Favorite type of train (Steam, Diesel or Electric)

[bpetit]

If any of you guys would foam over a train what would it be steam, diesel, or electric.

Mine has got to be the Illinois Central SD70s Seriously I go nuts whenever I hear that horn.

[CSX2057]

Steam:
Big boy and Challengers are my favorite Steam engines. I love how they added 8 large wheels and the SP Forward cab too but the sound is terrible. I also liked the Sp 4449 Daylight, American and NKP steam.

Diesel:
My favorite diesel is NS heritage: NKP, Pennsylvania, Regular NS and CSX. ES44 Gevo from railfan3600. SD70ACe first pack, SD75 SF Warbonnet inside the cab that digital speedometer is awesome!, love the horns. PC42 Amtrak, horn is okay.

Electric:
What I found so far in the us route and only 1 I like is Amtrak Acela. Love how they did the designs outside.

Thats pretty much it. Will be more later on.

[spartantrain32]

rp20bd

[Chacal]

Any old diesel (1930s-1960s).
Of course, I have a special fondness for the old engines CN and VIA ran (Alco FAs and C420s, FP9s) in the yards near my home when I was a kid, because that's when I was mostly interested in trains, modeling and so on. I was even in a model RR club with a huge HO layout.

After that life happened.

No steam for me, mainly because I never saw a steam engine in real life.
I'm sure they were great though.

[Griphos]

Definitely steam, but I also like the old diesels (early Alcos, early Geeps, early F series, etc). And I've definitely seen steam in real life, and not just the preservation stuff, but then, I'm older than dirt!

[arizonachris]

I like US steam, Big Boy, Challenger, and the big US diesels. I don't care all that much for electric, or UK stuff. NEC dissapoints me.

[AdmiralLeviathan]

Steam: I'll have to go for GVVR #2248 "Puffy". I like the smaller classes of steam engines, particularly the 4-6-0 type. I'm waiting for the day that someone makes this loco for RW.


Diesel: I generally like the older EMDs and Alcos, but a specific choice would be the Aussie "B Class", which is basically an E-Unit with two cabs. The paint is nice too.


Electric: Hands down the GG1 has to be my pick. If I'm not allowed to have the GG1 as my pick, then the MP54 would be my next favorite. Too bad that RW doesn't have a lot of vintage suburban commuter rollingstock available.

[johnmckenzie]

Favourite type? Anything with real character!

[mrennie]

I suppose it's pretty obvious what my answer will be (steam is just so alive!)

But I do like diesels too, from practically any era, although my favo(u)rite would be the F7.

As for electrics, well, I really don't know any well enough.

[5292nate]

CSX ES40DC. There's something magic about those beautiful K5HL's!

[mapitts]

Southern Railway 4501 because I have grown up around her would be 1st place. Mississippian #77 would be second, because that is the first steam locomotive excursion I rode on, 3rd would be an H-8 Allegheny. Nothing can take the place of steam. On the diesel side I guess it too would be be a toss up between Alco's S series because I have been around them so much in the years past, and second any U series GE.

[buzz456]

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! You guys I want pictures of these things so those of us that don't know one don't have to spend the time looking them up.

[mapitts]

The only pics that I have of 77 is with my mom and dad's old stuff. It is at my brother's and we do not speak anymore. I shot them with a Kodak 110. I was 6 and it was 1972. 77 was and is a very small ex-Frisco 2-8-0. Poor thing could only pull about 5 coaches. It had an IC whistle. We had to stop about every 35-40 miles to take on water. Sheffield to Huntsville and return. Try www.hawkinsrails.net for some pics. Lots of neat stuff on that website. Esspecially for those of us down south. I actually have a DVD with the old girl in action. I also date back in my 4501 years to remember her with Jim Bistline's whistle on her. He was the President of Southern and a very nice person. I have tones of memeories of Southern & L&N in and around Huntsville in the late 60's and early '70s. If any one is interested PM me and I will fill you in.

[mapitts]

No steam for me, mainly because I never saw a steam engine in real life.
I'm sure they were great though.

Nothing can compare to steam to me. A steam locomotive is so much more alive that anything else in the world mechanical that I know of. Anything else just roars, hums, or buzzes. I love to hear diesels struggling on a grade or pulling down hard on the dynamics to keep it from running away or come to a good stop with blended braking and no lost slack. Or even come absolutely pounding a small town in the middle of the night. Throttle in the big 8, horn blaring, train goes by and then total silence. Steam was and is nothing other that what the fireman and engineer can feel, hear, or see. Sure you have a few guages, but beyond that it is 100% human. Nothing was ever better than the days when 4501 would assault the grade on Raccoon Mountain with a clear stack and struggle the whole way to make it at 20 MPH. Standing in the old Southern recording car at night when all of the people went to sleep because they were exhausted. It usually only left you and 3 or 4 more railfans to enjoy it at night. You would have to stop and meet L&N trains, mostly pulled by ALCO's. Then when you got on the Southern, you would meet a few trains. 4501 would always have to take the "hole" on the return trip home. You got to enjoy that for 112 miles. Alone. Not a word spoken, just listening. Those nights are in my mind as crystal clear as I type this. That my friends is the holiest of holies for a rail fan young or old.

[arizonachris]

I don't remember what the locomotive pulled is on my first trip from LA to Phoenix was. It was steam, tho. But, I do remeber there was like a coal heater in the passenger car I was in. Next trip was on the Chief. Domeliner that time. Been back and forth to Phoenix to LA about 5 times now. The new Amtrak is OK.