the Lionel Legacy Milwaukee Road S3. Flip a coin and heads its the Hudson and tails its the S3. And the winner is tails, LIONEL LEGACY MILWAUKEE RD. S3!!!!!!
It would be one of my SW's. Hard to choose which one there are nine.
Originally Posted by pmilazzo:
My late father's Lionel 2025 he bought himself new when he was 12 years old with his paper route money. Eventually it passed down to me when I was two or three. I have so many fond memories playing with that set with him usually around Thanksgiving until New Years. I'm not sure how it survived so well and still looks and operates great, but now my kids and I play with it. It's called "Grandpa's Train".
Paul, same answer for me, except I'm somewhat older than you so I would be the Grandpa. The 2025 was my 1st train (with a gondola, Baby Ruth box car, and caboose) in 1947. And, yes, mine too was and still is a smooth running, ultra-reliable locomotive. Long live the 2025!
paul m.
My selection is neither pricey nor laden with nostalgia, but my Chessie conventional SD-40-2 (6-28245) is everything I've ever wanted in a modern locomotive--pulls like crazy and beautifully-deco'd & detailed. This is the kind of engine I dreamed of having as a kid.
An entire album of high-res photos here:
http://s748.photobucket.com/us...ionel/Chessie%207617
Hard one to answer.
The B&O EM-1 has to be my favorite locomotive as far as appearance goes. I own the Lionel first release of it, and the River Raisin S scale brass import. A lovely engine, but if you were to operate it as your sole locomotive, long freights is all you can do.
So do you keep a switcher? A one engine layout featuring a switcher could be a blast, if switching industries was your thing. Interesting to ponder. Concentrate on the layout, instead of the motive power collection. Could be quite impressive.
On the other hand, a diesel road switcher, or a smaller steamer could give you a little of all these worlds. Way freights, passenger, mixed trains with a coach, switching, the layout would be a bit larger than the switching layout.
On yet another hand, (how many limbs do we have again?) a famous passenger engine heading a name train would be exciting, but falls into the EM-1 category, running is all it does. Looks great on a shelf.
Do you hang onto a sentimental favorite? Probably, as I am a sentimental fool, but which one? Each has it's story to tell. Often rolled up in you and your family's history.
An engine that took you a many decades long search to acquire?
I got a couple of these. In S, a Rex 2-4-0. In Marklin HO, a 3101, the Belgian 2-6-0-T Both cute little things, both hard to find, and I wanted them badly. But now that I've got them, I realize the pleasure was in the hunt, and not in the owning.
Some engines stand out as being superb runners. Some recent S gauge brass steamers run so smoothly, all you hear is the wheels on the rails. The power-train is totally silent. I'm currently thinking of just adding a DCC decoder, and not sound. Who would want to drown out all that silence?
Then there's my Lionel cast frame FAs, and the NW-2s All have untold miles on the tubular rails, yet are in their "sweet spot" that with proper care seem to let you know they will run forever. I have a Marklin HO E-44 electric like this too. I'm sure they'll outlive me. It is soothing just to watch them run.
So there you have it, the long answer to unanswerable.
Though my mind is mulling over the switching layout scenario. Appealing to me at the moment. That is what makes this hobby so interesting.
probably old number 9...
through with a pair of cargo pocket pants, i can haul the complete train around.
something i probably couldn't replace even given another lifetime.
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It'd definitely be my Lionel 18000 Pennsylvania B-6 Switcher which I've run the longest of all my trains, and it was the first train I bought myself with my own money.
Though, I couldn't abandon any of my Legacy locos or my 5340 Rail Chief set, all are too nice....
I have so many favorites. But right now, it would be my MTH SD70M-2 Demo unit. This engine has not left my layout since I purchased it, over two years ago. It usually pulls my intermodal cars, but is currently heading my Tropicana Juice Train.
I would take all of mine, right now they are all my favorites.
Mine would be my Conrail Railking SD60.
My first would be my last, my Magnetraction 2037 Adriatic. Only my Hudson and GG1 out pull it anyway.
My new MTH Premier D&H Alco RS-11.
Not even delivered, yet. But hands-down, no further discussion.....
No question.......my 1st Lionel engine from Christmas 1958.
Here it is in a 2003 pic on the old layout.
Peter
The 2nd pic is on the floor of my bedroom while in college......probably winter 1972-73.
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My choice would be my MTH Premiere PRR Decapod that I had ERR installed.
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My Norfolk-Southern Beep; it's so cute and runs so quietly. I love it!
Easy - my Vision Line 700E Hudson.
My Lionel 0-4-0 from the Yard Chief set. It is the one I have used the most, pulls great, smokes great, and has a coupler on the front. My favorite part of the hobby is making up a train in the yard and switching out on the line. This little engine is my best at that.
Nathan
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I'd have to say, my most recent acquisition, the Lionel B&O 4-6-2 "President Harrison" would be my "keeper"!
Although I don't have anything else to judge against because it is my first O-scale engine, I would find it hard to believe I would like any engine more than my diecast Lionel ES44AC KCS.
My friend Dewey surprised my family at Christmas time 11 years ago with this steam engine! It's a scale steam MTH 0-8-0 Union Pacific, it'll never get old.
It would have to be my Postwar Lionel #2353 AA F-3s. The ultimate classic!
Until the new Neil Young Texas Special arrives.......this one for sure with the Lagacy B unit.
TEX
Steve
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Mine would be 1948 2025 with three green 6400 passenger cars bought by my dad for Christmas 48.
Mikey
My "keeper" would be my Lionel GN baby berk with whistle-steam. It seems Lionel is not putting whistle-steam in their low end machines much. Though it needs some maintenance - fibers from the wick seem to clog the whistle occasionally. Its a great runner and great to watch. My loco getting the most run-time at present is my WbB GP30 wired in series with a thermistor - smooth and powerful with great sound.
