Spot on with the ranking. When I started collecting postwar, one of the first things I bought was the Sante Fe f3 ABA. Have it in HO too. An absolute icon in the model train world and certainly deserves the top spot.
It's very obvious you really took your time and put lots of thought/research into your list! I had guessed your top 3 as the video opened, before you announced. I own multiples of all three of your top 3 list and I totally agree with your choice and the order which you put them. I must say though, I think an articulated steam locomotive ( such as the Big Boy or Allegheny ) should have been among your " honorable mentions"... just because of their uniqueness. Great video!! I just subscribed to your channel!!
Proud to say I own all of these in N scale. Kato offers starter train packs with Santa Fe F7s in multiple colors so it’s very easy to get those. I own a Bachmann DCC Sound GG1 in Pennsylvania tuscan red and just recently I managed to get a Bachmann J3A Hudson that’s also DCC Sound fitted. Hadn’t had much luck with that one up to this point, all the ones I’d ever seen for sale in the hobby shops had very noticeable broken pieces.
I just realized I subscribed to you, forgot I did, then I went to go subscribe again. Shows just how good your vids are :) can’t wait to you see this video hope it makes your day!
I have all three of your TOP THREE and I agree. I even have two or more of each group. Love these trains for their nostalgic memories they bring out. Your Honorable Mentions are good too! Thanks Chris for this fun video! Jerry
Nice video as always Chris. I agree with your top 3 and have good examples of all of them. My GG1 has faded bands as well but I still love running it around my ovals.
RBP as always your list is spot on. I love that you did a video that tries to include everybody in every scale and every price range. For those looking around for a nice F unit take a look at Menards engines. They are reasonably priced, look and run beautifully, and are definitely something the kids can play with.
Just think, it won’t be long before our kids say ‘look at how great these things run and they’re 100 years old!’ I have a NYC F3 that’s 72 years old and runs just like it did 72 years ago with just a bit of maintenance. And it doesn’t need railsounds!
Hi Chris! It is so good to see you and one of your videos. I have missed you buddy and that beautiful layout. I think the list that you came up with is excellent and being a diesel guy I'm all for the Santa Fe F3 and agree with you about its importance to the railroad collectors and community. I think your choice about the Katy and the Union Pacific SD 70s are also right up there. I also like the Santa Fe SD 70s. I'm not anti steam but I just enjoy seeing the diesels because that is what is what runs here in SoCal. You do such a great job with your videos. Have fun at the York train show. Show some video of you getting together with some of your friends and what was available at the show. Thanks again Chris. Great to see you! 😎👍
Thank You Chris, all of my trains are up to the 70's and I have all three, they are all packed away and the plan it the get a layout started soon, again Thanks
I was surprised but pleased by your selection of a GG1 as one of your "Top Three" must have locomotives for every collector. Not everyone has had the opportunity of being literally blown away by the real engines which thundered past (and through) my Villanova University student years. They ran past many times a day running on the old Pennsylvania Main Line. The Lionel Hudson was certainly an excellent choice as well since it was the first prototypically styled Lionel Locomotive. The good old F7 (or F3) design was also a brilliant choice as pretty much everyone of a certain age in the USA, and almost everyone living across the USA at the time was able to see the real deal everywhere in the country. Congratulations on another great video.
All good choices Chris, and no wrong ones. In fact there's really no wrong choices, it's really a case of what one can find AND afford. That being said let me add my own choices for "must-haves," they're solid, rugged, reliable, easy to repair and all classic Post-War Lionel, PLUS having the advantage of lowering demand on the less than pristine ones and with a concomitant price drop. So, my choices are: The Lionel 736 Berkshire The Lionel 2055 and 2065 Hudsons AND the Lionel Post-War Pennsy Turbine All easily found and easily affordable as prices are trending down AND if you're handy and have done some modeling and the engines have external wear it's no sin if you repaint and decal them for whatever 'road you like. If done it myself and am VERY pleased with the results. Hey, come up with your own "Fantasy Paint Scheme!" Why not? Just some thoughts. And thanks for posting, it's ALWAYS a good day with an RBP video!
Wow, that was fun!!! Thank you! I have some of each type. --- GG1: 2 O-scale Weaver; 1 HO MTH. --- Hudson: 1 Lionel O from 1952 when I was 6; several HO (1 Rivarossi Dreyfus, 1 Rivarossi unstreamlined, 1 MTH Dreyfus, 2 old Gilbert/American Flyer); 4 N ConCor. --- F-3 (also FT, F7, FP7, F9): 1 Lionel SF F-3 AA set (my very first train ever, 1951, age 5); HO & N (boatloads). --- Northern: 4 HO (1 Precision Craft [I think] T-1 in AFT livery, 3 Lionel in AFT livery). --- Berkshire: 2 old cast brass Varney kits, unstarted. --- Modern Diesels: HO & N (boxcar load).
