Share- what do you guys like to operate best?

 

For ergonomic comfort: EMD.

 

For sheer switching ability/lugging ability: Alco

 

For sentimental reasons: Baldwin VO's or GP7's.

 

For purely the personal "Ahhh" factor: Steam, any flavor. 

 

Oh wait... I think I'm in the wrong forum.

 

Sounds good to me, keep going. Personally, I prefer steam, i.e. SP4449.

 

HW:

 

I never had the opportunity to run larger steam engines, just lesser-sized Baldwin Mogul, Alco Mogul, and a Shay.  However, those times that I was earning paychecks running what I DID get to run, the memories and experiences have stayed with me through the decades. As you know, there's nothing like running a steam locomotive.

 

They are indeed GBMs*!

 

* Goose Bump Machines

I like locals and industrial switching best.   then I like operating yards.

 

I like model locos that run smoothly and don't stall on turnouts or derail.

 

running through trains on the layout is least fun for me.

 

I like passenger trains OK if they include some headend switching here and there.  

I agree passenger trains can be very boring. Pretty - that is it!

Freight is exciting and ops like I have experienced on Don Meeker's Rockymountain Line or the Greeley Freight Station Museum is the most rewarding and enjoyable.




       

Red Caboose Geep 9...

 

Mark in Oregon

       
       
John Johnson bought a pair I finished a decade ago. Great models!

They are nice locos!

Gentlepeople,

 

I'm going to argue that passenger trains are great fun to operate.  Take a look at the great trains Erik has posted here.  There is no reason those headend cars, coaches, diners and sleepers shouldn't be dropped/picked up 1 or 2 at a time at each town along your route.

 

I'll admit that the big name trains, e.g., Denver Zephyr, Super Chief, did run through between endpoints.  So take a look at the secondary trains or the mail and express trains for shear switching sizzle.

 

For your reading pleasure and learning experience, may I recommend:

1.  "A Quarter Century of Santa Fe Consists" by Fred W Frailey

2.  The article "1964 Santa Fe Transcontinental Passenger Traffic at a Glance" by Ken L Johnson, in the forth quarter Warbonnet" produced by the SFRH&MS.

 

Fred's book will show the change in consists, and therefore traffic over time.  Ken's chart shows you where each train was scheduled to be at every moment, especially where each switched for a significant period, and where it interacted with every other train.

 

In my opinion, it doesn't matter what railroad you model or follow, this information is useful.

 

ChipR

 I prefer modern freight and run with big consists. I like having pushers to keep the train together. Darn old couplers that used to snap! I have to admit that sometimes I loose my nerve to run huge trains.

 I dabbled in steam and chose the Alleghenies for the brutish looks. They too pulled big trains for me. It seemed that most visitors weren't impressed. They did prefer steam. So it affected my choice. I got a MTH Pacific that isn't as choosy with going thru rougher track. The Alleghenies needed to run slower. The Pacific had a better sounding whistle too. It chuffs and bellows out the smoke. The drivers slip on start ups and adds excitement. It won't pull near as much but that doesn't seem to matter. So when I have company, that's my go to engine!

 

I agree, local passenger trains that do work along the way are equally fun.   In my operating sessions, I run a local each way.   One originates in Brownsville where it picks up a coach and an express car of some sort.   It then works a few towns on the way into Pittsburgh (staging) where it picks up and sets out usually ending up in Pittsburgh with 3 express cars and the coach.   Its counterpart, train 44, originates in Pittsburgh (staging) with 3 express cars and sets them out along the way to Brownsville.    The big town along the way is Youngwood where usually some more are picked up and some set out.   

 

The two mainline passenger trains, one each way, also exchange express cars in Youngwood.  

 

All in all the operation is fun.

Though I have several six-axle diesels, what I'm finding is that I'm enjoying my 4-axle road switchers (GP35's, U25B's, GP 38's) quite a bit. I think it has a lot to do with being able to run smaller trains at slower speeds as opposed to long trains at higher speeds. It also likely ties into my continuing interest in point-to-point switching layouts. I'm hoping to add to my 4-axle scale-wheeled road switcher collection over the next few years.

 I should add...

When you want to run big diesel trains, variety can be work. I have to update the power pool constantly for maximum entertainment. This much work can be a.....

Big N&W Steam engines; pulling a lot of cars. 

 

Gilly

If I'm running just myself, I prefer the imperial sd70aces.  They are a little smaller so they glide through switches and handle elevation changes very well.  They seem to be really reliable.  

When company comes to see the layout, I will call on some of the bigger modern diesels like sd80s or ac6000s.  

My wife thought the crew talk was "creepy" on the up fef I had, so that one was sold to another railroad.  

My favorite is to see model trains run and your question is:

Was that real or a model?

 

Watching Erik C video last night of the ATSF passenger train and SP

mail train are a perfect example, outside of track ballast the scene was

100% prototypical!

