3rd Rail SP 0-6-0 May be Canceled

I agree with you but debated a long time about paying close to $1200 for a small critter. No price has been announced but most likely it will get close to this.

 

I'll live without the little critter.

Yves

Is this the 0-6-0 steamer that requires a 48" minimum radius curve? If so, that would effectively kill off about half the potential 2-R market.

 

Jeff C

I agree the lack of a firm price would give many pause including me. I only ordered one and planned to add a second one after the price was posted. I guess I will have to be satisfied with my three HO versions or build one of Stephenson's kits.

 

Pete

Jeff C

 

What is the basis for you to conclude that 50% of 2 railers possibly interested in an SP 0-6-0 switcher would be deterred by it needing a 48" radius curves.  The 2 rail buyers of Sunset 3rd Rail Daylight 4-8-4's, cab forward 4-8-8-2's, and beautiful GGD SP full length passenger cars surely aren't running them on curves tighter than 48" radius.   Price or popularity may be an issue - but 48" minimum radius - I doubt it.

 

Ed Rappe

It was some time ago, but if I remember correctly I paid around $700 for a new 3rd Rail PRR H-6 Consolidation, which is a rather small loco.

My basis would be my 40 years of experience in the hobby, as a modeler, and also as a hobby shop owner and a product consultant/development specialist for several model train and R/C model product lines.

 

Small steam locos in O scale have to be able to negotiate 36" radius curves if the importer wants the loco to be a good seller. Most O scale modelers run small steam because they aren't able to run (or afford) big steam, pure and simple.

 

Jeff C

Let's just leave it that we disagree.  

I would like to reserve one of these models but there is no real information.  As an example, I want a "Bayshore" tender (one of the most common behind an SP 0-6-0) and I've been told Scott would model two clear vision tenders for the locos.  One would be the 70-C-9 (Bayshore).  The other would be the 70-C-10 (Sacramento) tender.

 

It may seem insignificant to many but that's what I wanted and if they're truly going to be available I should be able to reserve the one I want.  The add makes no mention of what's available.

 

Bottom line, to many unknowns for me.

 

Jay

No real experience here, but not at all sure i have ever seen a 2-rail layout with 36" curves.  My smallest radius is 60".  My Northerns all require 74", and right now the 0-6-0s are on the 70" loop.

Most of mine are, Bob.  Some are quite a bit tighter limiting access to just 0-4-0's and trolleys,

What I meant was - exclusive of trolleys, not sure I have ever seen an O scale layout with 36" curves.  They must exist, since over half of us have them, according to one poster.

Interesting that the 3-rail version will run on 054 track[27" radius]back in the 50s All Nations house magazine featured a 10'x10' layout that their Diesels and maybe a small steamer[10 Wheeler would run on] if memory serves me correctly. With the radius not being a problem for 3-railers the pricing for a small steamer may be the reservation deturent.

They must...

 

Jeff C

My layout is multi-purpose - steam up to 2-8-0's, some fairly large boxcabs, and then trolleys.  Same track and same curves for all.

You win.  I concede that most O scale is very tight radius.  Now, to change the subject, I just discovered that I have six Harriman 0-6-0s, all but one in 17/64, and not including the Little Engines live steamer or the Roundhouse thing bolted to her tender.  Lemme see if I have photos:

S-10 in 17/64.  More later . . .

 

It looks like there at least two of us who appreciated these engines. Maybe if Scott painted a few of these in Daylight colors there might be more interest among the 3 railers. I posted on this forum because I was looking for a 3 rail version but it appears most of the comments are from 2 rail guys who have many more choices. I don't believe these have ever been done in 3 rail. In fact I can't think of any other 0-6-0s with tenders that have been done in 3 rail besides USRAs or Pennsy B6s.

 

Pete

I was hoping that Scott would have seen this thread and shed a little light on the situation.

Well, here is one in 3- rail, if you count 17/64 as a candidate:

 

Atlas did 0-6-0s several years ago in 2 and 3-rail.  I think the 2nd run was cancelled due to lack of interest.  They just closed orders a couple of weeks ago for another run.

Just noticed orders closed June 2010 and still no delivery date.  This was the second run.

 

As Norton notes MTH has also offered one.

Back to SP?  Those USRA switchers have been done to death.  Maybe that is why Atlas is reluctant.

 

This one was done in four days start to finish.  We did an OGR series with it and the Dry Gulch above:

 

 

 

Bob Stevenson has the S12 for $475:

 

http://stevensonpreservationli...o.php?products_id=61

Yes.  Here is the Stevenson display model before paint:

 

Same model after paint:

 

Bob, these are offered in 2-rail only though, right??? (I forgot I was on the 3RS forum)

In that a center roller is not included in the kit, yes.  I believe the driver tires are .172, wide enough for three rail track.  Tender trucks might need replacement.

 

Not to mislead you - this kit requires some serious skill.  If you have that skill, making it 3-rail is simply trivial.

This is sort of opinion - my impression is that the only differences between 3-rail scale and 2-rail are track, wheel flanges, and insulation.  Sure, the 3-rail scale layouts often have better scenery and more accurate rolling stock above the floorboards, but that is not a significant difference - going back and forth is almost as simple as having Joe Foehrkolb's phone number.

 

If you want to tackle one of these fine kits, order the drivers rough- cast, and have Joe machine them for you.  Let me show you the real difference in this kit, next post:

Here is the Stevenson main frame and cylinder block:

 

Bob, is the medallion on the cab a decal or does Joe supply a 3D version?

Also do you have a reference pictures for the green color or just did you just pick one? I have video of a passenger S-12 but the color has faded in the print. You can tell it is not black but thats about it.

 

Pete

I for sure will buy the green boiler version.    I too would like to see more replies actually showing interest or better yet, commitment.

 

Nick

 

I think that this could be a good model for 3rd Rail.  I do think that more information is needed including a ballpark price.   The price may be partially determined by the number of reservations.  This could be a chicken or the egg thing.

 

 Another factor may be that it costs almost as much to design, build and import a small engine as a large engine.  Buyers may be willing to pay $1,000 plus for a large engine but not a small one.  This could be the reason for the lack of interest in this engine.   

 

Small steam engines were used on many railroads to switch industrial tracks and other areas with sharp curves.  Hopefully, this engine in 3 rail will at least get around an O-72 curve and possibly a tighter curve - O-54? 

 

I would think that 36" radius may possible in 2-rail.  This switcher was the equivalent of a small diesel.  Small diesels replaced these switchers on the real railroads.  What is the minimum radius a small diesel is expected to get around on most 2 rail O gauge layouts?

 

Joe

Im not surprised. Scott couldn't even get enough interest in the Santa Fe Hudson.

You have seen this shot before, but it is probably ok here:

 

 

Stevenson in front, 1950s Lobaugh pushing.  The Lobaugh models are plentiful at $300- $400 or so, and have good sized tread.  I have never tried it, but I am sure either one would go around 36" radius.

 

I think a nice die cast model would be better - class S-8 or S-9 with a slope back tender and not a U shaped boiler.  But that's just me - I really like the Lionel scale B6, and think an SP version would be neat.

 

On the other hand, I think I have enough 0-6-0s - last count was about a dozen.

Here is a pic from Challenger Imports web page just before they went belly up. Even though at that time I was strictly into HO I would have purchased this one in O scale had they gone ahead and produced it.

 

 

 

Pete