The MDC Vanderbilt tender is a model of an SP 70C-1. You really need to make a set of handrails for the tender top as MDC took the easy way out.
If you want a book of SP M-4 pictures, get in touch with Monte Vista Publishing. http://www.montevistapublishing.com/SP_Steam_v31-36.html Volume 33 covers M-4's and there's a variety of shots showing tender variations as well as some pics of the engines as they appeared in the early teens of the last century.
Andre
I have an MDC shorty Vanderbilt tender that I plan to put on an IHC 2-6-0. I think I read elsewhere also that it was based on an SP prototype, and those pictures confirm it sure is close. The main diff I see is the running board on the IHC steps down behind the air compressor. Is that an M-4 thing?
SP used so many kinds of differing tenders over the years, it hard to keep up. The IHC tender at any rate has too long of an oil tank. On engines I still plan to use that tender, I'll at least shorten it.
The MDC Vandy is a great match for the one on #1654. Easy conversion! I copied and pasted those pictures, along with the 4-4-0s to my reference pics. Thanks! Dan
Can't find a pic of aprototype E-23 4-4-0 (which lasted until 1952 on the SP Coast Lines), but here's a pic of an M-4 2-6-0 in 1946 http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/steam-01/1654_sp-steam-m04-gene_deimling.jpg
The M-4's lasted until 1954. The E-23 and M-4 had identical boilers and were built between 1899 and 1901. The IHC Mogul is an M-4 model with an oversized tender.
The M-6 2-6-0's were built a few years later. Here's one in 1948: http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/steam-01/1748_sp-steam-m06-gene_deimling.jpg
You might be able to cobble up a reasonable model of a TW-8 4-8-0 by combining a Tyco 4-8-0 chassis, an MDC Harriman boiler and cab and using the cylinders from the MDC Harriman models.
Andre, thanks for sharing these pictures and ideas. I really like those "modernized" smaller steam engines, and I have several in various stages of construction or modification
I have always liked 4-4-0s, especially the later, larger ones, and have gone to great lengths to build one from MDC and Mantua parts following a MR issue from the late '80s. These pictures will help with it and other lighter and heavier mods to other similar sized engines.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Frisco and SP steam engines seem to have strong similarities. I can't seem to find pictures of SP 4-4-0s, so again, these help! Dan
Way cooler looking locomotive.
Bachmann's 2-6-0 is based on a Green Bay & Western 2-6-0 as built.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-HO-Alco-2-6-0-Mogul-GBW-p/bac-51712.htm (enlarge pic)
Here's what the locomotive looked like in the late 1940's:
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0102/gbw256.jpg
When I came upon the pic, my first impression was "Frisco".
What with the centered Pyle headlight, it looks like a more modern locomotive despite being an obsolete wheel arrangement. Changing the running boards would be a pain, but putting a new Pyle headlight with visor centered on the smokebox door, and moving the bell to where the headlight was should be relatively easy.
As for the "Frisco" look, here are some pics of 4-4-0's Frisco modernized (superheaters, multiple valve front end throttles, piston valves and Walschaert valve gear). http://condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco%20Steam/Frisco_180_Steam_Loco_Pixs.htm