top 5 favorite railroads

The N&W....Home built road power....the A's, Y6's, J's and beautiful country

The NKP...why?  One word......Berkshire

The CB&Q...The Zephyrs of course

The UP... 4000's, 3900's and 800's

C&NW.....I grew up around it.

PRR tied for first

B&O tied for first

ATSF

RDG

SP

1) New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad - I live in Connecticut, grew up in New York, and went to school in Massachusetts. The New Haven ran through all three. NYNH&HRR contributed significantly to the development and history of all the cities and towns in Connecticut.

2) Metro-North Railroad - I live in Connecticut and ride Metro-North every day. Much of what was built by the New Haven can still be seen on Metro-North.

3) AMTRAK - Ride it often. Impressive modern equipment and technology.

4) Boston & Maine - Saw it when I lived in Massachusetts.

5) Long Island Railroad - Grew up there. My first railroad.

6) Sandy River Railroad - Fascinated by Maine 2-footers.

MELGAR

Great Northern, for the electrics....And I like the goats.

PRR for the terrain, & the electrics....And the gold stripes.

DT&I for local....& the electrics.... and an abandoned goal to electrify to the Virginian......Um...Can I change this one to Daylighter? Lol.

C&O for the steam varieties.

And Santa Fe for the steam, but you can't forget the Warbonnets either

Pick a color

I kinda like em all.  By far I have more PRR than anything else though.

Ben 

Since there are only six class one railroads in the U.S. now, this is sort of an odd question.

But there are many shortline railroads!

Norfolk Southern

Lake Superior & Ishpheming (I think)

Nickel Plate Road

Conrail

Erie Lackawanna

Thanks!

Pennsy for classic styling

Pennsy for electrification

Reading for no nonsense mindset

NYC for classic styling

Great Northern for the mountain goat herald

Great question but hard to narrow it down.

Santa Fe (love the Warbonnets)

B & O

N & W

Chessie

UP

Hot Water posted:

Since there are only six class one railroads in the U.S. now, this is sort of an odd question.

Since everyone else answered the question with their favorite railroads...current or past...that is an odd answer.

Southern Pacific, Northwestern Pacific and Union Pacific...these were the railroads local to my location that I grew up with.

Baltimore and Ohio - the eastern railroad that I like.

CalTrain - the local commute train that I like

Jersey Central

Reading

Lehigh Valley

Erie

Pennsylvania

...in no particular order:

BNSF, UP, SP, SF, ATSF

we live out west and see these the most (ones still running).

boin106 posted:

Hot Water posted:

Since there are only six class one railroads in the U.S. now, this is sort of an odd question.

Since everyone else answered the question with their favorite railroads...current or past...that is an odd answer.

The original poster did NOT mention anything about railroads in the "past", but listed his favorite railroads of "today" (both the 'Seaboard System/Family Lines, and Conrail are now part of CSX and NS respectively) of which their are only six Class 1 railroads.

I must be late to this thread, for I see no mention of "today" in the OP's opening post. But if it had I still would have had to infer whether it was my 5 favorite railroads of today's railroads, or my 5 favorite railroads today (as opposed to yesterday or 10 years ago, or during my youthful years.

So, "today", my favorite railroads are:

1. L&N (my layout: Loop & Nowhere)

2. Nashville, Chattanooga, & St Louis

3. N&W

4. Uintah Railway

5. Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes

Five of the "anthracite railroads" ....

Central of New Jersey ..... Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western ..... Lehigh & Hudson River ..... Lehigh Valley  ...... Reading

Now, I have a question for you, Paigetrain ...... who is the pretty girl with you in your photo?

Jim

EBT Jim posted:

Five of the "anthracite railroads" ....

Central of New Jersey ..... Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western ..... Lehigh & Hudson River ..... Lehigh Valley  ...... Reading

Now, I have a question for you, Paigetrain ...... who is the pretty girl with you in your photo?

