D&H style roster

[Anonymous]

I am building up a fictional ore hauling line and i have already started the roster (as it would be in the late 40s) with a Mehano USRA style Heavy Mountain (in place of the D&H K class 4-8-4 and a Bachamnn Spectrum Russian decapod as the sole survivor of the first class of steamers, and an as yet undecided type of Mallet (probably one of the new Bachmann Spectrum USRA light 2-6-6-2s).
Are there any more modern versions of the 2-10-0 design or would it require "kitbashing" to get a modern larger boilered (as in the style of the aforementioned Heavy Mountain) 2-10-0 type engine?

[dehusman]

Actually the older Bachmann Reading style 2-8-0 would be close to a DH consol.

The DH had Challengers.

Dave H.

[orsonroy]

So far, the only large 2-10-0 on the market is the Bowser I-1 (a Pennsy prototype). This is a white metal kit engine, so it might be beyond your skills level to assemble. If not, it's easy to swap the Pennsy boiler out with the boiler used on their USRA 2-10-2 and 4-8-2, or with the boiler from their freelance 4-8-4. You could even use the Cary USRA heavy Mikado boiler (now sold by Bowser).

For a truly brutish looking engine, you could check Ebay for one of the Mantua 2-10-0s. These models have SMALL drivers, and use the same boiler as their Mikado (which is HUGE, and screams eastern coal road).

If you want to kitbash plastic steam, Rivarossi USED to make a USRA 2-10-2, which you can sometimes find on Ebay. Keep in mind that the boiler will have to be shortened, so the firebox sits over the last two drivers, and that the engine will have to be remotored (the old three pole Rivarossi motor is a POS). Life Like just announced a Wabash 2-10-2 that you COULD use as a starting point for a freelance 2-10-0 kitbash, but that avenue would lead to a engine that was more expensive than a good used brass 2-10-0!

If you want a generic 2-10-0 NOW, I'd go with the Bowser/Cary kitbash, which will yield a truly personal engine that runs decently and is a hauling machine.

[Anonymous]

Hasnt another compnay brought Mantua because i have seen adverts for "re-tooled" Mantua engines that have been "updated" to modern standards (whatvere that really means) and are DCC ready recently.

I wouldnt go down the kitbuilding route because it would most likely be beyond my abilities (i had enough problems constructing a small 0-6-0T switcher which still doesnt run properly to this day)

And i dont want anything that would get over about the length of the Mountain (just over 14") so it would have to remain quite a small 2-10-0 anyway.