Re: If you could rebuild extinct steam what would you pick?
Author: Carl A.
Date: 07-30-2019 - 14:54
Regarding which upgrades 2156 received, I thank yankingeorgia for his comment -- which means that particular engine would fully qualify as my top choice. As to appearance, I freely concede yankingeorgia's point. Back in the 1950s, Trains ran an article that described a 2-6-6-4 as a "debutante", contrasting it to the compound helper at the end of the train, which was a "barmaid." I have an engineering background, and I appreciate the beauty of outstanding design for effectiveness. If I were to travel 1000s of miles to see a locomotive, for me, the 2156 would be it. The 1218 is a fine engine, but performancewise, it was not in a class by itself. (Counterexample: 3985, which I *have* seen under steam.) But I am unaware of any steam, ever, that could equal the N&W's final Y's in hauling really heavy trains up mainline grades.