Favourite Locomotive and Why ?

[port perran]

We'vetalked before about favourite classes of locomotive but I guess we might all have a favourite engine .

As a starter mine is GWR Modified Hall Number 6999 Capel Dewi Hall.  It was a Westbury engine for several years when I was 9/10/11 years of age and lasted nearly till the end of steam at that shed. I used to see it regularly around Westbury and my home town of Trowbridge.
Sadly, it is no more but at least my two tortoises are named after it (Capel and Dewi).

[OwL]

My favorite locomotive is BR Class 60035 in EWS livery. I saw this loco on full power a few years ago pulling aggregates. I've always liked class 60's and 58's but this particular loco is my all time favorite......... It caught my imagination and I can always see this loco in my mind.
So much so that I got a CJM model of the exact loco done in N Gauge ( reviewed here) which cost me £400 

[longbridge]

My favorite British Steam loco is the Jubilee, Diesel Class 47

Favorite US Steamer was the very first Pacific 4-6-2 ever made the Pennsylvania K4, Diesel Alco RS11.

[BobB]

33 019. This loco pulled our train out of Exeter to Basingstoke when a snow fall had stopped everything else. It was due to depart at about 06:00 but in the end it was over half an hour late whilst the points were cleared to get it up the hill to Exeter Central. The train heating wasn't turned on until we got to Salisbury so wife and first born lay snuggled up together in one corner of the carriage all the way home. The guard told us that the driver probably needed the extra power to get through the snow (which may or may not have been correct !) It was essential we got home that day because I needed to be at work the next. Anyway, when I was modelling in OO, Heljen released a model of this loco so of course I had to buy one. I ended up travelling to the UK, down to Ford and those nice people at the Engine Shed tested it before I carried it all the way back again ! One day, a re-tooled model will be available in N (possibly from Dapol ? - they have the class 26 already) so I'll have one for my new N layout.

[Calnefoxile]

Well I have a few:

1. 55006 - The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry - purely because of the name really, I just think its a fantastic name to try and say when you're inebriated. Also, who on here has never hoped for the football score Forfar 5 - East Fife 4 
2. 46026 - Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry - Being a Leicester lad, the Peaks were regularly passing through Leicester, and this was the first Peak I ever saw, well took notice of anyway.
3. 46159 - Royal Scot - Royal Air Force - I never saw this locomotive, but having served 12 years in the RAF, I just had to have a model of it. I know it's a Kettle, but sometimes you just have to bow to the inevitable.
4. 2865/61665 - B17 - Leicester City - Being a Leicester City fan, I don't need to say anymore really, except COME ON DAPOL DO THIS ONE!!!! PLEASE!!!!

Anyway, there's my eclectic list of favourite locos, but I also have a penchant for the 58's as I saw them being tested through Leicester and to bring it up to date, I think the 70's are fantastic and can't wait for the N Gauge versions.

Regards

Neal.

[Pengi]

Difficult to choose between Eurostar, Pendolino and Wessex Electric (in SWT)

Eurostar because of the Channel Tunnel and Pendolino because it was the first tilting passenger train in regular use. Both of these trains are style icons. I remember going on business to Birmingham a few days after the Pendolino came into service and was thrilled to travel on it (as, living in the South, my chances of travelling on one are limited)

SWT Wessex Electric because this train marked a significant positive change in the comfort and cleanliness levels of the trains on the Waterloo line. The livery was very smart too.

Each of these trains was responsible for reviving my interest in trains.

[BobB]

Hi Pendy

Not sure about the livery but I remember wanting to have a go on a Wessex. Trouble was that in those days they never stopped at Basingstoke so couldn't really justify buying a valid ticket. Did they end up stopping at Basingstoke before they were withdrawn ?

Bob

[Pengi]

Hi Pendy

Not sure about the livery but I remember wanting to have a go on a Wessex. Trouble was that in those days they never stopped at Basingstoke so couldn't really justify buying a valid ticket. Did they end up stopping at Basingstoke before they were withdrawn ?

