Odd and Obscure Steam Locomotives You Would Like a Model Of

JonnyAce posted:

It seems like every time I do some more research, I run across another really cool locomotive that I inevitably want to add to my collection, but unfortunately it's too odd or obscure for the major manufacturers to produce. Case in point: one of the seven Baldwin-built 2-6-6-4's for the Pittsburgh & West Virginia. Seriously, these things are really cool. They've got some very interesting details, like the Belpaire firebox, the booster engine on the rear tender truck with counterweights and side rods,

Only the J1 class were built with tender truck boosters, which wound up being a maintenance headache, and were removed. The J2 class locomotives were not even built with the tender booster.  

smokebox-mounted air pumps, and the relatively tall twin stacks. This got me wondering, what about some of you guys? What unique locomotives would you love to add to your collections that are too obscure for the manufacturers? Let's see some pictures. 

How about a New York Central 2-6-6-2? Lots of folks model the NYC ( even Hot Water) so it might be a good seller.

Maybe its even small enough to accommodate a tighter radius than the more popular larger articulateds currently produced making it an option for more modellers.

I've long admired the P&WV 2-6-6-4. I expect the sales potential is nil.

It's the sort of model for which you might contact a custom builder, if any still exist.

One of the members of the Youngstown Model Railroad Association has that locomotive in O scale 2 rail. It was built by a builder by the name of Kloppenberg. It pulled a 60 car train at a recent open house it a fantastic piece. I will see of we can get some photos of it. No its not for sale, I already asked.

Custom Brass did a NE2 2 6 6 2 they did about 40 of them in 2 rail and came with a factory Kleinschmidt drive. 

While I model transition era, I would like to have an IC Consolidation #638. And I’d like a detailed, prototypical quality model.

Although certainly not "obscure", I have never understood why neither Lionel nor MTH have offered either the NYC H5b series 2-8-2 locomotives, nor the C&O K3a 2-8-2 series steam locomotives. Back when Sunset/3rd Rail announced both of these models, they could never get enough orders/reservations to produce either, in highly detailed brass.

Thus, the odds of ANYONE producing a model of such an "obscure" locomotive as the P&WV 2-6-6-4, is surely slim to none!

Hot Water posted:

Although certainly not "obscure", I have never understood why neither Lionel nor MTH have offered either the NYC H5b series 2-8-2 locomotives, nor the C&O K3a 2-8-2 series steam locomotives. Back when Sunset/3rd Rail announced both of these models, they could never get enough orders/reservations to produce either, in highly detailed brass.

<snip>

The B&O would seem to fit in the second rank of favorite locos. Yet 3rd Rail has done several. The secret is for a bunch of us to pester Scott and promise to buy the loco of the moment--the Q4b, the T3, the P7 and P7d (plus the gorgeous Cincinnatian train set) etc.

So, I surmise that NYC and C&O fans just aren't motivated.

rex desilets posted:

Hot Water posted:

Although certainly not "obscure", I have never understood why neither Lionel nor MTH have offered either the NYC H5b series 2-8-2 locomotives, nor the C&O K3a 2-8-2 series steam locomotives. Back when Sunset/3rd Rail announced both of these models, they could never get enough orders/reservations to produce either, in highly detailed brass.

<snip>

The B&O would seem to fit in the second rank of favorite locos. Yet 3rd Rail has done several. The secret is for a bunch of us to pester Scott and promise to buy the loco of the moment--the Q4b, the T3, the P7 and P7d (plus the gorgeous Cincinnatian train set) etc.

So, I surmise that NYC and C&O fans just aren't motivated.

And there, in my opinion, lies the difference between the "toy train" folks, and the "scale modelers", in our hobby.

N&W 0-8-0 S1a

N&W 4-8-2 K1 Heavy Mountain.

The Milwaukee Road had a good number of 2-6-6-2 steamers also. Would love to see someone make them. Don

I'd love to see Strasburg RR #90 in O gauge. It may not qualify as obscure, but it is a bit unique as I'm pretty sure it's the only operating decapod in the U.S. 

