Nice thread idea, c.sam.
I make a distinction between real trains and my models. Among real locos, my favorites are the bigger the better, Big Boy, Yellowstones, Allegheny. I have models of them and they sit on the shelf mostly, but I love to look at them there.
My favorite articulated toy locomotives are the ones that look good running on my layout: and that means a handsome scale loco with good detail and minimal overhang/jut-out at the front. My JLC BigBoy, Allegheny, the Yellowstones, and even the H7, etc., etc., are nice, and I love 'em, but they look more than a bit unrealistic making their way around 72" and 84" curves.
I love the Vision CC2. It is quite interesting to look at, a very detailed mode with good sound, great runner, etc., and has very little overhang at the front: the two photos below show it on 72" curves.
![Slide1 Slide1](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/40145252954110842/filePointer/40145253090276327/fodoid/40145253090276320/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/Slide1.JPG)
![Slide2 Slide2](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/40145252954110842/filePointer/40145253090276328/fodoid/40145253090276321/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/Slide2.JPG)
But my favorite articulated is this Legacy 2-6-6-2 Mallet. It is very handsome, and looks big (because it is) and has reasonable overhang at the front. Here it is on a 72" curve.
![Slide3 Slide3](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/40145252954110842/filePointer/40145253090276329/fodoid/40145253090276322/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/Slide3.JPG)
![Slide4 Slide4](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/40145252954110842/filePointer/40145253090276330/fodoid/40145253090276323/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/Slide4.JPG)