I thought it would be fun to start a thread where members can share pictures and videos of their brass equipment. It can be 2 or 3 rail, and it can be engines, cars, buildings or etc. I am looking forward to seeing the responses. Here are some of my brass models:
Greg
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Not to rain on your post too much, but the 3rd Rail Virginian El-2 is not a brass model. It is a plastic model with brass details. However, plastic renders detail at a higher level than brass, so I don't mind.
At the same time I do enjoy good brass models. I wish I had some more pictures of my brass. Most of it is sitting in boxes awaiting a layout that largely exists in my mind. A few that I have photographed are shown below. Not shown are several of my Williams "budget" brass steam locomotives and my collection of PRR 2 rail passenger equipment from Sunset, PSC, Alco Models, and Custom Brass. I also have not photographed my Overland P5a that make the MTH version look like a bad toy.
Williams J Class
Empire Midland On3 Stock Car
Williams K4s (prewar)
Sunset K4s (Postwar)
Weaver GG1 (1 of 6 I own in different paint schemes)
Williams GS4 Daylight in the foreground
Williams Hudson behind the Lionel 773
Williams N5b with 2 rail trucks (it needs a slight spacer as it is riding too low after I replaced the 3 rail trucks)
Sunset GG1 4800
Sunset GG1 4800 in Conrail Bicentennial
International Model Products NE style Caboose
Sunset J1
International Model Products Pacific
Unknown manufacturer Camelback body on an All Nation 10 Wheeler Chassis
@GG1 4877 posted:Not to rain on your post too much, but the 3rd Rail Virginian El-2 is not a brass model. It is a plastic model with brass details. However, plastic renders detail at a higher level than brass, so I don't mind.
At the same time I do enjoy good brass models. I wish I had some more pictures of my brass. Most of it is sitting in boxes awaiting a layout that largely exists in my mind. A few that I have photographed are shown below. Not shown are several of my Williams "budget" brass steam locomotives and my collection of PRR 2 rail passenger equipment from Sunset, PSC, Alco Models, and Custom Brass. I also have not photographed my Overland P5a that make the MTH version look like a bad toy.
Williams J Class
Empire Midland On3 Stock Car
Williams K4s (prewar)
Sunset K4s (Postwar)
Weaver GG1 (1 of 6 I own in different paint schemes)
Williams GS4 Daylight in the foreground
Williams Hudson behind the Lionel 773
Williams N5b with 2 rail trucks (it needs a slight spacer as it is riding too low after I replaced the 3 rail trucks)
Sunset GG1 4800
Sunset GG1 4800 in Conrail Bicentennial
International Model Products NE style Caboose
Sunset J1
International Model Products Pacific
Unknown manufacturer Camelback body on an All Nation 10 Wheeler Chassis
Oops, I wasn't aware about the EL-2B. That Conrail Bicentennial GG1 is absolutely gorgeous! When did Sunset produce them??
Regards,
Converted to three rail, US hobbies IHB 0-8-0 with functional engine under front of tender …..chassis is MTH, engine truck is US hobbies with MTH machined wheels,….
Pat 
I'm pretty sure these are all brass. I have some more but no good pictures of them.
From left to right: My dad's Williams E-6, my Weaver G-5 and our Weaver H-10
Here are a few of my brass locos, all by Williams:
Southern Pacific GS4 Daylight (prior to DCS conversion)
Boston & Maine Pacific
K4s, upgraded to DCS and fan-driven smoke unit, pulling a string of MTH Strasburg RR cars
@harmonyards posted:Converted to three rail, US hobbies IHB 0-8-0 with functional engine under front of tender …..chassis is MTH, engine truck is US hobbies with MTH machined wheels,….
Pat
You did an awesome job on this!
3rd Rail PRR MP54s
@Trainbros89 posted:Oops, I wasn't aware about the EL-2B. That Conrail Bicentennial GG1 is absolutely gorgeous! When did Sunset produce them??
Regards,
It doesn't change the fact that the EL-2B it is such an imposing and wonderful model. I have seen a few in person and they just seem to defy O scale with there brute size! I recently saw the sample battleship gondolas at Scott's office when I was out for a visit two weeks back. Nice looking cars.
The Sunset GG1s were done in 2009. It was the first project I was brought on as a consultant for by Scott Mann with the help of Bob Heil as a result of my GG1 musings on this forum. There were only 20 Bicentennial ones made, but you can find them from time to time for about what they originally listed for.
