Full Steam Ahead suggested he would like to see Bachmann produce a New York Central 4-6-4 (and he took an unfortunate amount of ribbing due to his typing); the engine, as he pointed out, is a classic, but as some of the others suggested, has been or is in production by others, going back as far as an American Flyer AC version in the prewar era, in the same time period as Varney's Dockside and MDC-Roundhouse 0-6-0.  For that reason, even I would question that choice; in some ways, it would be like another Pennsy K-4.

At the same time, to produce a new 4-6-4 has a number of marketing challenges.  Not many other roads have the following of the NYC and its 275 4-6-4s, and of the others that had the type, the rosters were much smaller.  The second-largest owner of Hudsons was Canadian Pacific, with 65 engines; other owners had a dozen or less, and two, the Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo and the Maine Central, had only two each.  This is not a small consideration, especially when you consider that a new engine is supposedly a $250,000 investment in tooling and other incidentals. 

One thing that could help is the fact that most 4-6-4s had 79 or 80 inch drivers.  This is important because most modern steam locomotives--essentially anything with a trailing truck--had a driver axle spacing about 3 or 4 inches greater than the diameter of the drivers.  I suspect this is the minimum clearance that would accommodate flange clearance and brake rigging.  Some engines would have greater spacing, but this was usually due to weight distribution (USRA 0-8-0s), or to allow for other components (such as a firebox that would drop between axles in a 4-6-0 or 2-8-0).  Basically, this means a common mechanism can often be used for engines of the same driving diameter; Bachmann already does this with its 80-inch drivered 4-8-4s, based on AT&SF, NYC (Niagara), and Southern Pacific (Daylight) prototypes. 

On this basis, here are what would be my suggestions for new 4-6-4s:

My first example requires I declare a certain amount of prejudice, as I am a C&O modeler.  Still, C&O's 4-6-4s used a tender Bachmann makes that goes with the C&O 2-8-4; certain other parts, such as a trailing truck, were interchangeable, too.  Both the Baker-geared 1942 L2s and the poppet-valved postwar L2as were built by Baldwin; 78" drivers:

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-11.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-1050.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-1106.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-1158.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-1162.jpg

Another one, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Baker gear, 78" drivers:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photos_by_laurence/3801376761/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomas-merton/3918657600/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomas-merton/3917872735/in/photostream/

http://www.llarson.com/steam/schenzinger/images/NA42.jpg

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?//july98/07-07-98/cbxq3003.jpg

The Milwaukee's conventional 4-6-4s had 80" drivers:

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/MIL137.JPG

http://www.oldmilwaukeeroad.com/content/progress/photopages/photo09a.htm

DL&W:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_dlw1151.jpg

Wabash, 80" drivers (home rebuild from 2-8-2):

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?//january99/01-01-99/ns1394.jpg

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?//january99/01-01-99/ns1395.jpg

New Haven (made elsewhere, so not necessarily a candidate here), 80":

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?//july99/07-26-99/nh1408.jpg

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/hudson/nynhh1409.jpg

There are other 4-6-4s, but they are not included here, as the change in driver size is too great, resulting in different overall proportions.

There is another bit of a hole, and that's in medium-drivered 4-8-4s with wheels in the 74-to-76 inch range.  Again, the idea is that a common mechanism can help amortize the cost of tooling.

Again, we start with the C&O J3 and J3a, the latter class including an engine numbered 614:

http://leesome1226.tripod.com/Pictures/co614erietable.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-39.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-142.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-21056.jpg

http://www.cohs.org/repository/Archives/cohs/web/cohs-1418.jpg

Burlington's burly O-5 and O-5a:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1602802

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1312191

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=293065

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1082789

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1082793

Full-sized "brass" Burlington 5632:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=265628

Lackawanna had several types of 4-8-4s; the Q-4 had 74" drivers:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php?action=post2;start=0;board=2

Southern Pacific's first daylights were GS-2s, 76" drivers:

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/SP4412.JPG

Speaking of the GS-2s also brings up the GS-3s, which had 80" drivers like the currently produced GS-4.  Hmm, a change to single headlight insert, an open cab, modified tender with gangway account of open cab--could the GS-4 tooling provide a different engine?

