Spectrum Heavy Mountain--can it be turned into an SP MT-series?

[twhite]

I've just gotten a Spectrum Heavy 4-8-2 with the Southern Pacific oil tender. The locomotive doesn't resemble any of the SP Mountains that I remember seeing as a kid, but I read somewhere (I forget where, exactly) that it can be kit-bashed into an SP MT-series. My question is WHICH MT? Definitely not an MT-4 or 5 that I can see. Perhaps an MT-2 or 3? Does anyone have any ideas on this? It's a nice-running loco, and I'd like to make it look at least a little more authentic.
Tom [:p]

[orsonroy]

Digging around online, I really couldn't find too many photos of SP Mountains (thousands of cab forward shots, though!). The few I found were all on the Denver Public Library website:
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015950+OP-15950
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015981+OP-15981
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015997+OP-15997
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015711+OP-15711
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015961+OP-15961
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00016012+OP-16012
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00016013+OP-16013
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015984+OP-15984
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00016010+OP-16010
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015993+OP-15993
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015976+OP-15976
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015994+OP-15994
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015707+OP-15707
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00015972+OP-15972
(there are a few more, but you get the idea)

For a difinitive answer to your question, you'll have to do a bit more research, and start hitting the SP books. But from a quick glance, you'll be able to make a convincing representational model of an SP Mountain, using the Bachmann engine as a starting point. The biggest things you'll have to do to the model is to add a Worthington feedwater heater, a new sand dome, and the SP train indicator boards. Tack on a bit more piping, and maybe a new pilot, and you've got yourself an SP engine! Look to Bowser and Precision Scale for all your detailing parts needs (but you'll have to buy their catalogs; neither company has their fully illustrated lines online)

[twhite]

Ray--thanks a lot! You'd be surprised at how few early MT series shots there seem to be (like you, I can find thousands of Cab-forwards), even for dyed in the wool SP fans like me. Those shots have given me some great ideas, and inspired me to do some thorough investigation. Again, many thanks!
Tom [:D]

[West Coast S]

All SP MT class were built without the shrouding a fact that seems to go unoticed among the modeling community as they were seldom photgraphed in this configuration.

SP MT classes varied widely in specific details with the exception of the MT2 class which were former El Paso & Southwestern and differed from all other SP power. Depending on how much a rivet counter you are its best to choose a prototype.

Perhaps you could graft on the shrouding from a GS4, or build it from styrene.

Robert J Church had a fantastic book titled the 4300s, it has been out of print for many years to my knowledge, that has the complete erection drawings including the shroud.

A note on the MT2, as built until SP shopped them, they retained Baker valve gear, full running board ladders, Elesco feed water heater, a foreign to SP rectangular tender that burned coal and lacked lateral devices on the drivers. Only one MT2 received a vanderbuilt tender due to a wreck replacement.

[twhite]

Thanks, West Coast. Actually, I'm not interested in putting the skyline casing on--I think the SP MT's were just as handsome without it, simply from their lines. That's why I was thinking an earlier class, such as the MT-2 or 3. I'll see if I can hunt up that book you mentioned, and also check with some of my contacts at my two hobby shops--lots of SP modelers there, naturally. The EP&SW MT-2's fascinate me already, I'm a sucker for Elesco FWH's, anyway (my primary interest is Rio Grande steam).
Again, thanks everyone, you've given me some great ideas. Glad to know that I can at least use the Spectrum as somewhat of a basis.
Tom [:D]

[West Coast S]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Thanks, West Coast. Actually, I'm not interested in putting the skyline casing on--I think the SP MT's were just as handsome without it, simply from their lines. That's why I was thinking an earlier class, such as the MT-2 or 3. I'll see if I can hunt up that book you mentioned, and also check with some of my contacts at my two hobby shops--lots of SP modelers there, naturally. The EP&SW MT-2's fascinate me already, I'm a sucker for Elesco FWH's, anyway (my primary interest is Rio Grande steam).
Again, thanks everyone, you've given me some great ideas. Glad to know that I can at least use the Spectrum as somewhat of a basis.
Tom [:D]

I concur that they were handsome without the casing. The most radical changes made to the MT2s by SP shop forces was reducing the angle of the pilot ladders, for crew safety and to permit easier access to the feed water heater piping and Conversion to oil burning and notched cab sheetmetal for ease of inspecting stay bolts All retained the Elesco Feedwater system to the end.

Due to the existing frame design, SP was never able to retrofit lateral devices to the drivers and this lack, combined with the rigging made them unpopular with crews due to excessive vibration and a tendency for the drivers to hunt on curves, symptoms not found in other MT classes.

Tenders are where it gets tricky and where choosing a specific protoype enters the picture.

Tender shoppings as follows:

Initally, conversion to oil retaining the orginal water capacity.

The R1 tender program increased the water capacity by extending the water tank flush with the oil bunker, most, but not all tenders recieved these modifications prior to scrapping. Several R1 class tenders survived into the 1970s in MW service.

One MT2 received a blue/green boiler jacket, air pump casing, cylinder jackets, silver smokebox, raised nickle silver lettering on cab and tender and Tuscan red paint on the cab roof, courtesy of the sacramento Shops in 1932.

[markpierce]

Robert Church's book (revised edition) on S.P.'s Mt-class locomotives is available at $55 plus a possible $4.26 CA sales tax from Signature Press, see www.signaturepress.com. It is a good book (have it here on my lap right now). I'd recommend it sight-unseen.
Mark

[Anonymous]

Robert Church's book is available used from www.amazon.com for $44.50