Worlds most beautiful locomotive

Moonson posted:

Such an enjoyable thread! I lost count of how many "Likes" I sent participants for the photos of beautiful locomotives presented for consideration.

However, and I cannot speak for "the world" and its choice for "most beautiful" locomotive, but I have a theory about that. When we plunk-down our hard-earned money to purchase a locomotive, haven't we cast our vote, by "putting our money where our mouth is" ? Maaaaaybeee. But probably not. Why?

I'll bet many, many , many of us have bought more than one locomotive (!)

So, what to do? I say, keep on suggesting the most beautiful, having our enjoyable conversation about the, alleged, best ONE, and enjoy the ride.

Selecting the world's best is a little bit like trying to say which flower is the most beautiful. Roses one day; Orchids the next. Violets? Iris? Tulips? You get the idea. They - the locomotives and the flowers - are all "most beautiful" and satisfying in their own special and particular way(s).

FranKM

P.S. Have I just said absolutely nothing here?

Frank, your prose is as magnificent as your trains, structures,  scenery and layout!

Arnold

mikey posted:

Here are a couple of mine

Mikey, the Krocks are great!  F-units aren't bad either!  

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, obvious here. I think some the earliest E's, in their circa 1940 livery, such as the Rock Island's, were rolling art work.  For me, nothing tops steam, but some shrouded steam, like the streamlined autos of their era, are just plain ugly. That does not include the C&O Mikado and Pacific, not shrouded, which top my list, with Elescos, flying pumps, and Vanderbilts.  And this with my favorite roads far to the west.

Most of the shrouded steam that MR produced was attractive, but their first kick at the cat was a hands down winner in my books.  The combined expertise of designer and builder expanded on an ancient high speed configuration to produce the class A.  Throwing together just the right amounts of form following function in perfect time with simplicity and flash wasn't common place in shrouded steam.  Few examples were totally new loco s from the ground up like the Milwaukee Road class A Atlantic.

Bruce

brwebster posted:

Most of the shrouded steam that MR produced was attractive, but their first kick at the cat was a hands down winner in my books.  The combined expertise of designer and builder expanded on an ancient high speed configuration to produce the class A.  Throwing together just the right amounts of form following function in perfect time with simplicity and flash wasn't common place in shrouded steam.  Few examples were totally new loco s from the ground up like the Milwaukee Road class A Atlantic.

Bruce

.....and here all the time I was sure you were talking about the N&W Class A

Ok, maybe not.  But it would be if I had an O scale MTH or Lionel model of this D&SL 2-6-6-0 sitting on my desk with me right now!

But this REALLY is the most beautiful locomotive.

rex desilets posted:

brwebster posted:

Most of the shrouded steam that MR produced was attractive, but their first kick at the cat was a hands down winner in my books.  The combined expertise of designer and builder expanded on an ancient high speed configuration to produce the class A.  Throwing together just the right amounts of form following function in perfect time with simplicity and flash wasn't common place in shrouded steam.  Few examples were totally new loco s from the ground up like the Milwaukee Road class A Atlantic.

Bruce

.....and here all the time I was sure you were talking about the N&W Class A

Nah!  Get back to me when we start talking Y3-Y6.  

Bruce

Hands down- an EMD F7, in ATSF War Bonnet livery.

HI Mike Wyatt, I never actually saw photos of the real ones. In fact, I may have always thought, as a boy, that they were made up by Lionel just for fun. It is a real treat (pun intended) seeing them as they actually were. Thank You!

FrankM

P.S, The coolest boy in my neighborhood had an A-B-B-B-A of the Santa fe, and we thought it was the best locomotive ever.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

To me it's like a Corvette with a big block and a 4 speed.   Pure all-American muscle. 

The Beauty is a Beast.  

OR  

Should that be the Beast is a Beauty!

Ron

My favorites are the NYC Hudsons, but I have to give an ‘Honorable Mention’ to the Wabash P-1’s. That Wabash blue, white with red pin stripe is striking in my opinion. 

I just had to do it

Tom

Tom Densel posted:

I just had to do it

Tom

SACRILEGE!

Butt A-Tipacle for Lionel!

is there a reason we cant get our EMD F7's to ride LOW like the real ones? 

stevin posted:

is there a reason we cant get our EMD F7's to ride LOW like the real ones? 