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php?action=post2;start=0;board=2

A recent excursion favorite, 74" drivers:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=298516&nseq=5

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=298239&nseq=6

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=293804&nseq=7

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=284738&nseq=10

2008--or 1948?

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=280515&nseq=16

There may be others; what else could you suggest?

Finally, Bachmann might even want to consider a New York Central 4-8-2, specifically an L1 or L2 of some sort, which was a freight engine with 70" drivers and Baker valve gear on the L2, like the USRA 4-8-2 currently in the line.  Note the variations in subclasses; I personally like the earlier engines with heavy, overhanging Elesco feedwater heaters that looked like H-10 2-8-2s on steroids rather than the later ones, which looked like Hudsons:

http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc2967_rcl.htm

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/NYC2618.JPG

http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/NYC2872.JPG

http://transportmuseumassociation.org/images/exhibits/newyorkcentral2933.jpg

Have fun.

That's one answer!

Another possibility could be a layout specifically meant to recall an older one, something like what some of the tinplaters do when they recreate Lionel display layouts.  A store window display as a nostalgic Christmas piece would be one place--provided you could find a store owner willing to let you put a layout in the window.  The city of Martinsburg, W.Va. used to have a holiday "Model Railroad Showcase" sponsored by the local Main Street organization in which modelers built or placed model railroads in store windows as a way to get some people into town instead of shopping at a mall.  Themes included tinplate, nice HO and N scale jobs, and a regular large-scale North Pole fantasy line that featured Little Debbie tree-shaped cakes for trees and candy canes for logs on flat cars.  This hasn't been done for a while--wish they would bring it back.

Are the Revel kits still available from someone else?

Interesting comments, Nigel; too bad fellows like you, Rye, and myself are in such a minority that Bowser had to call it quits.

I have to ask, what are you going to use for tenders?  The N&W rounded top jobs are fairly common in larger sizes (Life-Like 2-8-8-2s), but what about smaller ones?

Since we are on the subject, another 4-6-2 with 70" drivers; this one's a Baldwin, so it looks very different (gotta scratch the superstructure again), but it's also been available in brass a number of times.  And No. 202 is still with us, on display in a park in Hagerstown, Md.  It's also interesting to note the variations between engines; this is just a sample from the Northeast Rails site:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/wm202sa.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/wm202s.jpg

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wm/wm-s205aps.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/wm205sa.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/wm209as.jpg

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wm/wm-s209.jpg

While looking for the WM photos, I came across this one; has a Baldwin builder's photo section you and Rye may be interested in:

http://www.leclairerail.com/contents.html

Not the best shot, but it is an NYC K-11:

http://sbiii.com/wkoch-rr/NYC3022K-11AinChicago.jpg

Enjoy.

Rye's comments about replica locomotives here and in another thread suggest two questions:

How many modelers either have an older model railroad with many of the models we have been discussing still on it, have a model railroad where these older models are still worth having on it, or even have built a new railroad to look and feel like an older one?

And a corollary, suggested by Kalmbach layout planning writer Ian Rice, is what would John Allen do with the new stuff, such as DCC and sound effects, if he were around today?

Ian himself suggested, in a design intended as a tribute to Allen, that one could incorporate things like working landslides and collapsing bridges in addition to the 4% grades.  Hokey it may seem, and I certainly wouldn't do it, but Allen's sense of humor, with magnetic cars, a dinosaur, a fake snake, and a laugh box hooked into a control at Port to rattle the overtaxed operator there would suggest he just might do such things to take the supposedly revenue-challenged G&D to a new level. . .

C&O J3a 614

http://www.piercehaviland.com/rail/railimages/Njstea2.jpg

She's a proper locomotive, painted black, burns West Virginia coal, and doesn't wear skirts so she can show off those Boxpok legs!

Something else to spend (too much) money on. . .

http://www.sundayriverproductions.com/category.aspx?id=6

http://www.amazon.com/Model-Railroading-John-Allen-Fabulous/dp/0890245592

I wonder if either is available via inter-library loan.

