top 10 favorite steam locomotives

Pennsy K4, M1, M1a, I1, L1, H10, E6, G5, H6, J1    Not necessarily in that order!

B&A: A1a Berkshire, A1c Berkshire

NYC: Hudson J3, J2, J1, Niagara, L4 Mohawk

Any other New England steam.

UP Challenger

UP Big Boy

1) any NYC Hudson

   a) specifically the Dreyfuss Hudson 

   b) specifically the Empire State Hudson

   c) any other NYC Hudson

2) SP GS-4 Northern Daylight 

3) UP BigBoy

4) NKP Berkshire (especially 765)

5) Pennsy S1

6) Pennsy T1

7) NYC Niagara 

8) Pennsy M1a

9) UP 4-12-2

10) any large articulated steamer

N&W Class A

N&W Class E

N&W Class J

N&W Class K

N&W Class M

N&W Class S

N&W Class TE

N&W Class W

N&W Class Y

N&W Class Z

Gilly@N&W posted:

N&W Class A

N&W Class E

N&W Class J

N&W Class K

N&W Class M

N&W Class S

N&W Class TE

N&W Class W

N&W Class Y

N&W Class Z

I detect a pattern here, Gilly   

Frisco Russian 2-10-0

J. Neils 60 ton Shay

CB&Q O5B 4-8-4

CB&Q O1A 2-8-2

AT&SF 2900 Class 4-8-4

Frisco 4-8-2

I.C. 2-8-0

USRA Light 2-8-2

V&T 4-4-0

Wabash 2-6-0

Rusty

1 SP AC-9

2 UP Challenger

3 SP AC 12

4 SP GS 4

5 ATSF 3700  4-8-4

6 UP FEF

7 SP AC 9

8 UP Big Boy

9 N & W Y6b

10 N & W Class A

Mikey

Methinks I've played this game before, but what the heck.

Eureka 4-4-0

Sandy River #24

NYC 4-6-4's all of them

N&W #1218

Anything Pere Marquette

darned near anything CB&Q, especially the 2-10-4's

Frisco 1522

CPR Hudsons, especially 2850 in the1939 Royal scheme

all of the British A4's

Bachmann's On30 2-6-0

Jeff C

Ooh... Ooh... Jeff C just reminded me...

11) the CP Royal Hudson (rode behind it back in the early 90’s) - beautiful engine

NYC Dreyfus Hudson - The Gray one (20th Century)

Milwaukee Road Class A Atlantic Hiawatha

CNW E4 Hudson

Milwaukee Road F7 

Santa Fe Blue Goose

Santa Fe 3460 class Hudson

PRR K4 (Streamline 3785)

Charlie

Gilly@N&W posted:

N&W Class A

N&W Class E

N&W Class J

N&W Class K

N&W Class M

N&W Class S

N&W Class TE

N&W Class W

N&W Class Y

N&W Class Z

What Gilly said....

In no particular order;

1.   NYC/P&LE K-5 Pacific

2.   B&O EM-1

3.   CP 2-10-4 Selkirk

4.   B&LE 2-10-4

5.   UP Greyhound Challenger

6.   Union Railroad 0-10-2

7.   B&O P-7 Cincinnatian Pacific

8.   Any East Broad Top 2-8-2

9.   T&P 610 in Freedom Train colors

10.   Reading T-1 in Freedom Train colors

Dreyfus Hudson ( Gray ) NYC

N&W  J class - streamlined

Reading - Blue Comet Pacific

C&O  H8 Allegheny 

B&O  EM 1

Pennsy  S2 Turbine

C&O  Hudson ( Yellow, convered from a Pacific ) 

CNW  Hiawatha ( all wheel arrangements )

N&W  Y6b

Santa Fe Blue Goose Hudson 

Another vote for what gilly said but somehow the southern Mikado 4-6-2 needs to be on the list. Can we do a big ten conference deal and have 11? Or are there 12 teams in the big ten?

paigetrain posted:

what are your favorite steam engines?

i watched this trains unlimited documentary called "When Giants roamed " and i have a new appreciation for steam and how you had to be a total boss to run a steam locomotive

Page Train

More about being "a total boss" later.

My top 10?

1.  US Plywood 11.  Not only are the Baldwin logging mallets an important part of American railroading and lumber industry history she provided my first cab ride.

