Right now there are Bowser 4-6-2 kits on ebay. I suggested that a couple days ago. Go bid.
I have found a new Genesis 4-6-2 , light Pacific for $102.00. It has the B&O livery. I will have it redone into a NYC. Probably not quite correct but I am not much into counting rivets. Just ordered it tonight.
It is the older Genesis and some have developed cracked gears but Dave at NWSL has told me which gears he has to fix this issue if it happens. I have the tools from NWSL if I have to do this as I have done gears and motors before.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
You'd probably find a closer match if you looked at one of the Bowser NYC pacific kits...........
Mark
That's good to know and will save me some research time. We have a fairly decent show here in the Chicagoland area so I will look in January!
I'm not afraid to build a kit as long as DCC conversion is easy enough. I have an older Roundhouse 2-8-0 is built, but conversion is... difficult. I have you converted one of these Bowser kits?
Strezzy
JimStrez Although I was looking for more detail, I'm not afraid to do the research and get the prototype closer to reality. I am sticking to CNW/CGW passenger which I think is K-3 - haven't finished the whole research part yet). We'll see how close the K-4 is, but I would have to find a Bachmann regardless. I'm in the Chicago area so I can scour a show or two fairly easily.
Although I was looking for more detail, I'm not afraid to do the research and get the prototype closer to reality. I am sticking to CNW/CGW passenger which I think is K-3 - haven't finished the whole research part yet). We'll see how close the K-4 is, but I would have to find a Bachmann regardless. I'm in the Chicago area so I can scour a show or two fairly easily.
If you mean, research how close a Pennsy K-4 is to a CGW or CNW engine, the answer is "not very". Pennsy engines tended to be pretty unique with their square belpaire fireboxes and such. It would be a major undertaking to try to change a Pennsy pacific into a Great Western or NorthWestern engine.
I think someone mentioned getting the Bowser K-4 kit because it would be easier to change the metal boiler than a plastic one. If you're OK with building a kit, Bowser up until recently made a USRA light pacific kit, and a NYC K-11 pacific which is fairly 'generic' in styling.
Bowser USRA Pacific
Bowser's Cary subsidiary co. used to make USRA light and heavy boilers that would fit the Mantua mikado or pacific. You could also use the Cary USRA detail kit to add detail to a Mantua pacific. The newer Mantua engines (from about 1990) have a newer boiler pretty close to USRA dimensions.
None of these are currently being made, but I imagine it wouldn't be that hard to track any of them down online or at a flea market. BTW at least at one time, Bowser did offer some "ready to run" versions of their kit engines, you might luck out and find a RTR USRA Pacific if you really shop around??
I would have a lot of homework to do on the brass side since I have not ventured in that direction... ever. Based on the suggestions posted below though, it sounds like I have my start
I will not be hanging my hat on BLI in any way. I have not had much luck with their steam and have already return 3 of their engines foir a full refund. Their customer service is great, but the engines lurch and jerk more than any I have have ever seen. My Blue Line diesel is great! Besides their heavy and light Mikados have been "coming" for months now and the release date keeps getting pushed off.
I thank you all for the great information. These forums are an incredible resource!
It does surprise me though as all a USRA light pacific is is a USRA light boiler sitting on 3 larger drivers so they already have the tenders and superstructures in their inventory, all they have to make are the chassis and one possible solution for those that don't want to wait would be to install a Genesis 2-8-2 boiler on a Bowser NYC pacific chassis. I can't say as to whether or not you would have the correct driver size for a USRA but you would have a nice looking pacific and God knows junker Genesis 2-8-2's are all over the place and are cheap.
Actually, the USRA light Pacific used a smaller boiler than the USRA light Mike ( min diameter 76", max diam 86" vs 78" min diameter, 90" max diameter). The USRA heavy Pacific used the same boiler as the light Mike, but with a slightly larger firebox. The domes were lower on the heavy Pacific, which makes the boiler look larger than it actually was.
