Re: Favorite or least favorite locomotives

As a fireman, I liked the #497. It was easy to keep hot once you learned its tricks (many firemen disliked the #497 due to its low position fire door). Running, I liked the #489 as it seemed more sure footed than the other K-36's. Least favorite was probably the #484 as it never seemed to steam as well as the other engines. This is all based on perceptions in the late 1990's.

The #463 was OK to fire and run. It was a bear to get steam pressure up if you let it get down more than about 10 lbs. Running, it has a limited number of positions on the Johnson Bar so that narrowed your options. On the historic side, for the #463, it was pretty cool to be running and firing a locomotive that ran over the RGS.