An Authentic 1880's 4-4-0

Jack, I think that is an untapped(for unknown reasons) market, I think that a WELL DONE locomotive from that era would sell well.

Many have expressed interest in smaller Quality locomotives, but the supply isn't matching the demand, at least in MY opinion.

 Many of us(my self included) Love BIG Steam, unfortunately, the manufacturers don't seem to understand that many of us, ALSO would like some smaller steam as well.

Hopefully, we will see more well detailed smaller locomotives in the future, I'm just not holding my breath until it happens

Doug

I am a very big fan of the link n' pin era's.  Though my HO modeling is set in 1960, my V scale modeling is almost exclusively in the link 'n pin era's.

For model railroading, I feel the engines and rolling stock for the 1880's - 1890's would be a hard sell.  The numbers of those that would be interested are simply not there in order to make producing such an equipment viable.

That's a shame, because aside from the link n pin foible, the size of the equipment and short length of the trains during the latter part of the 19th century makes it ideal for small rooms and such.  The US industrial base was growing at a phenomenal rate, so there were large industrial centers in all cities, and even along the main line, online traffic abounded.  The latter 19th century would be an EXCELLENT choice for model railroading... but then you're back to the "lack of equipment" issue.

I guess that saying that's gone around for several years applies to this situation: "It is what it is."

I agree with you, I think it was an awesome time with neat equipment. I have the Lionel General and cars and you could probably kit bash some pre-war tin plate to work.  There re some other cars out there by Marx and AF that could work with modifications.

Then SMR has what you need.  Exclusivity requires deep pockets, but think of the money saved not populating your layout with automobiles.

http://www.smrtrains.com/

Bruce

Cool site !!  Too late now, I have fortune tied up in early Lionel.

SMR Trains produces limited-run brass locomotives from that era.  They are available in both 2- and 3-rail.

http://www.smrtrains.com/

Jan

Unfortunately we enter brass territory with SMR, something the OP hoped to avoid.  Still, each loco would be an investment in art. 

Bruce

Jack Hess--MTH produced an 1890 era scale PRR H3 2-8-0, a NYC 999 4-4-0 and a series of 4-4-0s all in the 1890 era and all are beautiful scale models.  Look for them.   Odd-d

Yes - MTH has produced at least 2 late 19th or early 20th century Eight-Wheelers, one of them the 999, and they offered the NYC&HR 999 with 2 driver sizes - big and ESE speed-record big.

Not a 4-4-0, but Lionel's scale 2-6-0 is a very nice model and lives in the same time-frame.  

I know I would love to have a classic colorful American class locomotive and train set.

Looked at my General passenger cars(Lionel) and they have arch bar trucks so you could use those. At shows the cars seem to be a bit pricey but you don't need a long consist. A few wooden box cars would help, too. It the 1880-90s the engines seemed to have had long slender boilers.

I have several "1880's" engines - 4-4-0's, a 2-4-0, a 2-6-0, and a small 2-8-0.  Only 1 of the 4-4-0's was commercially produced - SMR.   

Part of the problem lies in the costs of "Quality" - the price is not going to be proportionate to the size of the engine and that is where the gap in availability exists.  People want that 4-4-0 for 1/2 the price of the 2-8-0, etc.........and then your commercial sources do not get enough folks in line with money in hand to support production.