I recently found that a fellow on a railway historical site is also a model railroader, and his prototype is the B&O in the area around Wilmington, Delaware.  This was the Royal Blue Line, which ran north to New York (actually Jersey City) via trackage rights on the Reading and the Central of New Jersey.  This was the route the President class 4-6-2s were originally built for.  His setting is in 1954, but he modifies history slightly to still have steam operating that late on this line, and also lets the Reading and the CNJ run south of Philadelphia on B&O.  He has a couple of video clips, which might be of interest to some B&O fans here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4yI3AnR0Zk&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei1Tks_mDbo&feature=related

Have fun, and I've been following the tank engines, too!

Baldwin diesel site, no Alcos, no EMDs, no FMs. . .fun to check out, even for a steam man like me. . .

http://baldwindiesels.railfan.net/index.html

Baldwin diesel site, no Alcos, no EMDs, no FMs. . .fun to check out, even for a steam man like me. . .

http://baldwindiesels.railfan.net/index.html

Baldwin diesel site, no Alcos, no EMDs, no FMs. . .fun to check out, even for a steam man like me. . .

http://baldwindiesels.railfan.net/index.html

Thomas and all his other characters are based on British prototypes, and that includes the various diesel units.

From YouTube are some locomotive start sequences for some of these locomotives.  What stands out is how hard starting (and smokey!) these units are.  Apparently at least part of this is due to cold engines with cold fuel in cold weather (all seem to be in winter, there is snow in one), at least according to some diesel men at Railway Preservation News.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG91fYHc ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpQivta ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_cGG56 ... re=related

These units give you the impression a steam locomotive would be easier to "start," and certainly simpler--all you need is a dry match. . .and several hours to raise steam. . .

Enjoy.

Some locomotive starting sequences from YouTube.

EMD E-unit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNR8dYze ... re=related

Alco:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zAi7wIgvrk&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do9CNax0 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXx9Y2zc ... re=related

Baldwin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZC-BUSz ... re=related

Fairbanks-Morse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExEYewvs ... re=related

These next ones are British diesels in preservation. What stands out is how hard starting (and smokey!) these units are, especially when compared to the American units shown above.  Apparently at least part of this is due to cold engines in cold weather, with cold fuel, at least according to some diesel men at Railway Preservation News.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG91fYHc ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpQivta ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_cGG56 ... re=related

These units give you the impression a steam locomotive would be easier to "start," and certainly simpler--all you need is a dry match. . .and several hours to raise steam. . .imagine attempting to simulate some of this in HO or any other scale. . .

Enjoy.

Some locomotive starting sequences from YouTube.

EMD E-unit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNR8dYze ... re=related

Alco:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zAi7wIgvrk&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do9CNax0 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXx9Y2zc ... re=related

Baldwin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZC-BUSz ... re=related

Fairbanks-Morse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExEYewvs ... re=related

These next ones are British diesels in preservation. What stands out is how hard starting (and smokey!) these units are, especially when compared to the American units shown above.  Apparently at least part of this is due to cold engines in cold weather, with cold fuel, at least according to some diesel men at Railway Preservation News.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG91fYHc ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpQivta ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_cGG56 ... re=related

These units give you the impression a steam locomotive would be easier to "start," and certainly simpler--all you need is a dry match. . .and several hours to raise steam. . .

Enjoy.

Some locomotive starting sequences from YouTube.

EMD E-unit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNR8dYze ... re=related

Alco:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zAi7wIgvrk&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do9CNax0 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXx9Y2zc ... re=related

Baldwin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZC-BUSz ... re=related

Fairbanks-Morse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExEYewvs ... re=related

These next ones are British diesels in preservation. What stands out is how hard starting (and smokey!) these units are, especially when compared to the American units shown above.  Apparently at least part of this is due to cold engines in cold weather, with cold fuel, at least according to some diesel men at Railway Preservation News.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG91fYHc ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpQivta ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_cGG56 ... re=related

These units give you the impression a steam locomotive would be easier to "start," and certainly simpler--all you need is a dry match. . .and several hours to raise steam. . .

Enjoy.

For some reason, a number of roads--Erie (other than USRA), New Haven, Great Northern, Northern Pacific, the two big Canadian lines--have been underrepresented in the new model roll-outs we've been seeing in recent years.  Among these is the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, the famous Rock Island line. 