The models do in 2-Rail SCALE, since they do not have to allow for those large "pizza cutter" wheel flanges, nor swinging pilots for sharp curves. Also, I believe the Atlas and Sunset/3rd Rail models of EMD F Units, ride much lower.

yankspride4 posted:

Tough call for me between these two:

Yeah; I’m far more of a PRR than an NYC fan but; the Dreyfus Hudson’s just scream the romance and elegance of premium rail travel.  Plus; I’ve always had a soft spot for Art Deco styling anyhow.

Curt

PS: Definitely the version shown in the bottom photo!  👍

Santa Fe isn’t really one of my roads, but it’s hard to argue against the Warbonnet scheme on either a F3 or a PA-1.

Jeff C

Hot Water posted:

stevin posted:

is there a reason we cant get our EMD F7's to ride LOW like the real ones? 

The models do in 2-Rail SCALE, since they do not have to allow for those large "pizza cutter" wheel flanges, nor swinging pilots for sharp curves. Also, I believe the Atlas and Sunset/3rd Rail models of EMD F Units, ride much lower.

If running a min o-72 curves shouldn't it be possible? I know Lionel has started using the semi swinging pilot and some atlas models have the option of installing the non-swiveling pilot. Can we run scale wheels with larger curves?

I like several beautiful locomotives but here's one at the other end of the appearance spectrum and it is in operation today in the Orlando area ......

Bill

The Pennsy T-1 although there are a lot of nice ones.

I nominate the PRR S1.

These next two images don't have all the streamlining but it's still a nice engine

I haven't seen a bad one yet.  A few not as pretty, but all contenders.

Alan

stevin posted:

Hot Water posted:

stevin posted:

is there a reason we cant get our EMD F7's to ride LOW like the real ones? 

The models do in 2-Rail SCALE, since they do not have to allow for those large "pizza cutter" wheel flanges, nor swinging pilots for sharp curves. Also, I believe the Atlas and Sunset/3rd Rail models of EMD F Units, ride much lower.

If running a min o-72 curves shouldn't it be possible?

Yes.

I know Lionel has started using the semi swinging pilot and some atlas models have the option of installing the non-swiveling pilot. Can we run scale wheels with larger curves?

Yes, however a lot depends on you turnouts. Some scale wheel equipped models do not like certain brands of turnouts.

Maybe not beautiful but certainly brutely-handsome.

Honey I shrunk 2601!

Ron

I think classes are required.  Best in Class: Mid-century Modern-Diesel.

anender posted:

I nominate the PRR S1.

 

These next two images don't have all the streamlining but it's still a nice engine

I actually like the one with the skirts off the wheels better ! Too much flat sheet metal with the skirts on. Same reason I'm not a fan of the Commodore Vanderbilt and the Mercury loco's great slabs of sheet metal styling !   On the S1 I would have preferred the tender trucks showing with streamline shrouds mounted on the trucks, to the slab sided look of the tender as is.      j

The Southern 4-6-2 is one of the most beautiful locomotives of course in my opinion!  

I agree, this variation of the Hiawatha is the best.  Did anyone make this version in 3 rail?

My three are,  GP30, SDL39, CB&Q 05, and Milw 261

Jeff C

FrankRazz posted:

I agree, this variation of the Hiawatha is the best.  Did anyone make this version in 3 rail?

Lionel made a beautiful diecast scale version around 2007.

Weaver made a scale version in brass.

Lionel also made a diecast tinplate version around 1937, which MTH and Pride Lines reproduced.  All of these are scale sized.

Prewar American Flyer made a traditional size one in diecast and a very small one in stamped lithographed sheet metal.

RoyBoy posted:

FrankRazz posted:

I agree, this variation of the Hiawatha is the best.  Did anyone make this version in 3 rail?

Lionel made a beautiful diecast scale version around 2007.

Weaver made a scale version in brass.

Lionel also made a diecast tinplate version around 1937, which MTH and Pride Lines reproduced.  All of these are scale sized.

Lionel sold the ones made by Mike in the late eighties I have one. I have seen a couple that were detailed and they essentially become 3RailScale. I have the parts to detail mine but other projects keep getting in the way. The 2007 Lionel or the Weaver is the way to go though if you don't already have one. The problem with the one produced in the late eighties is they are geared far to high guess on 18v they top out over 200mph if you have a long enough straight. This high gearing hurts pulling power.           j

Here are a couple of mine........

Al