If not a Big Boy, then what do you suggest?

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

andrechapelon

 

 

ACY

The Big Boy thread prompted the question.  I agree with the respondent who said some of the comments (mine included) were negative.  So let's be positive.  What do we want?

Some suggestions:

1.  BLI could possibly offer their forthcoming T&P 2-10-4 in a Chicago Great Western version.  Or maybe an aftermarket producer could offer a modification kit to allow a modeler to make the mods himself.

2.  A B&LE/DM&IR/CB&Q 2-10-4.  If properly designed from the beginning, it would be possible for this engine to be offered in several of its variations.

3.  Lima A-1 2-8-4.  Variations could be offered for B&A, B&M, IC, and secondhand units on the SP and ATSF.  Again, this presumes that the model engine is designed from the beginning to allow for these variations.

4. D&H/CRI&P/MILW/SP GS-2/WP/Cof Ga 4-8-4  (Model Railroader Cyc. No. 1, drawings 106,109 & 112). The running gear and boiler are about the same, but details vary.  Unless I'm mistaken, the SOO 4-8-4's were close too.  These variations could be accommodated by designing these options into the models from the start.

There is an opportunity for aftermarket manufacturers to produce modification kits that would give us some other specific prototypes, based on commercially available generic models, such as USRA's.  GHQ has made this work in N scale.

Tom

 

 

 

 

You're still making the mistake of choosing relatively large power rather than more layout friendly small to medium sized power  ( 2-6-0, 2-6-2, 2-8-0, 4-6-0, light 4-6-2 smaller than USRA).

examples: 2-6-0 - Wabash F-4, SP M-4 or M -6

2-6-2 - Santa Fe 1050 class, NP T-1, Milwaukee K-1

2-8-0 - Santa Fe 1950 class, SP C-8/9/10 and UP variants (Harriman Standard), NYC G-46, Southern Ks-1

4-6-0 - SP T-28/31/32, C&NW R-1, Cotton Belt G-1

4-6-2 - Santa Fe 1226 class, SP P-4, NYC K-11, MEC C-3

 Andre

 

Andre is right - see, its like this, if you look up the numbers, everything bigger than a 2-8-2 was relatively rare.

Among articulated locos, the 2-6-6-2 with 1,300 examples is the winner. Few other articulated wheel arrangements were represented by more than a few hundred copies each. 2-8-8-2's migh have been close to a 1,000 total.

Here are some numbers - names and wheel arrangements for any nubies

2-8-4 Bershire - 750

2-10-4 Texas - 450

2-10-2 Santa Fe - 2,200

4-6-4 Hudson - only 500

4-8-4 Northerns - barely 1,000

4-8-2 Mountain - pretty prolific for a big engine at 2,400 (the ATLANTIC CENTRAL has 9 of them)

4-10-2 Overland - 69

Now for the popular wheel arrangements:

2-8-0 Consolidation - 33,000, yes 33,000

4-6-0 10 wheeler - 17,000

2-8-2 Mikado - 14,000

2-6-0 Mogal - 11,000

4-4-0 American - 25,000

4-6-2 Pacific - 6,800

So even in the days of post war steam, a trip down to the tracks was likely to yield what? a view of a Big Boy? or, more likely, a 2-8-0, 2-8-2, 4-6-0 or 4-6-2 - just like the odds in Vegas.

One of the largest railroads of the steam era never owned a 4-8-4 or a 2-8-4, and while they had a nice fleet of articulated locos, the only rigid wheel base locos bigger than a 4-8-2 was their fleet of 2-10-2's - the B&O - but they owned 610 2-8-2's.

Sheldon 

[gmpullman]

Thanks for asking, Tom

    Two of my wants & wishes would be for a New York Central  K-3 or K-5b or K-11 Pacific. One of the classes with a nice, big, Elesco feedwater heater on her forehead would be frosting on the cake! P&LE, B&A, and Big Four versions could be produced, too.

http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc4933.htm

Second would be a Nickel Plate Hudson either the L-1a or L-1b

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=351284&nseq=1

Both are sweet, high-stepping, versatile locomotives that I feel would fill a void in that weight/size class.

