My 736 did work this Christmas and smoked like a chimney the whole time. It's the winner even though I have some flashier/more valuable equipment
The Lionel 2379 Rio Grande F3 ! ! ! !
For me, that's a tough question. The 2343 Santa Fe has always been tops on my list but I've never owned one. I have the Lionel re-release of it from '96. But, My father's 671rr (still his but in my possession) is the engine that started it all for me. So if I had to pick 1, the 671 is it.
Tony
If I gotta choose a steamer...it would have to be the "Berk". Having a 726 -'46, and two 736, might explain why ! Pop a pill...and off you go !
Interesting thread because I agree with about 90% of the choices. I am surprised and the number who pick the 675, don't disagree-I have two. The one not mentioned much is the 2065, I have 4 and they all are smooth and strong runners. If I had more room I would pick up a few more turbines, have a bunch of Berks, too. great engine.
I would have to say it's my 2046. If you look at similar threads through the years, that choice may have changed several times though. Other ones that may be my favorite in the past could be the 675 or my 2020 turbine. I can't recall the last time my layout didn't have one of these three on the tracks, and I only run two trains at a time.
I bought my first 2046 steam engine around 1998 or so. They were going for some pretty good coin at the time (and I was a low paid apprentice at the same time), and my LHS had one with a chipped cab roof for $75 with a nice tender. I put some kind of epoxy putty to reform the cab corner that was broken and painted the roof black. It didn't turn out too bad, but everyone's there own worst critic, and it drove me nuts after a few years.
So a few Yorks ago, I decided the price had dropped enough that it was time to buy a nice replacement. But the one I was replacing had the silver stamped numbers, and that's what I wanted. I searched the halls for all three days and only found two. One was in worse shape than what I had and the other was a bit nicer. Both were priced like it was still the late '80s. A week after York I found the one that's on the layout now on eBay. I sold the old one at a show a few months later for a bit more than I paid for it.
Here's the old one:
[IMG]http://i224.photobucket.com/al...s%202013/file-10.jpg[/IMG]
Here's the new one:
[IMG]http://i224.photobucket.com/al...s%202014/file-10.jpg[/IMG]
J White
My favorite is my 1940 201 0-6-0 switcher with magic uncoupler.
Mikey
Attachments
Images (1)
Mom bought a NYC 2344 F3 b unit with the screen tops for $1.00 back in the 50's at a local 5&10 during an after Christmas sale.
About 25 years later I bought an AA at a local show for $90 and they matched perfectly. They still run and look great.
Is the F3 B unit powered ?? I have a pair of F3s-2344 and they are a close second to my GG1. I have a non-powered B unit that I painted to match the NYC of the A units. Have thought about putting together a powered B unit but the stuff goes for high prices to fool around with.
For diesels, it's the 2343, 2344, or the 2345. To me, they represent the best Lionel put out in that era. Horizontal grinders, screen vents, and grab irons on the nose!
Steam...773. 726 is a close second though.
My favorite is my ATSF Warbonnet 2863 F3AA that my parents bought for me in 1962 or 1961. I still have them. VBG Loved the smell of the ozone from the Pullmore motors in them.
Lionel 2025 because it was my father's. After that the early 726 pulling Madison cars.
My 2026 and its tender that I got from my dad when I was 5 y/o...in 1952. It's like the "little engine that could"...just keeps on running. Simple, but reliable mechanism. It's the one I run to let folks hear the sound of the classic whistle. Gotta love it.
Michael
My first 'real' Lionel train was the 736 set from 1954 and it was my favorite for years. However, the first time I saw a Trainmaster in person I was hooked. I have one of each now and run them a lot. There is just something about that massive diesel that really gets me.
Rolland
Has to be the 2020 and the 671 turbines from late 46....and the trainmaster...erie lack..
Mike
The 1950 Hudson, period.
2330 -----1950 ,first to have duel motors . Has always been a sweet running engine with great pulling power . Jim
Well, my current favorite (and it changes frequently), it would be my B&M 2359. I'm downsizing the collection a bit, and I just can't part with this one. The very first engine I won at an auction after getting into the hobby. Runs great too!
Tim
Attachments
Images (1)
My favorite(s) are the 671rr and all the turbines, Milwaukee Rd EP-5 and the 2343 Santa Fe F3
Apart from the locomotives Santa brought me (my 2026 and #41 US Army switcher), it has to be my 736, 2046 and Erie Alco AA pair. Probably because they were the locomotives I used to drool over the most in the Lionel catalogs.
Nostalgia to one side, they all look great and run like the precision machines they are.
44 army missile launcher
Attachments
Images (1)
The 2358 b/c it was my Dads & is what got me started in O Gauge
& the 675/2025 - just because it's awesome & has a bit of PRR flare!
distant 3rd would be the 2065/665 - Always liked the feedwater heater brow
Has to be the venerable 675, a true classic!
Jerry
Attachments
2343 All the way!
2343 P&T with 2353C in action, which they see often. No need for the new scale units with these. 
Excellent at low speed operation.
And good for high balling.
Not much motor growl as well. Actually quieter than some of the new production.
Have to open the links below to get full screen videos.
Attachments
Videos (2)
My favorite is the 685 Santa Fe-type Hudson. Here's mine as part of the 1953 2201WS set (the only year the 685 was offered); forgive the not-so-great quality. This 685 is also the early version with the embossed drive rods:
The close runner-up is the 2026 ('48 & '49 version before the running gear detail was degraded). This also happens to be the first postwar engine my parents bought me as a Christmas present (this is the original engine).
Attachments
Images (2)
The 2023 Lackawanna TrainMaster is my favorite. Yes, the big, brutish, unstreamlined brick. Two brothers in my neighborhood each had one growing up, and I was amazed at the pulling power and the curve-holding abilities. Happily, one of them sold one to me some years back, and it still pulls scads of cars, though the horn stays on continuously and the e-unit no longer functions.
