Quote from: RAM on June 12, 2017, 03:29:21 PM
The reason no more were built was the fact that the K4 was a better locomotive.  One big mistake Penn RR made was not using NW J"s blueprints and made 4-8-4s instead of the T1s.  The J's were a much better locomotive then the T1s at a lower cost.  Any way that is the way I see it.

The reason only 2 K5 Pacific were built has several answers. They incorporated features that were used to build the M1 class 4-8-2's which were more useful and practical to the Pennsy than more Pacifics of any class. Also the electrification of the Washington-New York line made many K4s engines "free"for the use elsewhere. The K5 was a successful engine in it's own right but just arrived at a poor time for duplication. The K5 was a more efficient engine than the K4s but at the wrong moment in time.

As to the N&W J being a better engine than the T1 that's not even open for debate. Both were very sophisticated and high tech engines at the time The N&W J was designed for mountain railroading and while it COULD do 110 mph, as proven on Pennsy tests and occasional sprints through the Dismal Swamp area west of Norfolk, it was never intended to run at those high speeds continuously whereas the T1 was made for continuous, high speed running. Hence 80" drivers vs 70" drivers. The T1 could be slippery, as could the N&W class A 2-6-6-4, but further examination of the fleet of engines has shown evidence they weren't as bad at slipping as has been rumored all these years. The high speeds caused wheel slip to be much more dramatic than low speeds and that has somewhat created the legend of them being so difficult to handle. The PRRT&HS has had much discussion and many articles on this subject and it's there in back issues of The Keystone magazine for people to read should they desire further light on them.

The tests with the C&O T-1 and N&W J on the Pennsy and the T1 on the N&W proved they designed engines for a particular use and maybe a particular service and they usually didn't work well on another railroad or type of service. Even the type of coal could make a great runner a slug to some degree. The J didn't operate as well on the lower grade coal used by the PRR compared to the high BTU N&W coal typically burned.

There were many variables to steam locomotives that generally didn't apply to the diesels which is another reason they killed steam use and production. It's not just a cut and dried, B&W situation.

We all have our favorites and the N&W J comes out very close to the top of my list and the PRR Duplex drives are near the bottom to me just slightly above the UP Pig Boy.

oldline1

YES...............CONTACT BACHMANN AS THEY ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY SOURCE.

Those small switching layouts can be fun. John Allen did his "Timesaver" many years ago and I think that started it all.

At the train show where Jed won his Bachmann set they had an N scale layout like that. It worked really well and both boys took to it right away. The engine was a  smooth running U-boat and the cars all had Micro-Trains couplers and they had magnets for uncoupling. They had a blast and really followed the guys instructions on what to put where and all. Pretty neat. Naturally they both told me I needed to build one for them.

Thanks!! I'm lucky to have such good and enthusiastic Grandsons. The older one sticks to me like glue. He asks great questions and always jumps in to help do things. He's particularly good with animals and he's really into power tools. Sure hope he stays like that as I age! He looks at my brass engines with lust in his eyes...........I FULLY UNDERSTAND! He's particularly fond on my Sunset N&W J's!

I just ordered a Bachmann 44596 track set as they have both said the circle of track was not enough. I'll get them to help me make the 4x8 platform in April and we'll put the train set on it. Then In June we'll set up the new Bachmann track set for their birthdays. Ought to make their heads explode! lol

Well, my Grandsons have both been trying to run the wheels off the train set the older one received as a door prize. The thrill is still there and they keep getting me to pull up the Bachmann site to check and see what else is available. Unfortunately, I need to sell the farm, my tractor and all the equipment to fund this new project! So I have done the best I could and donated one of my wonderful WM Russian Decapods to the roster along with about 8 more cars for them to pull. The older boy loves the "steamy" and gave the F-7A to his younger brother. I'm very pleased with the care they are both taking with the trains and was really worried the Dec wouldn't survive long but it's holding on well and the only problem has been the s crew on the pilot coupler backed out. Not bad!

Again..........THANKS Bachmann!

I have been model railroading since around 1955. My previous experience with Bachmann toy trains wasn't exactly a great experience. I have several Spectrum engines and Silver Series cars and really think they are high quality items but the toy train line certainly wasn't close to their quality. Yesterday the family went to a train show and my 5 year old Grandson won the door prize of a Bachmann Canyon Chief HO set. He was close to exploding during the 2 hour drive home wanting to run it. I was trying to think of how to console him when it broke trying to get it to run.

Much to my surprise he opened, assembled and had it running before I could unload the car. He and his younger brother have been running it with great joy and satisfaction since we got home. It has replaced dinosaurs as "the favorite toy" for him.

The track and trains are so much better than I remembered. This train is an excellent starter set and we are all very impressed with the entire set. He's going through the Bachmann site looking for stuff to add. I'm not sure if I can afford his "free train"! lol

I love it because this is close to the way I got started in this great hobby. I'm really happy for him.

Thank you, Bachmann for greatly improving the quality of your basic train equipment.
Roger

I guess I must be lucky as I bought 5 of the Western Maryland versions when they first came out and they all run great. I have hard wired them with Tsunamis and I've had no problems at all. They are a little light but they pull enough for me. They run well on my Walthers c83 flex and #4 turnouts.

Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works