Bob

I'm not sure if they stopped at Basingstoke because I used to catch them on the Portsmouth line. I was disappointed when they were replaced by the Desiro 444 (and even more disappointed when they replaced some of the 444s with 450s)

The Wessexes were terrific trains that are better suited to the longer routes that they are on the Gatwick Express route (in my view) and I found them to be more comfortable than the Desiros.

[Newportnobby]

I reckon the Brits are (IMHO) one of the best proportioned standard classes and a highlight for me last year was being on a train hauled by one over the S & C to Carlisle

[Greybeema]

This is going to seem odd but...

Steam...
Battle of Britain - 501 Squadron - Well Proportioned workman like Locos - Celebrating a Gravesend based Hurricane Squadron....
Schools V Class - so elegant
Princess Coronation 6201 - This was the first Tender Loco I ever owned (The old Triang Hornby one, thanks Mum & Dad).  LMS Maroon, Smoke, Chuffing Sound - and it still works about 40 years later...
Oliver Cromwell - Brittania - Well proportioned - Had the old Triange Hornby with the ringfield motor tender drive (also still works)..

Diesel
33035 - Spitfire....

Now if you can spot the connection between the first and last - that is my other passion...

[Claude Dreyfus]

Hi Pendy

Not sure about the livery but I remember wanting to have a go on a Wessex. Trouble was that in those days they never stopped at Basingstoke so couldn't really justify buying a valid ticket. Did they end up stopping at Basingstoke before they were withdrawn ?

Bob

I'm not sure if they stopped at Basingstoke because I used to catch them on the Portsmouth line. I was disappointed when they were replaced by the Desiro 444 (and even more disappointed when they replaced some of the 444s with 450s)

The Wessexes were terrific trains that are better suited to the longer routes that they are on the Gatwick Express route (in my view) and I found them to be more comfortable than the Desiros.

They also do London Brighton fast services, as well as peak-time trains to Eastbourne. I occasionally grab one from London Bridge to East Croydon or Three Bridges on my journey home...far nicer than the usual 377s.

My favourite loco is 73140. It was my most seen loco, being a regular 'FASB' (Railfrieght Aggregates, Stewart's Lane allocated) pooled machine, and therefore a regular on the Drayton - Lavant gravel train that operated past my school.

Following closure of the route, it always seemed to pop up whenevery I was travelling...most memorably deputising for a dead class 47 on a Waterloo - Salisbury service.

I was a happy boy when it was saved, but have not - as yet - made the trip over to Tunbridge Wells to be reacquainted. 

[Lawrence]

Has to be the Doodlebug for me, though I do like the E and F units too

[Newportnobby]

This is going to seem odd but...

Steam...
Battle of Britain - 501 Squadron - Well Proportioned workman like Locos - Celebrating a Gravesend based Hurricane Squadron....

Diesel
33035 - Spitfire....

Now if you can spot the connection between the first and last - that is my other passion...

Your real name is Leigh-Mallory and I claim my £5

Please, though, Britannia has 1 x t and 2 x n

[Bad Raven]

Got to be Steam, and got to be parallel boiler, and got to be LMS.

5546 Patriot Class 4-6-0 "Fleetwood"

http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/lnwr/rugby/shed/lnwrrm1017.jpg

Why?  Because I spent some time researching Fleetwood, Lancashire in the 80's, and only bad timing stopped me building a sizeable model of it.  Boards salvaged for if I ever get the space again.
Onto smaller things layout wise by necessity these days!


Oh, and because I have a "N" gauge model of the Loco.

[Matthew-peter]

Got to be Steam, and got to be parallel boiler, and got to be LMS.

Couldnt agree more, Scots guardsman is one of my favourites, Seen her quite a few times, missed my train home from york once because of her arrival haha