PRR 2 RAIL B6sb

Rich,

tall order. the Gem is the most accurate rendition of the B6, the Williams are good runners. can't comment on the Precision.

your choice is to get a Gem and tweak the drive if needed or get a Williams and add detail.

if it was my choice, I'd buy the Gem.

I have a Gem and a Williams.    They both ran good out of the box.   However, the gem was noisey until I remotored it.    The williams was not not noisey.   

Those two represent two different versions.   The Gem probably represents the most common and is a model of an earlier one.    the cylinders are canted in toward the boiler.   The cab is larger and has larger windows.   A friend told me the larger cab was to accomodate the large manual reversing control.   These got power reverse later but that did not change the cab.    I think the model has power reverse.   I would have to look.

The Williams represents what is probably the last group built.   the cylinders are canted away from the boiler with the valves outside the vertical line of the cyclinders.    The cab is smaller and has smaller windows.   these were built with power reverse according to my source.  

I think both were classed B6sb but I am not sure.   

Both of these models pull well for their size and look good.

I do not have a PSC version.   I have seen a few of them.   I think PSC built more than one variant also.   I also think the PSC ones have more and finer detail than the Gem or Williams if for no other reason than they are newer.    PSC locos do have a reputation of being well detailed.    I cannot comment on how they run, I have never seen one run.   My only reference is a PSC K4 that is similar vintage that a friend loaned me for awhile.    It ran fine, but did not pull as well as an old USH version.

I have 2 of the Gem which I have found to be adequate for my earlier era CVRR uses which had 2 of these on the roster.

Running of, but a cam motor helps if it doesn't have one already and the gearbox leaves a bit to be desired, but they can be tweaked into good running order.

Accurate........well, let's hear from Prof. Rappe on that aspect. 

The suspense is killing me....I hope it lasts,

B6sb's are among my favorite Pennsy prototypes.  Over a 30 year span I've owned and operated B6sb's from Gem (2), Williams, and PSC.  There were 2 Gem production runs.  The first was made in Japan and had an open frame motor.  The second run was built in Korea and had a Pittman can motor.  While the castings on the second Gem run were slightly better, it was not as well assembled.  As has been said the Williams B6sb is based on a late production batch and features a "short cab" similar to ones used on a number of Pennsy steam locomotives like the K4s and M1.  While the detail on the Williams model is slightly on the sparse side, it was very solidly built (by Samhongsa) and ran very well.  I redetailed it by milling out the frame under the cab, and added quite a few of the missing details (like rear tender steps). I also replaced the over width stack (it was built wide to accommodate a Seuthe smoke unit).

The only B6sb I now own is an overpriced PSC "long" cab B6sb version.  It features a very high level detail all around - but there was one huge issue with their "long" cab - the length was short!  The model features the classic 4 windows associated with early and mid production B6's, but for some reason the builder created the model with a front to back cab length the matched the 2 window "short" cab version.  The error was very annoying to many O scale SPF's as the model doesn't capture the proportions of the prototype. I had the locomotive on reservation for several years and needless to say when it finally arrived a number of us were very annoyed with PSC.  Shortly after the models came in (about 20 years ago) Steve Grabowski's dad punched out a correct length 4 window cab on sheet brass.  It was up the buyer to roll it..  Very fortunately I was able to engage a very talented scratch builder to form and retrofit the cab to my PSC model.  It now looks spot on!

Which version you go with will depend on what you are willing to spend, what compromises with prototype you are willing to accept, and how much added work you are willing to invest in the model.  If you go with a PSC B6sb I strongly recommend hunting for a short cab version. 

Ed Rappe

I assume from the comments that the Williams B6 is properly scaled? It is the one I own.

I read, eons ago, that the various diecast versions (K-line, Lionel) were not true to scale.

Anyway, the "sparse" detailing on the Williams is not much of a concern. It will be a working locomotive on the club railroad and fiddly details could detract from its utility to me.

I believe the PSC came with either the slopeback or rectangular tender choices.

Ed, do you know if these were tied to 2 or 4 window cab versions?

I love the B6.  I have a Lionel and three (!) Williams.  My second was a superdetailed and painted Gem - it ran OK, but it was a bit tinny, so I traded it for another Williams.

I believe, but am not sure, that the Williams is slightly oversize.  If so, I am even happier, since my hobby is 17/64.

One of my Williams came through the door 3-rail.  It got 2-railed rather quickly, but you can still tell - there are a few minor missing details on the 3- rail version.  One of my models will get the longer four window cab and a modified coal bunker.  I will leave the cylinders as-is, since I am not quite as discerning as the average pennsy freak.

I believe Williams used good bronze axle gears, and would probably choose a Williams gearbox over the Gem or PSC any day.

The Lionel has charm, but is difficult to 2-rail without special equipment.  It also has some serious inaccuracies, but not serious enough to upset me - I might get another some day.