Reportedly the house was not destroyed by the fire, only damaged and later repaired, and is supposed to still be standing today.  Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks for the comments, that's about what I was thinking, depending on the price of a VGN MB.

Interestingly, the road's MCAs (5 rebuilt MCs) did get Baldwin disc drivers, had about the same driver diameter, but were overall a much chunkier engine.

MCA

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=11828

MC

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=87501

One that will give anyone trouble would be a Virginian Alco PA, in an orange and black paint scheme.  It's never even been produced in brass.

Joke time:  What do you mean, a Virginian PA?  Virginian only had FM diesels, and that one GE 44-tonner from the New Haven on the East End!

Answer:  The Virginian had 6 4-6-2s, class PA, painted black with standard orange lettering. . .

Ho, ho, humbug. . .

Class PA, 70-inch drivers (same as a Bowser NYC K-11), overall boiler shape the same, but otherwise, the biggest piece of work, probably better to scratchbuild at least the superstructure.  Still a pretty engine, though. . .surprised no one has done one even in brass.

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=11829

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=19451

I don't expect to see one made, even if this locomotive was so highly thought of by Virginian employees and fans--but maybe it could be kitbashed.  Check the photos and see if you wouldn't agree:

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=1351

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=23224&nseq=8

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=61852

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94511&nseq=2

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=229492&nseq=0

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=87503

http://www.cwrr.com/Lounge/Feature/steamtwn/parade5.jpg

Drivers are close in size, overall proportions are good, even Alco domes on the Chinese engine (based on an Alco design?).  The engine looks to be mostly a standard if slightly extensive redetailing job, even if it includes scratching up a new cab.  Main problem--that round-topped tank the Virginian used, similar to those on some older N&W power and L&N 2-8-4s.  How would you tackle it?

Good luck on the project and on the job search (my wife is in your shoes as well).

C&O J3a 614

http://www.piercehaviland.com/rail/railimages/Njstea2.jpg

OK, back for a little more exploring among the G&D photos:

4-6-0 No. 49, a Varney Casey Jones with a Kemtron tank; appropriate as both are based on SP prototypes; C&O H-6 partially visible to the right, and a modified Bowser Brill trolley is in the background.  Clicking on the photo will blow it up considerably, revealing, among other things, John Allen's use of a red light bulb to simulate firebox glare, and the hollowed-out headlight with lighted number boards:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_01/slides/s1_027_49etc_jul68.html

PFM Shay at Andrews, with a modified Atlas station:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_01/slides/s1_030_linnsarchives_sep69.html

Logging scene:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_01/slides/s1_029_logs_oct67.html

Roundhouse at Great Divide; this is a free-lance road, yet this scene and others somehow make me hear panting air compressors--flanges squealing--engines clumping onto the turntable, and the grinding sound of its tractor as it spins a locomotive--the roundhouse smells of smoke inside, and the men are preparing aging locomotives for another day--it helps when you've been in such a place, even if it is narrow gauge in Orbisonia, Pa. . .

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_01/slides/s1_019_great_sep63.html

Most impressive scene--part of the Giant Canyon.  Scenery here comes to the floor, which here is painted to look like a muddy river below. 

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_00/slides/s0_045_riverscalp2_jun65.html

Before dawn at the roundhouse in Great Divide:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_00/slides/s0_065_49_jul68.html

No. 25; like No. 12, based on an MDC-Roundhouse 0-6-0, but modified more extensively, with an extended front and new pilot truck, a new slot filed into the frame to move the rear driving axle behind the firebox (more typical of a road locomotive which this now is), with an appropriate lengthened side rod, and the main rod now connected to the middle driver, along with a new tender; check out the model railroad cars behind her, including a Marquette Union Terminal (MUT) car and one from the NMRA:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_02/slides/s2_005_25bridge_feb72-orig.html

No. 56, the Bowser NYC K-11 in a panned shot:

http://witt-family.com/gorre-and-daphetid/RMC-19710200-046-300_70.jpg

Have fun.

