Post by: Terry on June 13, 2021, 02:13:51 AM
My Favorite Train
People come over and ask me “What's your favorite train?
I could point at this 1909 Lionel steam loco and claim it was may favorite, but that would leave out these little locos from the late teens and early 1920s:
There are a lot of them so they must be special to me. I bought the first one in 1972 from the neighbor. I was nine-years-old. I spent the decades since searching out the different variations, but now they just sit there.
And what about these 33 locos? They fascinate me. I have over two dozen of them, and I keep finding new variations. When guests ask about these locos I can see their eyes glass over as I start pointing the differences. Come to think of it, these are usually the last trains I show people when they come over. As a group, they are neat, but individually they are boring.
This fancy black loco with it's walnut display board must be special because it has a place of honor over the door. Nope. That's more of a train my dad liked so I keep it.
Based on the way these cars are jammed into the shelves, they probably aren't special.
This big American Flyer loco is neat. It has bell in it and goes ka-DING. . . ka-DING. . . ka-DING as it goes around the layout. Of all the American Flyer trains I have this is certainly my favorite. But I doubt it's the most favorite. The dog really likes this one because it's loud, but she can write her own article.
Here's another loco on the layout:
This 392E is special. It's the first standard gauge steam loco I bought. It came from John Hammons in the mid 1980s. It has a mechanical sound system Lionel called a “Chugger” and I added an American Flyer smoke unit. It has had a place on every standard gauge layout I've ever had. While it's certainly A favorite, it's not THE favorite.
When I'm honest with myself, my favorite train is “The Next One.” It's the search for something interesting that drives me.
What's your favorite train?
Post by: pjdog350 on June 13, 2021, 04:02:31 AM
Let's see you layout. It's been a while?
Post by: starfire700 on June 14, 2021, 05:17:36 AM
My favorites change when I take one down off the shelf or out of a lugger where it is hiding, get it ready to run, on the track, then hit the throttle. Like a kid I still get my eye down at track level, or maybe let the GoPro do that for me as it is easier on the knees. When that train goes past, in that moment it is my favorite train.
However, I probably do go back to certain ones. The top contenders for me would be the No6 with 2 #29 daycoaches that I got from Lou Redman in 1981, or my 700K Kit Hudson with a string of scale freights 714, 715, 716 and 717.........or maybe my red 450 610/612 Macy set, my postwar 2338 Milwaukee Rd freight set (my first Lionel set in 1955) or maybe.........It is just too hard to narrow it down!
Post by: starfire700 on June 14, 2021, 05:44:08 AM
It is definitely a Hiawatha set.
Or maybe a prewar Marx Army train.....but which one?
The Lionel North Shore Limited in apple or later Girard green has always been a favorite.
I think I know why I have too many trains.
Post by: pjdog350 on June 14, 2021, 12:21:41 PM
Post by: starfire700 on June 14, 2021, 02:14:28 PM
Post by: early0electric on June 14, 2021, 06:30:33 PM
Post by: pjdog350 on June 14, 2021, 06:56:57 PM
Post by: Terry on June 14, 2021, 09:39:34 PM
Post by: early0electric on June 14, 2021, 10:47:54 PM
Post by: Terry on June 15, 2021, 09:32:30 AM
Post by: early0electric on June 15, 2021, 11:25:58 AM
Post by: starfire700 on June 16, 2021, 04:21:03 AM
Post by: early0electric on June 18, 2021, 03:22:17 PM
Post by: starfire700 on June 20, 2021, 04:28:08 AM
Post by: early0electric on June 21, 2021, 01:11:51 PM
Post by: pjdog350 on June 21, 2021, 02:01:13 PM
Post by: early0electric on June 23, 2021, 02:17:08 PM