That's a start.
Well I've decided I can't live with the long cab, so I'm going to shorten it (I'll also have to shorten the coupler, too, but one thing at a time) and if I can squeeze the whistle circuit board in there, great, if not, then I won't have a whistle. I'll also be raising the coal bunker, so that's going to give me *some* extra interior volume to work with, but we'll see.
The Reading Shops converted the 1251 from an early 2-8-0, class I-2 if I recall. That's why the wheelbase is so close together. They used the first 3 sets of drivers. Those wheels also have that early style of counterweight.
They needed a loco stubby enough to fit on a turntable with another loco. It has that huge block over the coupler on each end to hang the drawbar of the loco it was moving.
I did the lettering currently on the real 1251, way back around 1982 or so.
Yep, it was an I-2, I've done my homework. If you were involved in the restoration, let me ask: is there any evidence that the 1251 had all that yellow grab iron in actual service? In the vintage pics I've found (all B&W, of course) I can't really see any evidence of it. Also, the headlight on her now is not original, does anyone know when it was changed? You don't remember offhand how tall the "Locomotive Shops" lettering on the tank is, do you?
The boiler barrel looked too small and indeed it was at a scale 56". The odd thing is the drawings show 1251 having a 60" boiler, but the drawings for the I-2 show 61". Anyway I built up the boiler barrel with some styrene, I'll put some pics up tonight.
The boiler barrel looked too small and indeed it was at a scale 56". The odd thing is the drawings show 1251 having a 60" boiler, but the drawings for the I-2 show 61". Anyway I built up the boiler barrel with some styrene, I'll put some pics up tonight.
1251 was given the yellow handrails and silver/white driver tires during the Iron Horse Rambles in the 1960's. She would be brought down from the Shops to Reading's Outer Station when a trip was scheduled to stop there. Ropes were rigged to allow passengers to ring the bell and blow the whistle, from along side rather than having them climb into the cramped cab. So, yes, it was during her last few years of regular service as the Loco-Shop switcher. Occasionally there are color slides on theBay.
The lettering: somewhere I still have the pattern that I used for that, so I can get those measurements for you.
No idea about the headlight. Reading used those what I call ''mailbox style'' lights on many engines. I wonder if anybody has one.
Originally Posted by Reading Steam Guru:
1251 was given the yellow handrails and silver/white driver tires during the Iron Horse Rambles in the 1960's. She would be brought down from the Shops to Reading's Outer Station when a trip was scheduled to stop there. Ropes were rigged to allow passengers to ring the bell and blow the whistle, from along side rather than having them climb into the cramped cab. So, yes, it was during her last few years of regular service as the Loco-Shop switcher. Occasionally there are color slides on theBay.
The lettering: somewhere I still have the pattern that I used for that, so I can get those measurements for you.
No idea about the headlight. Reading used those what I call ''mailbox style'' lights on many engines. I wonder if anybody has one.
Ah, that makes sense. I've got some decisions to make, since my theoretical model railroad will be coal region operations and there's no logical space for #1251, so I don't really have to stick to my timeframe.
The other thing I haven't really found are pictures of the back of the cab before George hacked a big hole in it. That could be helpful.
Anyway, here's the boiler enlargement progress:
Great thread and amazing talent displayed. I love the fact you are willing to "tear something up" to get what you want. I just cut up 2 new locos just so I could have a NW5.
Great work!
Malcolm
Originally Posted by Brother_Love:
Great thread and amazing talent displayed. I love the fact you are willing to "tear something up" to get what you want. I just cut up 2 new locos just so I could have a NW5.
Great work!
Malcolm
It didn't hurt that I got my dockside for about $60 in the ridiculous "Thunder Valley" livery. It's a great deal easier to take a dremel to a cheap engine where I don't have so much to lose if I ruin it. 
I took the sand domes off to reshape them, and to bulk up the tank a little bit.
Wowak, your work is an inspiration for those folk who complain because the various manufacturers don't make the locomotives they want.
Waiting for your I-10 project!
Originally Posted by rex desilets:
Waiting for your I-10 project!
I missed the eBay auction that was going to be my chassis donor, so that one is back-burner for a while. I think I'll probably tackle the I-9sa after I'm done with the 1251.