Bill, don't worry about "taking over;" this is meant to be entertaining and educational, your comments and questions are part of the reason I started this thing.

From having read "Model Railroading with John Allen" by the late Lynn Wescott (and I'm sorry it was a borrowed copy I had to return), John's locomotives were a somewhat eclectic mix of stock mass-produced engines with modified details, weathered brass engines, and some scratchbuilt and partsbuilt power.

No. 12 was an almost stock MDC 0-6-0, a model based on a turn-of-the 20th century engine built for the Southern Pacific.  This model was actually produced, in one form or another, from the late 1930s until the end of MDC kits.  Very old ones would have had 6 volt motors, which was the early standard.

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/12.html

No. 12 with scratchbuilt combine No. 5, which looks like a short car from the Sierra Railways Angels branch service.  Note that the piping is cast on, which we disdain today, but John managed, with paint and other work, to make it look good.

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/12and5.html

Scratchbuilt non-powered engines of very early prototype, not powered; Bachmann has a model of the Norris-built Lafayette that is similar to this.

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/assembly.html

Check out the Varney Dockside (subject of a rather extensive thread a while back) and the Silver Streak (Ye Olde Huff'n Puff) caboose in the background.

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/grandt2.html

Parts-built monster; Varney Reading 2-8-0 boiler (same prototype as Bachmann's old 2-8-0 that's no longer in production), Mantua 50" drivers (a common switcher size, also used under Bachmann's USRA 0-6-0 and the freelanced 2-6-2 that's based on it), a homemade frame (and likely side rods), and assorted other parts, including what I presume to be a Kemtron (now PIA?) Bethlehem tender booster.

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/34alone.html

No. 13, Emma the Dinosaur, helping unload Varney motors for the ad campaigm; wax on a wire armature:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/dinosaur2.html

No. 8, Mantua's Belle of the 80s, with hand lettering and striping:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/published8.html

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/number8better.html

I'm not sure what No. 40 was, but it looks like a brass AT&SF 2-8-2:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/number40a.html

No. 43, a brass AT&SF 2-8-4, and one of two surviving locomotives (the other is 4-10-0 34, mentioned above):

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/Locomotives/slides/GD_43_full.html

No. 34 in action, approaching Gorre:

http://www.gdlines.com/GD_Galleries/The_Slides/Set_00/slides/s0_009_enginehouse_unkdate.html

I'm a little short on time right now, so I'll just let you all explore some more.  Some engines that I do recall are a red 4-6-2, which was a slightly modified Bower NYC K-11 mated to a brass tender from Pacific Fast Mail (PFM) AT&SF 1950 class 2-8-0, a large PFM 2-6-6-2 of C&O prototype (class H-6. a modern 1949 version of Bachmann's new H-4), and a brass PFM Sierra 2-6-6-2 (which I think carried the prototype's number 38), and a Varney Casey Jones 4-6-0 modified with a high headlight and coupled with a modified (to coal) Kemtron Vanderbilt tender of Southern Pacific pattern (similar to Bachmann's medium Vanderbilt).

Enjoy your exploring.

Not anything with early kits (other than that some were used here), but something still appropriate for what is turning out to be Bachmann's nostalgia and history page:

http://gorre-and-daphetid.witt-family.com/

http://www.gdlines.com/

I'll let you explore here, particularly the slide pages, and just wait for some comments.

I have to say, this has been fun looking up this old stuff, although it takes up too much time (which is to say, it's just a little addictive). . .

I wasn't going to put on information about Bowser, as this firm no longer makes steam locomotive kits, but in view of the interest in "early-time" kits, I have to change my mind.

For reference, Bowser's modern home page:

http://www.bowser-trains.com/

From this home page:

First, the steam engines; note the former Varney engines as well:

http://bowser-trains.com/holocos/holocos.htm

Continuing on:

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/manual/manual.htm

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoemrrs/aerotrain/aerotrain.htm

For many years, Bowser trolleys were the only ones you could get, outside of brass or scratchbuilding.