NYC Hudsons are my favorite locomotive, and I can remember seeing them in action in the early 50s. I would have originally stated that it should have been number one on your list, but in retrospect I have to agree the F3 nosed out my beloved Hudsons for the first spot. It was close though. Great video.
Hi Chris I couldn’t agree more after the polar express those where the 1st 3 engines I bought the GG1 makes a great lead engine on army train I got my right knee replaced today and came home and you came up on RUclips 1st great to see you back 😃👍🚂
Chris, the way that I look at it is, is that nobody is right, nobody is wrong. Everybody has their own personal opinions on each of their locomotives. 😀 With me having so many locomotives, I personally cannot pick out a "top 3" or my top favorites...lol I love all my trains on an equal level. Anything that I pick out to buy, it's just awesome to me! 😁👍🏻🚂 I've been into trains (specifically O gauge and HO.) since age 6 (I'm now 48) and I have to thank my dad for that! 😀👍🏻🚂 He actually bough me my first Lionel train set when I was 6. It's a Hudson set that came with 3 freight cars and a caboose which I still have and it still runs believe it or not! The only thing wrong with it, is that I just need to get a new headlight bulb put in and that's all. -Jared- Akron, Ohio.-
Glad to see you back , always interesting video ! I had the chance to get a second hand AA F3 NEW YORK CNTRAL of the 50's . Unfortunately I striped then and pained them in CN color like 50 years ago . Still have them !!!!
Hard to narrow it down to just 3 Chris but I think you nailed it. For honorable mentions I'd add the RS-3 and GP7's, and 9's. Probably 2 of the most important early diesels. Good work!
The Hudson and the Santa Fe F3 are the two I think of when my mind is directed to think of a steam loco or a diesel. I was born in the 1940's, so these were the first locomotives that come to mind. At Christmas time I used to drag mother to toy train displays in the big department stores to see the layouts. These two models were always featured. The experience of seeing those two locomotives stays with me even after all these years. Thanks for journey to some good memories!
I’m an Ho scale guy, but I have all 3 listed, as well as the honorable mentions. They are definitely iconic when it comes to railroading in general. If I had to add a honorable mention, it would be the American 4-4-0. Keep up the good work 🤘🏼
Nice video Chris! I can't really argue because, after all, these were your picks but I do have a couple of suggestions in good faith: - I wouldn't have picked a particular electric type loco or a particular railroad. You live out east so it's natural to pick the Pennsy GG1, but not everyone is enamored of the Pennsy. While I have and run Pennsy, it doesn't make me all googly-eyed. Instead as a Top 3 choice, I would say 'electrics' in general. Any electric, from any railroad, as they are part of the trifecta of locomotives: steam, electric, and diesel. Also, electrics could be anything from an EP1 from back in the day, to a modern era Acela. -Hudson. Yup! No arguments. Although not all railroads called the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement 'Hudson'. For example, the Milwaukee Road referred to them as 'Baltics' (and I noticed your AWESOME Hiawatha engine). 4-6-4's could be found running the rails all over the country making it a ubiquitous locomotive. -F3. Again - Yup! Couldn't have asked for a more iconic engine than the Santa Fe F3 in its glorious Warbonnet scheme! -Honorable mention: This one I think you missed out on entirely. As toy or model train lovers, there is one type of engine that was in more starter sets than any other: the 4-4-2 Atlantic (or, in a pinch, the 2-4-2 Columbia). Everyone likes to refer to Lionel's Hudson as 'the workhorse of toy trains' but I beg to differ. If ever there was a locomotive deserving of a place in the toy train Hall of Fame, it's the lowly Atlantic. Available in so many sets, in so many roadnames, through so many years, this real workhorse was the start for many people entering the hobby and worthy of a subset of collecting in its own right. Best Regards Ed
YESSSS!!! I totally agree with you RBP, although I cannot afford much O scale models, I have a gg1, nyc Hudson, and f3 in HO scale and an F-unit either an f3 or f7 in S scale! Great video as always RBP! :)
Love the video & mostly agree if you think from a "collector" which means Semi thru O scale. AND GG1's are ELECTRIC trains on a grand scale! For me maybe another video? But those trains that brought us into the hobby have to be either the most important or at least an honorable mention because for many, without them there would not have been the hobby to appreciate. All those O-27 die cast Lionel's & Marx Steamers and for me the O-27 Lionel "sheet metal framed" Alco FA's . While not "Collector" from a model railroad perspective, they are Historical and were the platform that created "collectors"
Nice selections. The F3’s can’t be beat. They have been my favorite Lionel locomotives since I was a little kid, when I inherited my brother’s 1950 Santa Fe ABA set, with the AMT passenger cars. I posted a 20TH Century Limited run on my channel, with the post-war and MPC F3’s. I may disagree slightly, with the Hudson’s. They were iconic, but the 726 and later Berk’s were a staple of post-war Lionel steam era, as were the Pennsy Turbines. Great choices, either way. An excellent video, as always.
