The British Cramptons were actually very different from the Camden & Amboy design.  They were elegant, sleek 4-2-0s.   The Schenectady Locomotive Works of New York copied the British drawings for their own version and got just as handsome an engine.   

The Camden & Amboy was a totally different story.   They wanted to design their own versions in house.  Boy did they ever.   The only fleet of 6-2-0s in the world.   Talk about needing decaf.   

J

The North Pacific Coast "Sonoma" was a standard catalog "8-18C" Baldwin, and guess what - Bachmann already has you covered.   Here's the same "8-18C" model engine with the exact same paint scheme as Sonoma:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1870

Only the cowcatcher is different - and if you find a source for those beautiful curved metal ones I'd like to know.  Otherwise, just add decals and you're all set.  The Nevada County had a nearly identical version too, Grass Valley No. 1, with the same paint scheme.     

Jim

Hi Scot,

Wow, I didnt know your site is still up and running!  We've learned a lot of things since it went up and have much better information now about the colors of Mason Bogie locomotives. 

There are two colors known: 

Green for early bogies, up to 1877

Chocolate brown for later bogies, from 1879 on. 

The transition point appears to be some time in 1878, but all we can say definitively is that chocolate brown was in use by the early part of 1879.  So your Leviathan happily remains quite accurate, which is pretty good. 

The black versions like the No. 55 should have dark yellow letters and numbers, instead of white.  This is from an original paint spec, which came to light some time after the MLS class was completed.   

I'd like to suggest revising the site to help people better - mostly by retiring all the wine, lake and blue versions, anything that has red wheels and trucks, and so on.  Contact me seperately and we can work together to update the site and give the best info we have. 

Hope all is well your way,
Jim

Those early brass era cars are great too, lots of character and great to look at. 

The catalog photos don't do these engines justice.  Not even close.  They are incredible to see in real life.  There are even touches like flat finish running boards and tender decks to contrast the glossy decorative paintwork. 

The overall length is 27" from tip to tail, the engine is overall 17" long from pilot to backof cab overhang, the rigid wheelbase is 4 1/2" and overall engine wheelbase 10 3/4"  and the tender is 3 3/4" wide, or 4 1/2" including the steps.  Tender overall length is 11" including coupler.  I'm not sure how to calculate radius.  They like a little room to look good on, but dont hog space.   

Mr. Bach Man, with these brassy babes and the great K-27 you guys are just turning out the best stuff ever.  Thanks! 

Jim

As in "brass era," when engines had lots of brass trim.   

Both engines have brass bands on the Russia iron boiler jacket, brass flag stanchions on the pilot deck and headlight bracket.   The Lake version has brass cylinders and steam dome wrappers, and brass nosing on the running boards as well as a walnut cab. 

One's opulent, one's elegant. 

Jim

Dear Bach Man,

Two new 4-4-0s arrived today and they are the most handsome brass beauties I've ever seen.  I ordered one of each, in lake and olive green with Russia iron, and the detail, finish, and the quality is outstanding. 

Every time I look at them I see more detail - even the bell stands are striped, and in two colors yet!   

The striping is excellent.  The olive green engine has fine white stripes around the gold chamfers of the cab, the lake engine has red diamonds on the domes, and both have amazing red, gold and white striping on the wheels.  Even the cylinder saddles are striped.  And the leather armrests, varnished wood and Russia iron look just like the originals.  They look like real, working engines. 

This is amazing.  You have done a sensational job.  You guys are the best!

Jim

The Bachmann version is a scale model of an actual engine, with excellent detailing.  It runs nicely, keeps the track, and looks great in motion.  It's protype design was built by the Richmond Locomotive Works for over ten years, from 1893 to 1904.  Engines of the same plan were produced by other builders at the same time. 

The Roundhouse 4-4-0 is modifed from a 1907 Baldwin 2-8-0 consolidation, so the sandbox is far ahead of its normal place for a 4-4-0.  Some versions have "old time" beaded domes, generally not be used on engines of this type. 

A lot of people like to add their own sound, and enjoy customizing their engines this way. 

Hope this helps,

Jim

Dear Bach man,

Howard Fogg had an excellent eye for the mood and feel of things.  And that SPC book is a real classic. 

Keep up the good work!

Jim

Dear Bach Man,

On a hunch, I would guess that the SPC model is based on a painting by railway artist Howard Fogg, featured in an SPC book several years ago.  Fogg based his work on an original photograph showing the engine as she looked several years into service, and after being repainted by the SPC in the course of normal upkeep.   Fogg chose a red scheme, perhaps based on the wine red the engine was painted when new. 

Norman, I think you can get an excellent Sonoma using the unlettered lake version with custom decals.  The "MyLargeScale" internet site has several recources for custom decals, and they can do a terrific job. 

Photos of the Bachmann's lake version show the "varnished wood" cab a slightly different color than Eureka.  In fact it looks very close to the varnished wood cab of the restored Sonoma.  Its almost as if someone held a color chip to the cab of Sonoma herself.       

Cheers,
Jim

Dear Bach Man,

Is there any news about the new painted / unlettered versions of the Large Scale 4-4-0s?

Were they on display at Portland?  I sure hope they are coming along.

The K-27 is sensational - keep up the good work,

Jim

The B&O's section of the Royal Blue was indeed hauled by 4-4-0s in the 1890s.  Some of the B&O engines attached to this train were painted standard 1890s B&O black, but the "Director General" was painted Royal Blue and trimmed in gold leaf to match the train's Royal Blue colors - perhaps a few other engines were as well. 

The Philadelphia & Reading also hauled the Royal Blue over its part of the line - and featured a pair of sensational single driver 4-2-2s painted Royal Blue, built in 1895 and 1896 respectively. 

So yes, Royal Blue locomotives are accurate. 

Jim