Back at Christmas, my brother (who has an interesting talent in nudging people to do things via gifts) gave me four B&O hoppers. Generally, I collect equipment for my "some day" home layout in the 2010 timeframe. He remembered me musing that I'd like to put together an older set of equipment to run when my modular club gets together. We're definitely a "run what you brung" group and the thought occurred to me that it might be fun to change it up now and then. He figured I'd never do the "back then days" train without a push at it. I mean, I'm not going to let those four cars go to waste! Obviously, I need to use them!
Now, I'm not completely ignorant and I'm also a bit of a stickler in some ways. The hoppers have a most recent reweigh date of 1947, so that's my cut-off. Immediately post-war. I want to stick to my home region, so that's PRR or B&O. I'd like to get a smaller steam locomotive, nothing like an EM-1 or T1. And that's where I hit the wall: what the heck am I actually looking for? I don't know what makes or wheel arrangements or anything that would be an appropriate stand in for a PRR or B&O locomotive that would be plying the local with ten or so cars in tow. Or am I so late in the 40s that I should be looking for first generation diesel?
2-8-0's or 2-8-2's are your answer. B&O and Pennsy had a few.
I recommend brass. Westside and Oriental brought some low cost nice looking B&O 2-8-2's in.
If you MUST go diesel, Pennsy had one of everything. Maybe a Bowser Baldwin road switcher. Maybe an Atlas RSD Alco. Both of those would look VERY nice.
With B&O and PRR, you have an embarrassment of riches, here.
Ed
Here's a link to a previous discussion that may help....
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/218290.aspx
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
You could get many many more of those B&O hoppers, whole trains of them came up the WM from Lurgan and on to the Reading to feed the mill in Bethlehem. Reading (and the WM) had brutes of 2-8-0s.
Just sayin'...
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
NittanyLion Now, I'm not completely ignorant and I'm also a bit of a stickler in some ways. The hoppers have a most recent reweigh date of 1947, so that's my cut-off. Immediately post-war. I want to stick to my home region, so that's PRR or B&O. I'd like to get a smaller steam locomotive, nothing like an EM-1 or T1. And that's where I hit the wall: what the heck am I actually looking for? I don't know what makes or wheel arrangements or anything that would be an appropriate stand in for a PRR or B&O locomotive that would be plying the local with ten or so cars in tow. Or am I so late in the 40s that I should be looking for first generation diesel?
Not an expert on those roads, but there are options, especialy for the PRR. There are PRR H-10 2-8-0 models available, from MTH and BLI, I believe. You could try a USRA Light Mikado from Bachmann, BLI, etc. The Bachmann 2-8-0 may be close enough for you, too.
Gary
B&O had USRA 0-6-0 switchers like the P2K model, their class D-30, and they were operated in many locations until the early 1950's. PRR also had USRA 0-6-0's, their class B28s, which were mostly used west of Pittsburgh until about the early 1950's.
Both PRR and B&O used large numbers of 2-8-0's. The PRR H10s is available from BLI. The PRR H9s is available from MTH, but it is labeled as an H10s. Several B&O and PRR 2-8-0's have been available in brass. THe "B&O 2-8-0's" produced by Bachmann and BLI are nice-running engines, but are not quite accurate.
If you graduate to a 2-8-2, the BLI PRR L1s is a good choice. Brass versions are available too. PRR USRA light 2-8-2's are available, class L2s, but they represent a tiny class of 5 engines that mostly operated in restricted territory around Cincinnati. For the B&O, the USRA light 2-8-2 represents that road's 100 class Q-3 2-8-2's, and USRA lights are or have been available from several manufacturers. For an accurate depiction in the post WWII era, several cosmetic changes would be necessary.
The old Penn Line (later Bowser) line of PRR locomotives can sometimes be found on the used market. SAme for a couple PRR designs prduced by MDC. They mostly perform pretty well, but detail is a bit crude by today's standards.
Of course many B&O and PRR engines can be found in brass, and the prices nowadays are not always out of reach.
Tom
The 2-8-0 does seem to be about the size I'd be in the market for. The Bachmann offering would probably work for me. I can barely tell the difference between two variants of the same type of locomotive, aside from super broad things like "this one has a Vanderbilt tender."
That's probably what I'll be keeping an eye out for tomorrow at the train show.
I've loved the B&O since I first got into the hobby, more than 60 years ago, even to planning a 1904 freelanced (Potomac & Ohio) based on the B&O. If you elect to go with America's First Class One Railroad, my best suggestion is to join the B&O Historical Society (a good idea for anyone following a real road).
I can tell you that the B&O, like a lot of prototypes, used a lot of 2-8-0s, but their "Qs," a fleet of efficient 2-8-2s, were used like the road switchers of the Diesel Era, back when railroads hauled most of the freight in the US. Their steam locos had a definite "Family Look" to them that still warms the cockles of my heart.
I also like First Generation Diesels, as that's what was around when I was first getting my feet wet in the hobby, but one of the things I really like about Steam is the interesting facilities that disappeared with the internal combustion era. Maybe it was the soft coal smoke I breathed when I grew up next to the Milwaukee Road double-track main line in Pewaukee, WI, during and after WWII.
Good luck with anything you do---and have fun!
Deano
If you're committed to B&O, the BLI and Bachmann 2-8-0 are not quite accurate for B&O, but are decent looking engines that operate well. You might also consider the Lambert brass B&O E-24a 2-8-0, or the PFM brass L-2a 0-8-0 or E-27ca 2-8-0. Prices for these are not too bad if you shop around, and the quality is pretty high.
You didn't say much about those hopper cars. What manufacturer? What design? What livery? These things can all make a difference.
Don't forget a caboose. Spring Mills may be your best bet.
Can we assume you mean in HO? FYI Both the PRR and B&O have Yahoo groups. Plenty of books available. I model PRR in 1950. Love the B&O also. So, a BLI PRR H10 would be perfect. Just the right size for a nice hopper car fleet. In fact, that Consolidation could haul a hundred cars. But on a model layout, just haul as many as you can with the BLI. That original price has come down and good buys are available. And for that era, don't forget the cabin. Bowser makes a beautiful N5. And if the layout or such is large enough, an L1 Mikado from BLI would to nicely. The USRA Mikado is good for B&O. Not sure if the B&O had the light or heavy Mikado, but someone else on here would know more. I have an old Athearn USRA Mikado that was B&O, since that one was also on the PRR. But the Athearn don't haul worth a darn. The BLI's all haul great. Good luck!