The best Lionel Steam Locomotive

The Y6b is right up there.

Other nominations:

The 736 Berk.

The PRR J-1

The PRR GG-1 (best model you can buy that is not brass)

I suppose the VL Big Boy...

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Let me guess, Joe: your first Lionel loco??

John

...which ever one I happen to be running at the moment...

Mark in Oregon

I have always thought the Mohawk L-2a model was one of their best also in terms of detail. I like the Y6B as well and agree with that.

I will nominate the Legacy PRR B6s switcher. Great sound, smoke and it will crawl around your layout at speed step 1.

I’d be most interested in the opinion of those who have many of Lionel greatest steamers, which one they believe is the best.

I only own two Lionel steam locomotives, my favorite is the Legacy Heavy Mikado.

My favorite actual steam locomotive is Lima’s Allegheny. I wonder how many will chose Lionel’s offering of the Allegheny.

JohnB posted:

I will nominate the Legacy PRR B6s switcher. Great sound, smoke and it will crawl around your layout at speed step 1.

         

Good choice and a nice mix of 2 and 3 rail track...

Mark in Oregon

Vision Line Big Boy.  Hands down favorite.

I like Joe's nice 2035 myself! I have always had a sweet spot for those pseudo PRR locos, and owned a couple of originals back in my postwar days. I also once owned a JLC Y6B, and loved that hooter whistle!

Tsk, tsk.

Even somebody that's barely got the sense to pound sand in a rat hole knows this: A 736 Berk with the metal trailing truck.

Oh WAIT... yer probably talkin' 'bout them fancy-pancy engines with the whistles AND the bells, ain't 'che?

Pssschew... them's fer sissies. REAL men's engines fill the air with ozone 'n hot grease.

Andre

(P.S. Vid: That sucker runs, sounds, and smokes GREAT.)

Hmmmmmm. Define "best", if there is such a beast.  Or did you perhaps mean "favorite"? if so, mine would be the 400E Blue Comet.

You all know what they say about OPINIONS.....LOL!

Hello Guys and Gals

"The BEST Lionel steam locomotive" is the one you can fix at home as you can buy parts from the parts supplier and do it at home.  Its lot cheaper than sending the modern lionels back and forth for repairs mostly those !@#$%^&*() troublesome electronics.  I believe the BEST Lionel steam locomotives are the postwar and MPC (before the LTI) and Williams postwar copies with SIMPLE electronics.  Think about it guys !!!!

Tiffany

675 and all it's cousins that use this type of motor....224E,225E,226E,2025,2035. The later 675 runs well, but are noisy. The 2046 series are equally good too.

The best one is the next one....and repeat...Pat

I like Tiffany's point. But besides that, first place would have to be the VL BigBoy, then in no particular order the Allegheny and the L2a Mohawk. Don't have the Y6b but it sure looks pretty nice.

Rod

Christmas - Polar Express 1225

Other times - Big Boy

The one that doesn't need an RA# after it comes out of the box.

The 2008 version of the UP 844.......

PRR M1a no. 6755 coal train locomotive.  Nice detail, always smokes well, great whistle and sound

The one 3rd Rail built

I look at it the other way - Electronics-NO, plastic- NO, super size like the Big Boys-NO  most everything else works for me but the  turbines, the 2065 family  and more are good.

Visonline Hudson.  Simply legendary.

Period end of discussion.

John

There's something special about the T1 Duplex that appeals to me. Partially because of an article I read years ago about the last run with one from OH into Ft Wayne where they figure she was running well in excess of 127MPH. That did it for me...

Out of the box, the Lionel NYC L2a but the ones I have modified, detailed and upgraded myself are the best including the CCII Niagara, unstreamlined J3a, and Mogul. All now have 4 chuffs and better, more accurate detail.

Pete

The 746 style traditional J steamers have always been a favorite of mine. I like the warhorse one in particular. I wish they would do these with lionchief plus. 

For me its the tmcc  virginian  508 berkshire.Kicking sounds great puller.

I think that it depends on what Rail road that you Model the Most,in my case the SP AC 9,followed by the Vision line Challenger.

Mikey

At the moment, I'm partial to my SP 4449 Daylight, "Sounds Of Steam" notwithstanding...  ^.^ 

Mitch 

harmonyards posted:

The best one is the next one....and repeat...Pat

There is no better answer...well done!!!! This "IS" an addiction you know! Nick

I’d have to go with 1990 Scale Hudson (Made in the USA).

Nick

#675 with the die-cast trailing truck and Baldwin Disc drivers.  Others mentioned here “model” steam locomotives... but THIS IS a steam locomotive!

Jon  

rockstars1989 posted:

harmonyards posted:

The best one is the next one....and repeat...Pat

There is no better answer...well done!!!! This "IS" an addiction you know! Nick

Yep Pat and Nick,  that d**n catalog always gets to me; it is an addiction; could be worse; and as Budweiser would say: Dilly!

Sorry, but I have to go "old School" on this thread.  Hands down, the ultimate Lionel Steamer has to be the 671/681/682/2020 turbines.  I have several of each and I can't get enough.  They run smoothly and quietly, especially my 681's.  I like them better than the 773.

For me it is the postwar 773 and the MPC version of the 736, aka 8002 Union Pacific and 8003 Chessie

The un-streamlined J3a Hudson from 2002 is my favorite locomotive. The tender gap is a negative but the locomotive itself is the nicest Hudson Lionel has ever produced. Wish they would redo it in Legacy.  Overall, my vote would have to go to the L2a Mohawk.

I would pick a Lionel number 7 brass. Just a personal favorite.