Favorite Train?

[CPRailHelmet]

Hello, I'm new to the Bachmann train forums, What are your favorite Locomotives? Mine is the F40PH, or the SD40-2. EDIT: Actual trains.

[Flare]

My favorite locos are "cute" 4-wheel steamers like the Antelope and Western #1 and ERM&L "Falk" #1.

[Piyer]

On the diesel side of thing: ALCO's PA/PB diesels, EMD's GP30 and BL2, and GE's stream-styled industrial switchers that they built for Ford Motors.

Electrics: the Pennsylvania Railroad's GG-1

Steam: on the "modern" end of things, I am a fan of the streamlined or stream-styled locomotives that railroads turned to to promote their passenger service and make it seem modern and chic. I am an even bigger fan of early steam locomotives from before 1860. Diminutive little 0-4-0 / 2-4-0 / 2-2-0 / etc. engines that looked more like Rube Goldberg devices than "iron horses" or serious means of transportation.

[jbrock27]

F7A, GP7, GP9, SD9 & SW7

[RAM]

Just about any steam locomotive.  I Really liked Santa Fe's big three.  3400 class 4-6-4, 4-8-4s  and the 2-10-4s as well as the 1000 & 1100 class 2-6-2s.  Sorry to say that I never got to see the 2-10-4s in action. 

[Len]

My favorites:

Steam - New Haven 4-6-4 Class I-5:



Diesel - New Haven Class Der-1a/b/c DL-109:



Electric - New Haven 2-C+C-2 Class EP-3 "Flatbottom", aka 'The GG-1's Daddy':



Len

[jward]

emd sd45and its derivatives, and the emd sd80mac. love to hear those 20 cylinder emd engines rumble.

[on30gn15]

What are your favorite Locomotives?

Rather than a specific manufacturer and type, call it ones which are attractive, interesting, quirky. Though there are both standard gauge mainline locomotives and smaller locomotives in that category, there is a slight favoritism toward small industrial and narrow gauge locomotives, including steam, fireless, diesel, gasoline, electric.

[James in FL]

Favorite is, with me, plural (favorites).
Too many to only pick one.
I love all.
My favorite is usually the one(s) I am running at the time.
Steam - Norfolk Western J class 4-8-4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%26W_J_class_(1941)

Diesel -Alco RS-3, early GP's, SD-40, don't know why, but I also like the very modern GE ES44AC-H NS heritage units, but have only a few cars to pull behind it.

Electric - I have both a Kato "Nozomi" 700 and a TGV.
Love them.

Are we speaking of lokies we own or just in general?

[Trainman203]

Missouri Pacific steam engines, after 1910. 

[Desertdweller]

I like the steam-powered winch on the "Fale" locomotive.  It would be handy for rerailing, or for moving cars on a parallel track without poling.

Steam locomotives: CB&Q class O5 4-8-4 and CB&Q class S4 4-6-4, and Milwaukee class F7 4-6-4.

Diesel locomotives: EMD E units; Alco PA units.  FM H-12-44s.  For models to operate.
EMD F units; Alco FA units for railfanning.
GE U23B; Dash 9 44 CW; ES 44 AC; EMD GP 9; SD 9; GP 30; SD 40-2 to operate.

Electric locomotives: MILW Bipolars; Little Joes.

I have been a railroader for 26 years, a locomotive engineer for 16 years, and a model railroader for 48 years.

Les

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[jward]

les,
of the models you mentioned, which were the nicest to actually run in real life?

[Desertdweller]

jward,

I liked running the GE units best.  The 4 cycle engines ran slower than the 2 cycle EMDs.  They were slower to load and had a more relaxed chugging sound.  The Dash 9s and the ES units had sound insulated cabs, making them less stressful. (Sound is a stressor, especially after 10 or more hours.)  The GEs also made more interesting sounds when starting.

The GP9 was a good unit to switch with.  It loaded quickly, and some had a switch that could be set for "switching service" (load quickly) or "road service" (loaded slower, but less apt to slip).

The non-turbo EMD units (GP9, SD9) worked better at sustained low-speed drag operation than the turbo EMD units.  They were also less likely to catch fire.  For such a large unit, the SD9s had a surprisingly cramped cab.

The GP30s were pretty good all around units.  I even ran some with type B road trucks off scrapped FAs.  Some had been downrated by having the turbos removed for sustained low speed operation. (Making them GP28s?)

I've run SD40s, including the ex-demonstrators, but liked the SD40-2s better.  They have big, comfortable cabs and big end "porches".  Their modular solid-state electrical components were more dependable than the old hard-wired ones of their predecessors.

The modern EMD and GE units with "fly by wire" controls were nicest to run.  I liked the desktop style controls better than the side console controls.  A lot of engineers preferred the latter.  The first time I ran one I had the feeling I was flying the Starship Enterprise.

Les









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[K487]

Favorite Engine?   SD40-2 (by a big margin)

K487