Lots of love to the vintage Berks for sure! Tough call between them and the Hudson. Given the importance of the 700e, I had to weight Hudson as the winner. I do need to find a 726 for my collection though! Thanks for watching!
Trains are fun and so is this video! Although I have multiple versions of all of those mentioned and several articulated units in UP and KCS liveries, I usually run short "fun" trains on my layout. For example, at the moment I'm running a Lionel Toy Story train set, an MTH subway set, and an MTH EMD switcher pulling a couple of Lionel work cars, a boxcar and caboose. They're sized about right for my 072 spaghetti bowl layout. Oh, and then there's the Lionel #65 hand car. Mostly, it's kid friendly stuff. Would love to see you make a "most fun train" video.
@@RBPTrains my number 3 would be the Lionel turbine a 2020 or 681. The TCA made a boiler front for 1972 and a tender cover for the 1968 Cleveland National Convention! I think it was one of Lionel’s best selling steam locomotives!
Fantastic video, Chris! Your top 3 locomotives are great choices, although I would have probably made the Hudson #1, lol. I would have also given an honorable mention to railroading's classic workhorse the EMD GP7. And I would hastily add, my first Lionel train under the Christmas tree! 🙂 Bill B.
Chris I totally agree with your top 3 & the honorable mentions of the Southern Pacific Daylight which I have a my N scale excursion train which includes the 10 car Morning Daylight cars. I have seen many GG1 ELECTRICS in action on the Pennsylvania later Penn Central railroad passing through Newark,DE many times.
Great vidio, like the pics, got all but the GG1 in my collection of 0 gauge and N gauge, would of like to see more CPR steam .Thanks for the morning coffee...
I agree with your list. All three engines would be on my list. I of course own an F model Santa Fe engine to pull my Santa Fe passenger cars. I did own for a short time a Hutson engine but traded it for other items years ago. I never owned a GG-1 since my model railroad was set in the west featuring mostly Santa Fe trains. However a friend of mine modeled the Pennsylvania Railroad and owns several GG-1’s. He prefers the older original Lionel ones since he finds them to run dependably and easy to service if any work is needed. Your other honorable mentions were good too. I do own a Polar Express set and like its engine which is always run under my Christmas tree each year. The only other engine that I feel deserves honorable mention is the Alco PA engine that was featured on many era Lionel passenger and freight sets. Thanks for the video and your choices.
Top 3 yes, agreed. I have both the semi scale and full scale GG1 and got the opportunity to see the real ones in action at the end of their career. I think I have more scale Hudsons than any other engine and the Lionel NYC ABA F3. The list does really go on Mohawks, Berkshires, Pacifics, Mikados et al. The only thing I can't wrap my head around is modern diesel power, they all look like bricks to me. Thanks for the list!
At first I thought that you were going to name your 3 top steam locomotives 🤣. However the three top locomotives you mentioned here make total sense. As a O gauge toy train collector I agree that these are the top 3 you would want in your O gauge collection. I have a MPC F3 and a MPC GG1. I don't have a Hudson yet. Maybe one day. There's too much Conrail on my list to buy yet.
Love the list Chris!! I have 2 HO Scale GG1's (one is the Blackjack). F Units, couldnt go wrong there either because they are definitely icons. The Hudsons, another good choice. I know I might be a bit bias because I like "strange" locomotives. Mine would include the RF16, the PA/FA's and even though not many came over, the Krauss-Mafie ML-1000. As far as steam, I would think the Pacific's might be up there as well.
Good analysis. I'm 77 and grew up on post-war so I have plenty of F1s but I tried to buy a Scale Hudson and couldn't. I never liked GG1 because I'm a lifelong resident of California and it just never was seen out here. When I got money and my now former wife left I started buying trains again. I had all my pre-war trains still. I was advised by the dealer in San Dimas to get the latest models as they will hold their value due to the higher tech wanted by younger people. So far that's been good advice. Prewar is down, I believe. I also have a lot of pre-war as the interior and window decorators love them
Love them all. Beautiful locos. I model HO scale and thought the switcher 2-8-0 would have been a great honorable mention. It would fit on any layout large or small.
Fantastic, Fantastic, Fantastic. Did I say fantastic? YESSIREE! Agreed. A fantastic selection of the top three and highlighting their variations. The so-called "honorable mentions" are perfect. And yes, they're more than honorable, because they are valued. What is the source of the wonderful Amtrack Passengers that are accompanying the Amtrack GG-1, and are they Modern, MPC or of another kind, and turning radius? 🙂
As a youngster I remember watching the PRR / CONRAIL GG1 locomotives roar past the Radnor train station on the main line near my high school. They were massive and downright frightening. Just awesome to see moving at high speeds. You could also hear them coming through the overhead catenary wires, which would make a metallic sound like a bullet ricochet. And they had a distinct smell to them as well.