John 

BlueComet400, that's not entirely true about the Decapods. True Strasburg #90 is a Decapod, and she is operational, but so is Frisco #1630. She's been operational and in service at the Illinois Railway Museum for years. That makes two that I know of.

An accurate model of this SAL streamlined pacific:

Never happen but hey.

BlueComet400 posted:

I'd love to see Strasburg RR #90 in O gauge. It may not qualify as obscure, but it is a bit unique as I'm pretty sure it's the only operating decapod in the U.S. 

 

John 

There's also IRM's Frisco 1630:

And even though MTH has made two production runs of a Russian Decapod, they've totally ignored the 1630.

Rusty

Bob Delbrigde, I'd buy a model of that SAL streamliner, too! That period of railroading created some fantastic looking locomotives. 

Texas and New Orleans MK-5 #786.

Texas and New Orleans Sunbeam PS-14 4-62 #650 

Texas and New Orleans 2-10-2 #982

Good news:      Believe NJ Intl did the NYC 2-6-6-2 about 25-30 years ago. SP 2-8-2 and Russian Decapod done by Sunset 3rd Rail.  C&O/N&W 0-8-0 done by Precision Scale.

mark s posted:

Good news:      Believe NJ Intl did the NYC 2-6-6-2 about 25-30 years ago. SP 2-8-2 and Russian Decapod done by Sunset 3rd Rail.  C&O/N&W 0-8-0 done by Precision Scale.

I remember Sunset Models doing a 2-rail O-scale Russian Decapod way back when (1980's?) but not Sunset 3rd Rail. 

And as I mentioned earlier, MTH did two production runs and totally ignored the Frisco, yet released the same Santa Fe number (the only ex-KCNM&O "Americanized") twice.

Rusty

NYC NE2 2-6-6-2 - yes!

As stated above, it's relatively "small".  So - it could be a scale Mallet that could dip down into some RK and Lionmaster curve territory, at least on the upper end. Thsis is actually prototypical, as the NYC did have some trackage that was fairly twisty, and needed some real power, but the big Mike and the Mohawk freighters were not comfortable there.

It would also give us NYC fans who also like articulateds a chance to have it both ways, and for others something unusual in a road name that doesn't call Mallets to mind. And, it's a nice-looking machine.

These should not actually be "obscure" - the NYC had over 60 2-6-6-2's, most of them like this one.

A New York Elevated 0-4-4F Forney. 

Since we are discussing odd or obscure engines that will never be built by one the major O scale manufacturers, here is my list.  All these locos were still operating during my layout's era.

PRR K5

PRR N1

PRR R1

PRR DD2

DRS 4-4-10 (in PRR livery)

CVRR Pioneer and Jenny Lind

How many new large locomotives can you buy that will fit on the average layout.  I do have a nice size layout with 054 curves and no huge locos.  We need new smaller, more affordable types like the Forney.  It can be used pulling street cars, working the elevated city lines, factories, even mining. I would not hesitate to buy one, even BTO that I have never done, for this Forney pictured below (and not oversized, it does not need tons of electronics, just basics like WbB does... chuff, smoke, whistle, bell).  Dennis

(Yep! I'll dream on)

As Texas Eagle said,how about T&NO MK 5 which is similar to SP P 9 ,4-6 -2 Pacific.

Mikey

While no pictures an NYC 0-10-0, and another small articulated, a D&SL 2-4-4-2. Also a Vulcan duplex.

How about a SAR Beyer Garratt?

modeltrainsparts posted:

How about a SAR Beyer Garratt?

I’ve always had trouble with a 1:48 scale narrow gauge locomotive on O-gauge track.

But I’d like a SAR Breyer Garrett. Maybe run on S-gauge track, so for simplicity of operation it would need to be wired for 2-rail.

PRR E3sd Atlantic.

Anything Monongahela RR  steam from the1940's era.

Cappilot,

the PRR N1 was done by #3rd rail about a decade ago.

They pop up form time to time on auction sites.

