STEAMday Sunday 8/18/2024 Edition

My Steamday steamer for this Sunday is Boston & Albany 4-6-6T Tank Engine #403. The model was made by K-Line (K3470-0403CC) in 2005 and listed at MSRP $599.95

In 1928, Alco built five D-1a 4-6-6T bi-directional steam locomotives (road numbers 400 to 404) for the Boston & Albany Railroad to use in commuter service around Boston. These engines ran in a circuit – outbound on the main line, inbound on the Highland Branch back to South Station, and also in the opposite direction. Since they were double-ended, it was unnecessary to turn them before the next run.

The B&A tank engines had 63-inch drivers, ran at 215 psi boiler pressure, weighed 352,000 pounds, and developed 41,600 pounds tractive effort. They were the largest tank engines ever to run in the United States and were designed for rapid acceleration. Their tractive effort was almost equal to that of a Boston & Albany 4-6-2 Pacific. They were retired in 1951.

Photos and videos show B&A #403 on my 12’-by-8’ layout with two New York Central lightning stripe passenger coaches. The B&A was leased by the New York Central in 1900 and eventually absorbed into the NYC.

MELGAR

Thanks for stoking the fire Arnold. My son was here on Friday and got this set off the top shelf for me. Something that I can no longer reach. Here is a LIRR 4-4-2 Atlantic # 51 by Atlas. It’s part of an exclusive set by Nassau Hobby. I can’t find any information on it.
It includes the brown boxcar, gondola, and caboose #2. The other two boxcars are not part of the set. I posted them earlier on Boxcar Sunday .

Good morning, steam fans!  Arnold, we’re in the same “frame of mind” this morning, because I’ll be featuring my Central Railroad of New Jersey 4-6-0 Camelback, an MTH Railking Imperial model.  I think this engine, along with the 0-6-0’s, are the finest Railking steamers produced by MTH.

No. 763 is shown on a commuter run heavy with head end business; two H P Hood milk cars, two baggage-mail-express cars, but only a single coach.  Commuter traffic is light on this line, so CNJ is grateful for the head end business to boost its bottom line.  When all railroads lose their mail contracts, CNJ will likely petition the ICC to discontinue passenger service on the line.

John

2012….my NYC ten wheeler on our modular layout….

Have a great and safe week, everyone!

Back then it was 19x26…….this winter it will be 21x55!

Peter

B&O 2-8-0 #2770 calling it a day.

Gene

Did up this Hudson as a Frisco loco awhile back...

Mitch

Thanks so much Arnold for keeping the boiler hot and getting us rolling for this fine Sunday!  Got to LOVE your new Yankee Stadium facade!!  It looks terrific!!!  Next you should acquire an old theatre with the a marque that reads " Now Appearing!  Singer Songwriter Arnold Cribari!!"  Doing so ..  you would have three of your passions displayed on your layout ... Baseball, Music and Trains ... just a thought

Here is my steam presentation for today.

The Y6b road engine is about to take over as the 0-8-0 number 75 has just pushed back onto the train the final cut of coal loads.   A Pennsy A5 pushes a caboose in the background.

The N&W Y6b is ready to go.  Incidentally ... the N&W hopper car on the EL in the background I received from Santa when I was 5 years old.  This car was my first add on car to the Lionel set I received from Santa the year before.  

A view from the 6th floor executive office of  The Free State Junction Railway Headquarters building.

Now the  0-8-0 will uncouple, pull forward and return to the yard, making way for the Y6b road engine to couple on.  

My son found a project, a1947 726.

My only contribution this week that will encompass the theme of STEAMday Sunday and pay homage to @Steam Crazy's CNJ Weekend is my recently new-to-me MTH, Proto-Sound 3, Blue Comet locomotive, the motive power the most famous and probably the most short-lived of the Central Railroad of New Jersey's passenger trains.

Below is a link to a video of the my Blue Comet.

MTH Railking CRNJ BlueComet (youtube.com)

It is late 1949 and an aging H6sb is spending its final days shifting cars and doing short local runs.  Most of the nearly 1,500 made (1901-1913) were scrapped by 1940, but a couple made it to the 50s. 

3rd Rail.  It is out getting repaired and I hope to get it back soon.

I like the unusual, so a unique steamer (gift from my sister)

= walt

Nice start once again Arnold on this coal and oil burning Sunday.PW Lionel 2046 4-6-4 from 1950-53

@Arnold D. Cribari - Hey that new facade of Yankee stadium really looks good.

Well steam fans, it is 1955 and steam is most certainly on the way OUT on the real railroads but at the Marx locomotive factory that is most certainly NOT the case. That year Marx gives birth to the magnificent #666, die cast, electrically powered, 2-4-2 steam locomotive.  Fully die cast boiler, simulated steam (in one of 5 versions it exits not only from the stack but from the cylinders a concept Lionel did not come up with until the 1980's), in a dull realistic black, both with and without a white stripe and even in olive drab for a special Sears military set.  She utilizes the ultra reliable Marx 4 wheel drive with either standard or double reduction gearing.   For 1955, she has everything going for her.  P.S. one exception, if you wanted a whistle, Marx would gladly supply you with one for under 1$ and you could blow it anytime you wanted, with or without trains!  So here she is:

Here is a frontal view, showing the hooded headlight, feed-water heater, and the prominent bell.

Best wishes Steam Fans, Hope your upcoming week goes well

Don

The Greenbrier "610" passes the South Main Street crossing headed for the North Main Street station...

@trumpettrain posted:

Thanks so much Arnold for keeping the boiler hot and getting us rolling for this fine Sunday!  Got to LOVE your new Yankee Stadium facade!!  It looks terrific!!!  Next you should acquire an old theatre with the a marque that reads " Now Appearing!  Singer Songwriter Arnold Cribari!!"  Doing so ..  you would have three of your passions displayed on your layout ... Baseball, Music and Trains ... just a thought

That’s a great idea, Patrick, but music is already represented on my layout by a much better singer and songwriter than me, namely: Jim Morrison of The Doors:

The Doors got their meteoric start at the Whiskey a Go Go in the Los Angeles area.
“Come on baby light my fire.”

Arnold

Arnold, love your "Whiskey are Go Go"!  I'm a Doors fan too!

John

As a likely final entry here on Monday for this STEAMday Sunday, I wanted to show some love for CNJ per @Steam Crazy's suggestion with my ca. 1978-80 027 MPC Blue Comet Hudson steamer:

Bought at an estate sale in 2012, she is my first 3-rail O locomotive. Here she is hauling a WbB scale consist of Blue Comet 72' heavyweights:

Gotta love them "Mighty Sounds of Steam!"