One of my favorite oddballs is a Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 I picked up secondhand at a train show. It’s a German-built diesel-hydraulic that Southern Pacific experimented with in the ‘60s—only a handful ever ran in the U.S. It’s such a departure from typical North American power, and it always gets double takes on my layout.
I love running it with freight consists just to mix things up. The detailing on the model is impressive too—those long hoods and roof vents are wild.
Anyone else have something a little unconventional in their collection?
Beyond the popular steamers and diesels, there are some truly unique and rare locomotive models out there prototypes, foreign engines, or short-line oddities that deserve the spotlight.
Do you have a locomotive in your collection that’s a bit out of the ordinary?
Share photos, history, or the story behind how you found it.
Let’s celebrate the weird and wonderful side of our hobby!
