I was curious as the Camelbacks seem to be somewhat of a popular engine to model, but I don't think I have ever seen any scale models. I think one of the first ones I saw made(by Lionel) was in the 1990's at some point in time(I am sure there was some done earlier than that), but it was traditional Oscale. I would like to say recently that I thought MTH had done one to scale, but I can't remember.
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Lionel made 4-6-0 Camelbacks in several road names around 2000. It is scale proportioned, and has decent detail, but lacks the 'high fidelity" details of today's Legacy products. It has recently been re-offered in the Lion Chief lineup.
MTH made a Raiking model as well, and has recently produced Premier versions.
Williams ( not Williams by Bachman ) made a brass camelback in O scale.
Williams made a Crown Edition model around 1990. Lionel and MTH models came later. All of them are based on a Jersey Central 4-6-0. Like Jim Harrington, I'd say they are scale proportioned. They would be the same size as Jersey Central 4-4-2 592 in the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. They, of course, had a third driver instead of a trailing truck, well-suited for commuter trains. They even had a large steam dynamo atop the rear of their tenders to supply electricity to the consist, replacing batteries and generators underneath.
Warren Crater made very nice models in the 1930s. I did a 2-8-2 for Frank Thomson in the 1980s, starting with a Thomas Consolidation. I think Bill Lenoir made at least ten of various prototypes, starting in the late 1940s.
MTH does make a scale CNJ T38 4-6-0 Camelback currently on the market with PS3.0, all the bells & whistles. As mentioned above, the old Williams made a nice brass one back in the late 80s with a Seuthe smoke unit and no sound. The Williams engines were good dependable runners.
Unfortunately all the reasonably available ones are all 4-6-0's. Would be nice to have an Atlantic or Consolidation such as the LIRR'a H-51 freight engine.
I am in for the PRR/ rdg/ LIRR E1 4-4-2 Camelback!
I just bought one.....a used MTH......
Didn't need another loco but wanted an example of a Camelback in the fleet.
The recently-released MTH Premier CNJ Camelback arrived at my doorstep on Thursday. I've been busy with work the past two days, so I'm looking forward to opening it up and testing it out this weekend. I'll post a few photos when I get a chance.
An interesting thing I found out yesterday morning that these were not just the very common 4-6-0 configuration. Some very interesting things. I actually couldn't find my catalog that I thought had the one from the 90's like I said above, perhaps I confused the Lionchief ones with it(not sure, brain hurts, lol). Still, I am curious if Lionel will release a Legacy edition. I am sure that the Camelback's have a very good fan base. I am not a big fan of them, but I guess that is part of the mystique to them in general is how they look
Gem did 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 switchers in brass. they look pretty nice.
I notice some have said they "appear to be scale proportioned . . " Has no one taken a scale rule and caliper measured the key model dimensions and compared with a prototype drawing?
prrjim posted:Gem did 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 switchers in brass. they look pretty nice.
Reading prototypes; the GEM 0-4-0 I have is rather nice for a very small switcher.
IMP imported a 4-4-2 back in the '50s and PSC imported a camelback as well that might have been CNJ or Reading prototype, but I'm unsure of the wheel arrangement on it.
Back in the 1950's or 1960's International Brass made a 4-4-2 Camelback brass kit. Periodically you can find either the kit or one that was put together. Minimal in details and the motor is an open wound universal motor. The big thing about this kit are the wheel flanges are as wide as today's hi rail locomotives so converting them to 3 rail is adding roller pick-ups and strenghening the frame to prevent twisting under torque. You can easily replace the open wound motor with a can motor and the tender is big enough for the Railsounds or DCS electronics if wanted. The loco design is based on a Reading RR model with the Wooten (clan) firebox.
"but it was traditional Oscale."
Au contraire, mon frere - All 3RO Camelbacks have been full 1:48 models; nothing "traditional" sized about any of them.
Level of detailing has varied - the MTH Premier 0-8-8-0 Mallet probably being the most elaborate, and expensive, of them all.
I have never considered any "Lionchief" equipment - except the 4-6-0 Camelback, because it is 1:48. But I skipped it anyway.
Unfortunately all the 3RO Camelbacks - except the 0-8-8-0 - have been 4-6-0's, and there were many other wheel arrangements from 0-4-0 to 2-8-0 to 4-4-2 to the Mallet.
Enough with the 4-6-0 versions, already. There were even Camelback Mikados on the LV, class N1.
