Steam for me and it would be SP GS 4 in black.
Mikey
I always play with diesels, but ... my favorite engine is packed away for most of the year because I only have the room to run it at Christmas time .... my Legacy Y6b.
It's a quandary. 
My default answer is my childhood 2037.
But if that wasn't on the table I'd be running a 6 driver pre war steam switcher with all that great valve gear and rod action packed nice and tight. Like watching fancy clockwork 
If got to have a wish, and a catenary system too, I always wanted the first 3phase loco & first full electric line, Ganz's Valteleena Line, It.. Basically I want a small, loop type pantagraph, electric steeple cab like some folks used to wanted the Jawn Henry, Centapede, or Big Boy. A 2-6-2, jackshaft and rod center cab?; awsome! But even a B&O steeple on bogies would work 
Steam!!!!!
MNCW posted:CAPPilot posted:Looks like all the curmudgeon's posts have been deleted. Thank you!
Amen to that!
Tom
Double Amen. What a bunch of....well you know.
Adriatic posted:My default answer is my childhood 2037.
But if that wasn't on the table I'd be running a 6 driver pre war steam switcher with all that great valve gear and rod action packed nice and tight. Like watching fancy clockwork
Hey Adriatic, I think we must be related. You know from on and off the Forum what I think of the prewar switchers, but my wife bought me a 2037 in 1994 to bring me back into the hobby being away due to misc. life diversions...
Tom
MattR posted:MNCW posted:CAPPilot posted:Looks like all the curmudgeon's posts have been deleted. Thank you!
Amen to that!
Tom
Double Amen. What a bunch of....well you know.
Sounds like it was no loss that I missed what you are referring to...
Picking one locomotive is like eating one potato chip. You can't do it. But if it were possible to pick one, I'd choose neither steam or diesel.
I'd choose a scale PRR GG1. An unbeatable combination of power and grace like no other locomotive.
It would be steam, my Lionel postwar 746, makes me dream of those wonderful O. Winston Link black and white photographs, a bit like stepping into the "Twilight Zone."
I'm with RSJB18, a Big Boy.
Rusty Traque posted:Assuming the question relates to a model that already exists or is in production, it's arriving later this year...
If it's about ANY locomotive, then it would have to be a model of this:
Rusty
"Hey Rusty,
Is that the one that runs in Union, IL?
Chuck"
Yep.
Rusty
That's a tough one, but if this is based on what I own now, I'd say my PWC Texas Special F3s.
I am mostly a diesel sort of guy but if I had to pick only one it would be my Kline 4-6-4 tank loco. Affordable, interesting, great runner.
So many choices! Modern super power era Steam with all the motion of the drivers and rods. Streamlined steam like the Santa Fe Blue Goose, etc. or the C&O Turbine combine some of both. F units, E units, and PA Diesels with their fantastic paint schemes. (Maybe a 5 stripe Brunswick Green GG1, though I never know which way it is heading:-) Modern Diesels with their massive look. And aren't we fortunate to have all these possibilities to chose from!
Did this scheme get us all started somewhere along the way?
Attachments
Images (1)
I'd favor either the 726 or 736 version Berk, or the 682 turbine for steam.
For diesel it would be the 2343 and 2343c which makes an F3, A-B-A combo, or the A-A 2023 pair of yellow UP Alcos.
But then again I have these and more so it's a choice I rather not have to make as I enjoy them all.
Bogie
My 1948 2-6-4 Pacific that I received my first Christmas. Santa must have had a wonderful time with it. Still have the entire set and boxes. It runs great.
We have a lot of engines, most worth a great deal more in dollars. None compare to what this engine means.
Wow! Very tuff question. If I were ever in the hard place of choosing one engine ( from my existing fleet ) and running in a realistic prototype way on my layout
, I'd pick my passenger equipped B&O GP 9 ( in gray, blue, and gold livery ) because of its utilitarian use. It virtually can execute every task on a railroad from yard switching, long distance road freight engine, and commuter & long distance passenger work. I hope I never have to make that choice.
Attachments
Images (1)
Videos (2)
Steam!! Which one us problematic because there us so much to like. If we're talking passenger power then a NYC Niagara and a PRT T1 top my list. If we're talking freight haulers I like the classic look of 1920s power with Elesco FW heaters on the front of the smokebox with double airpumps on the pilot deck. The NYC L2a Mohawk is a classic example, but their are similar examples from other roads.