That being said, the visual differences are small using the light Mike boiler for both a Mike and Pacific. The Bowser USRA light Pacific used the same boiler casting as the light Mike and it looked reasonably close, Even if mating a USRA light Mike boiler to a Pacific chassis wouldn't be truly accurate, it still would make a nice looking Pacific.
I'm with Sheldon on the Harriman Pacific idea. Bachmann could use the K4 chassis for either a light or heavy Harriman. They've got a medium Vanderbilt tender they could put behind it and it would look good with a medium USRA tender. The 2-8-0 isn't strictly prototypical , either, but it's a very good starting point.
Andre
"Walther's still has them listed, although without a release date. They're usually pretty good about tracking new releases."
That may be so, but knowing how Broadway Limited relies on preorders, surely they would be promoting a new loco on their own site if it was really comming.
Those Pacifics were on their site for years........never showed up.......now there is no mention of them.
Mark,
I have considered several such projects, Cary boilers on Mantua drives and well as some other options, and may well do some of them. Currently the list projects is long enough. One does include reworking an IHC Pacific into a WM K2, since I'm too cheap to spend $500 on a brass one. $300 is about my top price for a loco prchase, above that the money just will not slide out of my hand for some reason.
Even the two brass Pacifics I have were bought cheap and then "kit bashed" as they now have Bachmann long haul tenders.
Sheldon
This reminds me of the same situation there was in the 1960s and early 1970s that existed in the brass market, about the same number of importers as today and not much more of a selection than there is today if as much and yet there had already been Big Boys from 3 different importers!! We really didn't see much in the way of variety until the mid 1970s when some new blood joined the regulars otherwise PFM and the others just reran the same thing over and over.
That only took about 10-15 years to get to that point depending upon where you start, let's hope that with todays ever increasing pace it doesn't take that long again.
Actually I'm surprised to see some of the engines produced that have made it to the market but apparently they all continue to sell out as they are all out of stock within a year or two.
What do you think Sheldon??
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Those locomotives have long a go disappeared from the Broadway Limited web site, along with the B&O Pacifics. There is no reason to think they will ever make them.
Those locomotives have long a go disappeared from the Broadway Limited web site, along with the B&O Pacifics. There is no reason to think they will ever make them.
Walther's still has them listed, although without a release date. They're usually pretty good about tracking new releases.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
I would suggest posibly a Bowser kit which has sufficient metal in the boiler to remove the Belpaire portion. I think they used to have another Varney boiler and engine also Unfortunately they recently stopped.production so you would need to try Ebay. Bowser engines weigh a ton and will pull like it.
galaxy Heres a connection to a whole page or 2 of them WITH DCC for "advanced reservation" in a variety of livery for $189.99 from BLI: http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=HO&Item=URA462LT I would call wholesaletrains.com {also known as Lantz's hobby shop} and ask how long the advanced reservations lasts and when expected release date it. Their number is 1-888-762-6633.
Heres a connection to a whole page or 2 of them WITH DCC for "advanced reservation" in a variety of livery for $189.99 from BLI:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=HO&Item=URA462LT
I would call wholesaletrains.com {also known as Lantz's hobby shop} and ask how long the advanced reservations lasts and when expected release date it. Their number is 1-888-762-6633.
And, as noted by Rich, the Athearn/Roundhouse loco has been canceled as well. Since Athearn does NOT rely on preorders we must except their explaination that the supplier cannot deliver an exceptable product at an exceptable price - at least not soon.
Again I shake my head - single most popular passenger wheel arangement in the history of steam and only one Prototype is well represented in HO? It is a puzzlement?
Unless you want tthe Pennsy K4 version,
I would call wholesaletrains.com {also known as Lantz's hobby shop} and ask how long the advanced reservations lasts and when expected release date is. Their number is 1-888-762-6633. Give them the WST Part number {usually starts with a 200} or the Manfacturers number you are asking about so they can help you faster. Be forawrned, they may not know any more than any other supplier, such as BLI itself..