Jim

her name is olivia

we graduated high school together and we took this photo because we would probably not see each other again

olivia is not my girl friend i just miss her very much

Five favorite railroads and why. Okay, here goes.

1. Soo Line. I worked there.

2. B&O. My uncle worked there.

3. CB&Q.  (now BNSF) I lived within 2 miles of the "racetrack" nearly all my life.

4. Milwaukee Road. Local road, Soo Line bought them.

5. CGW. (then C&NW, now UP) Just an interesting semi-local line. Remember it as a kid.

I also had relatives who worked briefly for the AT&SF (my father), and the C&O (a cousin), and a long time friend for the IC, so I also have an interest in them.

You can always count on HW to spoil the fun... that's OK, since most of us won't worship at his comment.

I'll go for:

New York Central

Pennsylvania RR

Long Island RR

Strasburg RR

Union Pacific

The first 3 are based on where I either have lived or live now (even if 2 of the 3 have not existed simultaneously with my time on the face of this earth), the last two I might revise, but came to mind at the moment.

-Dave

Pennsylvania,  Milwaukee Road, Baltimore and Ohio, Erie and Akron Canton & Youngstown. Now if I could limit my purchases to just those it would be great, but then there is the NYC, UP, Reading and.......  .  Basically all of them!  

I guess all the local ones.

UP, BNSF, KCS, MNA, SEK

Amtrak-Grew up watching the AEM7ac dominate the northeast corridor (hence that is why that is my favorite locomotive).

SEPTA- Grew up riding every piece of equipment from the buses to the commuter rail. Love the colors as well

NJT- Their equipment is awesome.

Norfolk Southern- Love the color scheme.

CSX- I see CSX equipment on my daily commute to work.

Pretty hard for me to narrow it down to 5, but here goes.

1) PRR - Grew up with GG1s just 7 miles away. (Sunnyside Yard) and I like the looks of PRR steam.

2) New York Central - Electrics, proximity to home, and the looks of their steam power.

3) Union Pacific - for its modern steam power, its diesel paint scheme and the scenic territory it operates in.

4) Southern Pacific - for its modern steam power, the Daylight and Black Widow paint schemes and the scenic territory it operated in.

5) Santa Fe - for its modern steam power, the warbonnet paint scheme and scenic territory it operated in.

Hot Water posted:

Since there are only six class one railroads in the U.S. now, this is sort of an odd question.

In all fairness, Jack, the OP didn't specify extant class one railroads and three of his five are fallen flags (Conrail, Chessie and Seaboard System / Family Lines.), indicating that he meant "all time".

My only beef with the question is five favorites is too restrictive.

1) The PRR: Growing up alongside the mainline in NJ, I saw all manner of impressive railroading. From owl-eyed MP-54's to the monster GG1. Fast passenger & long mainline freights. Alas I was too young for steam. Not that there was much of it in the late 50's on those rails.

2 & 3) see #1

4) The DL&W: As my wisdom and taste for history grew, along with my modeling interests, I was drawn to the Lackawanna and its interchange with the PRR on the Bel-Del branch. Soon to also be immersed in that road.

5) NJ Transit: 'cause I still live near those same mainline tracks, and it's railroading I can see and ride every day.

All my favorites are (some long gone) Fallen Flags, or surviving remnant tourist roads, which last probably should not count.

Dear Paigetrain,

Appreciate the question.

CNW--First train experience

Santa Fe-

Southern Pacific

UP

Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern "The J"

Well Paige, I tend to like what I have actually seen, and also like modern road names too. So my list is Conrail, Norfolk Southern, Penn Central, Lehigh Valley and Reading. Though BNSF, CSX and CP Rail and are right after the first five.

NOW, my problem is I'm a 027 guy and I do this hobby on a budget. So, I had to learn how to repaint. Started with kitbashing and painting Plasticville buildings, then junker trains and quickly my skill levels were right to proceed to new items. And the current lack of O scale decals has not hit me as hard, as I can use larger HO scale decal heralds and logos.