For ME its:

PRR B8 Shop switchers

PRR 2-8-8-0

PRR E1 Atlantic Camelback:

PRR #1223 D16sb 4-4-0

PRR #7002 E3

PRR K2sa or K3

PRR K5

PRR N2 & N2sa [usra 2-10-2]

Any steam engine operating on a tourist line today..SRC 90 is one I would love to see done, even a couple others  come to mind..NH&I 40, BR&W 60, SOU 4501,630 could do a PRR 1223. So many company's  do the big road engines of today but,  forget about the everyday engines running at Scenic Railroads.

Little River Railroad #126 "Skookum" being a 2-4-4-2 is small, and could be treated like a 2-8-2 to cut costs using a rigid frame despite being an articulated engine. Being the first articulated logging locomotive ever built, it is both important to railroad history, and rare being one of only two 2-4-4-2 locomotives i have run across built in the US.

Do you guys really think obscure prototype really have a chance with any manufacturer? 

Here is a small, somewhat obscure articulated that 3rd Rail has had reservations open for probably at least two years: Sierra Railroad's #38. 

Yet even as listed as a low quantity production locomotive, it still apparently hasn't garnered enough interest to go into production.

I find it a bit puzzling.  When PFM made these in HO decades ago, it was a VERY popular locomotive for those with large and small layouts.  Given some of the suggestions I've seen here. The only thing I can figure is the 38 isn't NYC or C&O.  Maybe it's not obscure enough...  Or cute enough...

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

Do you guys really think obscure prototype really have a chance with any manufacturer? 

Yes, at least for the earlier steam - SMR imported rather low production runs of pre-1900 items quite successfully. 

Hybrid Turn-of-the-Century 4-6-0s and 4-4-0s both in original appearance and how some of them looked in the 1920’s. Ideally, there’d be Two-Rail as well as Three-Rail versions and options for oil firing as well as coal-burning.

MTH is part-way there with their Pennsylvania G-5s and so is Lionel with its 2-6-0s, but many of us don’t model specifically Eastern roads.

mwb posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Do you guys really think obscure prototype really have a chance with any manufacturer? 

Yes, at least for the earlier steam - SMR imported rather low production runs of pre-1900 items quite successfully. 

SMR's made some really nice stuff, but they too have been rather quiet lately.

Rusty

Many of the locomotives on this list intrigue me. Only a few stand a chance of production - for obvious reasons.  I am going to guess that the Strasburg locomotives stand a chance, including the D16 and E23.

I always wanted a 2-6-6-2 "back-up Malley" (yeah, I know how to spell Mallet).  So, at the ripe old age of 44, I got a piece of steel exhaust pipe and some Lobaugh castings, and made one.  Very satisfying - I recommend it.  As far as I know, I remain the only O Scaler with such a model.

The Austin Steam Train is another.  Do not hold your breath for one of these to appear on your dealer's shelf.  The Sunset SP Mike is a good starting point, as is the Stevenson kit.

And now you have to endure my photos yet again.  In a minute . . .

I suggest if we really want a particular model, we should emulate Bob2 above and our forum friend David Argent, who has built several unusual models; things like Kitson-Meyers, steam-electric locomotives, Beyer-Garratts and my favorite, a Stirling Single. (I know, lots of models of that one around)

Here's David's video collection:

https://www.youtube.com/user/DJVARGENT/videos

How about Baldwin 60000?  An old favorite of mine from childhood, seeing it in the Franklin Institute!  It emerged from the factory in purple(!) paint.  Since it was a demonstrator, it operated on several different roads burning both coal and oil (make mine the coal version!)  I also LOVE the Vanderbilt-style tender.  Modern super-power styling.  Apply a little imagination and this thing might have been running until the end of steam.

Baldwin 60000 on Wikipedia

First, the Back Up Malley - my first hint was in the Model Railroader around the late 1950s - some guy made two of them out of a PFM 2-6-6-2 in that smaller scale.  Charming, but inaccurate models.  I pored over Bob Church's "Cab Forward" book for a decade, then got this pipe and proceeded.  Here it is, in 17/64.  If you want to build one in 1/4" scale, see my ten part series in 48/ft, prior to its demise.