Now, I don't know if there are enough modelers of the Rock Island to justify someone producing models of CRI&P steam prototypes, but just in case there is, here is a collection of photos and data on a variety of Rock Island engines; alternately, this collection of images may reveal models that can be kitbashed from other engines that are currently offered.

Some of these photo links have been posted recently in a 4-6-2 proposal thread, but they are included here in the interest of having all the Rock Island material I could locate in one place.

First, a listing of Rock Island locomotive classes with some specifications; sadly there are no numbers nor some other material that would normally be in a proper roster.  Still, it is a starting point.

http://orion.math.iastate.edu/jdhsmith/term/sluscrip.htm

Rock Island steam info is not too common on the internet.  We'll start with some information and photos on the three surviving Rock Island 4-6-2s:

No. 886:

http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/photos/tran_rockisland_1940.jpg

http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/photos/tran_rockisland_1941.jpg

http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/default.aspx?f=1&guid=ad2e0433-39a9-4c47-a5fb-1ddf95aade59&gid=2

No. 905:

http://rockisland905.com/index.htm

http://rockisland905.com/historical_loco_photos.htm

http://rockisland905.com/current_condition_photos.htm

No. 938:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=94971

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=961

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/valbum.cfm?display=961

http://www.irm.org/railwire/rw154.html#crip938

Some random images from Bob Yarger, a former editor at Railway Preservation News; of note to me are some of the Atlantics, including some with the main rod connected to the first driving axle, like a 4-4-0.  The Santa Fe had some engines like this; the layout suggests these engines, like Santa Fe's, may have been built as compounds back close to 1900:

http://www.rits.org/www/equipment/YargerSteam/YargerSteam.html

Erecting drawing of a 4-4-2, apparently called a "Chautauqua" type on the Rock Island:

http://www.dataviewbooks.com/rockislandsteam.jpg

http://www.dataviewbooks.com/risteam.html

Steam Locomotive data page on 2-8-2s, with some photo links.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/crip.shtml

To my eyes, this one looks to be based on a USRA heavy 2-8-2:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/crip2316.jpg

Other 2-8-2s:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/crip2563.jpg

This one reminds me of a New York Central engine, perhaps an H-7:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/crip2662.jpg

Quite a bit of rebuilding visible on this one:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/crip2711.jpg

4-4-2s (Data Only):

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/atlantic/?page=crip

4-6-2s (Data Only):

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/pacific/?page=crip

4-8-2s (Data & Photo Links):

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mountain/crip.shtml

4-8-4s (Data & One Photo)

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/crip.shtml

2-10-2s (Data Only):

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/santafe/?page=crip

Class 55Gs 2-8-0 (photo):

http://orion.math.iastate.edu/jdhsmith/term/sluscrip1993.jpg

2-6-0s (Data Only):

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mogul/?page=crip

0-6-0 photo (USRA, modified or replaced tank)

http://www.trains.com/ctr/objects/images/0-6-0_1.jpg

Photo links:

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/rockisl.htm

That will have to do for now; Have Fun!

This is more of a call for some new models from two builders (Bachmann and Athearn), the strong selling point being that the firms can use existing mechanisms with few (if any) changes, requiring only new superstuctures and tenders, as seems to have been the case with the new 2-6-6-2 and the newly anounced Baldwin 4-4-0.

We'll start with Bachmann, and the Pennsylvania K4s.  The principle ingredients I see in it are 80" drivers (a large size, which would also set the wheelbase), a lightweight Laird type crosshead, and lacy, delicate Walschaerts valve gear.  Who else used Pacifics with these features?

We'll start our photo illustrations with our base, the PRR K4s:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr12s.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr295s.jpg

The B&O was quite enamoured of the PRR's K4s, and took advantage of designing the boiler for 250 psi vs. the 205 psi of the K4s; net result was probably about 10 mph more speed, perhaps more.  These were the P7 "President" class engines of 1927, the 5300s, of which No. 5300 itself survives today.  Fred Westing (railroad author) once recalled he took a cab ride on one of these, and at well over 90 mph, said it was the fastest cab ride he ever had, noting how the fireman had no trouble at all keeping up steam thanks to a mechanical stoker. (At the time of this ride, the K4s were still hand-fired.)