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
wjstix If you're young, you could wait until the Athearn/Roundhouse version comes out. At 52 I don't know if I have enough years left to wait and see if they ever actually release it. The Mantua/Model Power one is somewhat based on the outline of a USRA engine, and comes with a can motor and is DCC ready so might work for you at least for the time being. You can always add detailing if you want. Either that or substitute a Spectrum 4-8-2 Mountain. They're reasonably priced and run well. Course if you model the Pennsylvania, you could get a Spectrum K-4.
If you're young, you could wait until the Athearn/Roundhouse version comes out. At 52 I don't know if I have enough years left to wait and see if they ever actually release it.
The Mantua/Model Power one is somewhat based on the outline of a USRA engine, and comes with a can motor and is DCC ready so might work for you at least for the time being. You can always add detailing if you want. Either that or substitute a Spectrum 4-8-2 Mountain. They're reasonably priced and run well.
Course if you model the Pennsylvania, you could get a Spectrum K-4.
The last I heard from Athearn/Roundhouse, the Genesis 4-6-2 has been canceled.
I did quite a lot of searching and found a little older Genesis 4-6-2 that I am going to buy.
A fellow in my club has one also that I will pickup.
I started a thread here about looking for the 4-6-2 not to long ago.
Two of my four Pacifics represent the only Brass I own.
Someone comes out with a good, non PRR K4, Pacific of USRA design or similar, I'm all in for a six pack.
But apparently it is more important to sell one more Big Boy to a collector than to sell me six locomotives.
Make it a B&O President class, offer it "as built", both streamlined versions, and several of the modernized versions. Use the same drive and tender to make a USRA Heavy for the roads that had them. Than offer all/most of that painted but unlettered as well as the decorated versions. Cover all the different B&O paint schemes. I'll bet you would sell a ton of them. All would be on the same drive, many variations would share lots of common parts. No different than what Bachmann did with the USRA Heavy Mountain.
OR
As mentioned, a Harriman Pacific in all its variations, just name a few.
Jim,
I assume from the way you phrased your initial question, that prototypically accurate detail is important to you. Or at least, a lot of detail.
Unless you happen to find some shelf-worn stock at a hobby store or train show, it looks like the Mantua and the K-4 from Bachmann's Spectrum line are it, for now. The Bachmann model is more detailed than the Mantua, but it's a very specific prototype (and I'm not honestly sure how close to the prototype it is, not being a Pennsy guy).
Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) has announced a new line of Pacifics, but so far, no release date.
Like Crandell says--brass. I've got 3 4-6-2's, and they're brass, brass and brass. It kind of blows my mind that of all the common wheel arrangements, the Pacific is the one that is most ignored by most companies.
If you're looking for a USRA Heavy, the old Akane model from the 1960's is an extremely surprising model--beautifully detailed even for back then when brass detail could be hit or miss, an extremely smooth and powerful runner (the Akane drive mechanisms were almost flawless). However, they're a VERY rare bird, and you have to hunt like crazy for them.
Brass 4-6-2's representing a great many railroad prototypes are out there, and generally at very reasonable prices. But right now, that looks like your best bet. Try some of the big brass consignment shops like Caboose Hobbies or BrassTrains and there should be lots of them just waiting to be adopted, LOL!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Good to know I'm not alone at least.
I guess I'll work on design over the holiday break
Sorry, it appears that a whole bunch of us are plumb outta luck. Brass is your best bet these days, or maybe used and older stuff on the auction sites. There was a recent thread, perhaps now on page two or three of this forum, about this very issue. The topic comes up frequently on forums related to model rails all the time. One of these days....someone's gonna cash in hugely by announcing several road names for a Harriman Pacific or even a decent non-Pennsy of almost any other type. Don't get me wrong; I love my BLI PRR K4s, but....c'mon guys, one of you has to be planning some relief!!!
Crandell
Is there a company that makes an HO Scale 4-6-2 or does anyone know of a pending release?? Looking for DCC with sound or an easy DC conversion. Also looking for a decent puller (willing to use the "snot" though).
I was looking for something more detailed that the Mantua version. I noticed Spectrum had a version.
I'm just getting back into the hobby so it's hard to catch up on past products.