C&O Hudson 3rd Rail remake!

3RD Rail offered the L2/L2a several years ago. Scott cancelled it as he never got near enough reservations to go forward with the project. I was one of the few that had a reservation and I would reserve again if the project is revived.

However, I would rather see a C&O K2/K3/K3a Mikado first if Scott ever decides to do any more C&O steam.

Ken

I can state for certain that at all the 2 rail shows I do for Sunset / Golden Gate that the C&O Mikado is requested by about a 3-5 to 1 margin over the C&O Hudson.

Those shows include Chicago, Indianapolis, O Scale National (if there is one), Strasburg.  and the winter Zane show in Timonium, MD.

I would buy one of those as well! Big Hvy Mike w/flying front pumps, who could resist one or 2 of those? Possibly 3 if you are a C&O nut! We'll see how all of this flies. Just hope we can drum up enough, to get 3rd Rail interested to test the waters, again. Never hurts to ask! 

That is certainly a new one on me. I am not aware that Sunset/3rd Rail ever produced ANY C&O Hudson models. I DO remember their "announcement" for the various versions of the C&O L-2/L-2a Hudsons (including the poppet valve version), but they couldn't get enough reservations and the project was canceled.

Concerning the various K class C&O Mikes, Sunset/3rd Rail "announced" those quite a few years ago, along with the New York Central H10a/H10b Mikes, and couldn't get enough interest, i.e reservations for either of them.  Go figure!

Yes, what Scott told me on my return email was, Sunset did those in 2 rail, and no body would buy another. I responded my saying there are more 3 rail modelers than in 2 rail, so run it up the proverbial flag pole to see if there is any interest, now as oppose to How many years ago? Who knows, oh well anyway! Yeah, I know "Hot Water", another of my lengthy posts. 

I remember a few years ago, there was some discussion about 3rd Rail possibly making a C&O Mike. I read about on this board and made a comment that I would buy at least one. However, I never saw an actual announcement or any info about placing a reservation. If there was an actual polling of interest on the C&O Mike it must have been pretty low key as I apparently missed it.

Ken

Brandy - there may be more 3 rail modelers than two rail modelers but most don't buy brass locomotives.  Scott generally imports around the same count of 2 rail brass steam locomotives as 3 rail.  It takes the combined orders from both groups to make the numbers work.  I see evidence that the 3 rail brass market is softer than the 2 rail brass market model for model.  Check out the 3rd Rail "Bone Yard" you'll see more unsold 3 rail locomotives than 2 rail ones.  Also compare eBay prices for used Sunset 3rd Rail brass models and generally you'll find the 3 rail versions sell for quite a bit below the 2 rail versions - at times so much so that it is cost effective to have 3 rail versions converted to 2 rail. 

Like PRR and NYC 2 railers, C&O 2 railers have had it pretty good.  Overland imported C&O L2's and L2a's, Max Gray imported C&O K3's, and PSC imported C&O 0-8-0's.  At one point we had C&O H8's being simultaneously imported by Overland, PSC, and Key, followed by Kohs, Sunset, and MTH 2 rail.  We've also had brass H6 and H7 articulateds, along with Kanawha's, Greenbriers, and Texans.   With patience and persistence C&O 2 railers can build a very complete steam roster with what has already been imported.  From that I'd conclude getting new 2 rail C&O reservations to compliment the 3 rail ones may be a tough sell.

Ed Rappe

Well, I hate to disagree with you, but I pretty sure that Sunset/3rd Rail did NOT ever produce ANY C&O L-2 class Hudsons. As Keystoned Ed has already stated, a number of other 2-Rail companies have produced C&O Hudsons, but not Sunset.

Personally, even as a "C&O modeler", I would NOT reserve, nor purchase, a C&O Hudson. I would, however reserve TWO C&O K3/K3a Mikes, i.e. one with the rectangular tender and one with the big VC "Vanderbuilt" tender.