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-s5300.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo5300as.jpg

Another road with at least similar looking running gear under a 4-6-2 was the Reading, specifically the Wooten-fireboxed G-1 and G-3 classes  (G-2s had smaller drivers).  The G-1 was the basis for a Mantua model that dated back to when Mantual sold engines with a fabricated brass superstructure; Penn Line's Crusader represented a rebuilt G-1 with streamlining.  The G-3s were notable as the last 4-6-2s build for an American railroad in 1948, and looked like a shorter version of a T-1 4-8-4.

G-1:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_rdg114.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_rdg115a.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/rdg121sa.jpg

G-3:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_rdg208.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/rdg214s.jpg

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/rdg/rdg-s217ark.jpg

The Central of New Jersey had 4-6-2s that were supposedly based on the Reading G-1, with  a slight reduction in driver diametor (1 inch).  They even classed their engines in classes G-1, 2, 3, and 4.  CNJ was for a time controlled by the Reading, which could explain a good deal.

G-1s:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnj821sa.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnj822s.jpg

G-2s:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnj828s.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnj830s.jpg

G-3s:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnj831sb.jpg

Picture this one in blue paint for Blue Comet service:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_cnj832.jpg

Lower-drivered G-4s, not much difference, but it does change the proportions a little:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnj811sa.jpg

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00002830

I thought the New Haven's I4s would qualify, but they had Baker valve gear, so they are not included.  However, if you explore this site, there is an enormous number of New Haven photos, and so it is spotted here as a reference for the New Haven fans among us:

http://sites.google.com/site/nynhhsteam/

What about the Athearn-MDC 4-6-2?  It's a USRA light 4-6-2, with 74" drivers and long-frame Baker valve gear.  Besides the roads that used the USRA design pretty much as is (including B&O and Atlantic Coast Line), heavy Pacifics on two roads that I can recall shared these key features--Southern Railway on its Ps-4s as built (they would later be rebuilt with Walschaerts), and C&O F-17, 18, and 19 4-6-2s.

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/steam.html

Note that some of the PS-4 photos will show them in rebuilt form, with different valve gear.

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/462/1374.html

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/462/sou6482.html

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/462/462unknown.html

Southern's only streamlined steamer, simply included as an item of interest:

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/462/sou1380atlanta.html

C&O power:

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-16265.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-24002.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-24001.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-24200.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-24204.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-29236.jpg

The F-19s, alas, suffered from a postwar rebuilding program that turned them into L-1 4-6-4s, the "Yellowbellies;" oh, the horror, the horror. . .

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-30025.jpg

Enjoy, and let's hope two of our best builders see and find a market in here.  And if you can think of any other engines that could be made from these two mechanisms, let us know, I'd be curious about them myself.

Preserved engine from 1880 in Brazil, originally linked in Railway Preservation News; direct Railpictures link below.  Modernization seems to be limited to a conversion to oil firing and an electric headlight, track gauge is 30 inches:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=331380&nseq=62

Where she ran:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrada_de_Ferro_Oeste_de_Minas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IevDARYkPU

http://www.barkah.org/Travelogues/Brazil/Train/index.html

Enjoy!

Preserved engine from 1880 in Brazil, originally linked in Railway Preservation News; direct Railpictures link below.  Modernization seems to be limited to a conversion to oil firing and an electric headlight, track gauge is 30 inches:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=331380&nseq=62

Where she ran:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrada_de_Ferro_Oeste_de_Minas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IevDARYkPU

http://www.barkah.org/Travelogues/Brazil/Train/index.html

Enjoy!

Preserved engine from 1880 in Brazil, originally linked in Railway Preservation News; direct Railpictures link below.  Modernization seems to be limited to a conversion to oil firing and an electric headlight, track gauge is 30 inches:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=331380&nseq=62

Where she ran:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrada_de_Ferro_Oeste_de_Minas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IevDARYkPU

http://www.barkah.org/Travelogues/Brazil/Train/index.html

Enjoy!

From Railway Preservation News:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29677

Enjoy!

From Railway Preservation News:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29677

Enjoy!

From Railway Preservation News:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29677

Enjoy!

From Railway Preservation News:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29677

Enjoy!

From Railway Preservation News:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29569

Have fun!

Photos from a photo charter on the Heber Valley, linked from Railway Preservation News:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29503

Enjoy!

Photos from a photo charter on the Heber Valley, linked from Railway Preservation News:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29503

Enjoy!