What's funny is I have one or more of every locomotive you mentioned in the video either in my position or on order. (I must be doing something right) I agree with all the picks, but I'd swap the hutson and F-unit. (personally I prefer steam over diesels) If you have the space to run them, I'd add that you need one large steam locomotive. Big Boy, Challenger, Yellowstone, UP 9000 class, PRR S1, and so on or an odd/unique locomotive. A turbine loco, logging locomotive, triplex, Areo train, you get the point. Great video, can't wait for the triplex video.
Berkshire. No history. Lionel 726 anybody? My all time fav post war steamer followed by the 675 K4. I like your other choices but for the GG1. Don't get me wrong, she's a fine prime mover and I'd like one one day, but being from west of the Mississippi and most RRs of the granger variety, the all electrics aren't part of the lore so the attachment isn't that strong, but as you said it's all opinion and I find your opinions highly respectable. Great video, sir!
Chris you have nice trains, My great grandfather worked for Midland Railroad company in Co, in the late 1800 were the Frying pan river is , Basalt CO. I have a HO set and I took it down to rebuild the set like the town and railroad of yesterday It well take some time to do it . I have been collecting trains for the last 50 years and I like your set up as all ways great shows. (like the Santa Fe trains #1}.
Great video. Wow! I actually have an example of each of your top three, in HO. I also have an eye out for a Berkshire. I must be doing something right.
Talk about a Pandora's box Chris. I was going to comment on your east coast bias but you saved yourself with the runner up GS and Northern. On my own list would be the "prohibited by you" cab forwards of the SP. As a very young boy my family lived in Reno and my dad would take us down to the mainline to see and FEEL these behemoths rumble through town.
I'm a diesel guy myself until the wife went to the local train shop with me and saw the gray streamline New York Central Hudson. For her, it was love at first sight. Ended up getting the matching passenger cars for it.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Roc Steady (feat. Flo Milli) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HozPPyqW0dY/mqdefault.jpg)
Spot on with the ranking. When I started collecting postwar, one of the first things I bought was the Sante Fe f3 ABA. Have it in HO too. An absolute icon in the model train world and certainly deserves the top spot.
LOVE THEM " ALL " CHRIS!!!! " GOD BLESS YA "!!😊🚂🚂🤟🤘👍👍👍👍😮😵💫 ~~ !!!!
Thanks and hope you are well!
It's very obvious you really took your time and put lots of thought/research into your list! I had guessed your top 3 as the video opened, before you announced. I own multiples of all three of your top 3 list and I totally agree with your choice and the order which you put them. I must say though, I think an articulated steam locomotive ( such as the Big Boy or Allegheny ) should have been among your " honorable mentions"... just because of their uniqueness. Great video!! I just subscribed to your channel!!
RBP has returned
RBP is alive.
He never left 👍
No question -- the F3 (BOTH A& B units) has to be there. It is absolutely the iconic 1950s locomotive, and every road name seemed to run it.
@@birdman1852 I already know he is I didn’t say he wasn’t. I just said he returned
Proud to say I own all of these in N scale. Kato offers starter train packs with Santa Fe F7s in multiple colors so it’s very easy to get those. I own a Bachmann DCC Sound GG1 in Pennsylvania tuscan red and just recently I managed to get a Bachmann J3A Hudson that’s also DCC Sound fitted. Hadn’t had much luck with that one up to this point, all the ones I’d ever seen for sale in the hobby shops had very noticeable broken pieces.
Very well shared! Thank you for sharing your trains 🚞
Great channel and videos Mr Chris!! Really enjoy your channel!! Thanks for sharing with us!!
Thanks for watching!
Good to see you back Chris. Excellent top three choices. Thank You 👍
Thank you!
I think you hit it right on the head. I definitely agree with you on the top 3. Cool video ma man.
I just realized I subscribed to you, forgot I did, then I went to go subscribe again. Shows just how good your vids are :) can’t wait to you see this video hope it makes your day!
Great stuff Chris! IMHO, a must for every collector is their first one. Don't let that one go!
I have all three of your TOP THREE and I agree. I even have two or more of each group. Love these trains for their nostalgic memories they bring out. Your Honorable Mentions are good too! Thanks Chris for this fun video! Jerry
Yes your choices were spot on! All good!
Great fun video as always. Love the Santa Fe. Remember the New Haven growing up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Great choices. Enjoy all your videos.
Nice to watch your Videos again. Keep them. Coming
100% Agree with your number 1. The F3 Santa Fe a total classic.
