Question on tanks on PRR E6s Atlantic 4-4-2

@Robbin posted:

I have been trying to find information online and in my Pennsy power 1-3 books about components for the PRR E6s Atlantics.  I have a Sunset Models three rail (and two rail) that need a lot of TLC (has had a hard/abused life previously).  It is missing a tank on the port side (left) and has a tank that looks like it had something in the center of it on the starboard (right) side.

What were these tanks?  I have them circled below.

Main reservior air tank, one on each side.

I would like to replace the missing tank of both tanks since what ever was slotted in the one is gone and I cannot find anything that appears to belong there.  If anyone has the same model and would share that would be great.  Dont know the age but the tender circuit boards and box are attached.  It is a pre TMCC model from what I can tell.

Cheers and Thanks!

I have the 2-rail version of this locomotive and it is straight DC.  I do not believe any of these were offered in 3-rail as this predates Sunset entering the 3-rail market. They were produced in the late 1980's after Sunset moved away from using Samhongsa.  I don't know much else, but here are photos of mine.  The tanks are air reservoirs.  Kemtron made a brass tube that you could cut to length with end caps that might be a substitute for the one you are missing.  Good luck!

The tanks you’re inquiring about are the air tanks for the brakes. The compressors fill the tanks to keep compressed air on hand to operate the braking system.  

Precision Scale Company has some brass air tanks, but I’m not seeing a specific tank for your E-6 Atlantic. You may be in luck with mthpartsandsales.com as many of the O scale Premier locomotives have separately applied air tanks, and MTH made a plethora of E-6 Atlantics over the years. I know Mike hasn’t gotten to the E-6 Atlantics just yet for getting the parts categorized, and on the web site, but it’s coming soon. If the tanks are available as a separate part, they should be a dead ringer as far as size, and type for your brass model……keep an eye on the web site for when the E-6 Atlantic parts goes on line ….

Pat

Thank you both!  That makes sense as I see a line from the compressor to one of the tanks directly.

And I believe that I assumed the 3 rail version was from Sunset (but the box that I pictured was actually from my 2 rail version, oops!).  The three rail came in an unmarked box.  However, the three rail does have a QSI (sound) board and two more circuit boards.  These may have been added later on as it appears that it may be after market.  A lot can happen since 1980!!  The three rail tender does not quite look prototype either based on my K-3 and pictures I see online and in books.  It is brass but who knows.

My two rail version looks identical to yours from what I can see of the detail.  Mine is painted and has various busted pieces on frame and boiler.  Think it may have been part of Uncle Festers layout!!  Have been epoxying them back again (could solder but I dont want to spoil the paint).

Thanks for the responses!

That thing in the middle that you mention was probably a drain valve to drain condensate from the tank.

Thanks Jim!  Its possible but it is an empty slot running horizontally from about 1/3 back so very hard to know.

Oh and scratch my comment on the tender of the 3 rail not being prototypical as I happened to glance at my poster from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and huh, there is my same tender on the turntable in the photo.

The 3rd Rail ones were made in late 1999. I put ERR in mine quite a few years ago but never put in sounds. It has the quiet drive setup. This would make a great Blunami project but I never run it and it’s been boxed up for years. Nice little runner! Here’s some photos, hope this helps:

Thanks Norm!

That helps tremendously!  My port air tank is missing the back portion or everything behind the simulated rear strap next to the cab.  That does solve the mystery of the slot running from the back of the front strap to the back of what is left of the tank...  Will work on reconstructing the tank.  Thank you!

Agree on the Bluenami.  Have been thinking of that and dead railing every hour I spend wiring the track ...

Looks like you have a very realistic and cool layout!  Beautiful!  Thanks for the photos!

Robbin, note also that Sunset got the top of the Belpaire firebox wrong on the earlier 2-rail model.  The slope down toward the cab is quite a bit too steep.  This was corrected in the later 3rd Rail model, as can be seen in Norm's photos.

Here's my 3rd Rail E6s in revenue service.  Click on the photo for a larger version.

Thank you Bob!  Why yes I do see there is a difference.  Not sure I can easily fix that!

Just may have to accept that Altoona was having an off day on my two rail version...

You have a great looking layout Bob!  Love the scenery and signal bridge!  Do you have a route from lower to upper levels?  Just curious.  When I get to my new loft I am looking at a multi level layout if I can make it work.

My 3rd Rail Atlantic from the nineties has the slot under the port tank, with no obvious purpose. The rear segment of the tank is a loose plug fit; it is easy to imagine it coming off and going walk-about.

In the early 1980’s Sunset under Mort Mann imported three 2 rail PRR models with similar boilers (E6s, H9s, and a G5) - all in one batch from Samhongsa.  At the time I was excited about the prospect of having models with detailed cabs and correct diameter boilers (the Max Gray-KTM E6s and G5’s had fatter than scale boilers).  I ordered all three.  After a year of waiting was I disappointed the night they arrived!  The Sunset had even poorer looking boilers and fireboxes than the Max Gray models.  All 3 had straight boilers vice the conical ones of their prototypes.  Without a reference it can be difficult to spot dimension errors, but it was easy to spot their incorrect profile.  As modelers we live with compromises  - in this case I decided to sell all 3 models, with the expectation that more accurate models would eventually become available.  In later years Sunset 3rdRail (under Scott Mann) imported a very nice model of the PRR E6s, while Key teamed with Samhongsa to import outstanding models of PRR H8, H9, and H10 consolidations. Unfortunately to date no importer has brought in a dimensionally correct 2 rail model of a PRR G5.

Thanks Hiram

that explains it.  Somebody somewhere installed the slot on mine on the side where it is most visible.  Not pointed down like yours.  I figured it got turned so ...  It came off with a bit of pressure (see below).  Now can repair it with the missing back portion and solder it all back in or glue it.  This is like an archeological dig. Or like the centuries old houses I rehab, layers of history (and bad DIY)

And do a duplicate for the other side which is missing the tank completely (or put in the properly scaled tank via the drawings).

I ordered a bunch of telescoping brass tubes that should be able to be used.

Thanks Ed

will bounce back to the two rail version and take a look.  Not sure I can do much on the boiler shape of course.  And they already made the firebox wrong.  Tough month at Altoona I guess!

Thanks for the information!  It is great to find out the history and details.

Well looks like the boiler is at least following the prototype from what I can tell.  Although it is easier to see some conical in person versus the photo below.  The loco drawing seems to have a bit more slope but... On to the other repairs.  I got a boiler weight from a kind OForumer that had one laying about so that is next on the two rail engine.

May have to spend some time with PRR 460 engine at the PA museum on the 10th with all this unexpected work on Atlantics!  Last time there I just focused on the mountain and pacific.

Conical boilers have a tapered course behind the smoke box.  Non conical ones have a uniform diameter boiler between the smokebox and the firebox - resulting in a different look when viewed in profile. Both boiler shapes can be found on 4-4-2 atlantics - just not on PRR E6’s.  In the 40 years since the Sunset E6s model was designed  prototype fidelity has improved as the PRR Technical and Historical Society has provided model builders access to thousands of original drawings for virtually  all classes of PRR 20th century locomotives and cars.  

Thanks Ed!  I appreciate all the information!