 

Scale and era don't matter to me, does not even need to represent a real

railroad, just the realism of the scene!!!

 

ncng

 

I guess my favorites are my Weaver ABA F3's in B&O livery pulling some B&O passenger cars.  Coming in a very close second would be a pair of Amtrak Genesis diesels and my Amtrak Superliner cars in phase III paint scheme with a few roadrailers bringing up the rear.

 

If running freight I love a string of 40' box cars or a coal drag pulled by some large steam engine like a Mallet or Allegheny.

 

Rick

The beasts of my layout are:

 

Santa Fe F3 AB:

 

 

Amtrak Dash 9 with Superliners and Auto Carriers:

 

 

 

SD70ACe double headed.  Strong, reliable, great pullers

 

 

This is great fellas !

Neat neat stuff!

Thanks for sharing

Well I like to run my passenger trains and fright trains mostly coal train in fright.

  The best thing is sharing my layout with our club.

My goal is to work things out, as to not greatly exceed what I can run, or store on rails till the basement can one day be revived, and absorb it all. I keep tipping, Growth has stopped "the fall". And I'm rather satisfied now. I have about 20 engines, 150-200 of stock. Id say about 10% is passenger stock, 45% regular assorted stock, 35% military, 10% maint.

  I prefer small to med/lrg steam. I might fall for a Northern, but not in a hurry yet. Hudsons & Berks are big enough.

  

"The Lil Table"- O-27 circle on a felt covered 30"x30" drawing table.

MPC RI 0-4-0 dockside run cab fwd, Atlantic , 0-6-0, NW, or shorter. 99% semi-scale freight

 

or

 

Hosts my Marvin the Martian hauling rocket ship train most often.

 

• "The Shelf"- 11'x12' 4% coal grade, sharing lower line with a city loop, 1 tunneled passing siding, 1 station siding, 1 long yard, 1 short, unconnected but powered-long storage track.  
• Full time home of the Virginian. Coal
• C&O Kan.pulling some bright yellow baby Madisons, and a C&O 2-4-2 is on quick freight. When one rolls, the other loads. When the 2-4-2 is taxed on freight, they both pull combos.
• A connecting line (dead ending into a wall)(once out of room elsewhere??) is held by DT&I, and houses a NW, "micro-burro", & work train. It comes out to service(circle) the other lines whenever there are any issues. An Erie NW, heavier Bucyrus crane, & work train may get a home soon if it can handle it.   

  3.  "The Big Table"- 0-27 el offset looping bone, lower 0-27 single reverse loop, two industrial yards; and full O half bone; and Super O half bone loop with station siding.

 

A RI&P chrome American (double headed twin now) with 2-passenger & mail combo, with 3 extras, a Wells Fargo, special flat freight, a little tanker of fuel oil, and a bobber tacked on, run the El most. A RI 0-4-0 dock side, & pw S.Fe, Erie NWs make an occasional appearance up there.

 

  Down low, on Super O, you'll see a short, all Tuscan, lighted Fleet of Modernism behind a five stripe semi-scale GG1. all Kline.

  The full O has my 2037 Adriatic, normally a military train with tanks, and rockets. Or, loaded with the heaviest freight I have.

  The lower O-27 loop gets the 2055 Hudson, and freight most often the heavy milk cars, but "The Shelf" Baby Madisons do come out to run here too.  

 

The MARX tin? It gets run all at once, on The Big Table. They cant handle the lower 0-27 switches, a toyish scout, or dockside with bright cars looks nice there. The M-1005 passenger cars are pulled by a Crusader (CV) on the full O. The Commodore Vanderbilt pulls 6" freights on the Super O. The A-A SP 7" freight does best on the el.

 

Its a 3 way tie for the most active.

 

The 2037. the General, and the little mpc dockside 0-4-0 switcher/plow in clown paint.

The GG1, Hudson, and Marx tins run the next most.

Then the "Marvin Rocket"

The Virginian, Atlantic, Kan, & DT&I are hard to reach now. I've been neglecting them.

 

I grew up with only* freight, military, and work sets.(*) But loved lighted passenger cars from watching Gramps heavies, and domes. I find myself running one of the passenger cars I have every time now, and want more. Getting more would likely eliminate want of freight other than my childhood stuff, or too "odd/interesting" to say no to.

 

 Edit: My apologies to O.P,  for not noticing this was two rail scale.     

 

My favorite train to operate is a K-Line F40PH Amtrak, with 8 RailKing passenger cars.

  Click photo to enlarge. 

 

Running 3RS now, adding 2R over the coming year.  I started with passenger consists, but kept the claws which did not make me happy trying to do sleeper and head end car set offs.  I've gradually shifted to freight for the slower switching ops.  I still like watching a long passenger train snake over th layout, but after a few minutes, I'm done and ready to go on tot he next thing.  I can do switching ops for 60-90 minutes.