The Berks obviously, 2-8-4 rules, but the 682 that Santa brought in 1954 still holds a special place in my heart and sits in the middle of my display.
I really like this thread, maybe because I have a bunch of them but not the 685. It will have to go on my list. My antique dealer got an FM Trainmaster in about a year ago and it was absolutely mint. He had a dirt cheap price on it but it was just way too big for my layout so passed on it. Someone got a good deal. Haven't seen a loco here yet that I don't like. In the new issue of the OGR magazine in the "Collector's Corner" they have the 1946 Lionel post war set written u. Picked one up this past Xmas. Has the gray 221 engine and striped tender. Have a black 221 too.
All of em!
The one that I SOLD, and Good riddance. I was never a fan of "Lionel Lines" on the tender. I read all these posts about how great Post War were, so I bought a 736, it never ran very well, and the detail was simply CRUDE, compared to more modern, even MPC. I don't buy trains to tinker with, tune up or otherwise work on, I buy them to run. That 736 was one of the few train purchases that I ever truly regretted. I didn't get my money back out of it, but it was a worthwhile lesson, no more PW for ME.
Others may enjoy them, but I am not in that crowd, and I wont be competing with them in that market.
Doug
The great thing about this hobby is that there is room for everyone. From pre-war to post-war to MPC, to Lionel Trains Inc, MTH, Standard and O gauge tinplate. Ain't it great. Personally, I love tinkering and working on older trains because I get such a good feeling of accomplishment when I get them running smooth again. I also get a real kick out of running the newer stuff because there is so much you can do with them. Diversity is the spice of life.
challenger3980 posted:The one that I SOLD, and Good riddance. I was never a fan of "Lionel Lines" on the tender. I read all these posts about how great Post War were, so I bought a 736, it never ran very well, and the detail was simply CRUDE, compared to more modern, even MPC. I don't buy trains to tinker with, tune up or otherwise work on, I buy them to run. That 736 was one of the few train purchases that I ever truly regretted. I didn't get my money back out of it, but it was a worthwhile lesson, no more PW for ME.
Others may enjoy them, but I am not in that crowd, and I wont be competing with them in that market.
Doug
Whew. That's a relief. 
Pete
OKHIKER posted:The great thing about this hobby is that there is room for everyone. From pre-war to post-war to MPC, to Lionel Trains Inc, MTH, Standard and O gauge tinplate. Ain't it great. Personally, I love tinkering and working on older trains because I get such a good feeling of accomplishment when I get them running smooth again. I also get a real kick out of running the newer stuff because there is so much you can do with them. Diversity is the spice of life.
Exactly. Which is why I don't get the condescending attitude some have if you dare not to like what they like.
Or why some people come into a thread, clearly about postwar trains, and basically call them junk. Why even bother posting in such a thread? You don't like them, fine- no need to trash-talk, just don't buy or waste time discussing them! Seems like a pretty simple concept to me, but I guess it's like religion or politics- some people just can't help themselves...
Such is the world today, I guess.
My favorite is the 1946 version of the 726. It isn't the best puller and the smoke bulb doesn't work that well, but it doesn't have the e unit slot in the top. Hard not to like the Santa Fe F units too.
Sounds like Doug got out of the wrong side of the bed this AM. It is a big world out there-whatever floats your boat !!
My first train was a used American Flyer 322 with freight cars that my parent gave me for Christmas as my older brother got the a new sliver bullet 354 (painted not chrome) with passenger cards. The 322 was a great smoker and still remember the smell of the smoke, brings back many memories.
As far as Lionel it would be the 2025 earlier version with the Baldwin wheels, just like it, not the best runner but a lot of fun.
Love just love old stuff. I guess that is why I like prewar and now standard gauge.
Simpler trains that were for a simpler times.
Toys/imagination what a great time, just enjoy what you have.
TrainsRMe posted:The 2023 Lackawanna TrainMaster is my favorite. Yes, the big, brutish, unstreamlined brick. Two brothers in my neighborhood each had one growing up, and I was amazed at the pulling power and the curve-holding abilities. Happily, one of them sold one to me some years back, and it still pulls scads of cars, though the horn stays on continuously and the e-unit no longer functions.
Both problems are a relatively easy fix, though.
My favorite is the Lionel 2018 Prairie locomotive and tender that my grandmother purchased for my two brothers and I in the early 1950s. I don't have the original because my brother sold it the first time he went into one of his "I want to change train gauges" stages. That time (during the 1980s) he changed to "N" gauge. After that he changed back to "0" gauge, then to scale "0" gauge scale high rail, then to "N" scale again, then back to "0" gauge scale high rail, and at present he is into "HO" gauge trains. Anyone see a pattern here?
Now back to the Lionel 2018. I purchase another 2018 at York that was in fair to good condition during the 1990s, however I wanted one that was in new condition. I found that locomotive about six years ago at the New Jersey Highrailers' Open House. It was new, in the box. I couldn't believe it. It runs great and smokes well with the new repro smoke pellets. Even the smell of the smoke is the same.
Just for the record, I have changed gauges a few times as well. I started with "027" trains as a child, then HO during my early teen years, then "0" gauge when I got interested in trains again during the 1970s. I then got into "G" gauge, then Standard Gauge (Lionel and MTH reproductions). After downsizing, I got back into "0" gauge postwar and Lionel's reproductions of those postwar trains. Attached are some photographs of my almost completed Standard Gauge layout that I took down in 2007. You will note that I did incorporate an LGB Santa Fe Passenger set into this layout.
Ron
Attachments
Images (20)