Here is a drawing of that version I prepared as well as a video of it running on my modular layout when it was up and operating:
Here's a couple O scale items
SMR's The General Haupt
SMR's Whiton and PSC's Lincoln Funeral Car
@GG1 4877 posted:It doesn't change the fact that the EL-2B it is such an imposing and wonderful model. I have seen a few in person and they just seem to defy O scale with there brute size! I recently saw the sample battleship gondolas at Scott's office when I was out for a visit two weeks back. Nice looking cars.
The Sunset GG1s were done in 2009. It was the first project I was brought on as a consultant for by Scott Mann with the help of Bob Heil as a result of my GG1 musings on this forum. There were only 20 Bicentennial ones made, but you can find them from time to time for about what they originally listed for.
Here is a drawing of that version I prepared as well as a video of it running on my modular layout when it was up and operating:
I have some of those battleship gondolas on order and can't wait for them! Thanks for sharing the details and pictures, it's a beautiful model.
@Robert S. Butler posted:Here's a couple O scale items
SMR's The General Haupt
SMR's Whiton and PSC's Lincoln Funeral Car
Wow, these are absolutely gorgeous !
Trainbros89 ....and, from the National Archives and Library of Congress, here's the original B&W's used as the basis for the pictures.
Haupt
Whiton
This is a very nice thread except for the repeated photos. Please do not repeat mine.
These are scratchbuilt, mostly in 17/64 Scale O Gauge:
Here are some of mine
@marty track posted:Here are some of mine
Wow! I love that Virginian XA.
@marty track posted:Here are some of mine
I love that XA and that Hospital Unit Car.
Prior to the completion of my outdoor 2 rail layout.
Ed,
Who is the manufacturer of your F40PHs? Did OMI import those?
They are Overland - I believe they were produced in the 1988-1990 time frame.
@bob2 posted:These are scratchbuilt, mostly in 17/64 Scale O Gauge:
These engines are great and I really wanted to repeat the photos. Really nice scratch built items.
3rd Rail PRR Brill Motorcar
3rd Rail PRR FF2
I5
KTM SD45 and and the nose of my McKeen car:
Dapol GWR 0-6-0 pannier:
Scratch-built and hand lettered (@1939 or so) B&O O-58 gondola; in reality an early TOFC car but, as it had sides, the B&O classed it as a gondola:
The same builder also did a B&O O-60 65 foot mill gondola but I do not have a photo of it.
A Car Works Pacific Electric PCC:
CLW PRR H-10, one of three that I have (one is a Saginaw):
Weaver Pennsy M1a, rear. Left edge of picture, is a Weaver H10 Consolidation. Right front, Weaver Pennsy L1s Mikado. Weaver did some very nice brass models. IMO, Mike CT.
Here is my Lionel GS 1 in brass including tender.
Here is my version of a brass GS-1. Again, please do not repeat the photo.
It is an All Nation Mountain, converted - Lobaugh drivers, scratch frame, extended smokebox, and Adams tender. All brass except for motor, gears, and wheels.
Sunset Models PRR DD1 (2rail) ... good thing I didn’t copy the info directly from the box. I would have surely been chastised...
My two 3rd Rail engines: the N&W K3 up front, and the N&W K2a behind. Both have a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement. The N&W coal cars in the background aren't brass (Atlas O die-cast). I also have an old Williams brass Southern USRA 4-6-2 pacific in storage.
@0-Gauge CJ posted:My two 3rd Rail engines: the N&W K3 up front, and the N&W K2a behind. Both have a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement. The N&W coal cars in the background aren't brass (Atlas O die-cast). I also have an old Williams brass Southern USRA 4-6-2 pacific in storage.
That K2A is awesome!
@Trainbros89 posted:That K2A is awesome!
It's a beauty! 
I love the "Big 3" steam engines of the N&W but I also love their less famous engines (like the K2a and K3) from prior years.
@0-Gauge CJ posted:It's a beauty!
I love the "Big 3" steam engines of the N&W but I also love their less famous engines (like the K2a and K3) from prior years.
I completely agree! That's why I have an Unshrouded J .
Slowly been acquiring brass milk cars. This was my first purchase. Got it for a decent price. Came painted but not lettered. Had some decals made and put the car in service. It tracked really well with the 2 rail wheels but I did some major surgery on some Lionel milk car trucks and recently added them.