 

Here's a few snippets of tonight with the Vision Line GenSet - it crawls well for switching and is probably my favorite engine for now. (even though it's not MoPac).

 

2 rail O scale really needs Western Road PA's, PB's.

 

ncng

A railroad, in all of its logistical glory.

 

Locomotives and rolling stock are simply players in my world.

I have widely varied tastes in consists.

this past weekend at our open house I was running:

PRR express-mail-coach train of 10 cars behind AA E7.

PRR mixed passenger local behind a FP7

PRR MOW train

PRR Brill oil electric 4669

 

I was so busy keeping track of 4 trains, I had no time to shoot any video. Which I wish I had. It's been a while since I had 4 trains running together without bugs.

 

I've also recently run a DLW milk train, behind AA F3.

...and a FGE reefer block of 18 cars behind AB FA2.

 

 

I don't have a large layout, just a 6X12. Every month I change locomotive over on the main line from Diesel NYC F3 ABA to Hudson for passenger service. I have a siding in which I have a spare Sleeper and Diner car. Cards are shuffled and a switcher will come out with either, and main line loco will make appropiate moves to put into consist. Secondary lines are mostly freight and switching operation. Again using cards for pulling and leaving appropiate cars at industries, or sidings. Boxcars, or coal and oil cars at several sites for their heating or manufacturing needs. Empties pulled and replaced with full cars. Have a dedicated switcher, and 3 engines to pull from (again using cards to decide which engine will be used for freight service. Lots of switching when the engine is last on the siding.

Sometimes an un-scheduled SF F3 passenger car will be diverted to the secondary line. Which means all freight cars and engines have to be diverted to sidings,(and they fill every available space up). I then put the SF on the track and enjoy watching it run on the secondary freight track, and make a switch to main line and watch the NYC and SF on the same track, watching their speed while I again build a freight consist on the secondary line.

The SW 9's are always a good runner, and I can consist as many as (4).  The turntable is a wonderful toy. 

       
       


You are right there does need to be more western PA's.. ;-)

Erik,

   I am the opposite, although I have a few nice passenger trains I like the work trains best of all.  Now that I have both DCS & Legacy one of my favorite new engines is the Legacy Shay, love the visual gear work and the remote control from the Legacy Cab2 with this engine.  I am going to purchase a nice set of K-line log cars  from one of the forum members, for the Meadow River Logging Company Shay very soon.  I have my 50's style  3360 Burro logging Crane Car &  flatbed log cars along with the log hopper Cars for it now. It definitely is a way cool logging train.  In addition my most favorite work train is pictured on the 1st level of the layout, the Tin Plate 263E Work Train with my favorite piece of rolling stock, the big 810 Crane Car.  My favorite toy as a child.

PCRR/Dave

Love that Pennsy. Next on my "Have to get list".

An older Weaver offering that has been upgraded to EOB drive system. There is usually Weaver (Samhongsa) offering that have good detail from the 90's. 

anything steam!

my postwar cars and accessories especially the SF F3: watching the line of aluminum cars break around a curve.

my (new to me) 282R gantry crane

 

a friend has a large but simple modular layout he sets up in his yard every August, I love running the 264 lumber forklift platform and assembling trains in the switch yard.  on the wish list for my future layout!

My last 3 engines purchases (3-rail) have all been Williams/Samhongsa brass (USRA, 2-8-2 converted to a SAL class Q3, USRA 4-6-2 repainted to a ACL class P5A, N&W class J 4-8-4) and upgraded to PS2.  I rarely run my diesels since these made their way to the layout.

 

Besides the cars I've scratchbuilt, I have always liked tankcars and need to get more (only have 6).  I've been thinking of eliminating one industry and increasing the size of my oil/fuel/chemical industry to make use of a bigger fleet of tankcars.

 

I also like the different PS1 boxcar paint schemes SAL used, but need to get some more PS1s to represent other RRs.

 

Yeah, tankcars and PS1 boxcars are my favs to operate.

I bounce all over the place and that is probably partly why I tend to be slow to finish the train projects I start.

 

I do like prewar tinplate....

 

 

This station scene is a good example of "Not finished" but it is a take from the 1940 Lionel catalog.

 

I also like Postwar and have had an odd interest in older "scale" kit cars and engine's that seems to be taking me either to 3RS or 2RS at some level.... not sure how that is all going to pan out since I do not plan on abandoning the prewar stuff.

 

Both the Lionel and Williams are 3RS and then the beater Scalecraft K4 is technically 2RS even though most would argue whether it fits in with modern 2RS stuff.  It's all fun to me.

 

Some nice photos in the thread. Thanks for posting them.

 

I can't say that I have a favorite train to run on the layout. When I get finished with a few projects on the railroad, I can pick a train and get back to some photos and videos.

mostly EMD's

Alco's currently, FA-2's and RS-3's; also an F7. I've 2 FM C-liners in the work line that will add some flavor too.....

Anything with Legacy.  Real smoooooth!