wjstix You might want to pick up WB Video's DVD "The Fifties Express". It has some really nice color footage of WM trains, including some coal trains with two 2-8-0s up front and one on the rear pushing. The video is an hour of color film of trains throughout the US and Canada, and will give you info on WM and in general how trains, cars, buildings etc. looked back then. I bought it as a VHS tape 30 years ago, and still go back every so often to watch it. http://www.trainvideodepot.com/DVD-The-Fifties-Express_WB023
You might want to pick up WB Video's DVD "The Fifties Express". It has some really nice color footage of WM trains, including some coal trains with two 2-8-0s up front and one on the rear pushing. The video is an hour of color film of trains throughout the US and Canada, and will give you info on WM and in general how trains, cars, buildings etc. looked back then. I bought it as a VHS tape 30 years ago, and still go back every so often to watch it.
http://www.trainvideodepot.com/DVD-The-Fifties-Express_WB023
Sounds like a great catch, thanks!
The definitive book on Southern steam (rosters, etc) is probably still Richard Prince's book, which is expensive, but worth it. It has dispositions in the roster section, so you should be able to determine whether any class you like had representatives left in service in 1951. My copy cost me $100, but it was well worth it. "The Georgian Locomotive" is also good for photos and atmosphere.
As far as models of steam locomotives go, Southern is generally underrepresented, but not hopelessly so. PFM did many, many runs of the Ps-4s, as did Precision Scale (which also recently imported two versions of the 2-8-8-2s). PFM did at least one run of an older ten-wheeler, and Empire Midland did a run of 4501. There was, I think, one run from somebody of their homegrown class of 4-8-2s (Ts, I think the class was), and someone did a couple of runs of the big Ms-4 mikados. Some of the smaller BachMann models, such as the 4-6-0s and 4-4-0s, could probably be adapted to match something in Prince's book, and of course, the Southern had some USRA designs, such as the light 2-10-2 and 4-8-2, that are readily available.
Southern's roster was kind of quirky. They bought their last steamer in the late 1920s, and never went for anything more modern. After testing the FT they went all-in on dieselization during the war, and so by 1951, they had a lot of covered wagons and some old steam. They may have had some really old stuff that survived for branch line service; the axle loadings on the diesels were higher, because of the traction motor combos, so in many places, 2-6-0s, 2-8-0s, and other light power made it right to the end. Southern may well have been such a place.
http://mprailway.blogspot.com
"The first transition era - wood to steel!"
You will be very happy with the Spectrum 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 models. I have several of the Decapods and have owned several of the 2-8-0s and they all ran extremely well. The Russian is detail specific for the WM (if you get the WM version, obviously) with all the nice things like the taller coal bunker, tall tender steps to the cab and other details. The 2-8-0 is close but not exact.
The new BLI 2-8-0 might be another option for you. The new 2-8-0 is a beefy looking engine and would be a close-enough model. Unless you want 100% accurate models I think both 2-8-0s would be excellent choices.
Have fun!
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Thank you very much sir for the informative reply! I'm glad you brought up the WM 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 for branch service, because those are actually the two engines I got cheap for my planned WM branchline. They are both Spectrum models with DCC. Thanks for letting me know that the 2-8-0 may not be 100% accurate; I'll look into that. It sure does look great though, so I may have never known.
All the information you need is readily available. There are many, many books available for these railroads. First try these railroad book dealers:
http://www.karensbooks.com/
http://railroadbooks.biz/
You might want to check out the websites for the Southern Ry Historical Society and the WMRHS. They all have good information and books, etc that will help you.
You also need to give us some better information as to era and location you would like to model. The WM ran steam until 1954. They had the mainline between Connellsville, PA and Baltimore, MD and used M-2 4-6-6-4, I-2 2-10-0, K-2 4-6-2 and many H-9 2-8-0 steamers on that line. They also ran a coal line from Cumberland, MD to Elkins, WV and several branches and lines out of Elkins. They primarily used very heavy H-9 class 2-8-0 and K-2 4-6-2 steamers there with smaller H-3, H-7 & H-8 2-8-0s on the lighter lines. This was in the last years. Previously I-1 class Russian Decapods were found in several locations along with smaller engines. I believe some of the Russians lasted until 1951. One other operation, The Dutch Line, from Hagerstown, MD to York, PA and on to Baltimore was home for many or their L-1/L-2 2-8-8-2.
It all depends exactly on the location you choose and years you prefer to model. Be warned that any WM steamers, besides the Russian, will be expensive and usually difficult to find brass imports. Yes, Bachmann makes a very nice and acceptable heavy 2-8-0 lettered for WM but it isn't an exact WM engine.
Southern was a big user of USRA designed steamers so you are in luck in HO as there are many (way too many!) USRA models out there of the Mikes and Pacifics, Also the 2-10-2, 4-8-2 and 0-8-0 types used by the Southern. Most are acceptable as Southern engines with some minor mods. Again, there are some beautiful and exact brass imports for Southern steam.
Good luck!
I'm in the research phase for my model railroad, and I'm trying to settle on a good year. I was already surprised to learn N&W didn't order any diesels til 1955, but luckily it was before I purchased any. My question here is, what kind of steam, if any, did Southern and Western Maryland run, say, in 1951? I'm having a tough time finding specific information. I know SR dieseleised by 1953, and some 2-8-2s were still running. Is there a good book for things like this? Any other sources of information I could refer to? I'd like to know some locomotive numbers so I can be certain I'm running an anachronism free railroad. Thank you!