@Dave_C posted:Slowly been acquiring brass milk cars. This was my first purchase. Got it for a decent price. Came painted but not lettered. Had some decals made and put the car in service. It tracked really well with the 2 rail wheels but I did some major surgery on some Lionel milk car trucks and recently added them.
Awesome car. Does PSC make it??
Both PSC and Overland made O scale brass models of the Borden's Butter Dish. As far as I know both of them made the car with and without fins. There is a third version of the car with more elaborate fins that extend across the top of the car. Overland made an O scale model of this version as well - I don't know about PSC.
Finally getting my passenger car fleet out to photograph. Here is a Custom Brass PB54.
Also, not O scale, but some of my brass HO:
I could get jealous of HO brass.
Here are a couple more - both 17/64:
@Trainbros89 posted:I completely agree! That's why I have an Unshrouded J
I will have one of those unshrouded J's in my collection! One day...
@bob2 posted:I could get jealous of HO brass.
Some days I do think about "double-dipping" into another scale...
Hi there. PSC Z1b and Sunset M.
My only contribution to brass in the collection ...
A Ken Kidder/Katsumi/KTM from back in the day .....
And his nekkid brethren ( pic from web)
@christopher N&W posted:Hi there. PSC Z1b and Sunset M.
That Z1B is gorgeous! Some day, I hope 3rd rail decides to make one in 3 rail
Here's my Sunset CB&Q 2-8-2.
RAY
A few brass cabeese.
Pete
Nice photos.
As a novice, I would ask: What exactly is the attraction of having a brass locomotive? If the beauty of the brass metal, polished, were its exterior, then I could see the beauty.
But, it appears that most of the brass locos are covered with black paint, and have a little less detail than the standard plastic versions, which are also black or painted black.
So, what is the attraction or practical benefit of the brass please?
Thanks,
Mannyrock
Mannyrock,
Brass models are much more accurate and highly detailed compared to a diecast engine. Importers such as Sunset, make these engines more to scale than what a diecast engine will do. Many of the brass engines have unique appliances where as diecast is more generic.
Don't get me wrong, I also have several Legacy engines that are well detailed. It's just that the brass offerings are more prototypically correct in almost every factor.
RAY
With current tooling, plastic does render detail better than brass can. Both brass and plastic render detail better than die casting. Even with plastic models though, the fine detail screens and add-on details are often etched or brass castings as they can render a very high level of detail.
The main benefit these days with brass over plastic or die casting is that brass does not require a tool so the minimum number of units to be ordered can be much lower in brass.
Typically being smaller runs, brass is great for very specific locomotives, especially steam locomotives that tended to be customized by the railroad.
Some of the brass locomotives shown in this thread date back many, many years. When put into perspective, they have a much higher level of detail than a locomotive from the same time period built out of any other material.
Mannyrock
As others have stated plastic can certainly rival older brass for details.
What draws many to brass has more to do with the accuracy compared to a specific prototype of a road name.
Personal example, as you look at my pictures above anyone can get a late model Union Pacific Challenger from many of the manufacturers with good specific accuracy.
A prototype accurate model of a Union Pacific 7000 series mountain on the other hand is impossible because no one made one other than KTM. And so It goes with other prototypes and other road names.
The chief draw of brass models for me is models of prototypes that haven't been done by Lionel, MTH, etc. The K2a and the K3 I have are prime examples.
Another aspect of brass I really like is the fact that each piece is handmade one at a time. The level of craft to do brass is a skillset beyond most modelers and when you purchase a brass locomotive or car you are purchasing not just a model, but the care that went into skillfully crafting it.
Here is a few quick photos of my GEM PRR F3 Mogul. It needs some minor repairs and when I get to painting it, I will be updating for a late appearance with a electric headlight and generator. It is one of the later versions with a can motor so I think it will be a decent runner on my layout even if it is quite a bit out of era for my mid-50's themed NY&LB planning. Still, it will look great pulling a few P70 coaches or a short length of freight cars.
One more for this evening. A Sunset / 3rd Rail SP MK-6 Mikado that came to me from the collection of forum member PeterA. I will be running this at my 3 rail club, the Paradise and Pacific.
3rd Rail PRR Q1
Bob,
You need some Sunset P70's behind that beautiful beast of a locomotive!
I believe brass can be made into a much more realistic model simply because the shell or body has a prototypical thickness. This leads to two advantages when considering fidelity to the prototype:
1) Window frames, box car doors, box car sides, hopper car walls, flat car decks, etc can be made with a prototypical thickness. No need to have 6” thick windshield frames, passenger car sides, caboose windows, caboose platforms, etc.