The New York Ontario & Western Railway had 4-4-0, 0-6-0, 2-6-0, 4-6-0, and 2-8-0 camelbacks, or "Mother Hubbards" , in multiple classes for most of these wheel arrangements. The Old Woman is gone 60 years ago last week...
I would be in for a 4-4-2 camelback if done correctly. I'd also be in for a 2-8-0 camelback (LNE, RDG, LV, etc.). I also know several other people who have expressed interest in a 2-8-0 camelback from Lionel. I mean, it would be perfect, as they were on several coal region railroads.
D500 posted:"but it was traditional Oscale."
Au contraire, mon frere - All 3RO Camelbacks have been full 1:48 models; nothing "traditional" sized about any of them.
Level of detailing has varied - the MTH Premier 0-8-8-0 Mallet probably being the most elaborate, and expensive, of them all.
I have never considered any "Lionchief" equipment - except the 4-6-0 Camelback, because it is 1:48. But I skipped it anyway.
Unfortunately all the 3RO Camelbacks - except the 0-8-8-0 - have been 4-6-0's, and there were many other wheel arrangements from 0-4-0 to 2-8-0 to 4-4-2 to the Mallet.
Enough with the 4-6-0 versions, already. There were even Camelback Mikados on the LV, class N1.
D500, the one thing that I couldn't find out(I am guessing because of variations) was the actually length of the Camelback. Most locomotives that I have looked up will have all the stats. It says that the P&R is 17.5" long, which to scale would be 70 feet, that should be right, right?
P&R seen here, forgot to attach link.
As promised in my post to this thread on Saturday, below are some photos of the recently released MTH Premier 4-6-0 Camelback that I received on Thursday.
I'm very surprised by--and pleased with--the amount of fine, scale-like, added-on (not molded-in) details on this model. Granted, I currently own only two steam engines (I'm more of a "diesel" guy), and haven't purchased one in many years, so admittedly my expectations are probably a bit dated.
Several years ago I purchased both the Lionel and MTH Railking versions of the CNJ Camelback when they were first announced/released. So much of the detail was either molded in, or missing all together. I ended up selling both of them as my interests turned more toward higher-detailed locomotives and "3-rail scale".
The level of detail on this current MTH Premier model blows both of them away...but then again, it SHOULD considering it carries a $999 MSRP--much, much higher than the price I paid for either the Lionel or RailKing models. And it even comes with a Kadee-style scale coupler mounting pad for the rear of the tender, similar to the more-recent MTH diesel and freight car offerings. That's right up a 3-rail scaler's alley! Plus, I'm having a blast (pun intended) playing with the quillable whistle...so this one may be a keeper!
Even the new Lionel LionChief Plus Camelbacks have more added on details than before...
Jon 
I have the MTH 0-8-8-0 Erie camelback from the original run, and it has been an outstanding performer for all these years. you might be able to pick one up at a decent price.
I have a Williams one. It's one of those if I ever get a round to it projects that I'd like to add detail to, 2 rail, and out the correct trucks on the tender.
I used to have the RK version, but sold it a number of years ago. It had the correct tender trucks which I wish I had now!
CNJ #1601 posted:As promised in my post to this thread on Saturday, below are some photos of the recently released MTH Premier 4-6-0 Camelback that I received on Thursday.
I'm very surprised by--and pleased with--the amount of fine, scale-like, added-on (not molded-in) details on this model. Granted, I currently own only two steam engines (I'm more of a "diesel" guy), and haven't purchased one in many years, so admittedly my expectations are probably a bit dated.
Several years ago I purchased both the Lionel and MTH Railking versions of the CNJ Camelback when they were first announced/released. So much of the detail was either molded in, or missing all together. I ended up selling both of them as my interests turned more toward higher-detailed locomotives and "3-rail scale".
The level of detail on this current MTH Premier model blows both of them away...but then again, it SHOULD considering it carries a $999 MSRP--much, much higher than the price I paid for either the Lionel or RailKing models. And it even comes with a Kadee-style scale coupler mounting pad for the rear of the tender, similar to the more-recent MTH diesel and freight car offerings. That's right up a 3-rail scaler's alley! Plus, I'm having a blast (pun intended) playing with the quillable whistle...so this one may be a keeper!
Wow CNJ#1601, that is a fantastic engine. MTH really does make excellent models for the buck. That is much better looking on my laptop than on my phone, but still, I knew this thing was great.
Lots of great info here.....
Peter
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