Most Beautiful Locomotive

[Yampa Bob]

There is a thread about the "ugliest", how about your nomination for the "World's most beautiful locomotive"?

For me, it's a no brainer, Rio Grande PA # 6001, 6003, 6011 and 6013. They were used for the Yampa Valley Mail and other routes in Colorado.

http://www.drgw.net/gallery/DRGW6001/drgw6001_2
http://www.drgw.net/gallery/DRGW6001/drgw6001_3
http://www.drgw.net/gallery/DRGW6011/drgw6011_3

This is very close to home:
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00011005%2BOP-11005%20

[jettrainfan]

For me.... http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/wn-pic/stepney_sp_derekh_16dec07.jpg
               http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/wn-pic/stepney_fdw_derekh_2jun07.jpg
               http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/news/114_jonb_2006e1.jpg
 
                 Stephney from the bluebell railroad

[RAM]

SP GS4 daylight.  ATSF 2900s 4-8-4, and Frisco had agreat looking 4-4-2.   ATSF PA2

[jettrainfan]

Yeah, I may know my engines from a class 08 to the Gas turbines but I don't know all of them!

[Guilford Guy]

Claremont Concord Railroad's 105
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1382881

[mudzuks]

Here's my favorite, as she looked when I saw her in 1976 http://media.photobucket.com/image/1976%20freedom%20train/Ocklawaha/RAILROAD%20Images/AmericanFreedomTrainSPGS44449.jpg

[az2rail]

It's not steam, and you won't see it on any mainline, but it is the Arizona flag. And that's beautiful to me.

Oh god. I sound like a texan.

"http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj175/az2rail/40.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"

Bruce

[Cooped]

Sir Nigel Gresley, British A4 in LNER livery. Holds some personal memories for me, but regardless a beautiful sight.

http://www.sirnigelgresley.co.uk/pics/lge/p033.html

[rustyrails]

I don't know if they were the "most beautiful", but the Baltimore and Ohio blue, grey and black diesels were certainly some of the classiest.  This is the Columbian (coach service between Baltimore and Chicago) posed on the Thomas viaduct at Relay, Md., about 10 miles from downtown Baltimore.  The locomotives are F3's equipped with steam generators and the A-unit sports a passenger pilot.  Enjoy.
 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Columbian_at_Thomas_Viaduct.jpg/700px-Columbian_at_Thomas_Viaduct.jpg

Rusty

[Hamish K]

To my mind the Great Northern  Railway (England) Stirling Single 4-2-2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNR_Stirling_4-2-2 (click on photo in link for enlargement).

Yes, it is the original for the "Thomas" character "Emily" but that is not why I chose it!

Hamish

[jward]

one of my favoutires would be the emd e8, painted for southern railway.
http://hawkdawg.com/img/msts/grp/serr/6901.jpg
i was fortunate enough to see these in person back in the 1970s, and even got a tour of the cab of a similar but smaller fp7.

[GN.2-6-8-0]

Ah' Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 

[Cody J]

My favorite would be the EMD FP45 in Kodachrome paint:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=285713&nseq=0



-Cody

[boomertom]

As much as it pains a diehard C&O fan, my vote goes to the Norfolk and Western Class J - the ultimate streamlined steam locomotive to ride the rails.

I saw these beauties in service many times in Roanoke in the 1950's and the 611 when she was in railfan service.

Tom Blair

[OkieRick]

Ah' Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 

This looks like one of three locomotives the Jim Beam Whiskey Distlery used as a model for decanters.  They made three trains I think - The General, J.B. Turner and John Bull I believe...

Rick