Favourite Locomotives?

[Steamdemon]

If this is in the wrong section, feel free to move.

I'm a train nut. That means I like trains. However, there are a few trains that I think are really awesome. This can be for multiple reasons like how it looks to the various running gears. So, with that, my favourite locomotives are the GNR N2:

Above photo taken by Tony Hisgett. The British Railways 9F, Black Prince:

And this topic would not be complete without a diesel. My two favourite diesel locomotives are the BR class 17:

Above photo by Geof Sheppard. And the NS Class 200:

Ooh, this one has a crane. Photo by Joost J. Bakker.

So, what are your favourite locomotives? Pictures aren't required.

 

 

[ShaydDeGrai]

You'll probably get a bigger response if you ask this in the train forum, but in any case, I have a family bias or the Flying Scotsman (LNER Class A3)

My grandfather was an engineer on her for the bulk of his career.

[Digger of Bricks]

For me, 1930's American streamlined steam locomotives are definitely my thing, and this one in particular is kind of a favorite of mine.

But, I also do have a thing for classical British steam locomotives, since I grew up watching and reading the original Thomas the Tank Engine stories. 

By the way, I also think this topic should have been posted in the Train subforum, even though it does not pertain to Lego particularly.

[Steamdemon]

I'm a fan of the reading crusader Steamliner locomotives myself.

Regarding the topic, yeah, I thought it would be the wrong area. Oh well. 

[Digger of Bricks]

1 minute ago, Steamdemon said:

Regarding the topic, yeah, I thought it would be the wrong area. Oh well. 

Perhaps you should link the topic in your signature to compensate, since the Community subforum does not get as much traffic as others. 

[Steamdemon]

Ok, linked in signature.

[ColletArrow]

Yes, another British train Nut!

Although it's cliched, I love the GWR tanks (Panniers, Small Prairies, 14xx's etc). Also the GWR Collett Goods loco (should have guessed that from my username...)

I also have a weird fascination with 04 and 08 shunters - I think it's the diesel body on a steam-age chassis, and the fact that the latter are still in use today (or at least variants of them). The class 17's are pretty interesting as well. To be honest, any British steam or early BR diesel gets me interested.

The really weird thing is that I like the look of the modern class 66's, they look reassuringly boxy. Never thought I'd praise a modern diesel, did you?

I think it's best to leave this here as it's rather off-LEGO.

[xboxtravis7992]

Oh I got a few I can think of. As far as American locomotives go while I love big steamers (Big Boy, FEF, GS4, PRR T1, etc.) my pick for favorite steam engines goes to the extremely large and varied family of 2-8-0 Consolidation type engines. Particularly the ALCO built ones, they look big, burly, kind of mean; and look like a true steam work horse. One example of this is the Nevada Northern #93 a Pittsburgh built ALCO 2-8-0 seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZo9yoxf5oI
 

As for diesels? I am partial to a lot of the early EMD engines, GP7's, F7's, E9's, SW1200's, SD9's, GP30's etc. I also like the ALCO RS and PA series engines. As for currently running locomotives on major Class 1's I like the SD40-2 series and its rebuilds (SD40N and SD40-E for example):

 

With that said I have a sweet spot for some of the "ugly ducklings" out there including the SD60M "Triclops" and the rare MK50-3's. 

 

As far as international motors go; my knowledge is somewhat more limited. I like the G22u which runs in South America. On the British Isles, I gotta say I'm drawn to things like their smooth 4-6-2 steamers and classic diesels such as the Deltic. 

In short... I have to many favorite locos and can't just pick one! 

[Steamdemon]

Another favourite, which inspired me to build the 0-4-4-0 mallet tank was these:
 

The picture above is Pakis Baru 5. She's now in the UK.

http://www.statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk/locomotives_Mallet.php

A mallet tank is quite a rarity to be fair, but that's why they're so cool.

[ColletArrow]

30 minutes ago, xboxtravis7992 said:

In short... I have to many favorite locos and can't just pick one! 

Definitely! I missed loads off my list I like, just to keep it short! 

Overall, I prefer small to medium sized engines over big, powerful ones. I don't know why, I guess it's because it's what I'm used to seeing.

I do however love the oddball, one-of-a-kind machines, such as the LMS's "Big Bertha" engine. It was built solely for banking heavy trains on the notorious Lickey Incline, one if the steepest sections of railway in Britain (I think). I know that classes as a big engine, but never mind.

[Steamdemon]

A few Garretts attempted banking, But in the end, the bank broke them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lickey_Incline#Bankers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_engine

Whoops, going off the rails.

EDIT: Speaking of GWR, I live in GWR Territory. More specifically Wiltshire. I've been to STEAM twice. Loved seeing City of Truro's side skirts partially covering the wheels.

Thanks Ashley Dace for the photo. She's a beauty! Looks like she may have the class C headlamp arrangement on. Or it could be the express head code, just at a different angle.

Edited November 21, 2017 by Steamdemon

[ColletArrow]

11 hours ago, Steamdemon said:

Looks like she may have the class C headlamp arrangement on. Or it could be the express head code, just at a different angle.

No, she does indeed appear to have the C-class lamp code, implying the coaching stock is empty; you can see the other lamp bracket closer to the camera. Sometimes modern heritage railways don't pay attention to those details, I've seen a full passenger train declared as an F-class ballast train before! At least they've got GWR red lamps.

#BritishRailwaysTalk

I do like City of Truro, but I'm not as much a fan of the older-styled locomotives.

