B&O Capitol Limited loco in HO scale needed

[Anonymous]

My husband and I have inherited an HO collection of B&O Capitol Limited heavyweight Pullman passenger cars. The cars are a deep Royal Blue with gold lettering. These were an Athrean/BevBel project of about 15 or 20 years ago. We want to find an appropriate steam locomotive to pull this beautiful train. I have been to several B&O theme websites but have not learned much. I would like to find a 'passable' loco, one that could be easily re-detailed or painted if needed and try to keep it under $150 or so, as compared to a near perfect high dollar brass reproduction. [ We want to preserve our brass budget for our On3 interests] There is a ready-to-run loco for the B&O Presidents currently available, but it is a 2 tone light and medium blue, and lettered for the Presidents, not at all a match for the Capitol Limited. Can anyone with B&O knowledge please help us find a loco for our train? We live out in SP country, so non of our friends can help. Jennifer [and Mike] PS..I'll also be posting this on the Classic Trains forum.

[Anonymous]

I would attempt finding it at Gilberts, Gettysburg PA. Last I knew they still had alot of Brass locomotives. As far as cost I wouldn't even guess.

[jrbarney]

Last I knew, Tommy Gilbert's Email address was:
[e-mail]
However, it may have changed.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the lead. However, after following up with suggestions offered on one of the other boards, we found a nice R-T-R loco on eBay. It is already painted and lettered as per the 'early' time period when the prototypes of our cars were new, and has the correct B&O cab. We have learned that the B&O used 4-6-2 engines they called the Presidents Class. In the early part of their carreer, in the same time period of our dark blue cars, they were painted in a deep green, and named after past presidents of the US. These green engines were apparently used on other 'name trains' in the B&O system too, regardless of the color of the cars in the train. After backshopping some years later, they were aparently painted black as a cost-saving measure.. This corresponded to an approximate time period when the Capitol Limited cars were also re painted to a different color scheme too, and/or replaced with a newer car design.

[Anonymous]

WOW ! I found a real great web site on the B&O Presidents Class locomotives. You might want to check this out. I just learned a LOT about this series of locos here. Jennifer

http://www.ironhorse129.com/Friends/DavyCormack/BO_Presidents.htm