Steam & Excursion > Underappreciated Steam

When it comes to all the fallen flags, most of the love usually goes to PRR, NYC, or the Southern for most handsome engines, but some roads just "don't get no respect" as much as they should. 

For me, it's the Delaware & Hudson. They weren't afraid to be different, creating some of the most off-the-wall experimental locomotives I've ever seen. But even their conventional steam locomotives were distinctive and quite handsome. The President of the D&H, Leonor F. Loree was quite an interesting character as well!

What are your picks for roads whose steam power was vastly underappreciated?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/25 18:22 by dcoursey.

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Very nice photo, though I never saw any of them that I remember.  Thanks for sharing your photo.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

That's a nice looking engine. I always liked steam engines with smiley faces.

As for underappreciated steam engines, I would mention Seaboard Air Line. I originally went firing on the ex-SAL, and the oldheads talked fondly of their SAL steam. A lot of the engines had the dual air pumps on the smoke box front - sometimes referred to as the scarecrow look. Even their mighty 2-6-6-4 "Twin Pacifics" had the dual air pumps up front. When the B&O bought the "Twin Pacific's, they cleaned up the looks and made them purty. SAL did have a really good looking engine - the "Big Tank 200" - a long graceful Mountain type with a big semi-Vanderbilt tender and a nice smiley face. Also the "Big Tank 200's" had a high end power curve for heavyweight SAL passenger trains.

Posted from Android

My candidate for under appreciated steam locomotives (at least among American rail enthusiasts) is Canadian National's steam locomotives.  In my opinion, CN's Confederation class 4-8-4s were among the best-looking 4-8-4s to grace North America's rails.  

This photo was taken by David Leonard on September 4, 1958 in Toronto.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/09/25 06:46 by RuleG.

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RuleG Wrote:
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> My candidate for under appreciated steam
> locomotives (at least among American rail
> enthusiasts) is Canadain National's steam
> locomotives.  In my opinion, CN's Confederation
> class 4-8-4 were among the best-looking 4-8-4s to
> grace North America's rails.  

That one is nice!

The D&H photo here is "mild" compared to other photos of their experimental steam locos.  Nevertheless, their 4-6-6-4 and 4-8-4 toward the end of steam were very 'handsome' and practical looking.
jb

Is it just me, or is that D&H firebox just huge??

doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
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> Is it just me, or is that D&H firebox just huge??

It's big because it was designed to burn Anthracite hard coal which burns slowly but very hot. Highest amount of carbon content and energy density of any coal.

I’m with you on D&H (but that figures, it was the hometown RR). Beyond that, CN and CP always looked good. 

I never managed to appreciate the RRs that hung all kinds of plumbing on the nose. An Elesco heater is OK, but the other stuff is just ugly. 

march_hare Wrote:
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> I’m with you on D&H (but that figures, it was
> the hometown RR). Beyond that, CN and CP always
> looked good. 
>
> I never managed to appreciate the RRs that hung
> all kinds of plumbing on the nose. An Elesco
> heater is OK, but the other stuff is just ugly. 

Air compressors started being located there because it gave them access to "clean" air.

PHall Wrote:
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> Air compressors started being located there
> because it gave them access to "clean" air.

Thanks. I had not thought about it.

For a con, in a grade crossing accident, you might need to replace equipment more expensive than a headlight. 

Ironically, Norfolk & Western steam power was frequently underappreciated "back in the day."  When railroads with much more traditionally attractive power (think the Georgian Locomotive) were operating steam, the more utilitarian N&W tended to get overlooked.  It was only after the N&W was among the last steam shows around that the masses began to wake up to just what they had been missing.

At the same time, Illinois Central power was often dismissed due to the sheet metal pilots and squared sand domes.  "Square domes and bare boilers" said many, thumbing their noses at the steam power of the Mainline of Mid-America.

Humbug, I cry.  I'm a fan of both!

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

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IC also embraced extra water tenders more then other roads too.

PHall Wrote:
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> IC also embraced extra water tenders more then
> other roads too.

They used the cisterns with the four-axle tenders to equal the larger six-axle tenders used with the 8000 Class Limas (Berkshires to non-IC types) and 2600 Class Mountains.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

Interesting bell placement location on that CN Northern.

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
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>
> At the same time, Illinois Central power was often
> dismissed due to the sheet metal pilots and
> squared sand domes.  "Square domes and bare
> boilers" said many, thumbing their noses at the
> steam power of the Mainline of Mid-America.
>
> Humbug, I cry.  I'm a fan of both!

And so am I! Well said, Mary. I remember the first time I heard some steam enthusiast criticizing IC power for those details - and more. I remember looking at him like he had five heads. "What in the world are you talking about", I thought. "You need to get your head properly screwed on" - a thought I held, but did not speak. I was still a mere tyke in the hobby, and lacked the standing for such an impertinent thought. But that didn't mean I couldn't keep it to myself....

Fortunately most of the older fans I knew in St. Louis growing up as a young railfan had a proper appreciation of IC steam, and some almost worshipped it. Quite a few had made the trek across the river to photograph it in the final days in Southern Illinois, and some had even also made the pilgrimage to Paducah, with all of the attendant stories to tell of its glories. I never tired of hearing those tales, and seeing those slides at very special showings. And when I visited myself finally well into the diesel era, I could almost visualize what had once been.

The D&H engine is quite stylish and nice, and yes, underappreciated - thanks for sharing the image with us. And yes, the CN and cousin GTW 4-8-4s were among the very best as well, and did not nearly get the recognition they deserved outside their own territory.  And N&W, well what can you say that O. Winston Link and others didn't teach us to appreciate?  We of the Fraternity of Underappreciated Steam have some finely tuned tastes, and for good reason. May the Underappreciated never be forgotten.

MC

My 2 cents. A Wabash "Twenty-Eight-Hundred..

Victor Baird

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I agree about the CN 4-8-4's...they were beautiful engines. This might not be a popular opinion either, but I really do like the unique look of Great Northerns 4-8-2's as well. 

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dcoursey Wrote:
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> When it comes to all the fallen fags, most of the
> love usually goes to PRR, NYC, or the Southern for
> most handsome engines, but some roads just "don't
> get no respect" as much as they should. 
>
> For me, it's the Delaware & Hudson. They weren't
> afraid to be different, creating some of the most
> off-the-wall experimental locomotives I've ever
> seen. But even their conventional steam
> locomotives were distinctive and quite handsome.
> The President of the D&H, Leonor F. Loree was
> quite an interesting character as well!
>
> What are your picks for roads whose steam power
> was vastly underappreciated?

You might want to consider a little spell check and correction at the top of your post.

MWP

Posted from Android

EMD2024 Wrote:
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> dcoursey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > When it comes to all the fallen fags, most of
> the
> > love usually goes to PRR, NYC, or the Southern
> for
> > most handsome engines, but some roads just
> "don't
> > get no respect" as much as they should. 
> >
> > For me, it's the Delaware & Hudson. They
> weren't
> > afraid to be different, creating some of the
> most
> > off-the-wall experimental locomotives I've ever
> > seen. But even their conventional steam
> > locomotives were distinctive and quite
> handsome.
> > The President of the D&H, Leonor F. Loree was
> > quite an interesting character as well!
> >
> > What are your picks for roads whose steam power
> > was vastly underappreciated?
>
> You might want to consider a little spell check
> and correction at the top of your post.
>
> MWP

Goodness gracious, I can't believe that error was up there for almost 3 days and I never caught it! Thank you for pointing that out!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/25 18:25 by dcoursey.