Western Maryland Potomacs

Terrance;

 

That's a very laudable project that you are interested in.  Just comparing the S3 with a Potomac I see some significant differences -- configuration and placement of steam domes; position of the bell and whistle; front end catcher assembly to just name a few.  And that ignores anything related to the tender.

 

Before you jump on your project I would suggest a couple of ideas.  First, check with Weaver.  They may be releasing a Potomac in the near future as a follow-on to last year's release of the Wyoming.

 

Second, consider picking up the before-mentioned Wyoming.  Repainted in WM livery it would be a closer match than the S3 as the differences between the Wyoming and Potomac were relatively small cosmetics (IMO).  I wouldn't be surprised if the Weaver Potomac is more or less a repainted Wyoming.  You could also go with a Reading Northern which actually ran over the WM on through freights between Lurgan and Connellsville. 

 

Getting someone to repaint something is easier and cheaper than doing extensive shell modifications.

 

Poppyl

 

   

Do you a picture of the Wyoming?

Is it the Pocono steam engine in the Weaver catalog?

My mistake, Terrance.  I got the Lehigh Valley mixed up with the D,L&W.  You are correct that Weaver is coming out with the Pocono.  They have told me that the Potomac will be next in line.  I suspect that they will use the Pocono tooling with the WM livery.  Cosmetically, should be close although I worry that differences may be more apparent if they use the Pocono tender with the Potomac. 

 

IMO, the Wyoming is closer to the Potomac in overall appearance but beggars can't be choosers. 

 

Hats off to Weaver for breaking the ground on eastern Northerns other than the Reading T-1 or NYC Niagara.

 

The bottom line is that you have options beyond attempting to re-configure the S3.

 

Poppyl

 

 

Here's a comparison of a DL&W and Western Maryland 4-8-4.

 

The Lackawanna:

 

 

The Western Maryland:

 

 

If rendered in brass, I'm sure a Weaver model of the WM Potomac will be accurately reproduced if and when it is built.

 

Bob  

Good evening!

 Just a heads up, that I am still waiting on a reply from the archivist with WMRHS, with regards to technical drawings of the J1 Potomac. Once that part is determined, then it is the matter of getting the drawings that Weaver would require. I had contacted them earlier in the year to determine where the project stood{since I had heard a rumor that they had been approached}.

 

terrance,

 that would be a very interesting conversion! There are a lot of talented people out there who could probably pull it off. But, poppyl makes a very good point.

That's good news, Henry, for a couple of reasons -- shows that Weaver is interested in doing the Potomac right for the rivet counters among us and indicates that there is enough consumer interest in the product to warrant separate tooling.

 

Poppyl

 

Did Weaver indicate when they might be producing the WM Potomac?

Shortly after they announced the Pocono (maybe 18 months ago now) they asked if there would be any interest in the Potomac as the next Northern.  A bunch of us responded in the affirmative at the time but then everything sort of went quiet.  I figured that I would check in with Weaver to see where things stood once the Pocono hit the market.  As I said, Henry's news is good.  Separate tooling, however, may mean another year or more before the Potomac is available.

 

If you can't wait that long, repainting a Pocono is an option.

 

Poppyl

 

 

Then I am definitely in for Weaver to make the WM Potomac, this will free up money for other things.

Wouldn't hurt to let them know of your interest.

 

Poppyl

I suspect that they will use the Pocono tooling with the WM livery.  Cosmetically, should be close although I worry that differences may be more apparent if they use the Pocono tender with the Potomac.

Hopefully not!  This is a common approach with die-cast locos to help recover the high initial cost of the dies.  As the first Potomac in 3-Rail, I'm hoping it will be done in brass as an original project "from scratch," correct in detail and dimension.

Here's the latest.

 I received a reply from Mr. Hayter at Weaver this past Friday{didn't see it until late Monday night}. What they would be looking for are general arrangement diagrams. {I had informed him that the WMRHS could supply erecting diagrams[sectional and elevation]}.

 He appreciated my getting back to him with that news. And, indicated that they had not confirmed or commited to the engine at this time.

 

 So, if enough interest for this engine is out there, we need as many people as possible to let Mr. Hayter know. I will also go back to the WMRHS 'model director' {Mr. Buscemi}, and see if there has been any other interest for this engine from any of the society members in O-gauge. There would have to be enough interest to warrant the investment by Weaver. Let's see if it is there!

Thanks for the update, Henry.  I'll remind Joe of my interest.

 

Poppyl