Nostalgia.
Growing up in the 50's, the Steamers were still running, hauling freight,
the Diesels hadn't completely taken over. 

     Steam for nostalgic sake. Diesel has it's place too, just depends
on what your layout can handle, what you like to model and available
funds to increase your inventory.

No vote as I am addicted to both, as a kid I used to watch the C&NW passenger trains idle on the tracks across from my Grandmas house. Too young to have seen the real steam engines but I have a bunch of them on my layout, mostly pre-war.

I like modern day diesels, but my heart will stay with steam. I just love to see the smoke, hear the beautiful sounding whistle, hear the powerful chugging, and I love the looks of steam locomotives. I grew up around the Dollywood theme parks 2-8-2 mikado, and my grandpa worked for the railroad and loved steam locomotives too.

I am back! The layout is bigger and better now-- after a few months. How is everyone?

I like both but favor 1st and 2nd generation diesels for their asthetics and because they are what I grew up around.

My next locomotive will hopefully be a Lion Chief Plus steamer...........

The steamers already outnumber everything else on the layout but others are present.

Jim K.