Ugly locomotives

[dudeface]

Besides, I don't know if I can change the name for the entire subject.

Yes, the OP can. You need to go back to the very first post in this thread and edit it by changing the "Subject".
However, with a long rambling thread like this one, you run the risk of folks not finding it again.

[drewzero1]

Some talented modelers do seem to be making it about garden railways, though. (It followed us to the forum... can we keep it?)


To keep the conversation on track, here's an early American loco that seems to fit the bill:

Screenshot_20231125-204951.jpg (209.47 KiB) Viewed 38231 times

I always wondered why early toy trains often looked so spindly and had smokestacks of comical proportions. Turns out the real ones did too!

Hull & Stafford floor train, 1865

Screenshot_20231204-002933.jpg (174.88 KiB) Viewed 38231 times

[GAP]

Should we continue this thread or start a new one under Off-Topic?

As far as I can tell it's on topic or close enough, but maybe we could change the name to "In search of the ugliest train" or something more generic like that? I don't know who Marc Horovitz is and don't want to wish him ill, but I'm enjoying the general conversation. Maybe a mod or other experienced member has a suggestion... I'm still pretty new here myself and still getting the hang of the way we do things.

Marc Horovitz
https://www.trains.com/grw/news-reviews ... -horovitz/

[philipy]

Besides, I don't know if I can change the name for the entire subject.

Yes, the OP can. You need to go back to the very first post in this thread and edit it by changing the "Subject".
However, with a long rambling thread like this one, you run the risk of folks not finding it again.

[dudeface]

I always wondered why early toy trains often looked so spindly and had smokestacks of comical proportions. Turns out the real ones did too!

Much of the reason for the spindliness would have been to allow them to sell for ridiculously cheap prices, around $20 in today's money for a live steam loco.

[dudeface]

To keep the conversation on track, here's an early American loco that seems to fit the bill:
Screenshot_20231125-204951.jpg

What is this one? You don't see many American 2-2-2's. Kinda looks like a "storkleg" toy but with a trailing axle.

[drewzero1]

What is this one? You don't see many American 2-2-2's. Kinda looks like a "storkleg" toy but with a trailing axle.

It appears to be the Cumberland Valley Railroad's "Pioneer" of 1851: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_875724

Surprisingly, made it into preservation!

[dudeface]

It seems like it might make a fairly decent looking 2-2-0 tender loco!

[ge_rik]

I did a quick search on 2-2-2 locos

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ca ... ocomotives

I hadn't realised there were so many variants

Rik

[drewzero1]

The Belpaire locomotive:

belg1s.jpg (57.92 KiB) Viewed 37791 times

http://douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO ... elgian.htm

Though a forward-thinking design with the cab-forward layout, it sure isn't the prettiest thing on rails.

[dudeface]

This must be the ugliest one yet.

[GAP]

This must be the ugliest one yet.

I don't know the hand rails add to the aesthetics a certain je ne sais quoi

[dudeface]

I guess I missed this.... This is what I was getting all mad about!
http://sidestreet.info/aesthetics/contents.html

wp_ss_20231213_0002.png (203.71 KiB) Viewed 37738 times

[dudeface]

Now isn't this a beauty......??

OIP (2).jpg (25.54 KiB) Viewed 37593 times

[Peter Butler]

I love it Miles, especially the curtains! So, is it a 0-4-2 or a 2-4-0?... Which end is the front?

[ge_rik]

In like the gazebo on the back (or front)

Rik

[dudeface]

I love it Miles, especially the curtains! So, is it a 0-4-2 or a 2-4-0?... Which end is the front?

An 0-4-2, with driver and fireman on the open part on the front I think, based on the direction of that horn.

Edit: That could be a tube for communication between the two ends, whatever that's called.

[dudeface]

I wonder if it's some kind of inspection vehicle, with the passenger compartment being for the crew.

[GAP]

I love it Miles, especially the curtains! So, is it a 0-4-2 or a 2-4-0?... Which end is the front?

An 0-4-2, with driver and fireman on the open part on the front I think, based on the direction of that horn.

Edit: That could be a tube for communication between the two ends, whatever that's called.

Speaking tube, still used on ships to this day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaking_tube

[Peter Butler]

I wonder if it's some kind of inspection vehicle, with the passenger compartment being for the crew.

My guess would be for transporting the Chief Inspector and/or important guests of a fairly modest railway.
A little further up the scale of importance would be the Viceroy of India during Victorian days of The Raj. This is the vehicle I have wanted to build more than any other for many years but always chickened out!...

Indian loco.jpg (176.05 KiB) Viewed 37524 times