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The VL BB is also the priciest locomotive I've paid for, and I love it. The BB being my favorite locomotive of all time, I knew I'd regret it if I didn't buy it.
Mine is the MTH Premier N&W J 611 (PS-3). I got it for only $700, which was a sweetheart deal, and still almost double what I paid for any other engine. I am very glad I bought it, but I don't see spending that much ever again either.
I bought the MTH #30-1108 Railking UP Challenger when it first came out and I've never regretted the cost (which was high then and the new models are higher today). What other mallet-type do you know that runs on 031 curves?
Just a wonderful model. There are only a few of these, Weaver never did make the second production run.
Most expensive? ASTER G1 BigBoy. Bought it in 1981 for lots of Swiss Francs:
Regards
Fred
cnw4ever posted:The 3rd Rail CNW H1 Northern
Ah, so you're the guy who bought "the other one". 
Getting that locomotive produced was an interesting story. Despite postings to the CNW Yahoo group and the CNW Historical Society, there weren't enough reservations on the initial offering. I even offered to buy a second locomotive if it would have pushed it over. The turn in the economy and slow business at the factory created the perfect storm that got the H1 and other "short reserved" projects produced. Now that it's here, insufficient surplus funds have kept me from grabbing a 2-rail version.
Putnam Division posted:Gilly@N&W posted:The 3rd Rail N&W 2300 Steam Turbine Electric. My dad worked in the Motive Power department and was assigned to the 2300 from 1954 to 1957. If I could only have one model locomotive this is it.
Am I glad that I bought it? Let me put it this way. I was glad to be able to buy it. Thank you Scott Mann.I
If you have a copy of Louis Newton's book Rails Remembered "The Tale of a Turbine", take a look at page 909. You'll see a picture of my Dad.
Here is Tom's Jawn Henry in action....2014, I believe.....
....and that's on an O81 curve!
Peter
Monster in Midlothian is right!! And look at that long coal train the Jawn Henry is pulling! Peter, thank you for positing the video of Tom's Jawn Henry!! Very nice military train as well!!
Mike CT posted:Just a wonderful model. There are only a few of these, Weaver never did make the second production run.
Errr Ummm....... I hate to ask this. What is it?
Reminds me of some of the unique steam models PRR had.
Engineer-Joe posted:Mike CT posted:Just a wonderful model. There are only a few of these, Weaver never did make the second production run.
Errr Ummm....... I hate to ask this. What is it?
Reminds me of some of the unique steam models PRR had.
Baldwin Centipede, owned by PRR and Mexico last I heard.
EDIT: recognized the Baldwin. Profile, mixed it up with the centipede. It actually a Shark.
Mine is my JLC Allegheny - the Cab Number was close to the price I paid. I love the engine!! 
This is my most expensive loco. I probably have about $300 into it.
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I bought a MTH Clinchfield Challenger in one gauge. At that time I never would have spent $800 for a single engine. I wasn't into steam and wanted only modern diesels. We went to York and saw it at the MTH display. My girl liked the way the boiler overhang looked on the curves and told me so. When I got home I started looking and found one from a dealer in Washington I believe. It came with a free DCS remote that had a broken screen with black lines through it. I contacted MTH and they fixed it. I was hooked.
I have since spent more. I have the new Bigboy on order and I'm just as excited waiting for it as the first one. I'll have to post again someday when it arrives.
I thought the centipede had more axles than that one in the picture above?
Most expensive loco? MTH GTEL "Big Blow" turbine. $1250 before I had it upgraded to PS2 by our resident slave-board expert (I should include the cost of the upgrade in that figure, but I'd have to do actual research)
Runner up: MTH NKP Berk #779 at $1100 (this was a fundraiser for the 765's overhaul, $200 of the price went to the FWHRS, if I recall correctly)
Most expensive set: Lionel Acela 6-car train, $2200
I'd include the Auto-Train as a runner-up, but that wasn't a "set", even though its consist is dedicated to that particular train.
---PCJ
Engineer-Joe posted:I thought the centipede had more axles than that one in the picture above?