👍🏻✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️ it's great to see you back very comical guy
Spot on Chris glad to see you back
Thank you!
Awesome list, Chris! Thanks for Sharing!
I’m so excited to see you back hope your voice is fully back
Thank you, love all of it...
Thank you for watching!
Crazy in a good way Love your channel man keep them coming thanks for what you do
Nice video as always Chris. I agree with your top 3 and have good examples of all of them. My GG1 has faded bands as well but I still love running it around my ovals.
Thank you, Chris! Well done!
Reading T1! Great vid Chris!!
LOL, I barely mention that loco and don't even show it. Yet, you still picked up on it Tony!
Great Video. The F3 and F7 have always been my favorites.
Great video Chris!!!
RBP as always your list is spot on. I love that you did a video that tries to include everybody in every scale and every price range. For those looking around for a nice F unit take a look at Menards engines. They are reasonably priced, look and run beautifully, and are definitely something the kids can play with.
Just think, it won’t be long before our kids say ‘look at how great these things run and they’re 100 years old!’ I have a NYC F3 that’s 72 years old and runs just like it did 72 years ago with just a bit of maintenance. And it doesn’t need railsounds!
8:25 thank you Chris for putting in the Berkshires on the list
You make me so happy 😁
Berks had to make the list!
@@RBPTrains right, I love Berks including the PM1225 and NPR 765
Hi Chris! It is so good to see you and one of your videos. I have missed you buddy and that beautiful layout. I think the list that you came up with is excellent and being a diesel guy I'm all for the Santa Fe F3 and agree with you about its importance to the railroad collectors and community. I think your choice about the Katy and the Union Pacific SD 70s are also right up there. I also like the Santa Fe SD 70s. I'm not anti steam but I just enjoy seeing the diesels because that is what is what runs here in SoCal. You do such a great job with your videos. Have fun at the York train show. Show some video of you getting together with some of your friends and what was available at the show. Thanks again Chris. Great to see you! 😎👍
Thanks for watching Robert!
Very good content and commentary Chris.
Thanks James!
Such a fun video Chris. Good choices. See you at York.
RBP is the GOAT
My favorites are the Berkshire and Bigboy
Great video!!
Thanks for putting this together.
Thank You Chris, all of my trains are up to the 70's and I have all three, they are all packed away and the plan it the get a layout started soon, again Thanks
Enjoy the layout build!
Glad you’re back ace ventura👍
Alrighty then!
@@RBPTrains made my day that you got that reference
I was surprised but pleased by your selection of a GG1 as one of your "Top Three" must have locomotives for every collector. Not everyone has had the opportunity of being literally blown away by the real engines which thundered past (and through) my Villanova University student years. They ran past many times a day running on the old Pennsylvania Main Line. The Lionel Hudson was certainly an excellent choice as well since it was the first prototypically styled Lionel Locomotive. The good old F7 (or F3) design was also a brilliant choice as pretty much everyone of a certain age in the USA, and almost everyone living across the USA at the time was able to see the real deal everywhere in the country. Congratulations on another great video.
Great choices.just amazing locomotives.
The dark days are over, CHRIS IS BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK. Love the video man, you're awesome.
Thank you for the support! Time to run trains!
100% nailed it. I liked this video, as usual you did well.
Excellent video, Chris! Bravo! 👏 👏👏
I humbly agree with your #1 choice! Great video Chris. 👍
I love this guy! He’s correct on these choices and, he reminds me a bit of Jim Carrey😄!
All good choices Chris, and no wrong ones. In fact there's really no wrong choices, it's really a case of what one can find AND afford.
That being said let me add my own choices for "must-haves," they're solid, rugged, reliable, easy to repair and all classic Post-War Lionel, PLUS having the advantage of lowering demand on the less than pristine ones and with a concomitant price drop.
So, my choices are:
The Lionel 736 Berkshire
The Lionel 2055 and 2065 Hudsons
AND the Lionel Post-War Pennsy Turbine
All easily found and easily affordable as prices are trending down AND if you're handy and have done some modeling and the engines have external wear it's no sin if you repaint and decal them for whatever 'road you like. If done it myself and am VERY pleased with the results.
Hey, come up with your own "Fantasy Paint Scheme!" Why not?
Just some thoughts. And thanks for posting, it's ALWAYS a good day with an RBP video!
Ah yes, the classic Turbine!
@@RBPTrains A LOT more successful for Lionel than it was for the PRR!
Wow, that was fun!!! Thank you! I have some of each type.
--- GG1: 2 O-scale Weaver; 1 HO MTH.
--- Hudson: 1 Lionel O from 1952 when I was 6; several HO (1 Rivarossi Dreyfus, 1 Rivarossi unstreamlined, 1 MTH Dreyfus, 2 old Gilbert/American Flyer); 4 N ConCor.