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/trolleys/trolleys.htm

Other items, one or two of which have been linked earlier in the tread:

http://www.railstop.com/History/Bowser/BowserHistory.asp

http://www.bowser-trains.com/misc/history/history.htm

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/FMref.pdf

Athearn cars used to be in metal:

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/Menzies.pdf

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/Partref1.pdf

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/partref2.pdf

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/motors.pdf

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/Old%20Locos.pdf

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/gg1ref.pdf

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/tenders/tenders.htm

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/tender_trucks/tender_trucks.htm

http://www.bowser-trains.com/misc/building_tips/building_kits.htm

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/BoxRef.pdf

http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/Old%20Lady_Varney.pdf

These came from this page; looks like they still have some Varney metal cars (Bowser production) in stock.

Detail parts are still handy for dressing up or altering current locomotives, and for those rare occasions (because so few of us still have or ever did acquire the skill) when you scratchbuild an engine.  The Cal Scale line, by way, includes parts originally made by a company called Budd, which must have been one of the first, if not the first, detail parts firm that worked in lost wax:

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/calscale/calscale.htm

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/calscale/6000.pdf

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/cary/cary.htm

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/cary/Cary%20Parts.pdf

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/cary/Cary%20Superdetail%20kits.pdf

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/cary/Cary%20Body.pdf

http://bowser-trains.com/hoother/selley/Selley%20Drawings%20HO.pdf

From Bowser, material on one of the company's predecessors:

http://www.hoseeker.org/pennline/pennlinehistory/pennlineindex.html

Note that you can look inside the catalogues with the drop-down links:

http://www.hoseeker.org/pennline/pennlinehistory/early.html

http://www.hoseeker.org/pennlineinstructions.html

http://www.hoseeker.org/pennlineinformation.html

Hmm, check out the home page where the catalogue information came from; someone else likes to look up old HO stuff:

http://www.hoseeker.org/

In one way it's too bad some things have improved to the extent they have, and that is in how one can at best rarely get undecorated kits and decals to go with them.  Believe me, this is still something useful, especially if you are modeling a road like the C&O or the Virginian (or for that matter the NYC where it interchanged with the C&O and the VGN, at the east end of the former Kanawha & Michigan) and you need about 300 hopper cars, all with different numbers.

http://www.minot.com/champ/

Enjoy.

Maybe this can help.

http://home.onemain.com/~thebackshop/link.htm

http://www.tomarindustries.com/asm.htm

See the "Early Time Kits" thread for other classic items.

Looking around for info on the postwar Chinese engines came up initially with this item on the other Pershing 2-8-0 in the US:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_No._101

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2-8-0_at_NRM,_Green_Bay,_20040426.jpg

One of the Chinese engines--note that she still carries a diamond Lima builder's plate!

http://www.railography.co.uk/photos/china_i/fushun_ocm/84-C-0225.htm

http://www.railography.co.uk/info/cn_steam/profiles/kd6.htm

A slightly later variant; note that the cylinder block is somewhat different.

http://www.railography.co.uk/info/cn_steam/profiles/kd7.htm

Some of these stayed in the US, too:

http://www.railography.co.uk/info/cn_steam/profiles/xk2.htm

http://www.project62.supanet.com/locolocation.htm

http://www.project62.supanet.com/USAlocohistory.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USATC_S100_Class

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/misc/images/showImage.php?image=ejl34.jpg

At the Old Dominion Chapter, NRHS, Richmond, Va.

http://www.odcnrhs.org/060rebel.htm

Enjoy.

A comment in the "carpet coupler" thread about link and pin couplers (normally associated with 19th century railroading) got me looking--and found that some of the products of Alexander Scale Models are back in production, courtesy of Tomar (normally associated as a firm specializing in passenger train tail signs)--including, of course, the link and pin couplers.  Other lines, such as Utah Pacific, are there, too.

http://www.tomarindustries.com/index.html

http://www.tomarindustries.com/asm.htm

One of the classics from this line.

http://www.tomarindustries.com/A-7519.jpg

Another firm that was around a long time back, with some classic structures and a portable coal conveyor was Dyna-Models; does anybody know if this firm or some reincarnation is still around?