2.  UP 3985.  If you like Baldwin Mallets try an Alco simple articulated.

3 & 4.  UPY 4449 and UP 844.  If you really like Northerns take them in two at a time.

5.  NKP 765.  The AMC Berks were among the finest steam locomotives ever built.  How could I not mention the official steam locomotive of the OGR forum?

6, 7 & 8.  CN 89, N&W 475 and Great Western 90.  In this century they have probably provided more first steam train rides to people than any other locomotives in America.

9.  Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific 261.  Not only is she a very capable locomotive she has a very capable organization that can operate her with a train including a SuperDome and a Skytop lounge.  

10. Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade 15.  She is a nice little Baldwin logging Mike and a good locomotive from which to learn.  With all due respect to the guys like Rich, HW, Kelly and many others who have made locomotives come alive for kids of all ages since the end of everyday steam, here is the new boss.  Not quite like the old boss.

Ted Hikel posted:

6, 7 & 8.  CN 89, N&W 475 and Great Western 90.  In this century they have probably provided more first steam train rides to people than any other locomotives in America.

 

Nonsense.

Normally I hold up a crucifix to keep these "Name Your Favorite" topics at a safe distance, but I'll play this time.

My ten favorite steam locomotives are Santa Fe 4-8-4's 3776 through 3785.

While I agree with almost all the ones listed, there are a couple that I think should be in the top 10 (perhaps the list should be stated at the top 10, plus 10, plus 10,etc.). Hard to select only 10 in the top 10 IMO.

Others that I would considered: SP&S 700, GN class S1 and S2 and P2, CB&Q S4 and S4a, CP 4-6-4, Milwaukee 4-6-4, DSP&P Breckenridge, and any C&S and D&RGW narrow gauge

That's my take.

RAY

Most of the engines listed are just BIG. Not sure why people only like large steam. How 'bout a shout-out for the little guys?

D&RG K-27, 2-8-2

RGS C-19 No. 41, 2-8-0

CP Jupiter No. 60, 4-4-0

Sierra Ry. No. 3, 4-6-0

NYC No. 999, 4-4-0

IC No. 382, 4-6-0

NHV No. 17, 0-4-0T

SF&D No. 2, 4-4-0

DRR No. 5, 2-4-4

W&A No. 3, 4-4-0

Eureka #4 and SRRL #24 ain’t big...

Jeff C

leikec posted:

Eureka #4 and SRRL #24 ain’t big...

Jeff C

Yes...which is why I wrote "most."

My personal favorites would be ones I've had a personal relationship with, mostly having ridden either the locomotive or a train pulled by it.  At this point my list doesn't get to 10.

1) Shay #11 - my only true cab ride when I was a member at the Western Railroad Museum in Rio Vista, CA

2) SP 4449 

3) CN 2816, part of a double header with 

4 MR 261

Locomotives I'd like to see and/or ride behind, NW 611; NKP 765; SP 844, 3985 and 4014

Byrdie posted:

My personal favorites would be ones I've had a personal relationship with, mostly having ridden either the locomotive or a train pulled by it.  At this point my list doesn't get to 10.

1) Shay #11 - my only true cab ride when I was a member at the Western Railroad Museum in Rio Vista, CA

2) SP 4449 

3) CN 2816, part of a double header with 

I think you mean Canadian Pacific Hudson #2816. The CN doesn't operate steam, and of course neither does the CP anymore.

4 MR 261

Locomotives I'd like to see and/or ride behind, NW 611; NKP 765; SP 844, 3985 and 4014

Hot Water posted:

Byrdie posted:

My personal favorites would be ones I've had a personal relationship with, mostly having ridden either the locomotive or a train pulled by it.  At this point my list doesn't get to 10.

1) Shay #11 - my only true cab ride when I was a member at the Western Railroad Museum in Rio Vista, CA

2) SP 4449 

3) CN 2816, part of a double header with 

I think you mean Canadian Pacific Hudson #2816. The CN doesn't operate steam, and of course neither does the CP anymore.

4 MR 261

Locomotives I'd like to see and/or ride behind, NW 611; NKP 765; SP 844, 3985 and 4014

 

You're correct.  It's been more than 10 years since that ride and, to be honest, I get CP and CN confused all the time.

SAR class GMA Beyer Garratt

There is only one great steam engine and what all others aspire to be. 