--- F-3 (also FT, F7, FP7, F9): 1 Lionel SF F-3 AA set (my very first train ever, 1951, age 5); HO & N (boatloads).
--- Northern: 4 HO (1 Precision Craft [I think] T-1 in AFT livery, 3 Lionel in AFT livery).
--- Berkshire: 2 old cast brass Varney kits, unstarted.
--- Modern Diesels: HO & N (boxcar load).
I have to agree with those choices. Not sure about that polar excess . Loved the video chris . Keep them coming. 😊
Thank you!
NYC Hudsons are my favorite locomotive, and I can remember seeing them in action in the early 50s. I would have originally stated that it should have been number one on your list, but in retrospect I have to agree the F3 nosed out my beloved Hudsons for the first spot. It was close though.
Great video.
Chris, I agree completely with your top three and the order was perfect. I do think the S-2 might have deserved an honorable mention.
Hi Chris I couldn’t agree more after the polar express those where the 1st 3 engines I bought the GG1 makes a great lead engine on army train I got my right knee replaced today and came home and you came up on RUclips 1st great to see you back 😃👍🚂
Take care of that knee and hope all heals soon!
Good to see you back
Chris, the way that I look at it is, is that nobody is right, nobody is wrong. Everybody has their own personal opinions on each of their locomotives. 😀 With me having so many locomotives, I personally cannot pick out a "top 3" or my top favorites...lol I love all my trains on an equal level. Anything that I pick out to buy, it's just awesome to me! 😁👍🏻🚂 I've been into trains (specifically O gauge and HO.) since age 6 (I'm now 48) and I have to thank my dad for that! 😀👍🏻🚂 He actually bough me my first Lionel train set when I was 6. It's a Hudson set that came with 3 freight cars and a caboose which I still have and it still runs believe it or not! The only thing wrong with it, is that I just need to get a new headlight bulb put in and that's all. -Jared- Akron, Ohio.-
Agree that all the trains are cool. Good news is your Dad snagged you that Hudson first thing so you are already on the board, lol
Great video love your choices huge fan of all three hope to see ya at York
Thank you! Not sure if I will make the show this Fall. Will try!
Glad to see you back , always interesting video !
I had the chance to get a second hand AA F3 NEW YORK CNTRAL of the 50's .
Unfortunately I striped then and pained them in CN color like 50 years ago . Still have them !!!!
Love your videos!!
Glad to see the GG1 on the list!
Hard to narrow it down to just 3 Chris but I think you nailed it. For honorable mentions I'd add the RS-3 and GP7's, and 9's. Probably 2 of the most important early diesels.
Good work!
The Hudson and the Santa Fe F3 are the two I think of when my mind is directed to think of a steam loco or a diesel. I was born in the 1940's, so these were the first locomotives that come to mind. At Christmas time I used to drag mother to toy train displays in the big department stores to see the layouts. These two models were always featured. The experience of seeing those two locomotives stays with me even after all these years. Thanks for journey to some good memories!
Good list.
Great list!!! I Believe
I’m an Ho scale guy, but I have all 3 listed, as well as the honorable mentions. They are definitely iconic when it comes to railroading in general. If I had to add a honorable mention, it would be the American 4-4-0. Keep up the good work 🤘🏼
Nice video Chris! I can't really argue because, after all, these were your picks but I do have a couple of suggestions in good faith:
- I wouldn't have picked a particular electric type loco or a particular railroad. You live out east so it's natural to pick the Pennsy GG1, but not everyone is enamored of the Pennsy. While I have and run Pennsy, it doesn't make me all googly-eyed. Instead as a Top 3 choice, I would say 'electrics' in general. Any electric, from any railroad, as they are part of the trifecta of locomotives: steam, electric, and diesel. Also, electrics could be anything from an EP1 from back in the day, to a modern era Acela.
-Hudson. Yup! No arguments. Although not all railroads called the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement 'Hudson'. For example, the Milwaukee Road referred to them as 'Baltics' (and I noticed your AWESOME Hiawatha engine). 4-6-4's could be found running the rails all over the country making it a ubiquitous locomotive.
-F3. Again - Yup! Couldn't have asked for a more iconic engine than the Santa Fe F3 in its glorious Warbonnet scheme!
-Honorable mention: This one I think you missed out on entirely. As toy or model train lovers, there is one type of engine that was in more starter sets than any other: the 4-4-2 Atlantic (or, in a pinch, the 2-4-2 Columbia). Everyone likes to refer to Lionel's Hudson as 'the workhorse of toy trains' but I beg to differ. If ever there was a locomotive deserving of a place in the toy train Hall of Fame, it's the lowly Atlantic. Available in so many sets, in so many roadnames, through so many years, this real workhorse was the start for many people entering the hobby and worthy of a subset of collecting in its own right.
