Trains.com

A (Mostly) Scrapbox Plow Mogul

3033 views
4 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Mik
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Slippery Rock, PA
  • 111 posts
A (Mostly) Scrapbox Plow Mogul
Posted by Mik on Monday, March 7, 2011 10:47 PM

A while back a fellow hobbyist sent me a really scruffy set of 5th gen Bachmann Big Hauler drivers, gearbox and motor. I had a nos Delton c-16 chassis here as well. So I stuck the two together.

 

Added a Bachmann smokebox and $2 worth of pvc

A mixture of Bachmann and Kalamazoo domes, a c-16 cab, and custom rods made from brass box and c-16 bits.

It started out to be an 0-6-0, but since I don't have any yards to switch, I decided that a Mogul would be more useful. I found this pic of a H.K. Porter, and decided to shorten mine up similarly

The tender is a Delton one that I had previously cut the flare off for another project. I made new extensions from brass and B'mann running boards ala D&RGW K-27 #463s only smaller.

Since this one will be battery op, I chopped a hole in the tender deck to mount a box with the charge jack and on/off switch.

And the air tank makes a nice cover

Did I say plow? I should have said P-L-O-W!!! As in an Aristo-Craft replacement blade from Trainworld. It arrived today and promptly ran into Mr Dremel

The removed bit were used to fabricate a mount at pilot height. The plumbing supply multipurpose (ABS/PVC/CPVC) glue seems to actually work on these plastics! It just stinks.

The plow is mounted to the chassis, but the superstructure is still just mocked up. I think it will work though!

In case you were wondering, yes, some railroads did have crazy huge pilot plows that looked like that

 

I also received a Basic Critter Control from Del Tapparo today, but haven't gotten a battery yet. He's suggested a 14.8v drill battery pack. I also need to figure out how much to weight the thing down with yet. Since the boiler is empty, it only weighs about 2 pounds at the moment.

 

Mik, CMO, gandy dancer, and all around flunky of the Allegheny Valley Garden Railroad - the outdoor, indoor, indoor, outdoor line http://www.the-ashpit.com/mik/layout.html
  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Sunny West Coast of Florida
  • 448 posts
Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 4:56 PM

Wow. Big plow-I like it, it looks cool. How do you like the critter control?

Mik
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Slippery Rock, PA
  • 111 posts
Posted by Mik on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 10:27 PM

IRB Souther Engineer

How do you like the critter control?

I won't know until I can get a battery, charger, and stuff -- which might not be until April, depending on the price.

I was thinking of eventually building a 2nd identical loco, but with a road pilot and then switching off the tender summer/winter. Since the plow is now permanently mounted.

(Except for maybe the plow) I think a basic post-1900 Mogul could make a really decent production model for somebody. Smaller than the Big Hauler, bigger than the c-16 with a shorter wheelbase than either. Pretty much what the mining mogul promised, but failed to deliver.

Mik, CMO, gandy dancer, and all around flunky of the Allegheny Valley Garden Railroad - the outdoor, indoor, indoor, outdoor line http://www.the-ashpit.com/mik/layout.html
  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Sunny West Coast of Florida
  • 448 posts
Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 3:20 PM

Mik

 

 Pretty much what the mining mogul promised, but failed to deliver.

You think the newer run is any better?

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Phippsburg, Maine
  • 141 posts
Posted by captain perry on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 7:11 PM

I like it!!!  steam and snow look great together!

I would put as much weight into it as you can if you want to really push the white stuff. 

My basically stock LGB forney is too light to really work hard pushing snow and the stock big hauler has has less traction.  I added another 4 or 5 pounds of lead block onto the running boards to see what happens and was supprised at the improvement!

 

--Eric in Phippsburg Maine

Winnegance and Quebec Railway

Eric Schade Gen'l Manager

 

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy