the most beautiful?

[couleurblue]

Which do you think is the most beautiful steam train ever made?
Maybe this:-

Or this:-


Or what???

[simonwass]

I personally dont think American locos can ever be called beautiful, they are too big and gugged, imposing yes! To see a photo of the engineer oiling (greasing) the motion on a BigBoy is amazing.
Samual Johnsons Midland designs were very nice, they were designed to look nice. An A4 is just plain by comparison.

[Boadicea]

Easy - 70036 "Boadicea" of course, the fairest of them all!

[ron]

My own choice would be the Stirling Single, not very keen on American locos either.
Ron

[waggy]

I think Gresleys pacifics look best when photographed from the tender first angle! Squat and powerful.

Only my opinion!

Waggy.

[silverfox]

Ron

I was like you, very GB, however a visit to several of the US museums and the superb French Mulhouse one (dont miss the car museum), have made me look at locos a bit differently.
Yes, Gresley did design some lovely engines, I also like the Duchess, but those foriegn ones seem to be ugly but beautiful, and i adore the Big Boy what a piece of metal

The other Ron

[drumkilbo]

Well, I would suggest the Caledonian Railway 4-6-0 "CARDEAN " A 7 1/4 " model is in the Glasgow Museum of Transport. I am biased as at one time I worked on the Cardean Estate and the previous owner had been a Director of the C.R. and that's where the loco name came from, I've never heard of the names of the other members of the class, anyone know ? Cardean was No. 603 and there were only 6 in the class, or maybe 10. One of the class was involved in the Quintinshill railway disaster during WW1, still the worst crash in terms of fatalities in theUK

Ian.

[weldsol]

I'm afraid for me it would have to be a Shay

Paul

[havoc]

Belgian Type 12: www.railfaneurope.net/pix/be/steam/12004/pix.html
Stirling single is also nice. And I like the Bulleid Q1 as well, different but it has something.

[Shawki Shlemon]

For me is Australian NSW C38 4 - 6 - 2 tender engine or GWR King .IN old version i must agree the Stirling is the one .

[mackintosh]

For me the 9F
Bob

[cotswold]

The LSWR Adams 4-4-2 Radial Tank
<http://www.orion-models.co.uk/lswr_adams_radial_tank_image.html>
<http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/ADAMS_TANK.HTML>

[mutley]

It's got to be a British 9F and a German Class 52. You cant beat lots of little wheels!

[dickdastardly40]

GWR King for me and a Pannier has lots of charm!





Sorry can't reduce size, not my pics.

Al

[Laurie_B]

For me it was the LMS Stanier 'Coronation' class,sometimes called the 'Duchess' class,or to 'spotters in the early '60's they were nicknamed 'Semi's'.
My favourite of the class was 46256,named appropriately enough
"Sir William A Stainer FRS"
This particular loco was very popular with 'spotters and organisers of railtours at that time and was the last of the class to be withdrawn.
It's always puzzled me as to why people refer to these of locomotives as the 'Princess Coronation' class.
There were the 'Princess Royal' class locos,and following on from them,the 'Coronation' class;they were not called the 'Princess Coronations'.

[steam4ian]

G'day all

For me its an SA Railways 520 class light 4-8-4 with improved streamlining from 523 on.

I must say that comparing 4472 Flying Scotsman (when it visited Adelaide) with the local steads was a bit like comparing a Arabian with a Clydesdale; a C83 would be no better Shawki. I couldn't get over the fineness of the wheel spokes and rods; must be very tough steel and highly loaded bearings.

Regards,
Ian

[Phil Sutton]

It's got to be a 1400 for me,lovly little loco.

Phil

[alanstepney]

Locomotives are like women.
All are beautiful but some are more beautiful than others.

Even if you see one that you think is ugly, someone somewhere will find them attractive.

[steam4ian]

G'day Alan

Your response shows why you are a moderator!

The question; is there an ugly one? My answer is sometimes, unfortunately, Yes! Wrongly applied streamlining can be a common fault. Someone refered to the LMS Coronation class; a bath-tub with stream lining, the epitomy of a handsome loco without.
At PRR there a three operating W class, two from WAGR, one from Silverton Tramway. These are a handsome well proportioned little 4-8-2 but the latter loco has an unfortunate cowl extending along the boiler to "hide" the chimney, dome safties etc. The cowl makes the boiler look bulky and out of proprotion.
Just occasionally a loco without stream lining has the proportions wrong, some of the things GB foisted on the colonies in the Far East would be an example.

Regards,
Ian

[ianmac]

I'm am with Shawki C38. and i also have a soft spot for Gresley designs.

Something about the cab windows, and the look and feel of the loco. they seem to sum up everything that makes a locomotive beautiful.

Never been a fan of a American loco's however having said that the C38 has some American influences.

For me though you know that its a special engine when a tingle in the spine when you see of hear the engine running at speed.