Joe;
I would agree that it isn't a Centipede. Looks more like one of the Baldwin Sharknose RF-16's.
If, a BIG if, I planned to spend serious money on a 3 rail loco I would, probably, look at 3 rail first. They impress me as being serious about the business.
Engineer-Joe posted:Mike CT posted:Just a wonderful model. There are only a few of these, Weaver never did make the second production run.
Errr Ummm....... I hate to ask this. What is it?
Reminds me of some of the unique steam models PRR had.
Baldwin, BP20, which was the Pennsy logo for this venture.
Mike CT posted:Just a wonderful model. There are only a few of these, Weaver never did make the second production run.
I forgot about my PRR Baldwin DR-6-4-20/BP20/Passenger Shark AB set. Like my Lionel T1 above, I have put a lot of money into it. My set is the actual set reviewed in the magazine and was Weaver's demo set. Weaver told me they were in great shape when I bought them, but it had a lot of problems and I finally had Alex_M here on the forum gut the engines and put ERR cruise and sound into each of them plus some mechanical fixes. These and my Centipedes are probably tied for second most expensive engine. Like the T1, they now run great and I like them both Seems like I spend more money on older engines than new ones
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B&O S-1a ("Big Six")
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Mike CT posted:Engineer-Joe posted:Mike CT posted:Just a wonderful model. There are only a few of these, Weaver never did make the second production run.
Errr Ummm....... I hate to ask this. What is it?
Reminds me of some of the unique steam models PRR had.
Baldwin, BP20, which was the Pennsy logo for this venture.
Thanks Mike. As always, beautiful layout pics.
Sharks, huh.......
Sharks!!! I ain't shavin' before divin' in no more!
Diesel has to be this one: Sunset F7s
Steam has to be this one: Sunset AC9
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Mine, I think, although it has been followed by a Third Rail loco, (D&RGW "Water Buffalo"...I know what I like) was one of the original, first MTH Challengers, for D&RGW. That roadname was the selling point at the time, as I knew the type of road I planned would only use this as a door stop helper engine on the helper track out at the Class One junction. Same fate for the W. B. Tight curves on logging and mining branches would only support the 2-4-4-2 articulateds I lust after. Obviously, if it is just going to sit there, I didn't "need" it (them).
3rd Rail Erie Berkshire.Well detailed and a great runner
Black Vision line NYC Hudson, pre-ordered so you know what I paid. More than I ever paid before and once in a lifetime... probably won't do it again......
but WOW !!!!! WHAT A LOCOMOTIVE !!!!!!!
2005 Lionel scale N&W J class. Yes I'm thrilled with this locomotive!!! I could never afford the newest Lionel Legacy version.
I have no photo of my model, but this is the real thing; my most expensive loco. Now, I bought this when they came out, so I got a "good price" compared to some numbers on this loco lately.
I have tested it, then put it back in the box, right after I got it. I'd love to weather it, but it is so valuable - I guess - that even I can't do that. I hate these big-dollar items - I can't enjoy them the way I like to. This is an example of a cost and value disconnect: don't want to sell it, but can't bring myself to use it properly.
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This is a "top-down reply" to Engineer-Joe's post or 2 below: funny thing is, I'm a basher and painter and weather-er from way back - and I have more than one high-dollar loco that I've just assaulted in many ways - even to the point of a bit of slice-n-dice. Yet this one I have not touched (I actually forget that I own it sometimes). It sure would look good all weathred and dirty...maybe I'll haul it out and mess it up - I certainly don't intend to sell it.
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My most expensive engine was under $700, IMO too fragile to handle much.
My least expensive is my rugged Williams USRA 2-8-2, under $190 delivered. Of course I ended up building a Vanderbilt tender and installing electronics, some detail parts, and paint/decals so that probably added another $500. Still under $700.
$1000 for a single engine is mind-numbing IMO, but I keep looking at that 3rd Rail N&W K2a...
D500 posted:I have no photo of my model, but this is the real thing; my most expensive loco. Now, I bought this when they came out, so I got a "good price" compared to some numbers on this loco lately.