Best Regards
Ed
YESSSS!!! I totally agree with you RBP, although I cannot afford much O scale models, I have a gg1, nyc Hudson, and f3 in HO scale and an F-unit either an f3 or f7 in S scale! Great video as always RBP! :)
The electric GG1 was so monolithic that the early models didn't look so much like injection-molded styrene as they did cast bakelite.
😉
This video is for all scales so you are good! Plus it sounds like you have all three covered :)
Nailed it. All classics.
Good job.
Love the video & mostly agree if you think from a "collector" which means Semi thru O scale. AND GG1's are ELECTRIC trains on a grand scale! For me maybe another video? But those trains that brought us into the hobby have to be either the most important or at least an honorable mention because for many, without them there would not have been the hobby to appreciate. All those O-27 die cast Lionel's & Marx Steamers and for me the O-27 Lionel "sheet metal framed" Alco FA's . While not "Collector" from a model railroad perspective, they are Historical and were the platform that created "collectors"
Nice selections. The F3’s can’t be beat. They have been my favorite Lionel locomotives since I was a little kid, when I inherited my brother’s 1950 Santa Fe ABA set, with the AMT passenger cars. I posted a 20TH Century Limited run on my channel, with the post-war and MPC F3’s. I may disagree slightly, with the Hudson’s. They were iconic, but the 726 and later Berk’s were a staple of post-war Lionel steam era, as were the Pennsy Turbines. Great choices, either way. An excellent video, as always.
Lots of love to the vintage Berks for sure! Tough call between them and the Hudson. Given the importance of the 700e, I had to weight Hudson as the winner. I do need to find a 726 for my collection though! Thanks for watching!
Welcome back Chris!
Nicely done Chris.
Yes! You nailed it! And you’re right, these are the engines you can run on most layouts which means seasonal layouts which means O31-O36.
I love the trains on the shelves at 0:04 - 0:10.
Trains are fun and so is this video! Although I have multiple versions of all of those mentioned and several articulated units in UP and KCS liveries, I usually run short "fun" trains on my layout. For example, at the moment I'm running a Lionel Toy Story train set, an MTH subway set, and an MTH EMD switcher pulling a couple of Lionel work cars, a boxcar and caboose. They're sized about right for my 072 spaghetti bowl layout. Oh, and then there's the Lionel #65 hand car. Mostly, it's kid friendly stuff. Would love to see you make a "most fun train" video.
That's a good list for sure!!!
I agree with your list. To me the Santa Fe F3 is nearly ubiquitous in US model railroading.
That’s a great top 3! I love one and two but I have a different number 3. Great video!
What's your number 3???
@@RBPTrains my number 3 would be the Lionel turbine a 2020 or 681. The TCA made a boiler front for 1972 and a tender cover for the 1968 Cleveland National Convention! I think it was one of Lionel’s best selling steam locomotives!
Fantastic video, Chris! Your top 3 locomotives are great choices, although I would have probably made the Hudson #1, lol. I would have also given an honorable mention to railroading's classic workhorse the EMD GP7. And I would hastily add, my first Lionel train under the Christmas tree! 🙂 Bill B.
Chris I totally agree with your top 3 & the honorable mentions of the Southern Pacific Daylight which I have a my N scale excursion train which includes the 10 car Morning Daylight cars. I have seen many GG1 ELECTRICS in action on the Pennsylvania later Penn Central railroad passing through Newark,DE many times.
Great vidio, like the pics, got all but the GG1 in my collection of 0 gauge and N gauge, would of like to see more CPR steam .Thanks for the morning coffee...
I agree with your list. All three engines would be on my list. I of course own an F model Santa Fe engine to pull my Santa Fe passenger cars. I did own for a short time a Hutson engine but traded it for other items years ago. I never owned a GG-1 since my model railroad was set in the west featuring mostly Santa Fe trains. However a friend of mine modeled the Pennsylvania Railroad and owns several GG-1’s. He prefers the older original Lionel ones since he finds them to run dependably and easy to service if any work is needed. Your other honorable mentions were good too. I do own a Polar Express set and like its engine which is always run under my Christmas tree each year. The only other engine that I feel deserves honorable mention is the Alco PA engine that was featured on many era Lionel passenger and freight sets. Thanks for the video and your choices.
Agree with all. Honorable mention might include the FM Trainmaster
Top 3 yes, agreed. I have both the semi scale and full scale GG1 and got the opportunity to see the real ones in action at the end of their career. I think I have more scale Hudsons than any other engine and the Lionel NYC ABA F3. The list does really go on Mohawks, Berkshires, Pacifics, Mikados et al. The only thing I can't wrap my head around is modern diesel power, they all look like bricks to me. Thanks for the list!