Too many options to narrow to just one. I like the potato chip analogy...
My K-Line Big Boy. Here's the why in order of importance;
1) It's steam.
2) The Big Boy is my favorite locomotive.
3) It can make O27 turns.
4) It's got TMCC.
Atlas SD40s
If were in the awful position of having only one lokie on my layout, I, too, would choose a steam engine from the latter days of steam. But it wouldn't be a Northern type or an articulated, It would be something like a lowly 2-8-2 Mike. Why? Because that one engine would have to provide all services from freight, peddler freight, switching and even any passenger duties. In my opinion, the Mike is as "universal" of an engine that you can get
Paul Fischer.
My choice would be a Shay, any type, any road name, any time.
Steam for me.
BobbyD posted:Did this scheme get us all started somewhere along the way?
I was amazed at how many people chose "diesel" until I saw this photo.
This might not be part of Lionel set 6-14588 (OK, probably isn't) but that's what I've got and what I would keep.
(My Dad was VERY partial to Santa Fe diesels.)
Why limit yourself?
Mitch
If the limit was to be one locomotive currently on my layout, it would be the Lionel Legacy Santa Fe GP7.
- It is prototypically suitable for any type of service.
- It has very good speed control.
- The sound is excellent.
- It has no operational issues.
trumptrain posted:
,
I'd pick my passenger equipped B&O GP 9 ( in gray, blue, and gold livery ) because of its utilitarian use. It virtually can execute every task on a railroad from yard switching, long distance road freight engine, and commuter & long distance passenger work. I hope I never have to make that choice.
Your choice is based on the same logic as mine, and I love it when you post photos or videos of your beautiful torpedo boat geep.
BobbyD posted:Did this scheme get us all started somewhere along the way?
It had me from the start. Still does.
TM Terry posted:Reading through this thread one thing kept running through my mind. Only one locomotive for a layout???
Sure, The RR I model only had one type of locomotive at the time I model it (though they had three of them running at that time). One type suits me just fine (and I have 4 of them, including one they'd sold to the White pass & Yukon less than a year before).
If I had to choose I would definitely choose steam. I have always loved steam engines. These engines are the reason my road of choice is the Pennsylvania RR. If I had to limit myself to only one, I would probably select the versatility of a consolidation to the pure brute power of the J1, S1, T1, or Q1. A K4 Pacific might be a compromise between size and versatility. Heck, I don't want to choose. 
Steam! # 765!!
Lionel postwar steamer, 736 or 746. They make lots of noise.
Traindiesel posted:Picking one locomotive is like eating one potato chip. You can't do it. But if it were possible to pick one, I'd choose neither steam or diesel.
I'd choose a scale PRR GG1. An unbeatable combination of power and grace like no other locomotive.
Funny I said that and nothing else ( GG1 ) and my post got deleted.
Number 90 posted:trumptrain posted:
I'd pick my passenger equipped B&O GP 9 ( in gray, blue, and gold livery ) because of its utilitarian use. It virtually can execute every task on a railroad from yard switching, long distance road freight engine, and commuter & long distance passenger work. I hope I never have to make that choice.
Your choice is based on the same logic as mine, and I love it when you post photos or videos of your beautiful torpedo boat geep.
Coming from you Tom ...your words mean A LOT!! THANKS!!! AND thanks for your support of my posts and videos of my GP9. It's interesting ... when I first saw this topic, immediatley the GP 9 popped into my head. As I gave it more thought, while visualizing my locomotive fleet, steam, diesel, and electric, the GP 9 consistently took precedence. I, and I assume you, love our steamers, GG-1's, and all our diesels but the GP - 9/7 is our one answer to this question. General Purpose locomotive. A great idea!
This is a no-brainer for me. Steam, and it would be a J1e NYC Hudson.
John
No questions about it! My choice is my Lionmaster Big Boy! This is a living, breathing beast!
Attachments
Images (1)
Steam...specifically Lionel scale K-4.......
NYC Steam. Why? Because I like it - something big, but not a large articulated. Definitely scale with a lot of detail. Smoke and accurate sounds are important....
A Hudson for sure. With those big drivers you get a lot of action with the rods.
Dennis
