Comments & Questions About Steamers:

The Southern Pacific steam locomotives where ALL oil burning from the very early 1900s forward, except for one order of HUGE articulated 2-8-8-4 locomotives that were coal burners, and assigned to the Lordsburg, NM district (where there were coal mines). Those SP small 2-8-0s, 2-6-0s, and 4-6-0s worked right up until the end of steam, about 1955 or 1956.

Those Sunset/3rd Rail brass models are excellent, and run extremely well & quietly.

Hal,

Based on your background, I would keep my eyes peeled for a Sunset model of a PRR H-6s 2-8-0.  They are around and should be available for about the same price as the SP Mogul.  Like their prototype, these 2-8-0 locos have blind center drivers (2nd and 3rd pair) so they should be able to negotiate a tight curve.  Your Dad would recognize the loco!

Joe

I rode behind an M-4 Mogul in 1954.  It was used to haul freight and passengers between Benson, Ariz, and small points south and west including Tombstone and Ft Huachuca.  By then it was pinch- hitting for a 70-ton GE #5115.  Last I heard it was on display in Tucson.

I would guess that the Moguls were the last steam to go in most areas of the SP.  they preserved a lot of them.  The Sunset model is an M-9, a far more modern locomotive than the M-4, which was built in the late 1880s.

Joe, I'm sure my dad would recognize a 2-8-0 Consolidaton if he were still alive. The PRR number for the Consol was H-10. The 2-8-2 Mikado was L-1.

(He's been dead for 19 years...he would have been 100 last month!)

I'll never forget those days when he took me up in the cab of an 0-6-0 switcher, where we'd spend the day assembling consists in the yards.  As a young boy, I got to know the function of every lever, valve, and gauge on the backhead!

HAL

Since you mentioned an 0-6-0 switcher, Atlas made different versions with DCC and sound.

Not sure if any of them would be of a prototype you'd be interested in, but it might be worth looking into.

Not sure that the 2-rail Sunset H6s had blinded drivers, Joe, since I gave you mine to blind the center 2 pairs of drivers a few years back,

HEY AL,

No, I'm not interested in a Switcher, just a medium-small Road Engine, like the Mogul or Ten-Wheeler.

Of course, I will want Sound, as long as I or someone can install the electronics and speaker, and the sound must be timed to produce exactly four chuffs per driver revolution.

I sure like the looks of that Mogul I posted...is that a Sunset model?

Thanks,

HAL

(Here's a shot of my 4-6-2 Pacific Southern Crescent Loco in G Scale that I used to run on my 150-foot indoor track..note the water-scoop under the tender!)

Nice, but I wonder why the manufacturer put a water scoop on a Southern Railway locomotive model?

Possibly it's because the Prototype had a water scoop...yes?

HAL

Not to my knowledge. The PRR, NYC and B&O were three of the largest users of scooping water from track pans. To to my knowledge, the Southern Railway never did. But then, maybe that model is not really an accurate Southern Rwy PS-4 class pacific. Without closer photos, it is hard to tell.

HEY HOT WATER (agua caliente),

More research in the matter?

I'll drink to that!

HAL

Not really. Just post a few closeup photos of that model and any number of the guys here will be able to tell what it really is.

However, you don't appear to be drinking my brand, i.e. Maker's Mark.

HEY H. W.,

That's what I like about this Forum...you guys KNOW the history of equipment from all eras, even more than an old-timer like me, even though I rode the steam switchers as a kid.

{As for my imbibement preference...Bacardi and Coke over crushed ice.}

I used to be a 100% beer man, but my 2nd wife introduced me to Rum & Coke, and it's been my favorite ever since! 

HAL

(No "highballing" in the Yards, please!)   (How did he mean that?)

Sorry, Hot Water, it's Wild Turkey this way.  Matt

Although off topic, I would do Wild Turkey over ice. I'm just not a "sweet drink" kind of guy.

This is a HOOT!  No one answered his question which was would the 2-6-0 run on 36" radius curves.  I have a Toby 2-8-2T Minaret that will as well as a couple of Samson 2-6-6-2's that will as well as a 2-4-4-2 Little River that will. The 4-6-0 V&T I have has a blind center driver so it will but the others can handle it with all drivers flanged.

Maybe someone who owns one could comment on this.............

Peter

I own one, and it'll run on 30" curves.  It looks a little strange though with that big tender, and the overhang on the back may pull some cars off the track, but it'll do it.  36" curves aren't an issue that I've noticed.

HEY MORG777,

That's good to know, and also about that big tender pulling cars off the track!

About that big Whaleback tender...before they ship my Mogul, I'll call them and ask them to give me the slimmer Vanderbilt tender instead.

BTW, do you have sound and DCC in your Mogul?  If so, what system do you have?

Thanks for your input,

Bad Order Hal

Hi Hal,  either the vandy or whaleback will be fine on your 36" curves, so get whichever flavor you prefer.   

I was going to have mine converted by Matthew Forsyth to P48 and put DCC sound in, but haven't done it yet since life changed a bit.  Back in 2011 when I was going to do it I would have gone with the QSI Titan, but since electronic stuff changes so quickly there may be a better option now.  I'm still looking to have the work done though but have a few other projects ahead of it.

HEY MORG,

I already put in my order to cancel the Whaleback and give me the Vandy.

Thanks for your comments on the matter!

Bad Order