Solid list Chris. 😎
At first I thought that you were going to name your 3 top steam locomotives 🤣. However the three top locomotives you mentioned here make total sense. As a O gauge toy train collector I agree that these are the top 3 you would want in your O gauge collection. I have a MPC F3 and a MPC GG1. I don't have a Hudson yet. Maybe one day. There's too much Conrail on my list to buy yet.
Dakman’s Top 3:
3. Conrail
2. Conrail
1. Conrail
😂
Dakman’s Top 3:
3. Conrail
2. Conrail
1. Conrail
😂
Love the list Chris!! I have 2 HO Scale GG1's (one is the Blackjack). F Units, couldnt go wrong there either because they are definitely icons. The Hudsons, another good choice. I know I might be a bit bias because I like "strange" locomotives. Mine would include the RF16, the PA/FA's and even though not many came over, the Krauss-Mafie ML-1000. As far as steam, I would think the Pacific's might be up there as well.
Good analysis. I'm 77 and grew up on post-war so I have plenty of F1s but I tried to buy a Scale Hudson and couldn't. I never liked GG1 because I'm a lifelong resident of California and it just never was seen out here. When I got money and my now former wife left I started buying trains again. I had all my pre-war trains still. I was advised by the dealer in San Dimas to get the latest models as they will hold their value due to the higher tech wanted by younger people. So far that's been good advice. Prewar is down, I believe. I also have a lot of pre-war as the interior and window decorators love them
I love your videos, i wish i had the things you had, i cant really afford it but it makes me happy to see the things i wish i had
I definitely agree the F3 and the Hudson’s are fantastic. They have a a lot of history in the model railroad scene
Love them all. Beautiful locos. I model HO scale and thought the switcher 2-8-0 would have been a great honorable mention. It would fit on any layout large or small.
Good picks, I was wondering if you would mention northerns ?? But yep you nailed it !!! Your videos are awesome!! Keep up the great work !!!
Thanks for watching!
Fantastic, Fantastic, Fantastic. Did I say fantastic? YESSIREE! Agreed. A fantastic selection of the top three and highlighting their variations. The so-called "honorable mentions" are perfect. And yes, they're more than honorable, because they are valued. What is the source of the wonderful Amtrack Passengers that are accompanying the Amtrack GG-1, and are they Modern, MPC or of another kind, and turning radius? 🙂
As a youngster I remember watching the PRR / CONRAIL GG1 locomotives roar past the Radnor train station on the main line near my high school. They were massive and downright frightening. Just awesome to see moving at high speeds. You could also hear them coming through the overhead catenary wires, which would make a metallic sound like a bullet ricochet. And they had a distinct smell to them as well.
What's funny is I have one or more of every locomotive you mentioned in the video either in my position or on order. (I must be doing something right) I agree with all the picks, but I'd swap the hutson and F-unit. (personally I prefer steam over diesels) If you have the space to run them, I'd add that you need one large steam locomotive. Big Boy, Challenger, Yellowstone, UP 9000 class, PRR S1, and so on or an odd/unique locomotive. A turbine loco, logging locomotive, triplex, Areo train, you get the point. Great video, can't wait for the triplex video.
Nice layout.
Kind of off topic but I love the gundams on display in the back, add a whole lot to the layout
I have really been into building those kits. They have become great conversation starters on the layout and they drive some of my viewers nuts, lol
Berkshire. No history. Lionel 726 anybody? My all time fav post war steamer followed by the 675 K4. I like your other choices but for the GG1. Don't get me wrong, she's a fine prime mover and I'd like one one day, but being from west of the Mississippi and most RRs of the granger variety, the all electrics aren't part of the lore so the attachment isn't that strong, but as you said it's all opinion and I find your opinions highly respectable. Great video, sir!
Chris you have nice trains, My great grandfather worked for Midland Railroad company in Co, in the late 1800 were the Frying pan river is , Basalt CO. I have a HO set and I took it down to rebuild the set like the town and railroad of yesterday It well take some time to do it . I have been collecting trains for the last 50 years and I like your set up as all ways great shows. (like the Santa Fe trains #1}.
Sounds like a fun and challenging project!
Great video. Wow! I actually have an example of each of your top three, in HO. I also have an eye out for a Berkshire. I must be doing something right.
I enjoyed seeing the red tin plate cars ❤
Talk about a Pandora's box Chris. I was going to comment on your east coast bias but you saved yourself with the runner up GS and Northern. On my own list would be the "prohibited by you" cab forwards of the SP. As a very young boy my family lived in Reno and my dad would take us down to the mainline to see and FEEL these behemoths rumble through town.
I'm a diesel guy myself until the wife went to the local train shop with me and saw the gray streamline New York Central Hudson. For her, it was love at first sight. Ended up getting the matching passenger cars for it.
She has great taste. You are a lucky man!