NYC  J1e 4-6-4 Hudson

Dave

Byrdie posted:

My personal favorites would be ones I've had a personal relationship with, mostly having ridden either the locomotive or a train pulled by it.  At this point my list doesn't get to 10.

1) Shay #11 - my only true cab ride when I was a member at the Western Railroad Museum in Rio Vista, CA

2) SP 4449 

3) CN 2816, part of a double header with 

4 MR 261

Locomotives I'd like to see and/or ride behind, NW 611; NKP 765; SP 844, 3985 and 4014

I didn't realize that the SP acquired the UP steam fleet.  

ecd15 posted:

Byrdie posted:

My personal favorites would be ones I've had a personal relationship with, mostly having ridden either the locomotive or a train pulled by it.  At this point my list doesn't get to 10.

1) Shay #11 - my only true cab ride when I was a member at the Western Railroad Museum in Rio Vista, CA

2) SP 4449 

3) CN 2816, part of a double header with 

4 MR 261

Locomotives I'd like to see and/or ride behind, NW 611; NKP 765; SP 844, 3985 and 4014

I didn't realize that the SP acquired the UP steam fleet.  

Geez, I'm really out of it today.  Ribs hurt from coughing all day yesterday.  That one I knew.  Ugh!

ATSF 3751,

then

the Diseyland steam engines and Knott's 2-8-0s, more people have ridden behind and seen these engines than any other today.

1. N&W Class A 2-6-6-4

2. NKP 2-8-4 Berkshires

3. N&W Y6 2-8-8-2s

4. Reading T1 4-8-4s

5. N&W J Class 4-8-4s

6. Southern Pacific GS Class 4-8-4s

7. Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boys

8. PRR K4 4-6-2s

9. C&O 4-8-4 Greenbriers

10. Union Pacific 4-6-6-4s

1. LNER A4
2. LMS Duchess
3. NYC Hudson
4. PRR E6s
5. Bavarian S3/6
6. Italian Gruppo 691
7. OBB reihe 310
8. SNCF 141R
9. Nord Atlantic
10. SNCF231E

Mine are all Southern Pacific:

1.   4-8-4 GS locomotives

2.   4-6-2 Heavy Pacific

3.   2-8-2 Mikado

4.   2-8-4 Berkshire

5.   4-4-2 Atlantic

6.   2-8-0 Consolidation

7.   2-8-8-4 AC-9

8.   4-8-8-2 AC's

9.   2-6-0 Mogul

10.  0-6-0 S-11's by Lima

My favorite out of all of them is the SP 2472 Pacific

Matt

My number one:  PRR # 5550 T1 Duplex - something to look forward to!

My others: 

Wilmington & Western Old 98

C&O Yellowbelly Hudson

NH I-5

MR Atlantic Hiawatha

Only one!  Without question, the Pennsylvania K4s Pacific.  The loudest and sharpest exhaust I have ever experienced and a chime whistle that gave me goosebumps.

1. Great Western/Strasburg #90 .                                          2. Any other Great Western loco except #60 (which l have bashed a model of).                  3.  Little River Logging 2-4-4-2....either one.                          4. Two truck Heislers of different tonnage, at least two 5. The last loco my dad fired: Southern Mikado #4526.      6.  C&O Mikado with Elesco, Vanderbilt, and flying pumps 7.   Baldwin steam coach.     8.  Unit Stanley steam coach 9.  Any Rio Grande, C&S, D,SP,&P, RGS, Uintah, or three Silverton lines  3 ft. steamers 10.  Any std. gauge Rio Grande steamer known to have operated on Aspen or Yampa Valley branches .           (No substitutes accepted)

Well instead of 10, I have 425. Pennsylvania K4s numbers 1737 through 5499. By far my favorite steam locomotives.

smd4 posted:

Most of the engines listed are just BIG. Not sure why people only like large steam. How 'bout a shout-out for the little guys?

D&RG K-27, 2-8-2

RGS C-19 No. 41, 2-8-0

CP Jupiter No. 60, 4-4-0

Sierra Ry. No. 3, 4-6-0

NYC No. 999, 4-4-0

IC No. 382, 4-6-0

NHV No. 17, 0-4-0T

SF&D No. 2, 4-4-0

DRR No. 5, 2-4-4

W&A No. 3, 4-4-0

 

 

Why do people go gaga over Niagara Falls when there are ripples in the local creek?