I have tested it, then put it back in the box, right after I got it. I'd love to weather it, but it is so valuable - I guess - that even I can't do that. I hate these big-dollar items - I can't enjoy them the way I like to. This is an example of a cost and value disconnect: don't want to sell it, but can't bring myself to use it properly.
To each's own... I know. Life is way too short. I would run her and enjoy the fact that you own her! I can appreciate the guys who don't. That's just not my style.
I don't know if it counts but here goes.
Diesel: MTH 2009 DAP DD40AX with all the matching passenger cars all bought at the same time new and at a great discount but was still expensive. It looks great!! No regrets!
Steam: MTH Santa Fe Blue Goose with all the matching passenger cars and both #'s matching R50B reefers from Mr Jim Sutter of Jim's Train Shop. Great pricing and of course was told by Jim that I "needed and had to have" all the matching cars to go with it. Needless to say his sales pitch worked!! I love the set and no regrets buying it!!
Again they are sets but I think it counts!
In 3 rail O, it would be my LionChief PRR 2-8-2 which I bought used, for just under $300, and it was also my first 3 rail loco. I do like it a lot, and I'm glad I got it, although it did lead to a buying spree of several freight cars to pull behind it. I also have purchased a few other 3 rail locos since the 2-8-2, even though I have no O layout myself, and can only run them when my club has our modules set up. I have spent a lot more on individual locos in other scales, having been involved in O-two rail, scale S & Sn3, and HO brass, but looking back, I think the ones I have enjoyed the most have been some of the lower cost (yet reliable) basic items, rather than the more expensive & exotic ones.
Bill in FtL
DL&W Pete-That Weaver Lackawanna Pocono in 3-rail. On my dream list.
My most expensive 3-Rail Scale Models...the last 3 MTH catalogs
-Norfolk Southern OCS ABBA W/all passenger cars
- Ps 3 Premier N&W J #611
-Ps 3 Premier NKP #765
The MTH Great Northern R-2 (first release). Yes, very glad, it was my first steam engine. Runner up is the MTH Northern Pacific Challenger. Still on the list to purchase are the MTH SP&S challenger, a Big Boy, a UP 4-12-2, and if anyone ever makes the SP&S 700 again...
My most expensive locomotive I bought was the MTH Premier Line Conrail Bicentennial GG-1 at the Choo Choo Barn's Strasburg Train Shop in 2003. Love the detail on that GG-1.
i stopped adding up the receipts about half-way through construction...
guess it could use a better smoke unit, but overall a great runner.
cheers...gary
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overlandflyer posted:i stopped adding up the receipts about half-way through construction...
guess it could use a better smoke unit, but overall a great runner.cheers...gary
That's an awesome build.
I bought a Lionel Mohawk 4-8-4 around 1989 for around $900 back when it was nearly new. In 2011 I bought the nearly identical Reading T1 from eBay for $225 near new. Admittedly this was a exceptional deal.
The deal that happened years ago and I regret to this day is I sold a 1946 Berkshire in a moment of stupidity for $100, it had a bent cab roof but ran perfectly.
I remember seeing a poster in a hobby shop for the new 1964 773 Hudson for I think $560 and I was just getting started and I said to myself I'll never pay that much for a engine. A couple of years later I paid $750 for it and that was a good deal at the time.
In a moment of damfool I bought an A-B-A set, all powered, of the Weaver PRR BP-20s (about $2 grand and I haven't yet confessed to my wife). Lovely, powerful, heavy locomotives, let down by inadequate antennas for TMCC, and a mess to take apart. Am I happy with them? Oh, yeah
AGHRMatt posted:Now that it's here, insufficient surplus funds have kept me from grabbing a 2-rail version.cnw4ever posted:The 3rd Rail CNW H1 Northern
I hear that banks and other suspicious outfits will rent you money at low, low interest rates 
my MTH RK PRR M1a I bought from a forum member about 10 years or so. $240 shipped IIRC. The only time it leaves the track is for routine maintenance and had the teather replaced a few years ago.