2) Diesel and carbody sides, boilers, etc are not dead flat, because they are formed, rather than cast from a precision mold. Sometimes they are soldered together from many pieces. This naturally gives a variation in the surface flatness that is just like the real thing. While subtle, to my eye this enhances the overall sense of realism.
Yes, you can add brass details such as grab irons, ladders, etched screens, etc to a plastic or die cast model. And it will look pretty good. But for absolute realism, I can’t get around the fact that the walls are too thick and too perfect.
And yes, I have plenty of plastic diesels and rolling stock:
I think there are folks like me who know that plastic makes better, more accurate, and cheaper models, but have an irrational bias against anything plastic.
I will take a crude sand cast brass Diesel any day over a finely crafted plastic version - as you will see in a minute.
Again, admittedly irrational. I hate plastic models.
@bob2 posted:
...Again, admittedly irrational. I hate plastic models.
Now, I vaguely remember an article from O Scale News years ago regarding a certain plastic MTH 2-rail Premier SD9 that a certain someone modified for a more accurate ride height (which is on my list to do as well) and added some specific details. 
By the way, in keeping with the tread topic, here are a couple from my brass collection:
Hallmark by Ajin ATSF Drover car. Now that I have more time, I'm finally going to take it apart and paint it.
The H1 is one of my favorites, but it's delicate so it didn't see much track time at the club. I came very close to buying a 2-rail version when I bought this and almost went for a 2-rail unit that showed up on eBay a few years ago.
I have a few more brass pieces in my collection that I don't have photos for.
Good memory, Matt. Next time you come down bring your factory reset stuff and help me reset my MTH Hudson. I will give you a tour, and if you want, a quick airplane ride.
Yes, I have three plastic Train Masters, two Atlas SD35 bodies on strange trucks, and that SD7, which is going to get tiger stripes - and maybe five plastic freight cars and one of those spectacular GGD heavyweight Pullmans. They are exquisite, but not really my thing - I like brass!
Here are a couple of sand cast brass Diesels:
Oh, I have more!
Was able to find a great Sunset 3rd Rail Model of the SP 5021 Southern Pacific Class locomotive! A true gem! This is now my 2nd locomotive from Sunset Models and they are truly works of art! I wonder when they are going to re-release the ATSF steam locos!?!?
I am a fan of the 4-10-2 type. All of mine are now painted and weathered, but in keeping with the brass theme, let me dig up an "under construction" photo. This particular model won 1st place in a National NMRA judged contest, as well as first place OSW in a popularity contest. The popularity contest is difficult to compete in, since the competition is often factory painted Overland models. I am not as good as those talented Korean craftsmen.
Oh - notice the boiler taper. All of the taper occurs on the sides and bottom, and the ridge line is dead straight. Standard Baldwin stuff, even though Alco made these for SP.
There is a lot of nice accessories made in brass, here is a PRR signal bridge for four tracks, made by Precision Scale many years ago.
Daniel
A few variations on the P70 Coach
Alco Models P70fbR. The prototype dates to approximately 1960 with the modern trucks and balloon roof. When I saw P70s on their last legs on the NY&LB this as the configuration they were in.
PSC P70R Coach Broiler. These had a small kitchen and cafe seating at one end.
PSC P70R. Basic classic P70 coach.
Nice paint! PSC did some nice work in the 1980s and 90's. I shall make an exception and post a factory brass car or two:
Back to the 17/64 brass - did I show you this?
Mostly brass, but the boiler is a steel hunk of exhaust pipe. This one was my first attempt at scratchbuilding, in 1985. I had been thinking of doing it since 1957, when I first attempted an elevation drawing. Unlike some, this one ran smoothly the first time I applied power - Pittman/NWSL.
Sorry - no digital photos of this one prior to paint.
I will take a better picture when time allows, but here is my Division Point brass N&W Steel Caboose.
Speaking of sand-cast diesels, I believe that this H10-44 is one:@bob2 posted: ...snip... Here are a couple of sand cast brass Diesels ...snip...It weighs in at a little over thirteen pounds and with that eight-wheel drive should do a right fine job of pulling. Unfortunately, the wheels are not insulated for two-rail so it sits in its box for the time being.
Yep. Have one of those in H16-66 format. Also have ten of these - the one on the left has since been soldered, cleaned up, and painted stainless with Alclad II.
