tstageHow long did the Mercurys stay shrouded?
This resource says 'early' 1947 which seems to ring true with other information I've followed.
https://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc4915.htm
The Mercury engines were later assigned to the James Whitcomb Riley and given some neat-looking red accent colors.
On a side note, I've always been fascinated by the 'flood-lighted' running gear of the Mercury locomotives. While I find no evidence of any such lighting on the Commodore Vanderbilt 5344, looking at my BLI engine it sure would be a simple task to apply a couple LEDs under the shroud, perhaps in a light blue color?
Easy enough to wire them to an unused function so I could extinguish the lights if the 'prototype police' ever visit
Cheers, Ed
gmpullmanThis resource says 'early' 1947 which seems to ring true with other information I've followed. https://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc4915.htm
Excellent - Thanks, Ed!
gmpullmanThe Mercury engines were later assigned to the James Whitcomb Riley and given some neat-looking red accent colors.
There's one for sale on Brasstrains.com - right at this moment...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstageThere's one for sale on Brasstrains.com - right at this moment...
Thanks for the heads up. I think I'll let some other lucky NYC fan take it home. I'd be concerned about that trailing truck shorting on the shroud. As it is I have a bit of a backlog of brass engines waiting for rework, including a K-5 that I might just letter for the 4915 or 4917 just for kicks.
Thanks Tom
Regards, Ed
DrW Unexpectedly for a brass model with this attention to detail, it takes 22" curves easily.
tstageYea, she's a beaut, DrW. And, wow! - R22" curves?
All of my brass steam locomotives will run through 22 inch radius curves with no problems at all.
My largest are a USRA Heavy 4-8-2 and a Wheeling And Lake Erie 4-8-2.
-Photographs by Kevin Parson
I do not have any brass 4-8-4 locomotives. My understanding is that is where large radius curves become necessary.
Darth Santa Fe has a video of a brass 4-6-6-4 running on 22 inch radius curves.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Interesting stuff, but I have never owned a brass locomotive.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrainInteresting stuff, but I have never owned a brass locomotive.
If you are running DCC, and don't need something unusual only available in brass, there is no reason to own one.
Modern plastic, hybrid, or other locomotives are generally fine runners with better detail.
SeeYou190Modern plastic, hybrid, or other locomotives are generally fine runners with better detail.
For some older brass (pre-'80s) I would agree; my brass NE-2g 2-6-6-2 (ca. 1978) being an exception. Brass from the late 80s on, however, had some exceptional detailing. My H-10a Mike, F-12e 4-6-0, and U-3a 0-8-0 is a testament to that.