Opinion & Answer Part I: Conductor Wolf's Note

Opinion & Answer Part I: Conductor Wolf's Note

Conductor Wolf's Train List

List will start in reverse order leading to #1. To start off, I'll be listing tank engines prior to tender engines. These two list will list my top 5 favorite trains of the steam engines. 

Warning ⚠: Some of these engine's classes are spoilers for future blog detail posts. Only the class name & reasoning for ranking will be present for reading.

Also note: all images associated with the ranking lists are found on google with my own opinionated response and rating. 

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railroad Class 28 Steam Engine on Display

Ranked #5: L&YR Class 28 

Very helpful mix-traffic engine. Based on research, the Class 28 from L&YR are good at pulling passenger and freight cars which makes them very helpful. The reason I choose to put these at #5 is that the cab roof wasn't covering the entire cab. But their basis and design makes them very helpful with their work. 

Southern Railroad Q1 Class engine on display in a museum 

Ranked #4: SR Q1 class

Like the fact that these engines were constructed to be used during WWII. Was built to handle the tight curves with freight trains on England's Southern Railway during wartime.  I do like that they were able to use less material in the design & building as the country was at war.  However I didn't
like the nickname "Ugly Ducklins" because of their design. I think it's a wonderful design and I can't wait to explain more about this class.  Hence why this is ranked #4!

LB&SCR A1X Class 55 Stepney stopped at a station with a passenger train

Ranked #3: LB&SCR A1X Class 55 Stepney 

I do like the fact that some of these engines were preserved with two being donated to museums for being put on display for viewing. With the Bluebell Railway being the 1st to become a heritage railway. These trains are very helpful even though the engines dwindle near the end of WWII. Even the good thing was that they were good for branch line work along with some being put to use on the Bluebell Railway. 

Note: Details will be explain very soon on this class.

Furness Railway K2 train leaving Furness Railway station 

Ranked #2: Furness Railway K2 Class

My second favorite engine is the Furness Railway K2 (Class 21). The reason why I have this as my #2 is that they are also a mix traffic engines like the L&YR Class 28. They are very interesting locomotives since they are both passenger & freight trains. Sad part is that like most railways around the world were dismantled or sold off along with engines and/or rolling stock (railcars/passenger cars). Even though they got the nickname of "Larger Seagulls" which is a terrible name. The Furness Railway K2 Locomotives were sold. But overall they are lovely engines to learn about.  Along with the fact of being known as Edward from the Thomas and Friend TV Show. 

MY FAVORITE ENGINE OUT OF THE TOP 5 IS....

Billinton E2 with a passenger train that is stopped at a station. This E2 is Southern 473 painted in green livery to match the Southern Railway color scheme.

#1: LB&SCR Billinton E2

Out of the Top 5 favorite engines is my personal favorite, Billinton E2. The reason why this one is my number is that it has extended side tanks on a 0-6-0 chassis.  The sad part is that it couldn't go on long travel without refilling for coal because of the small built-on bunker. But the interesting part is that it can handle branch line work along with shunting. But the most sadden is none of these real-life E2 were not preserved and no chance of a rebuilding of an E2. I like this one the most because of the fictional Thomas the tank engine.