Two more:
Wow...this is turning into an all-time great thread; only wish I had something to contribute...
Mark in Oregon
@Strummer posted:Wow...this is turning into an all-time great thread; only wish I had something to contribute...
Mark in Oregon
There is never any time like the present to start collecting brass locomotives, cars, and accessories.
@GG1 4877 posted:There is never any time like the present to start collecting brass locomotives, cars, and accessories.
I second that!!
I recently got a 3rd Rail PRR PB54 commuter car. Not sure how old it is, the the plastic window inserts are falling off. Looks like I have most of them, but not sure where to get replacements if needed. It also has a short in it that needs to be fixed; disconnected the light circuit for now to run it. Looks great.
The semi-famous Ken Krayer FAs:
@GG1 4877 posted:There is never any time like the present to start collecting brass locomotives, cars, and accessories.
Ha!
I've got some HO brass, a couple of the Williams early Pacifics and the (2) All Nation Ten Wheelers...but nothing like what's being shown here...this is awesome. 
Mark in Oregon
I just have one, a 3rdRail Virginian 2-10-10-2. I love it and hope to get other brass locomotives.
@John Hon posted:
I just have one, a 3rdRail Virginian 2-10-10-2. I love it and hope to get other brass locomotives.
Beautiful!
Thanks Trainbros89. I’m envious of your Virginian EL-2B, even though it’s not brass. It’s still awesome looking.
@John Hon posted:Thanks Trainbros89. I’m envious of your Virginian EL-2B, even though it’s not brass. It’s still awesome looking.
I think 3rd Rail still has a few for sale !
Hey Trainbros89, I know.
I’m working on the funding! 😃
Kohs GG1. I severely reworked this so it can run on a layout. See recent set of articles in OST
I would love to have one of those Virginian 2-10-10-2's!
@John Sethian posted:Kohs GG1. I severely reworked so it can run on a layout. See recent set of articles in OST
What a gorgeous model. I have always admired Kohs.
Here are a pair of PAs coated with Alclad II - brass castings underneath. I am inserting it as a link, because the resolution is better:
Trainbros89: You don't have to re-post photos every time you want to comment... 
bob2: I couldn't open that link... 
Mark in Oregon
@Strummer posted:Trainbros89: You don't have to re-post photos every time you want to comment...
bob2: I couldn't open that link...
Mark in Oregon
I didn’t ask for your opinion on how I respond.
He phrased it as a suggestion. When you re-post photos posted by someone else you are violating copyrights. Ask the management what happens when a copright owner gets ornery.
Mark - the "dropbox" link worked yesterday, but not today. I will post them here in a minute. Problem with lower resolution is the Moray patterns on closely spaced lines.
Edit: this forum's resolution has improved recently - these are pretty good reproductions of my original high resolution photos.
Again, these are brass castings, coated first with black, then with Alclad II "stainless." Comparing them with stainless cookware shows a pretty close match.
Plan is warbonnet. Have the decals, but not in a hurry.
Sunset has offered the Challenger in greyhound colors, not exactly prototypical but nice piece.
Daniel
If you mean the paint scheme, I believe they did it that way for the Oregon passenger runs.
My ten-wheeler is progressing - may have to find your thread on that. It is brass, though, so maybe appropriate here?
Oops! It is way beyond this - I need a current photo. It even has a new tender!
Thanks Bob, I have not founded a color picture of an original but it looks nice for me, still have to find a set of UP passenger cars...
Nice 460 you have done, here is mine after some repaint and restorations, still have to find a front lam and some decals, no idea what could be correct... Nice home made model anyway.
Daniel
10 UP challengers were painted in two tone gray in 1946. Not sure how long they kept that paint. I have a Williams version of that locomotive in TTG. It is just a hair under scale length but is a good runner.
Something a little exotic for you in USA, another Sunset model in two rails of a famous French loco, a 141 R Mikado in French. Those engines where made in USA for the French railways just after the second world war to replace all the destroyed models, very powerful engine for passenger and freight service. A little more than a thousand where manufactured. The Sunset Model represent the engine in museum livery preserved in the national railway museum.
Daniel
Brass? Yes, I confess I've owned and worked on some of it along the way.
Nearly all the brass models I've had or worked on have been modified in one way or another, usually with details, paint and lettering.
Here are some of them:
S. Islander
Here are a couple of rescue efforts. They arrived with many missing and broken parts. Just few examples of the damage shown.
Pete
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