Kanawha,

I made an 8 1/2 X 11 sign that I had at 2 rail shows for several years announcing C&O Mikados and NYC H-10 Mikes. I had a reasonable number of favorable comments, and Scott put the announcement on the website, but the reservation results spoke volumes. I believe we also had the sign at the TCA York meets. The silence of potential buyers was very loudly heard by Sunset.

That is not to say that Sunset won't give these locomotives another try in the future.

rheil,

 Unfortunately where I live O scale, 2 rail shows are non-existant. I don't remember seeing any notice on the website and don't remember seeing a sign at York. My wife says I'm not very observant, maybe she's right .

The C&O Historical Society sells some O gauge models. There are O gaugers in the C&O HS. Perhaps advertising a proposed model thru the Society would help to drum up interest.

Now that Lionel has announced a fairly generic USRA Mike, I'm hoping later releases will be more road specific. The C&O K2/K3 Mike, while not a USRA, is very similar. I would like to see Lionel take their new Mike and add the flying pumps, feedwater heater and cab from the F19 Pacific they did and the pilot and tenders from the H7. With a few more details, it might not be perfect, but could be a credible model of a K2 or 3. I guess when I get to York in the Fall, I'll have to try a little lobbying.

Ken

Credible, maybe, but the kvetching about inaccuracies will be deafening

Yes Rex, you are right. I bought 2 brass Williams scale NYC Hudson's and with the parts I can get from Bob Stevenson at  Stevenson Preservation Lines, I no doubt can scratch/kit bash a Williams Hudson to make it look like a C&O L-2/L2a long, long before we could get heads turned from any of the Professional Model Builders to build one or even a K2/K3 Big Mike. It's all about return on investment, minimizing costs, and blah,blah,blah. Might not be the way we would like it, but that's they way it is! Once again, good conferring with you guys, and I'll keep watching and reading the forum here. It's still a helluva wealth of knowledge a person can gain from you guys on this site. Take out of it what you want, and let the rest go.

Just for the record, guys and gals:

I would be VERY interested in a C&O Hudson - especially the poppet-valve version.

Just sayin'.

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I would be MORE interested in a NYC H-10 Mike, another 3rd Rail announcement that

died for whatever reason(s) - I did order the H-10. The C&O Hudson kinds came and

went before I caught it. 

Put me down for a C&O Kanawah 2-8-4 for sure. 3 rail version, O guage.

I have heard that MTH? did a C&O Pacific with flying pumps, Elesco, and Vandy.

I have never seen one.  I won't  buy a Pacific, but I would jump on a Mikado!

IMO, it is the iconic C&O loco, but hasn't been available in three rail, although

I have seen it offered, seems like back in the 1930's, by an O scale kit buiider

in an old brochure.

The reason you haven't "seen one" is that MTH didn't make one, but Lionel did. The C&O F-19 Pacific for the train set "The George Washington".

Hey Colorado, MTH did the Kanawah, and the Greenbriar, in 2.0. I have both and these are exceptional locomotives. Maybe a bunch of us could knock on the proverbial MTH Door, and talk them in to doing the "C&O Mikado". Do one with the Vandy Tender and also the big tender, similar to the one that was used on the K-4's and Greenbriar's. I can't see why they won't but that's just me, and what I remember seeing as a kid around the C&O yard in Louisville,Ky. I Live in Ashland, Ky now,and wished that I had grown up here back in the day, could have seen em all! Gone down river to the big N&W Yard @ Portsmouth,Oh and see all of their stuff too! No kidding, lets keep this talk going for a "Big C&O HVY Mikado". Ya know the old saying the" squakin wheel gets the grease", or was it a side rod? 

I would think Lionel might be the most hopeful manufacture to make a C&O K3a

(2-8-2).  They already have the engine about half made by having made the Vandy Tender for the C&O F-19 and the H-7.......So solicit Lionel, I did at York last month.

The other mfgrs. would have to start from scratch.  I would think several exterior parts from the F-19 and H-7 could be utilized for a K-3a....

I would also be game for a 3rd Rail C&O L-2 or K-3a but as stated before, Scott has to receive enough orders to proceed.  Attached picture of K-3a.......