I'm with Bill T on this one. The Milwaukee GE box cabs are die-cast heavy and will pull anything. I bought the A-B-A try-color set when they first came out. Liked them so much I wanted another set. They are not cheap. Saw a black Rock Island A-A set very cheap. Guess they didn't sell well because the Rock never had them. Bought that set and repainted it to Milwaukee Road. Love them. They even made the cover of OGR. Don. 
Maybe MTH Premier BAR GP7 #63.
For me, each new generation of 3rd Rail diesel is the best. The E6s are the best ones they've done to date and are solid runners.
Putnam Division posted:Lou N posted:Dan Padova posted:Putnam Division posted:Still the best.....even after 61 years.....
Peter
I knew in an instant who the little boy in the old photo was. All he needs are the glasses.
And a bow tie
Lou N
Love it, gentleman!
This seems to really mess up my iPad. Why can't we get rid of the "reply with quote" button?
Bob, love the photo. I have wanted to stage that same legendary picture myself. Only problem...I don't have a black Bipolar. Only the tri-color one. Someday I will get one. Don
bob2 posted:Putnam Division posted:Lou N posted:Dan Padova posted:Putnam Division posted:Still the best.....even after 61 years.....
Peter
I knew in an instant who the little boy in the old photo was. All he needs are the glasses.
And a bow tie
Lou N
Love it, gentleman!
This seems to really mess up my iPad. Why can't we get rid of the "reply with quote" button?
How would the person who originally posted know that their post was being quoted ? As it is now, we only know if someone has replied to our posting by revisiting the threads we have made statements on. Sometimes I forget what and where I made a post, and there is no way to search for replies to a post I made.
Dan Padova posted:bob2 posted:This seems to really mess up my iPad. Why can't we get rid of the "reply with quote" button?
How would the person who originally posted know that their post was being quoted ? As it is now, we only know if someone has replied to our posting by revisiting the threads we have made statements on. Sometimes I forget what and where I made a post, and there is no way to search for replies to a post I made.
Well, if folks would just take time to delete the pics and most of the repetitive text (as in this example), which post is being replied to becomes obvious without overloading the bandwidth and elongating the thread unnecessarily . . . .
To me, Norris Falls on the G&O is the best feature in the "whatever" category. This water fall was built by Nancy Norris and me in June 2011. It took about two weeks of hard work to construct it. Norris Falls is about 6 feet high. The water is re-cycled from a basin at the base of the falls. The sound of the running water is awesome. People have told us that this is one of the best water falls that they have seen on any garden railroad. The water, rocks, and all the plants are real. NH Joe
My "whatever" best is my latest creation that I've posted before in a different thread. The Polo Grounds:
There, you will see the shot heard round the world and hear "the Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant."
I find this to be very funny because I am not, and have never been, a Giants baseball fan. However, location is everything. The Polo Grounds is on my layout because I love trains, The Put and baseball, and the Polo Grounds was next door to the Sedgewick Ave. Station of The Put. Arnold
What I consider my best changes from day to day. Today, it's this MTH Proto 3 steamer, specifically this Long Island B6 switcher, running on DCS and hauling freight:
Why is it my best, at least for now? I have a switching layout with sharp 031 curves. This switcher, IMO, looks and runs great on my layout. In other words, it's a perfect fit for my layout.
I mentioned on the most recent edition of Switcher Saturday that I have the Switcheritis Disease. Many switchers have become irresistible to me. LOL.
This Little Engine That Could, IMO, has it all: great smoke, sounds and appearance, and front and back electrocouplers that operate flawlessly.
Now it your turn. Tell us what locomotive or train is currently your best and why.
Arnold
"Best" or "Favorite"?...or does it even matter?
Whenever a question like this comes up I think back to the RMC article from the 1970s(?) when they ran an feature on Chuck Brasher's Standard Gauge collection and layout.
When asked what his favorite piece was, he said "whichever one I'm holding in my hands at that moment". I always felt that was the best answer anyone could give... 
Mark in Oregon
@Strummer posted:"Best" or "Favorite"?...or does it even matter?
Whenever a question like this comes up I think back to the RMC article from the 1970s(?) when they ran an feature on Chuck Brasher's Standard Gauge collection and layout.
When asked what his favorite piece was, he said "whichever one I'm holding in my hands at that moment". I always felt that was the best answer anyone could give...
Mark in Oregon
I totally agree with you, Mark. For me, it also depends on my mood, or I just get the urge to run a particular engine or train, like I did tonight when I ran that Long Island B6. Arnold
I would further add that when I get that urge to run a particular engine, I often feel it's my best at that moment.
One of my favorite cars:
However, there can be other considerations.
Here's an example. Let's compare a top of the Line $2,000 plus Vision Line steamer with my B6. Let's also assume that the Vision Line, with all its spectacular smoke, bells and whistles, has run flawlessly for a substantial period of time.
I can honestly say, without any equivocation, that for me, my B6 is a better engine that the Vision Line.
Why?
