Looking for info and pics of NKP USRA 2-8-2s

[Anonymous]

First off, what class were the NKP's lite USRA Mikados? Did they have any major modifications to the USRA design, or wre they mostly stock? Does any company make decals for these engines in HO?

Thanks,
Christopher

[cacole]

Try the Nickel Plate Historical and Technical Society's Web site at http://www.nkphts.org

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjm89

First off, what class were the NKP's lite USRA Mikados? Did they have any major modifications to the USRA design, or wre they mostly stock? Does any company make decals for these engines in HO?

Thanks,
Christopher

IIRC, they were all H-6 in various subclasses. They had several mods to the USRA design. Feedwater heaters for one (Elesco and Worthington BL). If photos from Rehor's The Nickel Plate Story are to be believed, the NKP also used a cab of their own design in the USRA copies they ordered in the twenties, not to mention Delta trailing trucks with boosters.

A number of H-6's were also equipped in the late 40's/early 50's with Mars lights like NKP #639 (H-6d) shown on display here: http://parkengines.railfan.net/IL/images/pages/NKP639.html . A number of NKP's Mikes also were equipped some time during their lives with multiple bearing crosshead guides as shown in the picture. Some were also rebuilt with air compressors on the pilot deck (also like #639). Here's an engineer's side view of an H-6d pretty much as built. Note that NKP mounted check valves on the boiler top. http://nkprr.railfan.net/postcards/miscsteam/617pcjpg.html.

Then there were the H-6's that were equipped with the 22,000 gallon tenders starting in the early 30's (about the same time as the S claas Berks were ordered). Here's a picture of NKP #662 with the 22,000 gal. tender http://www.leclairerail.com/NKPsteam/2130tender662.jpg

NKP also had some problems with cylinder saddle cracking and came up with a unique solution to ameliorate the problem as amply demonstrated by this picture of #614 http://www.leclairerail.com/NKPsteam/2096edw614.jpg

If you like 2-8-2's in multiple variations, the NKP is your road. They did all kinds of things with theirs.

Champ Decals has NKP steam locomotive decals, if their website is to be believed. However, they're liquidating everything and going out of business. http://www.minot.com/~champ/n-ho.htm#NKP. Maybe Microscale will pick up the slack sometime in the future.

Andre