I thought at first about using the new 0-8-0, but then I found out the drivers are too small. The LL 2-8-4 is far too large to even use as a stand-in. Then I stumbled upon a deal-two Kato Mikados for $25 each. One is to become a Southern Ms-4. The other, having the required 63" drivers, will become NS 2-8-4 602.
The boiler is pretty darn close, I just need to add length to the firebox. The biggest issue is s going to be the trailing truck. The problem is that the rear screw is smack in the way. This may mean splicing on some brass stock to hold the screw, hello epoxy. Anyone here that does regular steam bashes know where I can get a nice close match to that trailing truck? I wonder if the LL Berk has something similar. I'm also going to need a spoked wheelset for that front truck.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
http://mprailway.blogspot.com
"The first transition era - wood to steel!"
It was first known as such in 1883. It has went through many iterations through recievership and merger, always serving the Carolinas and the Virginia tidewater. It merged into the Norfolk & Western in 1974 which became the current itteration of the Norfolk Southern.
Bob
I never heard of it till now! definately looks like a light 2-8-4. I poked around looking at Varney and Mantua versions, boiler is wrong. I just wonder if snagging 2 Cary light 2-8-2 shells and bashing them is best.
The tender looks like a cross between a standard tender and Oil tender. Like they stuck a coal bin on a large tank car. Who made this engine?
What scale are you working in Iain?
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
I figured you would get a lot more input on these babies. They were the lightest Berks ever made because of the weight restriction on the Albermarle Trestle, which ran along beside the Rt. 32 bridge, and several other wooden bridges in the Eastern Carolina region. I believe the original NS actually merged into The Southern Railway before the N&W/Southern merger, but both sides remembered the Norfolk Southern name and used the name again.
A friend of mine's Dad was an engineer on the old NS, and operated the Berks and recalled them fondly.
The original NS had some diesels that were painted the same as some of their boxcars, pale green with black lettering except for a larger red and black 'NS'. They were kinda cool looking I thought.
wm3798 wrote:What scale are you working in Iain?Lee
checking around, looks like N scale now to me, KATO has N scale mikado
Virginian wrote:I figured you would get a lot more input on these babies. They were the lightest Berks ever made because of the weight restriction on the Albermarle Trestle, which ran along beside the Rt. 32 bridge, and several other wooden bridges in the Eastern Carolina region. I believe the original NS actually merged into The Southern Railway before the N&W/Southern merger, but both sides remembered the Norfolk Southern name and used the name again.A friend of mine's Dad was an engineer on the old NS, and operated the Berks and recalled them fondly.The original NS had some diesels that were painted the same as some of their boxcars, pale green with black lettering except for a larger red and black 'NS'. They were kinda cool looking I thought.
looking at the engine sure looks like an effort to get the most engine out of the least.
A full sized berk and tender would not have suited, they were playing with weight restraints.