Also I test ran the chassis, and my truncated smoke unit still works. It stinks, but I imagine the smell of burning superglue will go away.
I took some time off from this to duplicate the modifications I made to my T-1 pilot for another forum member (I'll leave it up to them if they'd like to publicly endorse my work once it gets back to them) but tonight I made a little more progress on the 1251, specifically raising the coal bunker on the shortened cab, and fabricating a new backwall and rear light. Also I adapted a shorter coupler so I could use the original mounting point after shortening the cab (and consequently, the rear overhang of the locomotive.) It doesn't appear that it will be possible to include the whistle, just not enough room, so I guess I'll sell it on eBay to recoup some capital.
The rear light is made out of, among other things, the barrel of a coaxial connector and a ballpoint pen.
I'm somewhat proud of my scratchbuilt smokebox door.
You should be! Your workmanship is impressive. And thanks.
Well, I got my I-10sa donor, a Lionel Polar Express Berkshire Jr. I have to say I'm impressed with the loco as is, it's smooth, quiet, and steady at low speeds. I ran it a solid 10 hours on my floor loop without a hickup. I definitely won't start until the 1251 is complete, then I can decide if I'm going to start on the I-9 or the I-10 next.
Decided to go with the "mailbox" headlight 1251 wore "as built," not the full size headlight she inherited some time later.
Added squared counterweights, wooten firebox, sand dome hatches, pumps, generator, and number plate.
Interestingly, the Reading gave 1251 a ''passenger engine'' look, with the number plate on the door and the handrail with knobs at the front of the headlight bracket.
Freight engines usually had the number plate up front under the front of the headlight, in place of that handrail.
Looks like you're not too far away from paint. I went and found my patterns from lettering the real 1251, they are surprisingly in good shape after nearly 30 years.
The measurements:
The diamond is 14''x21'' with DOUBLE 1/4'' stripes (usually one thicker stripe)
READING is 5''x79''
LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS is 4''x94'', with 1/2'' taller L and first S.
That was summer of 1983 when we restored the 1251, and we were rewarded with seeing her get moved inside! Look close at that lettering, and you will still find my pencil marks.
Neat stuff you are doing. It is inspiring me to want to go forward with a similar project, just need to find the organ donor.
Thanks a lot! I don't require the details on diamond, because I'm going with the "as built" appearance, without the diamond or yellow railing, but the rest is very instructional.
You make an interesting point about the treatment of of details on 1251... I can only assume that when the shop crew built her they knew she was going to be sticking around, so they dolled her up as a matter of pride.
I wouldn't say I'm almost ready for paint yet, and even if I were it will likely be weeks or months, since I don't have facilities to airbrush indoors, and it's too cold outside at the moment.
I would loved to have participated in restoring 1251, but I was 4 years old at the time!
Thanks for your compliments, and by all means attempt your own! I got my donor on eBay for $60, at that price I *almost* wouldn't feel bad if I screwed it up.
-Brian
Originally Posted by Reading Steam Guru:
Interestingly, the Reading gave 1251 a ''passenger engine'' look, with the number plate on the door and the handrail with knobs at the front of the headlight bracket.
Freight engines usually had the number plate up front under the front of the headlight, in place of that handrail.
Looks like you're not too far away from paint. I went and found my patterns from lettering the real 1251, they are surprisingly in good shape after nearly 30 years.
The measurements:
The diamond is 14''x21'' with DOUBLE 1/4'' stripes (usually one thicker stripe)
READING is 5''x79''
LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS is 4''x94'', with 1/2'' taller L and first S.
That was summer of 1983 when we restored the 1251, and we were rewarded with seeing her get moved inside! Look close at that lettering, and you will still find my pencil marks.
Neat stuff you are doing. It is inspiring me to want to go forward with a similar project, just need to find the organ donor.
Added water hatch, handrails (still needed on smokebox) extended the air tank, added ash pan. It's almost time for rivets and piping.
Since the cab is lit, I've started building some of the piping and controls on the backhead so there'll be something to look at in there. Unfortunately the reverse unit board forces the floor to be much higher than it should be, and I had to shroud some of the circuits with a cover, and the engineer and fireman will be amputated at the knees!
