Williams Bachmann 4-6-2 Pacific

Is this the engine of which you speak (3430 in the photos):

The Pacific to the left in the bottom photo is a Williams brass USRA 4-6-2, the newer one on the right is smaller as can be seen in the photos.

However...it's almost perfect for one of the smaller Pacifics Seaboard Air Line used.

All my steam has been changed to run BPRC, this small Pacific was no exception.  I made a few changes to it to match the SAL engine but overall it's close to the photos shown.

I didn't run mine much when it was 3-railed, but recall it was a good running engine and sound was fine, just not what you'd get from PS2/3.

If you're patient the brass 4-6-2 engines show up on Ebay a couple of times per year and sometimes are cheaper than the newer, smaller diecast engines.  I paid $200 and $250 for my 2 brass units and $245 for the diecast unit.

These 1:58 scale Pacifics are from K-line tooling. They are good replicas, and fit well with the K-line 1:58 Allegheney and any nicer Lionel "Traditional" or MTH better RailKing equipment.

Unless Wbb has changed the gearing - unlikely - these run quite well, slowly and smoothly. I have 2 (the K-line version) which I command upgraded (ERR) years ago, and as I recall I did not use the Cruise Commander - just the DC Commander. I painted them for the Southern (a job) and double head them.

They are essentially Southern Rwy Ps4 models, which in turn are descended from the USRA Heavy Pacific with smaller drivers for the Southern's profile. They are O-gauge, but not 1:48 O-scale. Nicely modeled and apparently well-made. 

Not sure about the SAL-accuracy, myself. But, a plausible "little" Pacific could be made from one.

K-line also offered a Mikado version - same boiler, different running gear, so far as I know.

I bought what I thought was the first one K-Line made. It is the Southern Pacific with Vanderbilt tender. Great runner and very nicely detailed. It's smaller than scale size, but still a very nice loco.

Nice looking locomotive.  Would pass well for small Pacifics like Blue Mountain & Reading's 425 in the correct color, assuming minor mods like relocating the headlight.

I bought a Southern one, really enjoy it.  The protective cover over the tether was ripped as delivered out of the box.  Contacted the dealer twice with no response.  (Prominent ogr advertiser).  

Locomotive runs great, nice sounds. Looks great in SR.

Thanks, guys. The Southern 1401 is local and while Southern is not one of my railroads, I always liked the Green and Gold and Williams has one. I will have to add this to the "buy" list but really hadn't seen much talk about them. There is a lot out there on the Baldwin 4-6-0 and it is a very good runner and was curious if this engine compared at all. 

VistaDomeScott posted:

I bought a Southern one, really enjoy it.  The protective cover over the tether was ripped as delivered out of the box.  Contacted the dealer twice with no response.  (Prominent ogr advertiser).  

Locomotive runs great, nice sounds. Looks great in SR.

Gee - Gosh - why not name the dealer SO the rest of us don't get that treatment.   Me, I would have had my credit card company handle a refund/or return - believe it or not - it gets the dealers attention when the credit card outfits contact them!.

SURFLINER,  I was extremely busy with other aspects of life at the time and weeks went by.  I will try more persistently to get a response from Mario's.   They used to be very responsive. 

VistaDomeScott posted:

SURFLINER,  I was extremely busy with other aspects of life at the time and weeks went by.  I will try more persistently to get a response from Mario's.   They used to be very responsive. 

 

FWIW, I also had difficulty with that dealer lately. Got an engine that was a dud. Emailed several times to no reply. Kindly requested a refund and they acted like they were doing me a favor by offering me an "exchange only". Last time I'll buy from them. Their loss....