[Trekkie99]

13 hours ago, Digger of Bricks said:

For me, 1930's American streamlined steam locomotives are definitely my thing, and this one in particular is kind of a favorite of mine.

That's the Murcury, my favorite as well! 

My other favorite train* (although not a steam locomotive) is the BR Class 08 Diesel Shunter. A very popular model for AFOLs to make in Lego it seems. 

(Actually my most favorite! )*

PS. Cool topic BTW.  

[Steamdemon]

I prefer the Maunsell shunter, aka D3/12

Didn't some of the class 08s have air whistles instead of a regular horn? I can't remember.

 

[ColletArrow]

Not sure about the 08s whistles. I do know there were many variants, some different enough to be re-classed as 09. In 1965, 3 master-and-slave pairs were created from some of them (the cab and controls removed from the one unit, so 2 locos controlled from one cab), and were classed as 13s. Their purpose was to shunt the Tinsley Marshalling Yard, which as it was still a hump yard couldn't use standard longer-wheelbase locos for risk of grounding! They looked a bit odd (I can't seem to put the pictures here, just have a google).

I do love the 08s though. My first LEGO train MOC was an attempt at one, having bought the PF elements from LEGO, and inspired by this one: 

I have gradually built better and better versions, even if I have cheated by putting some yellow paper over the side of the Battery Box to make a Network Rail liveried one.

How about the BR "USA" tank, brought over after the war to shunt Southampton Docks?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SR_USA_0-6-0T_30073_Eastleigh_MPD_70D,_August_1966_(9969640295).jpg

They're odd-looking beasts, especially here in the UK, but I like them, mainly because they're different and have an interesting story. I've had a go at building one of these in LEGO, as it matches up to the grid almost perfectly in 7-wide scale. I tried with PF, but took it out as it wasn't very powerful or reliable.

[Murdoch17]

my favorite is a toss up between the 1950's GM Aerotrain, a failed prototype... 

...and Frisco 1522, a steam loco that has been sidelined in 2002 after issues with the boiler tubes and funding problems... darn you insurance prices!! (picture in spoiler for size)

Spoiler

Here we can see my Lego versions of these engines, along with War-baby Daylight 4460:

Top row: Frisco 1522 (4-8-2 Mountain type)
Middle row: Southern Pacific 4460 (4-8-4 "Warbaby" Daylight)
Bottom row:  General Motors' Aerotrain (failed experimental prototype diesel + consist)

Edited November 27, 2017 by Murdoch17

[Steamdemon]

That Warbaby Daylight looks gorgeous.

Found another favourite of mine which is the BR Standard Class 7, aka, the Britannia class:

Above photo by Hugh Ilewelyn...or was it Llewelyn?

 

[Digger of Bricks]

On 11/27/2017 at 3:16 PM, Murdoch17 said:

my favorite is a toss up between the 1950's GM Aerotrain, a failed prototype... 

Dang, your rendition of that is still just the best!  

[Steamdemon]

4 mixed goods locomotives that I like are the Fowler 4F, the Larger Seagull K2, the CR 812 and LY&R Class 28. Honestly, I think James looks better in black, the vain so and so...

[Nik Sentker]

My favourite Locomotive is the German V100

20170923_135127 by nik Sentker, auf Flickr

 

 

Edited February 2, 2018 by Nik Sentker

[Trekkie99]

1 minute ago, Nik Sentker said:

My favourite Locomotive is the German V100

<a data-flickr-embed="true"  href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147940254@N06/26023601008/in/album-72157690989232601/" title="20170923_135127"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4616/26023601008_119c2cb324_b.jpg" width="1024" height="576" alt="20170923_135127"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

 

Ya mean this one?

 

 

[Steamdemon]

Wow, that's an awesome photo, Nik. Welcome to the forums!
Found another cool GWR Locomotive, sadly hasn't been preserved:

Don't know who took the photo, but the class of the locomotive is GWR Class 2600, aka William Dean's Abedare Class. It's a Mogul. Locomotives with sideskirts are cool.

Another favourite is the American Challenger Class:

Photo by Anthony Wessel. 

[ColletArrow]

@Nik Sentker Neat! Very similar to 3677; just needs a centralised cab, and slightly pitched bonnets... hmm, there's an idea for a project...

@Steamdemon So, similar to the City class, but longer and with a different wheel distribution? Interesting. I guess the GWR got rid of most of them themselves. The American Challenger loco has an impressive number of wheels, and that's just the tender...  
(Side-not for British train buffs: there's a pretty good 5-part series on YouTube called "Britain's Railways Then and Now", I found it interesting at least! Start with the GWR one)

[Steamdemon]

@ColletArrow 2601, Kruger Class was the slightly bigger sister...Abedare was a Mogul, 2601 was 4-6-0, but that was a protoype for the Mogul formation 2602... Honestly, Abedare is a lot more prettier.

This here:

is Kruger Prototype 2601.

By Andy Dingley (scanner) - Scan from Howden, J.R. (1907) The Boys' Book of Locomotives, London: E. Grant Richards, pp. facing p. 138, Public Domain,

 

Edited February 3, 2018 by Steamdemon
Kruger class pic

[xzanfr]

Not a big fan of steam, so my favourites are:

The class 08

,

The BR class 55 (deltic)

BR class 43 (intercity 125)

 

I was lucky enough to drive the BR class 08 in the picture (Haversham) at my local heritage railway - I reckon you could see my smile from space :D

 

@Steamdemon They also let me on the footplate of a class 17 - it's got a little burner on board so that the driver can make tea as they go along.

Edited February 3, 2018 by xzanfr