I also installed my new stack, it's a casting of a D&RG K-27 stack. Not perfect, but much closer. The casting was solid so I had to drill out the center and add a connector of brass tube to mate up with the smoke unit. I put everything together for a test run to make sure the smoke unit was sealing against the stack, and not only did my truncated smoke unit smoke like a house fire, the stack is aligned so well it blows smoke rings! I'm quite pleased with the Dockside mechanism, this is a very well engineered loco.
Congratulations! A job well done, indeed!
Originally Posted by ReadingFan:
Congratulations! A job well done, indeed!
Thanks! It's been very rewarding, I really can't wait to get it finished.
Originally Posted by Reading Steam Guru:
Interestingly, the Reading gave 1251 a ''passenger engine'' look, with the number plate on the door and the handrail with knobs at the front of the headlight bracket.
Freight engines usually had the number plate up front under the front of the headlight, in place of that handrail.
Looks like you're not too far away from paint. I went and found my patterns from lettering the real 1251, they are surprisingly in good shape after nearly 30 years.
The measurements:
The diamond is 14''x21'' with DOUBLE 1/4'' stripes (usually one thicker stripe)
READING is 5''x79''
LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS is 4''x94'', with 1/2'' taller L and first S.
That was summer of 1983 when we restored the 1251, and we were rewarded with seeing her get moved inside! Look close at that lettering, and you will still find my pencil marks.
Neat stuff you are doing. It is inspiring me to want to go forward with a similar project, just need to find the organ donor.
You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the engineer's controls on 1251, would you? I'm trying to scratchbuild at least a rough representation of the major appliances but in all the pictures I've found I can't determine the location or orientation of the throttle. I can see the linkage coming out of the backhead and levered to a rod going up the top of the firebox, but I can't make out where it goes from there.
Oh, and here's a very interesting article about the hogger who ran 1251 for it's entire career. Set to retire at 74, he decided not to as long as #1251 was still in use.
http://news.google.com/newspap...locomotive&hl=en
I always thought 1251 was kinda dumpy, but reading this story made me fall in love with her. 
This is a splendid project, very well done, and the type of bashing project I love to watch (and do). I appreciate your posting all these details. Very interesting. And very well done.
I am really enjoying this thread.It's the most interesting topic I have seen in years.
Thanks for sharing!
Ricky
Thanks for the words of encouragement! It's very gratifying.
My somewhat crude cab appliances, built from random styrene bits and stock. (the curved part jutting out of the backhead is to cover the circuit board that intrudes mightily into what should be open cab space. maybe some day I can find a smaller electronic E-Unit and fully finish the cab interior.
More work on the back of the cab. I wasn't happy with my attempt to make hinges for the outside doors, so I've ordered some detail parts.
I think all the piping on the fireman's side is done. Please ignore that the cab is sitting higher than it should. It actually fits, it's just taken some adjusting to get it right.
Man!! this one is gonna be a piece of Art! I just can't wait to see it painted.
Dear Wowak. After seeing this, and others of the amazing transformations that you have made, I just wish that I had 1% of your modelling skill.
Beautiful work indeed. 
Thanks for posting. GREAT job! You should take your model to The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and pose her next to No. 1251. The Museum would take some interest in that as well.
I think the engineer's side is done. A few details on the pilot and the rear beam and I should be ready for paint. The trickiest part here is the brake line that runs down the running board... it's split into three so the section attached to the running board can lift off with the boiler casting.
Wowak,
Great stuff, congrats on some fantastic work!
PCRR/Dave
That is some great work. Your attention to detail is excellent. I can't wait to see it in paint. Wondering where you are getting your detail parts?
It's an absolute pleasure watching your projects come together. Some very fine work.
As for painting inside, I would look into making a booth from card board, auto air filters, and some ac or dc powered exhaust fans. Pretty simple and cheap yet works very well.
Love this thread. A friend of mine uses this product to produce rivet detail on projects similar to this. Just thought I would throw it out there for anyone else who is trying to take on such an undertaking. Great work, Wowak!
Originally Posted by farmer fred:
That is some great work. Your attention to detail is excellent. I can't wait to see it in paint. Wondering where you are getting your detail parts?
Primarily from these two eBay stores:
http://stores.ebay.com/tjmodeltrainsandthings