I've also had to learn to be happy with the limitations of 027 curves. Obviously, bigger locomotives won't negotiate that curves and even if they do, they look out of place. So I have Alco FA's done up in Conrail, Norfolk Southern, CP Rail, and CSX even though that particular model locomotive has long disappeared from Class A railroads.

Some folks enjoyment of the hobby is prototypical fidelity, and that's cool... seems to be the recent trend. For me, my approach is like watercolors or impressionist paintings. I don't mind a "replication" and have learned to be content with that. AND I still have fun with it!

Some might disagree, but for me, a small layout is better than NO layout. Life is a compromise as is the train hobby for me.

1.Chessie System

2.C&O 

3.B&O 

4.Western Maryland

5.CSX

Nickel Plate Road- They had the Berks that saved the railroad.

NYC- What's not to love about a streamlined Hudson on the 20th Century.

N&W- The J says it all

Soo Line- They ran past the resort we stayed at in Minnesota, vividly remember the white/red GP30's

Western Pacific- Feather River Canyon.

Western Pacific, -

Southern Pacific

 Union Pacific,

Santa Fe,

Rio Grande

For me ...

Monon, L&N, N&W, Southern and last but not least - B&O.

bd

Sorry, I have 6.....

New Haven

New York Central 

Penn Central

Conrail 

New York Ontario & Western

New York Boston & Westchester

Peter

Top 5 in no specific order:  Norfolk and Western, New York Central, Nickel Plate Road, Chesapeake and Ohio and Baltimore and Ohio.  Why?  Because they all ran through Cleveland (some, like N&W, only by merger).  Close runner-ups include Grand Trunk Western, Pennsylvania, Union Pacific and Canadian National.

1. Union Pacific- cool everything 

2. L&N - railroad that ran here in Northwest Florida when I was a kid

3. Norfolk Southern - the 611

4. Southern Pacific - cool color scheme 

5.  BNSF - same as 4

6.  CSX - because it's all I see here where I look live

Nick Chillianis posted:

Hot Water posted:

Since there are only six class one railroads in the U.S. now, this is sort of an odd question.

In all fairness, Jack, the OP didn't specify extant class one railroads and three of his five are fallen flags (Conrail, Chessie and Seaboard System / Family Lines.), indicating that he meant "all time".

My only beef with the question is five favorites is too restrictive.

And he did not mention country.  The UK had many......

That said:

1.  SP. Father's plant, pre I10 road to grandmother's were along it.  Also the SUNSET, pre Amtrak was the first passenger train I rode.

2.  GN.  Got my goat.  Liked both EMPIRE and BSB colors, but not on the same consist at the same time.

3.  BN.  Right livery for the 1970's.  But I do not know why the white stripes on the passenger cars did the "hockey stick" thing.  Ruined the continious flow of the white.

4.  MoPac.  Liked the blue.  Ranfast down Hardy Street.

5.  MKT.  Red engines are nice.  However, the green and yellow John Deere was not so great.

Sorry, but to me the ATSF Warbonnet is vastly over rated.

1.  Penn Central - This is the railroad I grew up with.  The Ft. Wayne Line ran behind our house.

2.  Akron, Canton & Youngstown - Their western terminus was about 1/2 mile from our current home in Delphos, Ohio.

3. Nickel Plate Road - The Clover Leaf Line also ran through Delphos.  Had a significant yard adjacent to the AC&Y yard.

4. Detroit, Toledo & Ironton - Ran through Lima, Ohio, just a few miles east of here.

5. Erie Lackawana - Ran a few miles south of here.

All of these roads, with the exception of the AC&Y, ran through Lima, Ohio

Tom 

Santa Fe

Pennsylvania

Illinois Central

Chicago & Northwestern

Chicago & Eastern Illinois