Steam turbine thing.

[tatans]

Just saw an Orion steam turbine on ebay, C&O 4-8-4-8-4-8-4-8-4-8 (how big was this thing?) got some spare change, it has 6 days left and its up to $900.00. But I must admit, it is sure an outstanding piece of machinery, would look good if I had 9 foot turning radius on my track. Are there any of these preserved???

[jrbernier]

2 or 3 of these engines were built to power the C&O 'Chessie'. The train never ran as it was cancelled. The engines did not really work out as well and were scrapped. The tender had regular couplers, and could be disconnected when if the engine was being turned on a turntable, IIRC it was bi-directional so the engine could be coupled to either end. N&W also had a different steam turbine built(Jawn Henry), but it did not work out as well and was scrapped. The 'Chessie' train cars were spread across the system or sold off to other railroads. The D&RGW got at least one of the Budd dome observation cars and had a diaphram built into the end of the 'boat-tail' so it could run mid-train. That car later was sold to a private party and ran as a parlor car(Big Ben?) on a Rock Island train in the 70's. As far as turning radius, I am sure even the model needs some very gentle curves. That 4-8-4-8-4 running gear should straighten out curves just fine!

Jim Bernier

[twhite]

If I remember correctly, that Steam Turbine Thingy required about a 34" minimum radius. It's longer than a Big Boy, I think it had 2 can motors in it (I'm going from memory, here) and could probably muster about enough power to probably pull itself and the tender. But it's a handsome little beastie, all the same--very unusual. $900, you say? Hmm--deduct about $500 from that and I'D probably be interested--
Tom [}:)][}:)][}:)]

[Anonymous]

That engine is a seriously good model. Maybe BLI can make a copy. The Jawn Henry was not a "failure" as it was in my humble opinion that it created the strongest Tractive Effort in all of Steam at 1 mph.

I think I will keep saving my pennies for that Brass WM Potomac 4-8-4 that may turn up someday on ebay.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

That engine is a seriously good model. Maybe BLI can make a copy. The Jawn Henry was not a "failure".

The Jawn Henry was a very successfull design it was an amazing piece of machienery It was the N&Ws last attempt to fend off the diesel and it was only beat by the cheap economics of diesel not tractive effort. As for the Chessie I think #500 is preserved in the B&O museum at Baltimore I may be wrong on that. The Union Pacific had a ALCO GE built gas turbine the most successfull of all theTurbine designs but was powered by bunker c fuel oil,and was not a result of trying to keep coal as the #1 source of fuel as with the Chessie and Jawn Henry.Lionel released a model in their doomed HO scale effort with QSI equipped sound and it is an exceptional model. The up ran two versions the 4500 hp and 8500 hp they were called Big Blows and or Verandas. The Brass model of the Chessie usually sells for about 1500.00 I seen one at a show setting beside a GM Areo Train both in Brass and they are beautiful Models.If I were a rich man both would be setting on my shelves today.I to would hope that one day these and other more exotic locos will be produced in a price range that would allow the common modeler to obtain one,instead of just collectors There is some very good reading on these engines in a recent issue of classic trains.If money was no object 900.00 would be a very good deal on the Chessie.Terry.

[fmilhaupt]

Not quite, but close- it's 4-6-4 #490 that's preserved in Baltimore. The turbines (#500-502) were all scrapped.

#490's front end was styled to look similar to the turbines when it and its sisters were rebuilt into Hudsons from Pacifics. They were rebuilt to pull connecting service trains.

The Orion model captures the look of the real M-1s very well. Every one I've seen run has sounded like a blender, but run smoothly and pulled well. The real shame is that nobody has ever made the matching Chessie cars for it to pull, with the exception of the boat-tail dome/observation that Lambert imported in the late 1970s.

The Budd combine and the lunch-counter observation cars that were to be used on the connecting trains (and were kept by the C&O after the other "Chessie" cars were sold off)were in the very early stages of development by Nickel Plate Products when they closed down in the mid-1980s.

$900 would be a very good price for the Orion HO model. $1,300+ being the typical closing price, it strikes me funny that MTH's O gauge model could be had for less.

---

Fritz Milhaupt
Modeling Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.
http://www.pmhistsoc.org

[Anonymous]

Thank you sir for clearing up the train at the museum.I knew it was a streamlined engine buy could not remember witch one,perhaps a little wishfull thinking on my part. I see your are an editor for the PM historical society I have read some of its publications and have the site bookmarked for i am a fan of the C&O and all the great roads that fell under its Banner Please take this as just my opinion and no disrespect to anyone who runs or supports MTH.As far as i am concerned i would pay twice what the chessie is worth before i would take a free model in any scale of any engine from MTH. I grew up in a house that allways had a running Lionel layout,my loyalties are to companies who try to better the hobby for all not just theirselves.MTH can defend its current position and wave its banner high and shout out all the great advantages of its dcs I for one will turn a blind eye and a deaf ear towards them.As far as my money is concerned they don't even exist anymore.MTH WHO. Terry.

[tatans]

The C&O turbine went for $1087.00 and had 40 bids, I guess we aren't in a recession, but it is a wild looking hunk of machinery, not as bad as the old beer can that sold for $5200.00-- I think I'd rather have the locomotive!

[Anonymous]

Does someone have a link to the auction? I have to see this thing! [:0]

[tatans]

Type in 5951550559 on the ebay site, there it is in all it's glory.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

Type in 5951550559 on the ebay site, there it is in all it's glory.

O_O

I WANT ONE! NOW! [:p]

And I thought they didn't come any cooler than modern diesels... [8)][B)]

[twhite]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jwaldo

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

Type in 5951550559 on the ebay site, there it is in all it's glory.

O_O

I WANT ONE! NOW! [:p]

And I thought they didn't come any cooler than modern diesels... [8)][B)]

Jim--ANYTHING the C&O ran is 'way cooler' than modern diesels!
Tom [}:)][}:)][}:)]