I can't run the Vision Line on my layout. No way will it navigate a single one of my numerous 031 curves. I'm committed to my long and narrow tubular track layout with tight reverse loops, the Vision Line will be nothing but a Shelf Queen, I don't believe in Shelf Queens, I'm a consummate operator, and will pick my $400 MTH Railking Proto 3 B6 steam switcher over the Lionel Vision Line steamer every time. Arnold
@Arnold D. Cribari posted:I can't run the Vision Line on my layout. No way will it navigate a single one of my numerous 031 curves. I'm committed to my long and narrow tubular track layout with tight reverse loops, the Vision Line will be nothing but a Shelf Queen, I don't believe in Shelf Queens, I'm a consummate operator, and will pick my $400 MTH Railking Proto 3 B6 steam switcher over the Lionel Vision Line steamer every time. Arnold
Well, obviously, Arnold, you need a larger layout. Easy-peasy 
Sorry… couldn’t resist!!!
@MELGAR posted:Arnold,
Now you have hit upon a really difficult question. Actually, not just difficult but impossible. I don't think I can give you a definitive answer, but my MTH Premier New Haven Railroad EP-5 #371 is one that is among the best that I enjoy running.
MELGAR
Melgar,
Is that one of the early Premier EP-5's (20-2195)? And it's still going strong?
Mark
@PRRrat posted:Melgar,
Is that one of the early Premier EP-5's (20-2195)? And it's still going strong?
Mark
Absolutely.
In my experience, MTH locomotive models like this one with PS1 and a BCR are very robust and durable. I have several that I still run often that have never required repair during the more than 20 years that I own them - including this EP-5, New York Central P2 box cab electric #223 and Pennsylvania Railroad G-5s steam engine #5740. Command control is not necessary on either of my model railroads and conventional operation is satisfactory for me. Here's a recent video of the EP-5 in operation.
MELGAR
Switch job basques in the late afternoon sun.
For me it is usually my last completed project but this Pacific Great Eastern RS-3 still has pride of place. It took a ton of work to replicate a MLW version and I'm very happy with the way it turned out.
I was puzzled at first as to how/why this nearly 3 year old thread got revived - but as I think I missed it first time around, I'm not making any point on its revival!
My only contribution is that while I really could not name any overall favorite or "best" train or accessory, I do have a particular weakness for cab forwards. That has not led me to have a number of examples of them but what I do are fine examples of the type, IMHO.
For novelty value there is this Daylight Legacy AC-12 from 2013:
For a much more authentic look there's this 3rd Rail AM-2, which no photo I have of it does the signature 3rd Rail detail complete justice:
Not necessarily the “BEST”, but certainly a sentimental favorite, my only engine, along with its matching dummy, to survive Sandy:
CNW H10-44 #1072
Two trains departing from Union Station, Christopolis.
Well as others have said, its tough to pick a favorite but I will admit that I love "covered wagons"
Here is a classic, the Lionel 2344 and 2344C "chicken wire" F-3's from '50-'52.
Then there is the Wabash AB # 2240 from 1955
Who when talking about these F units can forget these Marx classics...the # 6000 SP from 1950-1954
The large Marx Santa Fe #21 from 1950-54
The B&0 #62 from 1953 -1954, 1958, and 1967
Best Wishes, great pictures all
Don
Just a couple, New Haven 209 from 58 got dirt cheap but no Dummy A, A repainted U36B, and some K4s
MTH RailKing N&W Y6b mallet and a scale Lionel N&W J class from the 2005 catalogue. The J class is the "Queen of my fleet" ... and I don't mean shelf Queen
I only have 7 engines. But this Lionel F7 ABA set is my best. It's smooth running with great sounds and glides around the layout effortlessly no matter how many aluminum passenger cars it's pulling.
My best....I don't know if I can trim the list down to just one, however, this guy is certainly one of my top 10.
@Robert S. Butler posted:My best....I don't know if I can trim the list down to just one, however, this guy is certainly one of my top 10.
Yes, that is definitely a beautifully decorated American 4-4-0 Robert. But, can it pull? 🤔
Vern - Oh yes - definitely.
Of the 4-4-0's that call the O&O home only this one has trouble pulling
...of course, to be fair - the two brass cars are a bit on the heavy side.
@Robert S. Butler posted:Vern - Oh yes - definitely.
Of the 4-4-0's that call the O&O home only this one has trouble pulling
...of course, to be fair - the two brass cars are a bit on the heavy side.
That’s awesome, Robert. Thanks 👍
Wow Arnold, you’ve asked a hard to answer Question, but since things have changed over the years, I must say my overhauled K-Line hudson, rebuilt at the Harmonyards shops out in North Carolina. Happy Railroading Everyone 
Awesome engine Larry...I must say the Hudson is about my favorite as well, although I can't run mine on my little layout, I can still look at it 
Best wishes
Don
ColorMAN printing press for the Toronto Star. Built in 1991 for MANRoland as a gift to the Star. 1/8" = 1'-0" scale and about eight feet long. The first printing press model that we made. About five years later we made a shadowbox version of a new press that was capable of complete color printing to be presented at the Nation Pressman's Convention. In those five years we went from learning about flying pasters and folders to producing a concept model of a new product that had not yet been designed. Adding machine paper for the pasters and well over 1,000 feet of brass rod and styrene tube.
Lionel SD70ACe UP Heritage units - great smoke, incredible quilling horn and power.
My best Postwar steamer: 773 Hudson (1965 version), IMO a mechanical marvel:
Arnold
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