Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

The Norfolk Southern Berkishire Thread

3690 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Sunday, December 9, 2007 6:41 PM
 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.

 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Sunday, December 9, 2007 6:37 PM
 wm3798 wrote:

What scale are you working in Iain?Big Smile [:D]

Lee 

 

checking around, looks like N scale now to me, KATO has N scale mikado 

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Ohio
  • 1,615 posts
Posted by Virginian on Sunday, December 9, 2007 5:57 PM

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.

What could have happened.... did.
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
  • 2,916 posts
Posted by wm3798 on Saturday, December 8, 2007 11:06 PM

What scale are you working in Iain?Big Smile [:D]

Lee 

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Saturday, December 8, 2007 9:58 PM

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?

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Easley, SC
  • 134 posts
Posted by navygunner on Saturday, December 8, 2007 12:32 AM

  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

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Ft. Wayne Indiana Home of the Lake Division
  • 574 posts
Posted by Ibflattop on Friday, December 7, 2007 6:18 PM
We are talking the Original Norfolk Southern RR: Not the Imitation of today!!!!!     Kevin
Home of the NS Lake Division.....(but NKP and Wabash rule!!!!!!!! ) :-) NMRA # 103172 Ham callsign KC9QZW
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • 1,138 posts
Posted by MidlandPacific on Friday, December 7, 2007 4:42 PM
Those were beautiful little engines.  You might want to check out the book PFM did years ago on Berkshire and Texas types - it has some good photos of them in both their NS and subsequent NdeM incarnations.  You must, I think, be modeling in N, no?  I'm frankly unfamiliar with N scale, but the Northern Pacific used semi-Vanderbilt tenders on some of their later steam - if someone makes them in N, you might be able to kitbash from it.  Bowser makes one in HO that could also be a starting point (if you're modeling in HO).

http://mprailway.blogspot.com

"The first transition era - wood to steel!"

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,475 posts
Posted by New Haven I-5 on Thursday, December 6, 2007 7:11 PM
 This is confusing! There was a Norfolk Southern before the Norfolk & Western & Southern Railway Merged and they had Berkshire? Very Very confusing!

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: SE Michigan
  • 922 posts
Posted by fmilhaupt on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 8:21 PM
Yeah, the Norfolk Southern Berkshire's boiler and general lines definitely look like it has more in common with a Mikado than an NKP/PM/VGN Berkshire.
 
That tender is a unique style, though. 
 
 

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

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Sydney, Australia
  • 1,939 posts
Posted by marknewton on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 10:38 PM
The trailing truck on the NS engine should be near as not identical to that on the NKP 2-8-4 - they are both GSC "Delta" trucks. Use the LL piece.

Cheers,

Mark.
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Newport, NC
  • 52 posts
The Norfolk Southern Berkishire Thread
Posted by Iain42 on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 10:14 PM



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.

There's just something about sailing. Maybe it's the pretty girl serving as a bow ornament.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!