Happy Steaming, Ed

[peahrens]

An HO UP correct 4-6-2 pacific, please.

[andrechapelon]

ACY

The Big Boy thread prompted the question.  I agree with the respondent who said some of the comments (mine included) were negative.  So let's be positive.  What do we want?

Some suggestions:

1.  BLI could possibly offer their forthcoming T&P 2-10-4 in a Chicago Great Western version.  Or maybe an aftermarket producer could offer a modification kit to allow a modeler to make the mods himself.

2.  A B&LE/DM&IR/CB&Q 2-10-4.  If properly designed from the beginning, it would be possible for this engine to be offered in several of its variations.

3.  Lima A-1 2-8-4.  Variations could be offered for B&A, B&M, IC, and secondhand units on the SP and ATSF.  Again, this presumes that the model engine is designed from the beginning to allow for these variations.

4. D&H/CRI&P/MILW/SP GS-2/WP/Cof Ga 4-8-4  (Model Railroader Cyc. No. 1, drawings 106,109 & 112). The running gear and boiler are about the same, but details vary.  Unless I'm mistaken, the SOO 4-8-4's were close too.  These variations could be accommodated by designing these options into the models from the start.

There is an opportunity for aftermarket manufacturers to produce modification kits that would give us some other specific prototypes, based on commercially available generic models, such as USRA's.  GHQ has made this work in N scale.

Tom

 

You're still making the mistake of choosing relatively large power rather than more layout friendly small to medium sized power  ( 2-6-0, 2-6-2, 2-8-0, 4-6-0, light 4-6-2 smaller than USRA).

examples: 2-6-0 - Wabash F-4, SP M-4 or M -6

2-6-2 - Santa Fe 1050 class, NP T-1, Milwaukee K-1

2-8-0 - Santa Fe 1950 class, SP C-8/9/10 and UP variants (Harriman Standard), NYC G-46, Southern Ks-1

4-6-0 - SP T-28/31/32, C&NW R-1, Cotton Belt G-1

4-6-2 - Santa Fe 1226 class, SP P-4, NYC K-11, MEC C-3

 Andre

[Burlington Steam]

If we are in fact speaking articulateds in plastic with sound and DCC here I think the DRGW L105 4-6-6-4 Challenger would be a popular choice.

DRGW standard gauge being a road of choice for many modelers.

 

[NittanyLion]

I would like a B&LE Texan

[7j43k]

Since Athearn is doing the NP/SP&S Z-8, I'd like them to do follow-on NP/SP&S/GN Z-6's.

 

 

 

Ed

[DAVID FORTNEY]

I would like to see the DMIR Yellowstone. The 2-10-4 would be another one I would like to see. 

[ACY Tom]

The Big Boy thread prompted the question.  I agree with the respondent who said some of the comments (mine included) were negative.  So let's be positive.  What do we want?

Some suggestions:

1.  BLI could possibly offer their forthcoming T&P 2-10-4 in a Chicago Great Western version.  Or maybe an aftermarket producer could offer a modification kit to allow a modeler to make the mods himself.

2.  A B&LE/DM&IR/CB&Q 2-10-4.  If properly designed from the beginning, it would be possible for this engine to be offered in several of its variations.

3.  Lima A-1 2-8-4.  Variations could be offered for B&A, B&M, IC, and secondhand units on the SP and ATSF.  Again, this presumes that the model engine is designed from the beginning to allow for these variations.

4. D&H/CRI&P/MILW/SP GS-2/WP/Cof Ga 4-8-4  (Model Railroader Cyc. No. 1, drawings 106,109 & 112). The running gear and boiler are about the same, but details vary.  Unless I'm mistaken, the SOO 4-8-4's were close too.  These variations could be accommodated by designing these options into the models from the start.

There is an opportunity for aftermarket manufacturers to produce modification kits that would give us some other specific prototypes, based on commercially available generic models, such as USRA's.  GHQ has made this work in N scale.

Tom