Prototype stream locomotive

[Anonymous]

Can anybody help me? I'm looking for the prototype locomotive from the Reading Railroad (4-4-2 Atlantic Type) that was used in the plans for the Mantua Locomotive of this type.

I'm able to find Camelback types, but nothing relating to the Atlantic type.

Larry

[orsonroy]

There's a single photo of a non-camelbacked RDG Atlantic on the Fallen Flags site:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/rdg/rdg-s350.jpg
(there's also a set of blueprints for the Camel Atlantic)

Surprisingly, there's no photo of a RDG Atlantic on the Reading Historical Society's website:
http://www.readingrailroad.org/

But isn't the Mantua 4-4-2 actually a Pennsy engine? At least, I've never seen a Mantua with one of those huge anthracite fireboxes...

[dehusman]

The Mantua engine is the boiler from a LV 2-8-2 on a 4-4-2 chassis.

The definative book on Reading engines is Wisswesser's Steam Locomotives and Reading and Philadelphia nd Reading (sic).

The closest engine to the Mantua is the P-5 camelback. In order to get closer you would have to remove about a foot from of the smokebox, and about 2 ft out of the boiler. The resulting boiler would be about right for a 4-6-0, a 4-4-2 and a 2-8-0.

Dave H.

[ndbprr]

The reason for the camelback was the Reading railroad practice of using anthracite fines in their boliers. This required an extremely wide firebox so the draft wouldn't carry the fines up the stack. i would look at theat camleback and see if you could just move the cab to the regular location. I've seen pictures of them and it shouldn't be a difficult kitbash.