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I’m a fan of Lionel’s 4-6-0 ten-wheeler steam locomotive models. They have a classic look based on a New York Central F-12 prototype and are the right size for my 10’-by-5’ (O-54) and 12’-by-8’ (O-72) layouts. Until recently, I had four – one each from the New Haven, Boston & Maine, Boston & Albany, and New York Central railroads. This week, I added a model of New York Central #1244 – (SKU 2431660).

Unlike some of my earlier Lionel ten-wheelers, the colors are realistic on #1244. The boiler is flat black, the smokebox is a dark metallic-graphite, the running gear is tarnished black, and the silver color of the cylinder and valve-chest heads sets them apart from the rest of the model. The tender has been upgraded with a load of real coal and the gauges and valves on the boiler backhead are nicely detailed (see last photo). The whistle, bell, and locomotive sounds are excellent, and slow-speed operation is very smooth under conventional control.

New York Central #1244 was built by Alco in November 1907 and began service on the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad as Class F-2e #2118. It was reclassified to NYC Class F-12e and renumbered #831 when superheated in February 1916. Weight was 208,000 pounds with 31,900 pounds tractive effort at steam pressure 200 pounds-per-square-inch with 69-inch driving wheels. It was renumbered to #1244 in 1948 and retired in February 1952.

Ten-wheelers hauled fast passenger trains at the beginning of the 20th Century but the introduction of heavy steel passenger cars required more powerful locomotives so the ten-wheelers were relegated to secondary status as 4-6-2 Pacific types entered service.

Videos show #1244 pulling a wood passenger car that I built from a kit by Labelle Woodworking - similar to cars hauled by ten-wheelers when they first went into service.

MELGAR

MELGAR3_2024_1108_06_NYC_1244_12X8MELGAR3_2024_1108_07_NYC_1244_12X8MELGAR3_2024_1108_10_NYC_1244_12X8MELGAR3_2024_1108_15_NYC_1244_12X8_NEMELGAR3_2024_1108_19_NYC_1244_12X8MELGAR2_2024_1108_02_NYC_1244_12X8_CAB

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  • MELGAR3_2024_1108_10_NYC_1244_12X8
  • MELGAR3_2024_1108_15_NYC_1244_12X8_NE
  • MELGAR3_2024_1108_19_NYC_1244_12X8
  • MELGAR2_2024_1108_02_NYC_1244_12X8_CAB
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MELGAR2_2024_1108_33V_NYC_1244_12X8_SOUTH_27S
MELGAR2_2024_1108_31V_NYC_1244_12X8_THRU_BRIDGE_19S
Last edited by MELGAR

I have 4 Legacy 10 Wheelers. All lettered for the Rutland. 3 were Northern Pacifics in their earlier life. The fourth was a more recent run lettered for the Rutland. I’ve just started working on it. I do add Kadee’s front and rear. They come with screws, spacers and tapped holes in the chassis. If your going to go this route. You need the longer Kadee shanked coupler in order to get it out from under the tender shell. I made a stepped bracket and just used the standard 805.
Not a fan of the LED markers. Just to bright for my tastes. Also not a fan of the newer sound set or the primer gray smokebox. To many creaks and noises other than the chuffing. Still for what your paying it’s a nice engine. One big thing I’m a fan off  is that you can really shorten the drawbar between the engine and tender. With that drive wheel right under the cab. The engine and tender stay fairly lined up even on sharper than 072 curves. The engine sits a bit higher and tends to ride over the tenders deck. It’s close but they do clear on curves. The Rutland rostered 10 locos. Of this class and with my older TMCC version I’m halfway there.

2310A5C3-6FAC-438C-AABF-7C86A4ED9428

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Last edited by Dave_C
@B rad posted:

Nice to see you have a good whistle steam effect. I got one of these from a year or so ago and it has anemic whistle steam. This came up from several others in a couple threads so it's not just mine. Maybe one day I'll pull the shell off and have a look.

Brad

The PRR 10-Wheeler I got from METCA has very good whistle steam, no complaints there.

The PRR 10-Wheeler I got from METCA has very good whistle steam, no complaints there.

Actually I am wrong on my statement. I have a 4-6-0 ten wheeler from a couple years ago and it has fantastic whistle steam effect along with my Camelback from a few years ago. It was my 2-8-0 consolidation I was thinking about that has anemic whistle steam. My apologies.

Brad

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